Girl Scouts urged to break glass ceilings during event

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There has never been a female mayor of Seymour, but Mayor Craig Luedeman said that doesn’t mean there can’t be.

That message was shared with nine members of Girl Scout Troop 1239 on Tuesday during the inaugural Jackson County Girl Scouts in Government Day.

“We haven’t had one, but that doesn’t mean there can’t be one, something I talk with my daughter about all the time,” Luedeman said.

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Much like the recent Boy Scouts in Government Day, the girls had an opportunity to try their hand at filling the role of various city officials.

“You will be those positions for the day,” Luedeman said before delivering a proclamation with the help of Girl Scout Macy Casner, who served as mayor for the day.

Missy Casner, leader for Troop 1239, said the event fell during Girl Scout Week.

She said the mayor originally was going to deliver a proclamation for the week but asked if they would like to conduct an event similar to Boy Scouts in Government Day to give the Girl Scouts the chance to learn how the city works.

Some girls knew what different jobs entailed.

“I knew that the clerk-treasurer married people,” Girl Scout Olivia Reinhart said. “That’s actually what I wanted to see.”

Following Fred Lewis, the city’s clerk-treasurer, was her first choice of jobs, and she said the job seemed fun.

Fire Chief Brad Lucas showed Girl Scouts Mia Prewitt and Sydnie Kingery around several of the fire stations, stopping last at Station 3 on the city’s east side.

“I always thought it was pretty cool to get to see all the stuff at the stations,” Mia said.

“I loved it. I loved getting to see the firetrucks,” Sydnie said.

Lucas said the Girl Scouts knew a lot about the fire department.

“I always enjoy showing them the firetrucks, but we just tour the stations and see how the firefighters live and work,” he said.

Sydnie said she is considering looking into a career as a firefighter, which Lucas said is wonderful.

“We need female firefighters,” he said. “We don’t have any, but we could use them.”

That’s what Missy Casner said was the point of the event — introducing the girls to industries that usually are considered male-dominant.

“They have to know they have the opportunities to be the things they want to be,” she said. “They need to know that just because there isn’t one doesn’t mean there can’t be one. Part of what the Girl Scouts do is to teach Scouts to be responsible and confident.”

The Scouts do many public speaking, social, outdoor and fun events to cultivate those traits.

“It’s fun. You get to do cool stuff. I like the horseback riding trips or snow tubing,” Sydnie said.

“I think it’s a good opportunity for other kids that don’t hang out as much with others our age,” Mia said.

Although this was the first Girl Scouts in Government Day, Missy Casner said she plans to continue it in the future as long as city officials are on board.

“This is the first time we’ve done it, but I’ve enjoyed it,” Lucas said. “I always wondered if we got the Boy Scouts why not get the girls involved, as well.”

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Jackson County Girl Scouts in Government Day

Mayor: Macy Casner

Police chief: Claire Urbanski

Assistant police chief: Avery Williams

Fire chief: Mia Prewitt

Assistant fire chief: Sydnie Kingery

Clerk-treasurer: Olivia Reinhart

Department of Public Works: Lorelai Dixon

Water Pollution Control: Savanna Moore

Airport manager: Shalei Brooks

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