Girl Scouts Alumnae Reception Aug. 9 at Rockford Art Museum

Online Staff Report

Longtime Loves Park resident Leanna Hargraves remembers growing up in the 1950s and being deeply involved in Girl Scout Troop 52 of Loves Park.

Hargraves and her sister Girl Scouts were members of Troop 52 from Girl Scout Brownie age until they were juniors in high school.

“We walked the bridge at Tinker Swiss Cottage and camped at Camp McCormick,” Hargraves said. “We visited parks, went square dancing and did our own puppet shows. We even made tablecloths for our mothers and special bags for all our camping dishware.

“Our Girl Scout Troop was just a positive place to be,” she continued. “As girls, we worked as a team, even before people started calling it ‘being a team player.’ We had great leaders, and no matter what was going on in our lives, we knew we were special — thanks to Girl Scouting.”

With Girl Scouts’ 100th anniversary approaching in 2012, Hargraves decided to organize a reunion for Troop 52 Saturday, Aug. 13, in Roscoe, at the home of her troop leader’s daughter.

Hargraves was extremely pleased to learn her leader, Shirley Layng, was in her 90s and would be able to attend the reunion. The troop’s co-leader, Marge Kildow, in her 80s, also hopes to make the reunion.

Hargraves is expecting 13-15 Girl Scout alumnae to attend the reunion with former Troop 52 members coming from as far as Arizona and Arkansas.

Hargraves is organizing a special fashion show and a secret craft activity.

“I’m trying to keep it a secret,” Hargraves said. “You never know how 60-something women will react if you tell them they’re going to be doing a Girl Scout craft.”

Hargraves’ Troop 52 joins hosts of other troops that are busily organizing reunions to coincide with Girl Scouts’ 100th anniversary in 2012.

The Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois (GSNI) Alumnae Association will also be hosting an Alumnae Reception for all Girl Scout Alumnae from 5:30 to 7 p.m., Aug. 9, at Rockford Art Museum, 711 N. Main St. Cost is $10 per person. Registration is available online at http://girlscoutsni.org/alumnae.html, or by visiting the Girl Scout Service Center at 2101 Auburn St., Rockford.

An alumna is a woman who was a Girl Scout of any level — from Girl Scout Daisies through Ambassadors — and all former staff, board members, volunteers — both men and women. Alumnae can register now at www.alumnae.girlscouts.org to receive Girl Scouts of the USA Alumnae Association’s newsletter, information about GSNI’s happenings and invitations to the Girl Scout 100th Anniversary and Alumnae Events.

Nearly a year ago, GSNI launched its Alumnae Association inviting all Girl Scout alumnae to join, regardless of where or when they were Girl Scouts. More than 200 alumnae are registered in the GSNI Alumnae Association.

Since Girl Scouts’ inception in 1912, more than 50 million American women have enjoyed Girl Scouting, and more than 53 percent of all women business owners are Girl Scout alumnae.

GSNI serves more than 20,000 girls and nearly 6,000 adult volunteers in parts or all of Boone, Carroll, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Jo Daviess, Kane, Kendall, Lake, LaSalle, Lee, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside, and Winnebago counties.

To find out how you can become part of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience by joining, reconnecting, volunteering or making a donation, call 800-242-5591, or visit www.girlscoutsni.org.