Giving Where It Matters...By Guest Blogger James Langan

James Langan

Volunteers are what has made America great: They defend our freedom abroad; they provide disaster relief to cities and towns struck by earthquakes, tornados, floods, fires, and hurricanes; they feed the hungry, teach the illiterate to read, and help troubled minds to cope; they build houses for the poor and provide care for the elderly – and much more. Indispensable, each of these volunteers stands as an anonymous monument to the often abandoned truth that virtue is its own reward. Although it is impossible to count their selfless contributions, we can still say that the world would be vastly different – much colder, bleaker, and sadder – without them.  But they are here, and so we are blessed.    
    
Faithful to this tradition, volunteers are also what make the Girl Scouts of Nassau County tick.  Be they Troop Leaders, Co-Leaders, Cookie Managers, Treasurers, Service Unit Members, Association Chairs, Registrars, and Board Members or any other indispensable type of volunteer, they are the prime mover that propels our organization forward as we strive to instill courage, confidence, and character in every girl that passes through our doors. Indeed, it is amazing that our volunteers manage to accomplish what they do while coping with the demands of parenthood and full time jobs.  And yet they do it gladly – because it is for the daughters of their community.

Unlike volunteers in emergency situations, Girl Scout volunteers may not see the fruits of their efforts right away: When a firefighter rescues a child from a burning building, the result is immediate; the firefighter’s heroism, obvious. But when a Troop Leader helps her girls to meet new challenges, learn new skills, and reach plateaus they otherwise wouldn’t have, it may take weeks, months, and even years to see the girls’ growth and progress. Much patience and faith are required, and the results are more subtle. Yet they are real. And a quiet and persistent heroism, though unseen by most, is still present. The Troop Leader’s efforts will eventually pay off in the success achieved by her girls in their daunting journey towards womanhood. Naturally, what holds true for the Troop Leader is equally true for every single Girl Scout volunteer. 

For these reasons and many others, the Girl Scouts of Nassau County would like to offer a heartfelt thank-you to all our volunteers, past and present. Your commitment and dedication are the bedrock on which our organization is built. And for our many success stories, it is you who deserve the credit. You are the real reason the Girl Scouts of Nassau County truly does make a difference in the lives of girls we serve. Your contribution is invaluable and can only be matched by our enduring gratitude. Again, thank you for all your hard work and for making the world a better place for girls and for everybody.