Girl Scouts has been my family and role model since I was in second grade. I first became involved in 1971 when I signed up to be a Brownie. My leader became a caregiver who helped support my goals. My father passed away when I was nine, and my leader was an adult who made sure I was o.k. until my mother came home from work. Her house was a place I could go if needed. Together we worked on badges, camped in her backyard and with other troops in a city park, learned outdoor skills, how to wrap packages, participated in a city wide Thinking Day (Las Vegas was small back then), and more. My mother was highly supportive buying me uniforms at J.C. Penney’s and sewing my vest out of felt on which she sewed all by badges and patches. I still have my vest, and the pins I wear are mine from childhood. I fondly remember attending Girl Scout camp making candles in the ground, hiking, singing, cooking outdoors, and just being in nature. I stayed in the program until junior high .
As an adult, I wanted my daughters to have the same experiences. I became their leader to make sure they had an opportunity to be a part of this amazing group. I learned many skills as an adult Girl Scout too: budget making, planning, organization, making visions reality, and most importantly, speaking in front of adults. I worked my way through the volunteer ranks eventually becoming part of the Board. I even became Board President where I furthered my adult education in learning the importance of networking and asking for support.
I honestly feel that Girl Scouts has helped me become the person I am today. It has given me the confidence and skills I needed to be a successful teacher, mother, grandmother, and community person. I am still a Girl Scout volunteer and plan to continue for as long as I can. As a Juliette Gordon Low Society member, I plan on leaving my Council, Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada (formerly Frontier), a legacy so they can continue this highly successful program for my granddaughters, great-granddaughters, and others to come. Once a Girl Scout, always a Girl Scout!