With great thanks to all of you....

[Girls Scout Leader]

I have posted enough that I know many of you are familiar with our situation for this cruise. I am a Girl Scout leader, for a group of Senior Girl Scouts in a rual area, planning a trip of a lifetime with them. 5 days at WDW (SoG) and 3 night cruise. I've been with these girls since they were in Kindergarden. We are pretty close, but they got one on me. Last Thursday night, we had our annual award night. Before the ceremony was over, another leader announced that my troop wanted to make a presentation. Knowing that my troop are real hams I reallty didn't know what to expect. Each of the six girls sttod up to the mike and told what they thought a perfect leader was. They were funny, touching and down right tearjerking. When they finished, they all said in unison, "and that perfect leader is..." and they called my name and presented me with the county's Outstanding Leader of The Year Award. I cried, which seemed to tickle them, and loved them all so much. The reason I'm telling you all this is that I am reafirming my vow to make this the most awsome trip I could ever plan for them. Some have never flown or been outside the state. And it is with tremendous thanks to all of you that I can do it. Your help answers and tips are priceless. You are not just helping with room decisions for a stressed mom, or money saving tidbits for a budget minded dad. You are changing lives, improving the world, and you will be blessed for it. Thanks to all of you, for the next two years until our trip, I will be here every day, soaking in all the valuable information, experencing the trip reports, printing lists and just being here having a ball. Thanks again, and I will be in touch .

 

[December99]

Congrats GSL!!!!! Being one that makes sure that people get recognized in our Service Unit - I know how it is giving out that award. How special it is when it comes from a girl or a whole troop presenting it to a leader!!!!!

And have fun planning your trip!!!!!

 

[4nana]

What an honor ...Congratulations Girls Scout Leader!

Enjoy this special time in your life with your troop! I have many fond memories of my troops from my younger years. What an example you have set for your girls they will carry the rest of their lives. Continued success and have fun planning your trip ^i^

 

[Michelle]

That's wonderful, congratulations!

I have no doubt you will create the trip of a lifetime for these girls, and will have an incredible time.

 

[Girls Scout Leader]

Thanks everyone! I didn't write thta post to blow my own horn, but to let all fo you know how valuable you are. Thanks for taking time to reply with great advice and to bring up new ideas.

 

[kimber79]

That is so exciting that you are working on this "trip of memories!" I too was a Girl Scout, and our troop worked for years to go on a trip to Mexico. It was the most awesome thing! Me and the girls in my troop were often ridiculed for "still being in Girl Scouts", and as cruel as kids tend to be today, I hope your girls don't get much of this. This trip will be something that stands out in their memories for the rest of their lives, I know my trip has for me!

Congratulations on your decision to help these precious girls with precious memories! Have a WONDERful time on your priceless vacation, you all deserve it!

(Where in Michigan are you all from? I am from Mattawan, which is a small village in the Kalamazoo area.)

Kim

 

[WDWLVR]

Congratulations! It sounds like with the relationship you already have with them that you are well on your way to the trip of a lifetime.

Have fun with all the planning and I'm sure the cruise will be here before you know it!

 

[snelsonbrown]

Hello GSL,
I just wanted to take this time to sincerely congratulate you on your award - the "job" tho very time consuming is very rewarding in the end - I know I was a cub scount leader uh a few years ago and I have been able to witness what my "young boys" did with their lives in their adult years - a teacher teachings - good, bad or indifferent does make a difference in a child - Thank you for caring enough to take the time to do so - If I am still around when you go on your trip, will you please keep my phone number and call me - BUT due to my crs sometimes - I forget to please nudge my memory of this trip ok.
Again congratulations - I am proud of you as I am sure your town is.
Stay safe and stay happy :-D
Always
Shirley
800-950-4559

 

[Girls Scout Leader]

You guys are giving me more credit than I deserve!

Kimber79....that stigma is still there, but for some reason, most of my girls are part of the more popular crowd, so they are left alone for the most part. But most places it's just not "cool" to be part of Girl Scouting. My hubby is the Boy Scout Scoutmaster, and the same goes for them, too. Figures, anything goood is considered wrong.
snelsonbrown... I love some of the work you have done for others that I have read about on trip reports! Maybe we could work something out that I could do for the girls.

June 2004 is a looonggg way away, but with all of you keeping me company all along the way, maybe the time will go faster!

I have considered using something like Tiffany or Happy Limo and upgrade to a limo for the girls, with a towncar for the adults, but keeping it a surprise until we get there. If anyone has other surprises I could get on them, please let me know! That's the fun, seeing thier faces!

 

[c_u_soon]

Girl Scout Leader,
Your post made me cry! What a wonderful thing to be recognized by your girls for all of your efforts and hard work that you have put in over the years.
My daughter is now a Brownie, and I truly understand the amount of time/planning that leaders have to put into planning each meeting, event, etc.

Your exuberance is uplifting!

 

[Girls Scout Leader]

By the way, Kimber79, we are from a small town midway between Houghton Lake and Tawas. My Hubby works on Ann
Arbor, so I am becoming more familliar with your end of the state!
If any of you can come up with anyother small inexpencive surprises I could do for my girls, I'm all ears. I've thought of a kind of scavenger hunt for the parks, stuff like How many tea cups are there, or what does EPCOT stand for, with a pin or something as a prize. What about on board?

 

[WDWLVR]

Here's an inexpensive thing you could do for the sailaway. Last year when we left on our 7 day cruise I stopped at Wal-Mart about a week before our cruise and bought a 6-pack of bubbles for about $2 (not sure on price, but it was cheap). I carefully took the labels off and made new labels with a picture off the ship on it it and the words "cruise bubbles". Gave them to my DH and in-laws as we were sailing away and we had fun with them all week (they work great off of the veranda).

Since you will have a lot more going than 4 I suggest you go to a party store and look in the bridal aisle. They have smaller bottles where you can buy packs of 24 I think. Again just do a custom label and everyone can have one. think of the fun of everyone blowing bubbles at the same time! You don't even have to blow them just let the breeze do it!

 

[Girls Scout Leader]

That is a great idea! I have heard of people bringing bubbles, but never thought of making custom lables! We have 11 going...6 girls and 5 adults. Thanks so much

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

Congrats on your recognition! I've mentioned to you before that I'm a first year Brownie leader--still muddling through--and I am in awe of you for keeping that level of interest through all those years. But don't credit the DIS boards--you got the award because of your hard work! (Not that I don't love these boards, too!) Buzz just turned 5 and will start Tiger Scouts in the fall--my DH (Eagle Scout) has been dying to be a Scoutmaster. I only hope we can do half of what your family has done!