Join the Girl Scout tradition: Recruitment meetings scheduled for potential scouts, leaders

Where else can you learn to canoe, climb hills, sew, ride horses, become a better person and be the source of great cookies? Girl Scouts, of course. If you, or a young woman you know, would be interested in joining the organization that puts girls on the top of the heap, your chance is coming up.

Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee will be holding troop recruitment meetings in Wilson County beginning in mid-August. Local Girl Scout representatives and leaders will be present to answer questions about being a Girl Scout, joining a troop, going to camp and other program opportunities.

Cathey Sweeney, regional executive for Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee said the more Girl Scouts the merrier.

"We'd like as many as possible,' she said, adding that local recruitment is usually brisk. "We do really well in Lebanon and Mt. Juliet. One place we're going to target, that we haven't targeted in a while because of manpower reasons, is Southside. We're really hoping to concentrate on Southside and get troops going there."

They aren't just looking for Girl Scouts, they need leaders as well. The Girl Scouts need people to volunteer to be troop moms, and people to volunteer to help troop moms with activities and meetings. Sweeney said having people step up to assist makes it easier for people to volunteer as leaders.

"Someone will be on the fence about being a leader, but having another mom step forward to help with refreshments or crafts, it makes that decision for the person toying with it much easier," she added.

In partnership with committed adult volunteers, Girls Scouts in kindergarten through grade 12, are able to develop qualities that will serve them a lifetime. Qualities such as leadership, strong values, social conscience and conviction about their own potential and self-worth.

With the aid of Girl Scouts, girls can participate in national and international trips, healthy living clinics, community service projects, cultural exchanges and environmental stewardships. These experiences help girls develop their full individual potential, teaches them to relate to others with increasing understanding, skill and respect and encourages the development of values to guide their actions and contribute to the improvement of society.

Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee serves more than 14,000 girls and 7,000 adult volunteers in 39 counties. It is a part of Girl Scouts USA, the world's preeminent organization for girls, with a membership of more than 2.6 million girls and adults nationwide. In its 100th year, GSUSA continues to strive to build girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place.

"It's a volunteer driven organization," Sweeney concluded. "In order to create new troops, we need people to volunteer. We need parents to step forward."

For more information about Girl Scouts, call 615-453-2473 or visit www.gmdidtn.org.

Staff writer Mary Hinds may be reached at 444-3952, ext. 45 or via email at maryhinds@lebanondemocrat.com

GS Photo: Submitted

Girl Scouting has always been about learning, having fun and becoming the best person you can be. Shown here, Girl Scout Troop 425's Ava Rainey, Lindsey Lawrence and Jaxyn Kirian take a closer look at a little turtle.