Alumnae Story
No Special Treatment

By Margy Hill
Troop#519, Girl Scouts of Essex County Council
Belleville, NJ

My mother was my Girl Scout leader. I remember all of the girls in my troop thinking I received special treatment because I was the leaders' daughter. My mother went out of her way to make sure she didn't give me any special treatment. I never knew what was going on at meetings ahead of time. I always had to go to the other leaders to ask questions or to do anything.

When the troop was going on camping trips, a packing list was distributed to all the girls. My mother would not help me pack. It was my responsibility to make sure I had everything. One trip I forgot my sleeping bag. I was so upset. Then one of my friends was homesick and went home. She left her sleeping bag for me to use. My mother used to have all the girls bring something home after a camping trip to wash it. Who got to bring home what, was done differently on every trip. My very last trip in sixth grade, I drew the charcoal stove to take home and clean. Then every one knew I was just lucky not to have drawn it before and that she did not treat me special.

I started in scouts from the beginning, which back then was a second grade Brownie and went all the way to Senior Girl Scouts. I am currently a leader of Cadette and Senior Girl Scouts and have been involved for 34 years. I think I wasn't a scout for about four years since I first joined. My daughter was a scout, and went through the ranks like me, but she is out now and I keep going. She is always telling people that I did not give her special treatment either, in fact, she thinks I ignored her. She would be in a meeting calling "mom," and I did not hear her. As soon as she said, Ms. Margy, my ears perked up and I was attentive to her. In the six years she was in my troop, I never once heard her call me mom.

I think I will always be a Girl Scout, I love it! There is no greater organization.