Girl Scout volunteers teach skills to last a lifetime

By Keith Purtell
Phoenix Staff Writer

October 10, 2008 10:44 pm

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As enthusiastic Girl Scouts poured into the room, volunteer leaders scurried to make sure all their materials were ready.
Dozens of young girls with Troop 1006 were meeting Monday afternoon at St. Joseph Catholic School. The chatter of cheerful voices filled the room as they found their places at tables.
One of the volunteers was Karen Witherell, 39, who said she shares their feelings.
“They just get so excited,” she said. “The kinds of things you get to do when you’re part of a Girl Scout group or volunteer activities are usually things the kids want to do. It’s arts and crafts, or it’s songs, or it’s games. It’s fun to watch them have fun.”
Witherell said she always tries to add some of her own energy to the mix.
“I’ve noticed that your own enthusiasm is infectious,” she said. “And if you look like you’re excited about something you are getting ready to do, they think, ‘Wow something exciting is about to happen!’”
The youngsters, in kindergarten through the sixth grade, set up a chore chart, had a snack, held a solemn flag ceremony and joined in song time.
Suzy Chapple, 34, who volunteers with Girl Scouts in fourth, fifth and sixth grades, said the girls are acquiring skills to last a lifetime.
“They’ll learn how to try new things, how to not be afraid to try something different, and how to be a leader,” she said. “They learn about trying something even though you may not be good at it, learning to share, and being respectful of everyone’s feelings.”
The girls also learn to speak up and to express themselves in a constructive way.
“We ask their opinion on things,” Chapple said. “I think that they learn to be able to tell you what their opinion is.”
Chapple got involved when her daughter Ellie was old enough to join the group.
“I’ve been a volunteer leader since my daughter was in kindergarten,” she said. “There hadn’t been a Girl Scout troop active here for several years. This is my fifth year.”
Chapple remembered her own years as a Girl Scout when she first got hooked.
“I liked the different activities and the things the girls could learn,” she said. “It was good to help others. I was active for about five years; I started in the second grade.”
The Girl Scouts of the USA was founded in 1912 in Georgia by Juliette Gordon Low and has since grown to be the largest volunteer organization for girls in the world, serving nearly 3 million girls with nearly 1 million adult volunteers. Through membership in the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, Girl Scouts of the USA is part of a worldwide family of 10 million girls and adults in 140 countries.

You can help
For information about becoming a volunteer with the Girl Scouts, call 683-7738 or (877) 855-7738 to reach the Muskogee Magic Empire office. Call the Tulsa volunteer department at (800) 707-9914.

Volunteer opportunities


NOTE TO DESK: PLEASE PLACE THE TOP FEW OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE STORY AND REFER TO THE COMPLETE LIST ONLINE


BREAKOUT BOX
Volunteer opportunities:
• Muskogee County Community Action, 1313 N. Main St., Erma Sallie, nutrition program outreach coordinator; Crystal Cotner, project director, 683-7637.
• Muskogee County Democratic Party, Barbara Staggs chairman, 869-8919.
• Muskogee County Republican Party, Jerry Huffer Chairman, 616-1747.
• Muskogee Regional Medical Center, Vicki Cormier, 684-2460.
• Muskogee Nursing Center, 682-9232
• Magnolia Gardens, 683-8388.
• Grace Living Center, 683-2914.
• Eastgate Village Healthcare Center, 682-3191.
• Jack C. Montgomery VA Medical Center, Greg Sorensen: 577-3621.
• Muskogee Regional Medical Center, Vicki Cormier: 684-2460.
• American Red Cross, Jordan Pool: 682-1366.
• RSVP (ages 55 and older): 683-1578.
• Meals on Wheels, any of the following numbers: Geneva Doyal, 687-1119; Bethany Presbyterian Church, 682-8683; Grace Episcopal Church, 687-5416; St. Paul United Methodist Church, 687-7571.
• Muskogee Public Library, Friends of the Library and adult literacy tutoring: 682-6657.
• Muskogee Public Schools Mentoring Program, Paula Deen: 684-3700.
• Muskogee Garden Club, Martha Stoodley: 683-2373.
• Muskogee Farmers’ Market program with Gospel Rescue Mission to grow things for low-income people, Doug Walton: 686-6939.
• The Salvation Army needs people all year: 682-3384.
• Ark of Faith, 401 E. Broadway, Sally Weiesnbach, 682-8411.
• Boys and Girls Club Teen Center, 322 Callahan St. Help lead dance classes, sports programs, music classes, art classes. Background check needed. Contact: Ken Henshaw, 684-6345.
• SolAmor Hospice, Beth Kile: 686-6899.
• Disabled American Veterans. Help take veterans from home to and from Veterans Administration facilities including Jack C. Montgomery Medical Center, 1011 Honor Heights Drive, and Childers Outpatient Clinic, 9322 E. 41st Street, Tulsa. Volunteers must have a valid driver’s license, pass a brief physical examination and have background check. Contact: Jennifer Poston, 577-3737 or jennifer.poston@va.gov.

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