Girl Scouts of Colorado is celebrating extraordinary volunteers throughout the state in honor of Volunteer Appreciation Month. Amy Deschamp of Fruita in the Western Colorado region is a shining example of the wonderful role Girl Scout volunteers play in the lives of girls and our community.
GSCO asked Amy to answer a few quick questions about her volunteer experience. We hope you find her as inspiring as we did.
Why did you become a Girl Scout volunteer?
My daughter’s troop needed a “little bit of help” and it turned out to be leading the Daisy level of our multi-level troop once we had so many girls join. I was a Girl Scout myself, so definitely wanted to be a part of it.
Tell us about your different volunteer roles as a Girl Scout.
I led the Daisy level of our multi-level troop for three years and now with my school schedule changing, I do a lot of administrative support for our troop, cookie mom, and Bronze Award project support.
What have you learned as a Girl Scout volunteer?
That it is a team effort to do it all, girls and leaders get so much out of the experiences; girl-led is a challenge and a blessing; and some of my best friends are my fellow leaders!
What do you hope girls have learned from you?
Strength
Making mistakes is ok
Leading looks different all the time
They can come to any of us at any time
How has your experience as a volunteer helped you become a G.I.R.L. (go-getter, innovator, risk-taker, leader)?
It was a huge risk-taking move to say yes to volunteering in the first place–and I encourage other women to say yes to it when they can. Every meeting and every event is an exercise in innovating as typically the best laid plans do not work. And, knowing a whole bunch of girls and other women are looking to me as a leader has made me a better one.
Want to nominate a volunteer for Girl Scouts of Colorado to spotlight? Please email Public Relations Director AnneMarie Harper at annemarie.harper@gscolorado.org.
The nomination deadline for 2020 Volunteer Recognition Awards is April 30. GSCO invites members statewide to take this opportunity to recognize an outstanding volunteer by nominating them for a Volunteer Recognition Award. Nominators are responsible for ensuring enough endorsements are submitted to support their nomination of a volunteer for an award. Your volunteer support specialist can check nomination and endorsement submissions for you. Learn more.