Girl Scouts Anyone?

[Dorie McConnell]

Hi All!

I will be a Girl Scout troop leader for rising first graders in the fall (at Hawk Ridge Elementary, though I imagine we would serve the South Charlotte/Ballentyne/Pineville/etc. community.) My daughter, Julie (6) will be in the troop. But we have to have a co-leader to get started. If any of you Moms are interested in helping out, and sharing the wonderful bonding experience with your daughter, please let me know. No experience necessary! I was a girl scout until 7th grade and my mom was my troop leader. She was also a GS until her senior year of HS and her mother was her troop leader. So I have lots of experience and inspiration to draw upon. My goal and focus with the girls will be building self confidence, self-respect and independence in the midst of a society and media that is so heavily influential on young girls. (I just read the book "Packaging Girlhood"...a must read!) I hope to encourage them to think for themselves and feel confident in making their own choices, no matter what others do or say. I hope to offer them an outlet in expressing their individuality, allowing them to find value in their own and that of their friends. Of course, all this would be incorporated into the Girl Scout Guidelines, and the girls would be learning and experiencing so much more. I also have a music and dance background, so singing and movement will be a fun, and integral part of each meeting. And what might interest you the most is my holistic approach to leadership. I love the Waldorf School's philosophies, and taking a natural approach to everything. This philosophy will be intergrated as much as possible (depending on the diversity of the group). This is a journey, and I plan to be with the girls for as long as they want to be a part of Girl Scouting.

IF you are interested in getting your daughter involved in Girl Scouts, and you live in the South Charlotte area, please let me know. But I want to reiterate that what is really needed to get started is at least one co-leader. There is already a lot of interest from girls looking for a troop, but not enough volunteers. As a result, the council has had to turn girls away. If you know anyone else that might be interested in co-leading, please let me know...forward this on!

Here's a general overview of what co-leadership would entail:
-As much or as little involvement in planning as you like, but at least your presence at each meeting and event. (Required. Per our Safety Wise guidelines the ratio of adults to girls are as follows: For meetings, two adults to every 10 Daisy Girl Scouts, plus one adult to each additional 5 Daisy Girl Scouts.)
-Leading a meeting in the case of illness/emergency of leader.
-Assisting with activities/crafts/events.
-Helping with phone calls/emails to parents about meetings/events.
-The commitment of your time for the full school year, otherwise, finding a replacement for the position.
-The bonus of bonding and relationship building with your daughter and her friends.

I look forward to hearing back from you! Hopefully I will see you all soon at a meeting or MNO!

Best Regards!
Dorie McConnell
443.414.5253
[e-mail]