It's not her fault you can't get - Focus on Women Magazine

Volunteeringto Help Ot<strong>her</strong>s… and YourselfByTraciBarnettAs the New Year (andnew decade) beginsmany of us search formeaningful ways to achieveboth personal and professionalsatisfaction in our lives.One option worth consideringis serving as a volunteer forsomething about which <strong>you</strong>are passionate. As a volunteer<strong>not</strong> only do <strong>you</strong> help ot<strong>her</strong>s,<strong>you</strong> also sharpen skills<strong>you</strong> already have, discovercompetencies and talents <strong>you</strong>did <strong>not</strong> know <strong>you</strong> had andput those skills into action.T<strong>her</strong>e are more than11,000 women (and even afew men) throughout centralMaryland who serve as GirlScout volunteers, includingTroop Leaders, Service UnitManagers, Troop CookieManagers, First Aiders,Trainers and Troop Triporganizers. After participatingin multi-level formaleducational and leadershiptrainings, they serve as mentors,surrogates and advisorsto girls ages 5-17 participatingin a myriad of Girl Scoutactivities.Marva Williams, a retiredSocial Security Administrationmanager and analyst,has been a volunteer for GirlScouts of Central Maryland’snationally renowned BeyondBars program for 17 years.This program enables incarceratedmot<strong>her</strong>s and theirdaughters to stay connectedthrough bi-monthly GirlScout meetings at the Women’sCorrectional Institute inJessup, MD. When asked whyshe volunteers she explained40 <strong>Focus</strong> on Women Magazinethat she lost <strong>her</strong> mot<strong>her</strong> atage nine and appreciates theneed for girls to stay connectedwith their mot<strong>her</strong>s. Sheadded, “I saw the need—aneed for capable, dependable,willing and committedpeople. I have something Ican share; I can serve as arole model and help ot<strong>her</strong>s.”Patty Salazar, a<strong>not</strong><strong>her</strong>long-time Girl Scout volunteer,was a Troop Leader formore than 10 years and wasthen “promoted” to ServiceUnit Manager, a position shehas held for eight years. Justas she helped girls achievesuccess when she was aTroop Leader, as a volunteerGirl Scout manager sheworks to help ot<strong>her</strong> adultsdevelop girls of courage, confidenceand character.Some of the skills Pattyand ot<strong>her</strong> volunteers honedas a Girl Scout volunteerinclude: managing time andresources; providing a welcomingenvironment; problemresolution; matchingvolunteer talent with needs;facilitating training; and, theability to listen to and acceptnew ideas that may differfrom one’s own. “Managingvolunteers teaches <strong>you</strong> howto motivate people and howto keep them motivated, inspiredand accountable eventhough they are <strong>not</strong> beingpaid,” Patty reflected. “Youlearn that it’s more the carrotthan the stick.”These are but two examplesof meaningful volunteerexperiences. For both ofthese women, the satisfactionthey receive from serving asvolunteers and the friendshipsthey have made alongthe way are very importantto them. “When <strong>you</strong> [the volunteer]need help or advice,t<strong>her</strong>e is always someone tocall on,” Patty said. “I havehad mentors along the way;it was good to have someoneto talk to and to <strong>get</strong> theirperspective.” Knowing theymake a measurable differencein a girl’s life whiledeveloping their own skill sethas had a powerful impact onthe quality of their volunteerexperience.Girl Scouts has alwaysbeen, and continues to be, anorganization w<strong>her</strong>e womenare encouraged to try newthings, step outside theircomfort zone and try theirhand at leadership. In doingso, they serve as role modelsto the girls with whom theyinteract. In this new decadeI encourage <strong>you</strong> to becomea volunteer, for Girl Scoutsor a<strong>not</strong><strong>her</strong> organization, andexperience the satisfaction ofknowing that <strong>you</strong> are makinga difference. You may besurprised by the personaland professional developmentthat comes with it. Don’twait… start <strong>you</strong>r volunteerjourney today!Traci A. Barnett is Chief Executive Officerfor Girl Scouts of Central Maryland,which provides leadership training,activities and events for nearly 30,000girls ages 5-17 and 11,000 adultvolunteers. Visit Girl Scouts of CentralMaryland’s website: www.gscm.org formore information about Girl Scouting incentral Maryland.