Jennifer M. Flannery’s (JM) commitment to the Girl Scouts is a testament to her dedication to nurturing courage, confidence, and character in young girls. By volunteering with her daughters’ troop, Jennifer has not only rekindled her childhood memories but also created new ones, guiding the next generation of leaders.
AC: What organization or local cause did you volunteer for?
JM: I volunteered with my daughter’s Girl Scout Troop. They decided to use their cookie profits to learn how to ski and snowboard.
AC: Can you please provide an overview of their mission?
JM: The Girl Scout mission speaks to the vision we all share for girls: Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.
AC: Was this your first time volunteering for this organization or cause? Please elaborate.
JM: I was a Girl Scout for about 6 years as a child, with my mom as one of the leaders. When I had my daughter, I knew I wanted her to be a part of the organization. I was excited I was able to be a Leader of both of my daughter’s troops. I currently am a CoLeader to one troop and help when needed for the other troop.
AC: Where there any requirements for this type of volunteerism?
JM: To be a volunteer for Girl Scouts, you must pay the yearly membership, currently $50. You also have to pass a background check that is paid for by the organization. Typically, every couple years, there are a couple of short online trainings you must complete as well.
AC: Why did you choose to volunteer here for your Day of Giving?
JM: I knew the snow adventure was going to be a lot for the current leaders, both physically and mentally with 10 teenage girls attending. I had never been skiing or snowboarding myself, so it was also a fun learning/adventure opportunity for me as well. It was a great moment for me to see the joy and excitement of girls learning new skills (including tackling their own fear, not giving up, etc.)
AC: Can you tell us about your volunteer experience? What did you do? Did your time volunteering meet your expectations?
JM: As mentioned, the girls decided they wanted to learn how to ski and snowboard with their earned cookie money sales. They worked hard to earn enough money for 13 people to attend. This included lodging, food, gear, and lessons. When at rental home, we taught them new food recipes (fondue and jambalaya), skills including prep and clean up, and how to work together. Yes, it the experience fully met my expectations.
AC: What would you like to share to encourage others to volunteer their time and energy locally?
JM: There are so many different organizations that only survive because of their volunteers. There are endless possibilities and positions even if you can’t do physical labor or you prefer to not be around a lot of people. Reach out to an organization that interests you to see what is available. If you don’t have an organization there are websites like this one that can help you find a volunteer position: Volunteer Match
AC: Is there anything else that you would like to share about your experience?
JM: Love that Activus Connect provides an opportunity to take paid time off to help our own communities.
AC: Are there any links to the organization, additional educational resources, etc. that you would like to share?
JM: www.girlscouts.org there are also state specific sites for each of the Girl Scout councils.
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Jennifer’s involvement with the Girl Scouts emphasizes the profound impact of mentorship and shared adventures in building strong, resilient communities. Her story encourages us to seek out volunteer opportunities that align with our passions. Discover more inspiring tales by exploring the Inspiring Forward series https://activusconnect.com/inspiring-forward.