(Linda says she is usually the one behind the camera, so this is a photo of her girls.)
In honor of Volunteer Appreciation Month, Girl Scouts of Colorado is celebrating extraordinary volunteers throughout the state. Linda Jester in the Pikes Peak region has been a troop leader for the past 11 years– six of them in Colorado! She was nominated as a shining example of the wonderful role Girl Scout volunteers play in the lives of girls and our community.
Since moving to Colorado, she has volunteered for GSCO in a variety of different ways, including:
Service Unit Manager for three years, during which time she has been very active in mentoring new leaders and often mentors volunteers outside of her service unit
Trainer for age level training and PA training
Assembling a comprehensive new leader checklist that follows Volunteer Essentials and all policies
Volunteer Recruiter for three years
We asked Linda to answer a few questions about her experiences as a Girl Scout volunteer. We hope you find her story as inspiring as we did!
How long have you been a Girl Scout?
Two years as a girl (1972-1974); since 2007 as an adult
Why did you become a Girl Scout volunteer?
Because my 5-year-old daughter wanted to join (her older brother was having fun as a Cub Scout). There were no troops at her school and all other local troops met after school at other locations. Since I worked, I couldn’t get her to those. The only way she could become a Girl Scout was if I started a troop. I did what I had to do for my daughter!
Tell us about your different volunteer roles as a Girl Scout.
Troop Leader, Recruitment/Membership Specialist (different terms for this role in different councils), Service Unit Manager, adult and girl trainer, new leader mentor, and a whole bunch of other duties as needed over the years!
What have you learned as a Girl Scout volunteer? What do you hope girls have learned from you?
I have learned that the main thing holding girls back are moms! In general, today’s moms are generally over-protective (my opinion) and do way too much for their kids. I tried to teach the girls that they can do anything and they are more capable than they think they are. They probably sometimes thought I was mean because I wouldn’t do things for them (“you can roll up your own sleeping bag”) and I made them do things they didn’t have to do at home (“yes, you have to wash your own dishes”)!
What is your favorite Girl Scout memory?
We were at Hamp Hut when the Waldo Canyon Fire started. My girls were rising 5th and 6th graders, but a troop of rising 2nd graders had just joined us for their first campout as Brownies. We had badge stations everywhere—back patio, front porch, on tables in the hut– and of course, the “bedroom” looked like a tornado had gone through. The girls were all just finishing up a snack they had baked in the kitchen (older ones helping the younger ones with their first Brownie badge activity) when I made the decision to evacuate. My girls sprang into action. They got everything packed up and loaded into the cars—including all the young Brownies and their things—in 45 minutes! We were just backing out when the ranger came by with the official notice to evacuate. I was so proud of the girls! They kept cool under pressure, got things done, and did their best to keep the younger girls calm.
What words of advice do you have for other volunteers?
Don’t try to do everything yourself! First, remember that troops should be girl-led. No, things won’t run smoothly, but that’s ok! It really is! Consider the age of the girls, but have them do as much as they can and certainly have them make decisions whenever possible. Second, it’s ok to ask parents to take on a task. You can come up with a list of jobs (including running a meeting—you don’t have to do every one!) and ask each family to take on one or two jobs. Trust me, you will burn yourself out if you try to do it all yourself.
Want to nominate a volunteer for Girl Scouts of Colorado to spotlight? Please email Public Relations Director AnneMarie Harper at annemarie.harper@gscolorado.org.