Who Are We?
We are a small group of Girl Scout volunteers who are intensely interested in Girl Scout Governance and in giving members more voice in governance and other major decisions affecting the Girl Scout Movement.
We truly believe in the words of Margaret Mead, who said: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
Collectively, we are inspired by the words of our Founder, Juliette Gordon Low, who said:
“Scouting rises within you, and inspires you to do your best.”
“The work of today is tomorrow’s history, and we are its makers.”
“Right is right, even if no one else is doing it.”
If YOU believe, as we do, in democratic processes and in the ideas captured in the quotes above, we invite you to join us in making sure our Movement is responsive to its membership. The governance and “big picture” topics we hope to discuss here may sometimes seem far removed from the nitty gritty of delivering Girl Scouting to girls, but it’s not. This website provides a space open to all to discuss ideas, proposals, and other topics important to guide our representatives in making wise decisions on program and resources for all of us. The leadership we collectively show here — taking responsibility for the guidance and direction of our Movement – is exactly the type of advocacy and leadership we teach our girls as we build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. Together, all of us CAN make a difference. Please join us to help make our Girl Scout world a better place for every member of the Movement.
Below are the bios of those of us who have agreed to be the “public face” of this website.
Marty Woelfel is a 45-year member of the Girl Scout Movement from Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana. She began her Girl Scout journey in 1973 as a young adult seeking year-round opportunities to work with girls in the out of doors, as she had done as a camp counselor with YWCA and YMCA camps for several summers. Along her Girl Scout journey, she has led a Cadette troop, advised a Senior troop, and advised Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana’s Senior Planning Board (back in the days when Girl Scout Seniors included all high school girls). She has been and still is active in providing program to girls and training for adults in her council. She has been actively involved in governance as a many-time delegate to the council’s annual meeting, member of numerous council board committees and task groups (chairing several), member-at-large of the council board of directors (six years), member and chair of the council’s board development committee (four years), leader of the council board strategic planning process (twice), and council officer (about 5 years). In recognition of her service, Marty has been honored by her council with various council-level awards and the following national awards: Outstanding Volunteer, Volunteer of Excellence, Appreciation Pin, Honor Pin, Thanks Badge, and Thanks Badge II. She has attended every National Council Session but one since 1996 as a visitor, alternate, or national delegate. Marty is now happily retired, but in her professional life, she was a college biology professor, Faculty Senate President, and academic administrator at Kentucky State University in Frankfort, Kentucky. Both her Girl Scout and professional experiences have given her broad understanding of governance issues and strategic planning. In addition, those who attended the 2014 National Convention may remember Marty as “the button lady” who distributed nearly 5,000 colorful “Support an Outdoor Journey” buttons to influence the discussion on Outdoor Programming that occurred during that National Council Session. What you may not know is that Marty was the author of several of the proposals adopted by various councils which led to that topic being on the National Council Session’s agenda. You may also have caught a glimpse of her singing and playing guitar at the 2011, 2014, and 2017 “Sing after Dark” events and as a “troubadour” in the Hall of Experiences in 2017.
Penelope Echo Reardanz is a lifetime member of Girl Scouts of the USA. Echo (who is known by her middle name) started as a Brownie Girl Scout in Girl Scouts of Greater New York and stayed active in Girl Scouts through 12th grade. As a Senior Girl Scout, she served as a Volunteer in Training leading a Brownie troop. She was a Junior co-leader in college with Girl Scouts of the Commonwealth of Virginia and a Junior co-leader for a couple of years following college with Girl Scouts of Central Maryland (GSCM). She then took a several-year break from her Girl Scout membership while she focused on career and family. However, when her daughter joined GSCM as a Brownie, Echo became an active Girl Scout volunteer. Currently Echo is the leader of two GSCM Cadette/Senior/Ambassador level troops (one outdoor focused the other a travel pathway troop). She serves as the volunteer chair of GSCM’s Annual Big Outdoors Event and is a council trainer with GSCM. From a Girl Scout governance perspective, Echo serves as a Service Unit delegate to GSCM and is a National Delegate, serving a 3 year term (May 2017-May 2020) representing GSCM. Echo attended the 2014 convention as a chaperone to her council’s girl delegates (where she met Marty and helped distributed a few of the “Support an Outdoor Journey” buttons). In recognition of her service to GSCM, Echo has been honored with the GSCM Daisy award and the GSUSA Volunteer of Excellence and Honor Pins. When not volunteering, Echo is employed full time by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD); during her over 30-year career, she has held numerous analytic and leadership positions in the United States and overseas. Echo holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and International Affairs from Mary Washington College and a Master of Science in Strategic Intelligence from the Joint Military Intelligence College. Echo resides in Columbia, Maryland with her husband, college age son (a registered GS volunteer archery instructor), and her college age Girl Scout daughter. Her daughter is a lifetime member who spent the past two summers as a Girl Scout resident Camp counselor at GSCM’s Camp Conowingo while on summer break from being a student at Cleveland State University studying International Relations and Non-Profit Administration (inspired by her Girl Scout membership).
Amy Brown is a lifetime member of Girl Scouts. She started her Girl Scout journey (the real life kind, not that other kind) as a Brownie in 1981 in the Northeast Georgia council and earned her Gold Award in 1989. Some of her favorite memories growing up are from her troop’s trips to National Center West and Our Cabaña. In a former life, Amy was an advertising media planner and buyer for BBDO South and Turner Broadcasting. But after a mid-20’s life crisis, she decided to switch careers and went into the IT field. She worked for Lotus Development Corporation in technical support and then Ahold Information Services as a Lotus Notes administrator. In 2010, she returned to the world of Girl Scouting in the South Carolina-Mountains to Midlands council as a Daisy troop leader for her oldest daughter. Now, she is what she likes to call herself, “a professional Girl Scout volunteer.” In addition to being a troop leader for two levels (Junior & Senior), she is on her service unit team as the Communications Manager, SU Parliamentarian & Governance Consultant, and the Whatever Else Needs to be Done Unless It Involves Cookies position. She served as a council delegate for five years and as a National Delegate for the 2017 National Council Session and has been awarded the Volunteer of Excellence and Appreciation Pins and Thanks Badge. Amy is the author of the Girl Scout with a Cause blog and enjoys writing about a wide variety of Girl Scouting memories and topics including OFFICIAL scarves. It is rumored that she collects Blue Books from years past.
There are others who are working behind the scenes. All are deeply committed to the member’s voice remaining active in Girl Scouting to ensure that we will serve girls in the most successful way possible.