Lee woman leads Girl Scout troop and mentors other leaders
LEE, NH – Every volunteer’s dedication is appreciated, and in the case of Corinne George, her contributions to Girl Scouting have impressed everyone who has worked with her. She leads a troop, mentors new leaders, and helps to make her community a better place. Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains has named her Volunteer of the Month for March.
George, 51, of Lee, is in her eighth year as a Girl Scout leader, and also spent eight years as a Girl Scout in her younger years. She has 11 girls in Troop 10019, some of whom began as Daisies and are now Cadettes – those in grades 6-8. She volunteers as a trainer and mentor for the council’s service unit assisting troops in Nottingham, Madbury, Durham, Barrington, Lee, and Strafford, where she welcomes and helps to prepare new Girl Scout troop leaders.
“Corinne has been absolutely invaluable to the Girl Scout program in our area,” said Becky Kates, another volunteer service coordinator in her service unit. “Her tenacity is so powerful it's just short of lethal. Her enthusiasm is unmatched by most humans, as is her willingness to help any Girl Scout in need. She has spent long hours researching, reaching out, and exhausting all of us with her boundless ideas, energy, and the incredibly high bar she sets for excellence.”
ChrisAnn Weichert agrees. “Corinne is such an inspiration,” she said. “She's leader of a Cadette-level troop, an SU (service unit) leadership team member Leader Trainer and Mentor, she's starting a Daisy troop and training replacing leaders, and she's co-organizer of our multi SU World Thinking Day, plus she runs our community Outdoor Day and Christmas caroling event at a local senior center. She's in constant contact with our leaders and communicates ideas and concerns to our leadership team and council. She's a dynamic leader and truly embodies being a sister to every Girl Scout.” George also co-chairs their community Girl Scout Derby.
Finding adults to volunteer is crucial to the success of the Girl Scouting program, and one of the most difficult to do. As girls grow up and move into higher levels of Girl Scouting or choose other paths, the need for new troops is constant. Kates said George is a vital part of her team as they rebuild.
“I'm merely the gutter guides on her bowling lane of Girl Scout exuberance!” said Kates. “I am blessed to have an incredible team, and she's been an essential piece of that team's success. Our turnout for leader meetings is up, our events are reaching capacity, and we are in the process of starting new troops while maintaining older girl interest.”
George said she checks in on her leaders a lot, and has created binders of information that she calls the team’s “recipe for success.” That way, new leaders don’t have to reinvent the wheel – just follow along with what has worked for people in the past, and see what venues and themes others have used, and what she has done for insurance and budgets. She also started her “Dear Juliette” column – an advice column like Dear Abby, where she posts answers to common questions like: Why do girls need uniforms? Or What if my girls don’t want to do art? Among the events on her timeline are Girl Scout Cookie booths, World Thinking Day, Girl Scout Week, Girl Scout Derby, a community camping trip, a leaders’ dinner, bridging ceremonies, and more.
“It’s nice for leaders to feel supported,” she said. “We’re working hard on trust, positive communication.”
George said she loves working with her new service team, adding that they are amazing and supportive. “It really is a team effort! I couldn’t do what I do without my team – the endless hours of meetings, and chatting, texting, messaging, bouncing ideas around, creating new beginnings for our community along with me. They are fabulous! My team is the best!”
As a leader herself, George enjoys seeing her girls becoming young women of courage, character and confidence.
“I really love the way they’ve become more independent, and the meetings are more girl-led,” she said. “Maybe in real life they might not be super close friends, but they support each other. I love that perspective. They’re unique with their differences and skill sets.”
George is qualified in basic outdoor living skills, so she started an Outdoor Day with stations where girls can learn skills like carving with a knife, fishing, lighting a match, tying knots, using a compass, following trails on a hike, and more. They went on camping trips last spring and this past fall. Her Girl Scouts enjoyed the lock-in sleepover at a local recreation center. Now they’re asking to do a year-long philanthropy project that will have a larger impact. They also want to travel.
It’s Girl Scout Cookie season, and they are planning to host a booth or two with plans to save the proceeds for camping and maybe even a trip to Europe.
“We’ve camped at Seawood, went to Menotomy. We went to the Older Girl Conference and they loved all three of those trips,” she said. “They have more of a long term goal (for cookie sales).”
She’s also got her girls thinking about Girl Scouting’s highest honors.
“We did the Amaze Journey, so I think next year is to work on the Silver Award,” she said. “I do hear a couple of them talking about Gold Award. They’re going to have to vote on it and choose to do it next year. I’m mentoring a senior in high school for her Gold Award. She’s waiting for approval from council. Her project is on gender equality.”
She encourages anyone who’s interested to consider volunteering for Girl Scouts. “Volunteering can be as little or as much as you want it to be. Don’t be overwhelmed. It’s so rewarding watching the girls grow and change and become independent - and to watch that blossom is amazing.”
It’s easy to volunteer, through www.girlscoutsgwm.org.
“She's a gem, and we are all richer for dedication to Girl Scouting,” said Kates.
“I truly love Girl Scouts!” said George. “I love the girls and want to see them thrive and excel.”
Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains thanks Corinne George for her enthusiasm and hard work, and appreciates all her contributions. She embodies the G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)™ philosophy behind Girl Scouting and is preparing girls for a lifetime of leadership and success. The council is pleased to name her Volunteer of the Month.
About Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains: Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains is recognized throughout New Hampshire and Vermont as a leading expert on girls. Our Girl Scout Leadership Experience is a one-of-a-kind leadership development program for girls, with proven results. It is based on time-tested methods and research-backed programming that helps girls take the lead—in their own lives and in the world. Through our exciting and challenging programs, Girl Scouts not only participate but also take the lead in a range of activities—from kayaking, archery, and camping, to coding, robotics, financial literacy training, and beyond! Serving more than 10,000 girls throughout New Hampshire and Vermont, girls discover the fun, friendship, and power of girls together. Visit www.girlscoutsgwm.org.
