Richland County Girl Scout troop makes specialty license plate possible
It took four years, a petition drive, and meetings with state representatives, but a Mansfield Girl Scout troop's efforts to bring back a specialty Ohio license plate has succeeded.
The new Girls Scouts license plate is now available from the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, thanks to Girl Scouts from Troop 1275 from Richland County.
The special plates, which had been unavailable for two decades, will help raise awareness and funds for Girl Scouts across Ohio. Proceeds will be divided among the Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland, Girl Scouts of North East Ohio, Girl Scouts of Western Ohio, and Girl Scouts of Black Diamond Council, according to a news release.
For every plate purchased, $15 goes back to the area in which the purchaser lives, so the money stays local, according to the news release.
No Girl Scout plates in 20 years
After discovering the absence of Girl Scout license plates for the last 20 years, the girls troop from Richland County decided they wanted to affect change for Girl Scouts statewide.
They contacted their local representatives and advocated to Girl Scout CEOs in the Ohio councils about the importance of bringing back Girl Scout license plates. They then worked with all councils to create the license plate design, petitioned the public and their fellow Girl Scouts to help support their project, and drafted a testimony to present at the Ohio Statehouse to change two laws, according to the news release.
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After hearing the girls’ testimony and answers to the few questions that were raised, the Ohio House of Representatives Transportation Committee unanimously voted to include the re-instatement of Girl Scout license plates on House Bill 74.
Gov. Mike DeWine signed it into law on June 30, 2021. The entire process took four years, and all of the Girl Scouts who participated were honored with a Girl Scout Bronze Award.
The power to have a positive effect
“We applaud Troop 1275 for their dedication to this special Bronze Award project. The Girl Scout license plate will support our mission to show girls that they have the power to have a positive effect on their community and the world, as well as help us create more awareness for the Girl Scout brand,” said Tammy Wharton, president and CEO, Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland.
Troop 1275 includes Olivia Prosser, Skyler Washburn, Kylee Gearheart, Estella Koppert-Smith, and Naomi Gearheart.
Troop leaders Jennifer Washburn and Christel Koppert-Smith reflected on the process. “This has been a very lengthy and very involved project, but they have learned so much about communication, government, and public speaking. As Girl Scouts, we are all very excited to see these plates make their way onto the roads,” the troop leaders said in a prepared statement.
To purchase the Girl Scout specialty license plate, please visit the BMV website at bmv.ohio.gov/vr-sp-geninfo.aspx, or to to any Deputy Registrar License Agency.
lwhitmir@gannett.com
419-521-7223
Twitter: @LWhitmir
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Richland County Girl Scout Troop 1275 makes new license plate possible
