The birthday of the founder of Girl Scouts, Juliette "Daisy" Gordon Low, falls on the popular American holiday of Halloween. Low was born on October 31st, 1860 in Savannah, Georgia. Her home in Savannah is now owned by GSUSA and is often called "the birthplace."

As a leader, I attempt to acknowledge Juliette's birthday each year in some way. In the past, I have simply asked the person bringing treats to bring birthday cake or cupcakes. In recent years, I have actually had a combined Halloween/Birthday party at my house and invited all the Scouts at school.

For those in their Daisy year, a full-fledged birthday party for Juliette complete with gifts that could be given to a local children's hospital or charity would be a good way to introduce the youngest Girl Scouts to Juliette Low and would qualify for their "to make the world a better place" petal.

Appropriate "Juliette-themed" gifts for such an event would be art supplies in that Juliette loved to paint and sculpt. If a charity, hospital, or school for disabled children exists in your area, donating to any of these choices would be doubly appropriate. When Juliette founded Girl Scouting, girls with disabilities were welcomed, whereas they were often excluded elsewhere.

For Brownies, a similar but more serious service activity could be to visit a facility for disabled children. Any school or hospital for the deaf would be a good choice, since Juliette herself was almost completely deaf in her adult years. After completely such an activity, don't forget to check with your local council for a Juliette Gordon Low patch for your girls!

For older troops, I've just discovered a meaningful link that can be used to celebrate Juliette's life and death. October is breast cancer awareness month, and Juliette died of breast cancer in 1927. It would highly appropriate for girls in one of America's premier organizations for girls to mark the anniversary of their founder's birth by doing something to support breast cancer awareness.

Such activities could be as simple as wearing the pink ribbon of awareness to participating in one of the many race for the cure events. For the oldest girls, volunteering at a hospice may be something to consider.

The National Breast Cancer Awareness site can help you find local events, but don't forget to check your own neighborhood and school. Breast cancer strikes one in eight women. Chances are there is a family in your own circle who is coping with breast cancer in their family. Last year my older daughter's troop prepared meals for the family of one of their classmates whose mother was undergoing breast cancer treatment. Community service done within one's own community often is more meaningful to both those who serve and are served.