Volunteer Spotlight-July
July 16, 2025
Congratulations to Melissa Morel who has been awarded GSNI’s Volunteer Spotlight for July 2025!
Besides being a leader for Troop 935, a Troop Fall Product Chair, and a Troop Cookie Chair in 2024, Melissa stepped up to fill the Whiteside Carroll Service Unit Manager role and handled the cookie cupboard in the area! She has proven to be a passionate volunteer who cares a great deal about spreading the news about Girl Scouts. GSNI proudly recognized Melissa this past April 2025 as a recipient of GSUSA’s Volunteer of Excellence Award.
Michelle Hicks, one of GSNI’s Membership Engagement Specialists, nominated Melissa, explaining, “She has been a Girl Scout volunteer for several years, starting when she filled out an interest card at a back-to-school night. Melissa is dedicated to her troop and provides them with new experiences and fun adventures. During the summer of 2024 after some drastic changes within the service unit, Melissa volunteered to be the Service Unit Manager and cover the cookie cupboard. She is dedicated, kind, and always looking for ways to share news about what Girl Scouts can do. We are extremely honored to have Melissa as a part of the GSNI family!”
Over the three years she has volunteered, Melissa has many great memories. Her favorite memory was the troop’s first camping trip this past spring. She mentioned, “We could not get the girls to go to bed the first night because they were so excited. Yes, that makes me happy, because if they’re excited to be there, then I know I’m doing something right!”
She added, “Another great memory was when a parent and one of our Girl Scouts nominated me for a YWCA Women of Achievement Award for all my hard work with the troop. It was so rewarding knowing that not only are the parents noticing what I’m doing, but the girls are too. The Girl Scout helped write the actual nomination that was read at the ceremony, and I may have teared up a bit.”
With their troop, Melissa integrates The Three Processes in everything they do, using at least one process each time. She commented, “Working on a badge? We’re doing it by cooperative learning. Deciding on how we want to spend their cookie money? That’s girl-led. Each of The Three Processes are all great techniques that allow the girls to really feel like THEY are taking control and running THEIR troop.”
When asked why she volunteers, Melissa responded, “I used to be a teacher and ever since I changed career paths, I was looking for something that would fulfill the teacher in me but would also be something my daughter and I could do together. Girl Scouts was the perfect fit!”
She continued, “Volunteering means a lot to me because I know I am making a difference in these girls’ lives in different ways for each of them. I know they have all learned so much when I see and hear things in their everyday lives that they learned at a troop meeting. When our lessons become concrete skills girls can use, that’s what makes it so worth all the hard work.”
“Have fun!” This is what Melissa recommends to other Girl Scout volunteers and parents. “At the end of the day, this is Girl Scouts, and it should be about the girls. Leave the drama and personal feelings at home and try to make this the best experience for your kiddo!”
Thank you, Melissa, for all you do with Girl Scouts! You truly deserve to be in the spotlight!
GSNI wishes to thank Patty Donahue and Image Awards Engraving and Creative Keepsakes in Geneva, Illinois, for providing the beautiful tile trivet awards for our Volunteer Spotlight program.
