Entire Issue - Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania

Olave Baden-Powell Society:
My International Experience
in Pennsylvania by Alexa I.
>
2012: year of the girl | discover
I recently participated in the best
event of my Girl Scout career. I am a
Senior Girl Scout from the Emmaus
Service Unit and a freshman at
Emmaus High School. I participated
in the events sponsored by the Olave
Baden-Powell Society (OB-PS)—an
international society of wealthy
dignitaries who support the work of
the World Association of Girl Guides
and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS). The
women (and men!) in the society are
amazing. They are so inspiring!
During the events that took place on
May 17 and May 19, I met women from
all of the continents, except South
America. I met women from Canada,
Denmark, Sweden, Scotland, the
UK, Ireland, Nigeria, Australia, New
Zealand, Malaysia, Japan, and many
from the United States. The events
that took place occurred because the
OB-PS held their annual meeting in
Philadelphia this year. Let me tell you
how awesome this opportunity was.
As many of the readers know, this year
is the 100th Anniversary of Girl Scouts
in America. Therefore, almost any
event that I am involved in this year
is awesome. This was the first time
in fifteen years that the OB-PS held
their annual meeting in America. While
some of the women could not speak
English it is awesome that they were
even here in our 100th Anniversary
year, let alone in Philadelphia, which
is in our council. These events were
beyond cool.
On Thursday, May 17, the OB-PS
welcome reception took place at
the National Constitution Center. I
was one of about ten girls there and
I came with my best friend, Maura
B.. All of the girls were given the same
assignment: greet and entertain the
international guests as they arrived
at the National Constitution center
from their buses. We were to speak
to them as we escorted them to the
entrance of the National Constitution
Center. Maura and I were chosen out
of the ten girls there to personally
greet Princess Benedikte as she
arrived at the center. We were thrilled
when we received this assignment.
Even Eddie, the National Constitution
Center guard whom we befriended,
can testify that we were thoroughly
freaking out over meeting the princess
of Denmark. Princess Benedikte is the
main patron and social face of the
OB-PS. The society is the main charity
that she supports. Maura and I were
trained on the protocol for greeting
the princess. We were to curtsy and
politely say, “Pleased to meet you,
Your Royal Highness.” It was surreal.
We did not know that the President
of the Olave Baden-Powell Society,
Vibeke Riemer, was also arriving with
the princess. It was such a pleasure
to meet both of these women. We
gsep.org • spark • fall/winter 2012 25