Volunteer Spotlight-March
2024 March Volunteer Spotlight: Kari West
25 March 2024
Congratulations to Kari West who has been awarded GSNI’s Volunteer Spotlight for March 2024!
During her youth, Kari was involved with Girl Scouts as a Brownie and Junior in Sycamore, Illinois. She has volunteered with GSNI for nine years now, first stepping up as a Daisy troop leader when her oldest was in kindergarten. She currently co-leads Troop 1136 and Troop 393. She is one of Double Tree Service Unit’s Cookie Co-Coordinators and their Service Unit Registrar. In 2023, GSNI was proud to recognize Kari as a recipient of GSUSA’s Appreciation Pin Award!
Double Tree Service Unit’s Recruitment Specialist Kim French nominated Kari for this award. Kim says, “Kari went out of her way in her Registrar role to increase her area’s membership by assisting with our recruitment efforts. Kari and I communicated plans for recruitment events and how we could best get the word out, including getting help from other service unit team members to do lunch talks and place customized reminder bracelets on the wrists of girls in their local elementary schools. Kari helped to secure the facilities, followed up with leads and families who attended our events. She helped to place new members into troops, finding the right spot for them, and more! Their first recruitment event this past fall had about 75 people attend! Since their Double Tree Service Unit covers one town, Sycamore, and its school district, this was a tremendous success. Recruitment has continued there throughout the year, and I am thankful to have Kari’s help.”
“Volunteering is such a rewarding experience!” Kari shared. “I get to see these amazing kids grow into young adults. Watching them work through challenges, face fears, and try new things is awesome.”
Kari continued, “There are so many great memories I have from being a Girl Scout and also a volunteer. I remember as a girl that our local Double Tree Service Unit Day Camp was so much fun! I recall looking up to the older Girl Scouts and learning from them about camp life. As a volunteer, I got the pleasure to see my girls do the same thing when we were able to hold our camp.”
Regarding the Three Processes (girl-led, learn by doing, and cooperative learning), Kari explained, “The girls discuss throughout the year what they want to do. They’ve started researching and budgeting how they’d like to spend their cookie proceeds. It’s so fun to see first, the things they want to do; second, the compromises that sometimes have to be made, and third, their realization of how to plan these things and the cost and work involved. The best part is the excitement and fun you see when they accomplish what they plan.”
When asked why she volunteers for Girl Scouts, Kari replied “I volunteer, because I enjoy it. I enjoy seeing the girls in my troops try new things (archery, axe throwing, and camping), face their fears (horseback riding and rock climbing), and have fun while making friends. I love the opportunities the girls are given through Girl Scouts, and I want to do my part to ensure girls get those experiences if they want them. I enjoy encouraging the girls to make the world a kinder, cleaner, and better place.”
Kari commented, “My advice to other Girl Scout volunteers and parents is to get involved, ask questions, and don’t be afraid! Connect with local leaders and volunteers to help if you need it. You’ll be amazing!”
Thank you, Kari, for your dedication and wonderful contributions! You truly deserve to be in the spotlight!
GSNI wants 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.
