In February 2018, Lori Mulligan, the leader of Girl Scout Troop 50126, contacted Meghan Olsson, Karen Fassuliotis, Barbara Hindman, Katherine LoBalbo, Jennifer Dayton, and Beth Krumeich to visit her then-fourth grade Junior Girl Scouts at North Mianus School. On Sunday, April 7, 2024, those now high school Girl Scouts nostalgically super-sized the event, partnering with the League of Women Voters of Greenwich to take over Greenwich Town Hall, running the biggest Women in Government event ever with ten hands-on activity stations, nineteen federal, state, and town dignitaries and 100 Girl Scout participants.
One of the original North Mianus School Girl Scouts, Anna Mulligan, now in Grade 10, explains, “I want Girl Scout events to be a fun and educational experience for all ages. The Women in Government event was exactly that. Girl Scouts were engaged in every activity, whether learning about the environment with Beth Evans, Director of Environment Affairs or learning how your vote equals your voice from Connecticut Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas.”
In the lobby, Daphne Stavropoulos, Department of State staff and Girl Scout alum, handed out event passports to each youth participant and shared the role of the Department of State in world affairs. At the Town Hall Meeting Room, Girl Scouts were delighted to stamp their passports using Town Clerk Jackie Budkins’ Town of Greenwich stamp. Selectwoman Lauren Rabin and Selectperson Janet Stone-McGuigan led mini-tours of Greenwich Town Hall, which was once Greenwich High School.
Karen Fassuliotis, Vice-Chair of Greenwich’s Board of Estimation and Taxation, shared, “The format was a great one and the vote to determine the favorite Girl Scout cookie was probably the most important vote of the day! (I believe it was Samoas?) It was a fun day. As you know the Girl Scouts played an important role in my life. It was great interacting with so many future women leaders!”
Girl Scouts donned handmade paper Capitol Caps and drafted bills to have less homework and more recess with members of the Greenwich Representative Town Meeting. Following in the footsteps of the activists who advocated to give women the right to vote, Girl Scouts made suffragette ribbons with the League of Women Voters of Greenwich. Laura Kostin of the Board of Education helped Girl Scouts learn about the different parts of government while making government lapbooks. Demetria Nelson, Commissioner of Greenwich Department of Human Services, offered magic scratch art paper for the Girl Scouts to make colorful designs — a zen moment away from the crowds. Every Girl Scout earned a Democracy badge and a fun patch designed by high school Girl Scout Riona McKersie.
When asked what the best part of the event was, one Girl Scout parent said, “seeing the young girls interact with the adults in a meaningful way.” One day, these young Girl Scouts will run an event just like this, making an impact in their community.
Event dignitaries: Jackie Budkins, Liz Eckert, Beth Evans, Karen Fassuliotis, Pam Ferraro, Laura Kostin, Samuelle Lazar Jacobs, Katherine LoBalbo, Demetria Nelson, Lauren Rabin, Barbara Schellenberg, Heather Smeriglio, Janet Stone McGuigan, Amelia Szabo, Leslie Tarkington, Stephanie Thomas, Alexis Voulgaris and Wendy Zhou
Event volunteers were: Julie Ann Cartine, Kathleen Cartine, Erin Flynn, Karen Hasterok, Quinn Hasterok, Ela Larrea, Briar Lissauer, Georgianna Lissauer, Katherine McKersie, Riona McKersie, Laila McQueen, Elizabeth Montgomery, Anna Mulligan, Blair Mulligan, Lori Mulligan, Zoe Kahn, Cal Nobay, Thalia Nobay, Angelina Song and Kerry Xu
Event volunteers from the LWV Greenwich were: Erin Flynn, Cathy Steel, LB Savitz, and Sandy Waters.
