It's National Volunteer Week

April 16, 2003

By Ursula Castrillon, staff writer

	Yoga Workshop in New Jersey
	Climbing to the top in Omaha.

During National Volunteer Week and National Girl Scout Leaders Day (April 22), Girl Scouts of the USA pays tribute to innovative volunteers for making a difference.

Volunteering—From Yoga to PR

Three years ago, Kristen Peacock, an assistant dean at Rutgers University and a physical fitness trainer, became friends with a kickboxing classmate on staff at Girl Scouts of Rolling Hills Council in New Jersey.

"I asked if they ever needed volunteers to speak about fitness or on topics like public speaking," says Peacock, "and surprisingly the answer was yes!" Soon, the new volunteer was speaking to the council's Junior Public Relations Group—girls 13–18, who wanted to become better communicators.

Regis Donovan, the council's director of funding, knew that Peacock had a lot to offer. "As a young professional woman, Kristen shares valuable skills that these teens want," says Donovan. "They enjoy spending time with someone closer to their age and she welcomes the opportunity to contribute."

Peacock demonstrated key elements of public speaking to the Junior Public Relations Group, presented career development workshops, and shared her experiences as an educator. With meetings held only five times a year, it fit in perfectly with her busy schedule.

But like many sporadic or episodic volunteers, Peacock found that she had more time to volunteer than she thought. With her passion for fitness, she also created kickboxing and introductory yoga workshops for several Girl Scout groups.

It's About Making Time

The busy professional continues to expand her Girl Scout volunteer work. Once a month, as part of the Girl Scouts Beyond Bars program, Peacock works with girls whose mothers are incarcerated.

She also meets with girls, ages 11-13, to help them evaluate the influences of media on their physical fitness and nutrition choices. "I'm always surprised to notice how good I feel after volunteering," said Peacock. "It's a great feeling."

Life After 60 Means Staying Involved

For Elizabeth Case, volunteering had not been part of her life since she was president of the board of directors for her local Girl Scout council in Fort Collins, Colorado, many years ago. But as she neared her 80th birthday, she wanted to shake things up a bit. In partnership with Girl Scouts-Mountain Prairie Council in Colorado, she recruited a group of friends to become volunteers. They call themselves the Promise Partners.

"Promise Partners is about getting together, having fun, and staying informed," says Case, president of the Girl Scout volunteer group. Four years after starting, there are 35 women members, ages 60-82. Their mission: to be supportive of Girl Scouts-Mountain Prairie Council through educational, social, and other appropriate activities.

"People are sometimes afraid that they'll be asked to do many tasks or give money to something," says Case. "All we want is their know-how and to feel useful."

Useful they have been. According to Linda Brott from Mountain Prairie, the volunteer group has been a tremendous help. "Through their vast experiences, each contributes in her own way and gives the amount of time that works within her lifestyle."

While the entire group meets only three times a year, smaller subgroups meet more often. Last year, a subgroup planned events surrounding the 90th anniversary of Girl Scouts. Currently, some of the volunteers are working on an archives and recording oral histories project. Inventory of all uniforms and memorabilia is being taken to ensure that girls can see the evolution and history of Girl Scouts. Others are preparing for their next meeting—an overnight camping trip in the mountains of Colorado.

Flexibility Is Key

Girl Scout councils nationwide are ever more innovative about recruiting new volunteers. "Our volunteers are busy and we work around their schedules and needs," says Regis Donovan, Girl Scouts of Rolling Hills. "The key to success is flexibility."

To help out in your area, call your local Girl Scout council or (800) GSUSA 4 U.