(above) Chatham Girl Scout Juniors with the Voter Girl Banner
League of Women Voters and Chatham Girl Scouts Voter Girl Program
Just as New Jersey’s Primary Elections season began, The League of Women Voters of the Morristown Area partnered on March 30th, 2019 with Chatham Girl Scouts and ran a Voter Girl program for 170 girls. At this half day activity, a new and growing pro-girl civics program, the Morristown Area League of Women Voters ran a realistic mock voting activity, hosted women elected officials as speakers, and facilitated the girls earning Girl Scout citizenship badges.
The Scouts ranged from second grade through high school and scout leaders taught badge workshops about community, government, debate and compromise, elections, public policy and advocacy. The workshops also covered the timely Centennial of the 19th Amendment (establishing American women’s right to vote) coming up in 2020.
The event opened with welcome remarks from Betty Garger, CEO of Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey, and Nancy Hedinger, President of the League of Women Voters of New Jersey.
Elected officials speaking and teaching the Girl Scouts included Ann Grossi, Morris County Clerk, Chatham Borough Council Members Vicki Fife, Jocelyn Mathiasen, and Carolyn Dempsey, former Chatham Township Mayor Susan Hoag, and Morris Township Deputy Mayor Cathy Wilson. These elected officials represented both the Democrat and Republican Parties.
“As a member of the Board of the League of Women Voters of New Jersey and as a Girl Scout Leader in Chatham, I thought Voter Girl was the perfect Program to hold this year for the Chatham Girl Scouts’ annual Day of Service. We created a lot of energy that coincides with the current surge of women in politics as well as with the upcoming celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment.” said Kathy Abbott, Voter Girl program organizer who was also a former Chatham Township Committee member.
“The League of Women Voters of New Jersey would be happy to speak to any Girl Scout group about partnering with us to host Voter Girl,” said Nancy Hedinger, President of the League of Women Voters of New Jersey.
Guest speaker, Borough Council Member Carolyn Dempsey said, “The Voter Girl event gave each Girl Scout, from our youngest Brownies through our high schoolseniors, the opportunity to see the history of women’s suffrage and leadership in our country, and how they are a part of that story today. We all have a voice, opinions and perspectives that are valuable and deserve to be heard. That is true from the time we are young girls through every stage in life. The Girl Scouts, and this event in particular, makes it clear to girls that they are the leaders of today and tomorrow, and it gives them the tools to harness their leadership potential.”
Anne Grossi, Morris County Clerk and guest speaker said, “It was an honor to be among numerous elected women speaking at the Voter Girl event on March 30th. Discussions ranged from the women’s suffrage movement, issues faced by women who want to enter politics, and the nuts and bolts of elections to the importance of young girls getting involved, speaking out on issues they feel strongly about, and voting and being heard. It was a fabulous event, expertly coordinated by the Chatham Girl Scouts and League of Women Voters.”
Former Chatham Township Mayor and guest speaker Susan Hoag said, “It was an amazing experience that brought the Girl Scouts together with women currently in public service to learn about women’s history, our current status and the future that the Scouts represent. Bravo to all the leaders and volunteers who made it happen!”
Submitted by Kathy Abbott, on behalf of The Morristown Area League of Woman Voters and the Girl Scout Council of Northern New Jersey
(above) Jennifer Mathews, Brownie Leader of Chatham Township, with her Brownie Troop and their women’s suffrage parade signs, plus League of Women Voters of the Morristown Area members in the background.
(above) Former Mayor of Chatham Township Susan Hoag talking to Brownies at the event.
(above) League of Women Voters of Morristown Area members who volunteered to run the Voter Girl Conference.
