Location & Venue
About Houston
Houston is one big city, its 2.1 million residents making it the state's largest municipality and the country's fourth largest. It was founded in 1836 and incorporated a year later, named after then-President of the Republic of Texas Sam Houston.
In the mid-twentieth century, the Texas Medical Center—the largest concentration of healthcare and research institutions in the world—and NASA's Johnson Space Center touched down in Houston, and in years since, the city's economy has developed a broad industrial base, home to myriad energy-, manufacturing-, aeronautics-, and transportation-based operations. Houston's residents are of various ethnic and religious backgrounds, and the area supports a large and growing international community.
Houston boasts a thriving arts and culture scene. During your stay, we encourage you to check out the many cultural institutions and exhibits offered, the bulk of which are found in the Houston Museum District. You might also consider taking in a show, hitting the shops, and strolling through one of Houston's lovely parks. And don't forget the food!
For more tips on exploring Houston, read a recent New York Times piece on what to do with 36 hours in Houston, and see this site for in-depth information on all things downtown Houston, including a comprehensive calendar of events.
About Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council
GSUSA is pleased to introduce Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council (GSSJC) as the host council of this year's convention! GSSJC was founded in Houston in 1922 by Mrs. F. M. Law and Miss Corinne Fonde, and today serves 26 counties in Southeast Texas—more than 65,000 girl members and 17,000 adult members.
GSSJC is doing an admirable job of incorporating the Girl Scout Leadership Experience in its program offerings, and it's paid off. Back in December 2010, two of the council's teams advanced—one to the semi-finals and the other to an impressive first-place position overall—in the FIRST LEGO League Lone Star Championship held in Houston. Then, in January of this year, council CEO Mary Vitek was awarded the prestigious Neighborhood Builders Award—a $200,000 check from Kim Ruth, Houston market and Texas state president of Bank of America—to go towards supporting and expanding efforts to provide services to Hispanic girls within the council's jurisdiction.
Visit the GSSJC Web site to learn what else our host council has been up to.