Thanks for your service

MONROE — Monroe Ambassador Girl Scouts who are graduating from high school were honored for their years of Girl Scout service at a gathering at Mansion Ridge Country Club Wednesday night, which also included recognizing Monroe resident Tanya Woods, who has retired after serving eight years as Monroe Girl Scout Community service manager.
Monroe Girl Scout leadership and troop leaders annually honor high school graduates who served as Girl Scouts during their entire school careers - from kindergarten/first-grade through 12th grade – to recognize their years of community service as they participated in the different facets of the Girl Scout program.
Those girls were presented with green honor cords to wear at graduation ceremonies, green being the color many people associate with Girl Scouts.
Girls who are recipients of the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a young woman can earn in the Girl Scout world, were presented with gold/green honor cords to recognize their accomplishments to plan and complete a sustainable community project, with those colors representing Girl Scouts and the Gold Award.
ScholarshipsAlso at the gathering, winners of the Monroe Girl Scout Community’s Nora Jean Fields Memorial Scholarship were officially presented with their scholarship checks, which totaled $2,200. They are: Dana Carey, Kendall Fioranti, Alexis Newman, Prachi Shah, Caitlin Sisilli and Katarina Woods.
Woods announced her retirement as service manager that evening. The unit’s leadership committee - which had advance notice of her decision - surprised her with gifts from troop leaders, as her family watched.
Town of Monroe Supervisor Tony Cardone and Village of Monroe Mayor Neil Dwyer presented her with certificates of appreciation and proclamations to acknowledge her work to advance the Girl Scout program in the greater Monroe area, which they said positively contributed both to the community and the lives of hundreds of elementary, middle school and high school girls.
The role of volunteersWoods, who substitutes in the Monroe-Woodbury School District and is a dance instructor at the South Orange Family YMCA, was quick to acknowledge the work of the volunteer troop leaders. She stressed the service unit’s success is due to leaders’ involvement and commitment to the Girl Scout program and their interest in supporting the varied activities and events it offers to girls in all six scouting levels.
Still, in her volunteer role, Woods oversaw community/Girl Scout programs and events such as the annual Pumpkin Blaze, Pinwheels for Peace, Monroe Scarecrows, Girl Scout Cookies sales, the Father/Daughter spring dance, the Powder Puff Derby, Ice Cream Social, Thinking Day, camporees, mother/daughter events and trips to Girl Scout Rock Hill Camp and Frost Valley.
She also worked with leaders to organize or participate in programs and many annual events to remember veterans, senior citizens and those disadvantaged and/or in need, as well as holiday and other scouting and community activities and events designed to inspire girls to be positively involved in their community while learning and having fun.
A retirement giftWoods also served as a mentor to girls working on their Girl Scout Silver Award, the second highest award a Girl Scout can earn. She is a leader to several troops herself and will continue in that role.
Ambassador Troop 202, the most senior troop that Woods led, will graduate next week. They presented Woods with a rocking chair, with their now “retired” troop number and the names of the troop’s girls, embossed on the chair.
Monroe resident Barbara Mallory, a member of the service unit’s leadership team, will now take over as the unit’s new volunteer service manager.
- Nancy Kriz