Girl Scout volunteer honored
Fellow Girl Scout volunteers recently honored Emma Jean Russell for 28 years of service to her hometown Perryopolis Scouts. Throughout her 28 years of service, Russell, now 70, climbed the ranks of Girl Scout leadership.
She stayed involved even after her daughter, Cheryl Potter, also of Perryopolis, graduated from high school, went to college and left the Scouts behind. Russell coordinated cookie, magazine and nut sales, which are main sources of income for the Girl Scouts.
At the November monthly Perryopolis Girl Scout meeting, fellow Scout volunteers presented Russell with a clock and a cake for her years of service.
Russell said the highlight of her 28 years was the people she worked with.
“I liked working with the leaders and the girls,” Russell said. “It was fun.”
Susan Cowen, cadet senior Girl Scout leader, got to know Russell through volunteering.
“It’s truly amazing she’s done this for all these years,” Cowen said. “I don’t know how many people have that kind of dedication.”
Pam Balas, membership coordinator for the Girl Scout Trillium, called Russell “a very dedicated volunteer” within her Girl Scout community and the community where she lives.
Potter added that her mom is receiving well-deserved recognition.
“She’s put a lot of time and effort into Girl Scouts throughout the years,” she said.
When her daughter joined the Girl Scouts in elementary school, Russell took advantage of the chance to re-spark a lingering interest that began during her own seven years as a Scout.
“When (Cheryl) got old enough to join, you want to do things with your kids,” Russell said.
Cheryl was 19 years old when she decided to move on from the ranks of Girl Scouts, but Russell, at the age of 51, decided to continue her service.
Russell watched as Scouts she led as Brownies, the earliest rank of a Girl Scout, grew into Cadet Seniors, the highest rank a Girl Scout can achieve.
“It was great watching them grow up,” Russell said. “I see them now with kids of their own.” Some, she said, are carrying on the Girl Scout tradition by guiding their children as members of a troop.
Russell remembered the expeditions she was fortunate to lead the Scouts on. For one trip, the Scouts traveled to Martha’s Vineyard, Mass. For others, they set up camp at Laurel Hill and Ligonier.
Potter said she is immensely proud of her mother for teaching her four children the value of volunteer service.
It was her mother’s willingness to dedicate so many hours to volunteering that caused Potter and her three brothers to volunteer with a variety of organizations as adults.
“It has rubbed off on all four of us,” Potter said. “We got our volunteer ways from our mom.”
With three sons of her own, Potter was pushed back into volunteer service with the Girl Scouts thanks to her mom, and also is involved in Boy Scouts because of her boys.
Russell admits that her volunteer service led her four children to start “careers” as volunteers of important organizations.
Although Russell has decided to retire from the Girl Scouts this year, the years she spent as a Girl Scout volunteer are some of her fondest memories.
“It really was a great time,” she said.