Several dozen of the almost 140 women honored as Women of Distinction by the Girl Scouts of Gateway Council since 1989 were urged Friday to be role models for younger generations.
Martha Barnett, a Tallahassee partner in the Holland & Knight law firm and the 2000-01 president of the American Bar Association, told the group that girls and young women are affected by the behavior of the adults in their lives.
“The experiences you have as a young person are very important,” she said. “The models we see do influence us in our adult life.”
Barnett was the guest speaker at the “Women of Distinction 100th Anniversary Celebration Luncheon” at the Epping Forest Yacht Club to mark the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouting.
She said the centennial led her to think about leadership, “a word that people throw out.”
“We should never make the mistake that we all have to do it the same way,” she said.
Some people in leadership are cheerleaders, others are motivators, some are innovators and yet others are visionaries. She said Girl Scouting “empowers leaders of the next generation.”
Barnett was named a “National Woman of Distinction” by Girl Scouts of the USA in 2002 and displayed the award at the podium. Of all of her awards, “this is the only one that sits on my desk,” she said. “I want to see it. I need to see it.”
Barnett said the award ceremony featured accomplished women who had “achieved the highest level,” such as an astronaut, international designer, CEO, first lady and judge.
“If a woman can walk in space, women really can do anything,” she said.
However, Barnett said there is work to be done. “All things are not good with girls,” she said, including an increased number of girls who have entered the juvenile justice system.
She said she has been a lawyer and lobbyist for Girl Scouts in Tallahassee and the state Legislature. “Girls need to be at the table,” she said, when issues are debated that affect them.
Legislators, she joked, “they’re fairly egotistical, but when you walk in with Girl Scouts and cookies, they’ll give you anything.”
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