Four local ladies who volunteer their time and talents leading and helping Oxford Girl Scouts will receive national awards for their selfless efforts.
Oxford residents Karen Schodowski and Kathryn Taraski will each receive the “Appreciation Pin,” a national Girl Scout Award given to adult volunteers for “outstanding service in a position held in one service unit of the council that contributes to the council’s goals and objectives.”
The Oxford Service Unit is part of the Girl Scouts Fair Winds Council, which serves more than 10,500 girls ages 5 through 17 in northern Oakland, Genesee, Shiawassee and Lapeer counties with more than 4,300 adult volunteers.
Schodowski has been involved in Girls Scouts for nine years and the leader of Troop 015 (eighth grade Cadets) for five years. She currently serves as treasurer for the Oxford Service Unit.
Schodowski became involved in scouting when her daughter, Kelsea, joined in kindergarten.
“I wanted to broaden her and my horizons,” said Schodowski explaining why they started scouting. “I’ve learned a lot. I’ve enjoyed watching the girls have a good time.”
Schodowski said she’s enjoyed making new friends and doing service projects for the community.
As for her daughter, who’s now an eighth grade Cadet, Schodowski said scouting has helped her “be a better person” and learn how to “put others first.”
“We have a lot of fun together. We have a great time,” she said.
Taraski, of Brandon Township, has been involved in the Oxford Service Unit for eight years, spending five of them as the leader of Troop 364 (seventh grade Cadets). She currently serves as the “Oxford Cookie Chair,” which means “all the troops order their cookies through me.”
Taraski became involved with scouting when her daughter, Jennifer, joined in kindergarten. Her daughter is now a seventh grade Cadet.
Taraski said her volunteer work with scouting has allowed her to watch her daughter’s growth from a different perspective than that of a parent.
“I’ve been able to see her in a different light,” she said.
Taraski said she believes scouting is important because it “teaches independence” and educates the girls about nature.
“The girls learn how to be on their own and deal with the environment,” she said.
Oxford resident Susan Lester and Laura Galbraith, of Metamora, will each receive the “Honor Pin,” a national Girl Scout award given to adult volunteers for “outstanding service in more than one service unit of the council and contributing to the council’s goals and objectives.”
Lester serves as the Oxford Service Unit Manager and has volunteered with Girl Scouts for seven years.
She’s the leader of Troop 1335 (second grade Brownies), to which her daughter, Julia, belongs, and co-leader of Troop 63 (sixth grade Juniors) in Lake Orion, to which her daughter, Jenna, belongs.
Lester’s youngest daughter, Alivia is a five-year-old Daisy in Troop 1684.
“I really like the time I get to spend with my daughters,” Lester said. “I have a good time with the girls and build lasting friendships with the other leaders.”
“Being an influential person” in the lives of young girls is Lester’s favorite part of volunteering.
Lester said scouting “builds self-confidence and self-esteem” and “leadership skills” in the older girls while teaching the younger ones “how to work in a group.”
Galbraith has been involved in scouting for nine years. She spent five years as the leader of the now-defunct Troop 604, when her daughter, Holly Douglas, now 25, was a member.
For the last four years, Galbraith’s been the leader of Troop 1271 (fourth grade Juniors), of which her younger daughter, nine-year-old Grace, is a member.
Galbraith is actively involved with the CRIM (Coolest Race in Michigan), an annual race that takes place in late August in downtown Flint. The race serves as a fund-raising vehicle to benefit five local charities, one of which is the Fair Winds Council.
When asked what are some of the positive things girls gain from scouting, Galbraith replied, “a better set of morals” and “a willingness to help others.”
As for the benefits to her, Galbraith listed them as “getting to know a lot of great people” and “doing community service.”
The four ladies will receive their National Girls Scout Volunteer awards at the Fair Winds Council Volunteer Recognition Dinner March 16 at the Father Bush Parish Center in Grand Blanc.