The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1951-11-02
Key West Girl
Scouts Leaders
Association
early n le48 Kew West had "a

Early in l948 Key West had II
intermediate, / senior, and q
brownie Girl Scout troops. The
leaders and committee members
of the troops felt the need of a
closer coordination of leadership
of the lone troops, looking tow
ard the formation of a county
Girl Scout council at future
date. The leaders desired to m
terpret Girl Scout policy and
procedure correctly, and they
felt troops would operate more
effectively if leaders could dis
cuss needs and problems in COM
mon and help each other to solve
them. Camping was definite
need, and the leaders believed
that an association of leaders and
committee members working to-
gether might make possible the
establishment of Girl Scout
camping program in the locality,
Accordingly, through the assist
ance of Mrs. Ralph Craft, Girl
Scout Committee Member of 20
years experience in scouting, the
Key West Girl Scout Leaders
Association was organized Oc-
tober 8, l948. Officers elected
were as follows:
Mrs. Lee Thompson, President;
Mrs. Merrill Sands, Secretary;
Mrs. Neil Saunders, Treasurer.
Approximately rs leaders and
committee members comprised
the organization.
The Association held regular
monthly meetings, discussed
problems common to all troops,
and took steps to interest more
leaders needed to form addition
al troops from long waiting lists
of girls eager TO join. Camping
was discussed frequently. Plans
were made for National Girl
Scout Week, and for cookie
sale. Funds from the cookie sale
were to be saved toward estab-
fishing camp. Much progress
was made during the year.
/ Mrs. r. Little succeeded Mrs.
Thompson as President on May
IL 1919. Mrs. Sands and Mrs.
Saunders continued in their po-
sitions as Secretary and Treasur-|
er respectively.
~ scss,S s ssaeais.ta s,.qsss ss., =
troops in the city.
With the year l949 came a
camping program made possible
for lone troops. The Boy Scout
Organization had developed a
tract of land on West Summer
land Key through the coopera-
ton of the Overseas Road and
Toll Commission, and through
the interest and support of com
Inlnity and Boy Scout leaders,
Edwin Trevor. j. M. Bringman,
Joe Cornell, Robert Braun, Rob-
ert, Dopp, Antonio Martinez,
George Sutton and Boy Scouts of
the troops.
The Boy Scout organization
offered the camp to the girls to
use at times when schedule per-
mitted. Camp facilities permit
ted one troop at time to hold
q lone troop camp. The commu-
nifty coperated to the fullest ex-
tent, supplied equipment, trans
portation, and assisted with pro-
grams for the girls. Mr.. Joe Cor
nell Reverend Oscar Rodriguez
and Mr.. Del Vale constructed
tables and benches for the use of
the camp.
National Girl Scout Week,
during the fall of l94s, was ap-
propriately celebrated. Merch-
ants gave space in their shop
windows for displays of Girl
Scout work. The annual cookie
sale brought more funds into the
camp fund treasury.
Correspondence was continued
with National and Reginoal Girl
Scout Headquarters concerning
the advisability of forming a To-
cal council.
InsJanuary, 1850, an election of
officers made Mrs. Sam 10th
President, Mrs. Manson Miller
Secretary, and Mrs. Neil Saun-
ders Treasurer. Mrs. 10th contin-
ued to seek leadership for new
troops ready to be formed. She
enlisted the assistance of regis
tered leaders and committee
members in obtaining qualified
persons willing to become lead
ers..
The senior troop disbanded
prior to January, 1850, but two
Brownie troops were organized
during 1850.
pri-dur-kaletreob
In October. 1850, Mrs. III
Hemphill became Secretary, due
to the transfer of Mrs. Miller.
During National Girl Scout
week held in November, 1850. a
program concentrating Girl
Scouting in Monroe County was
held Thursday. November 2, 1850
at the Noes building on Duval
st. Mrs. Eileen Coughlin and
the National Catholic Community
Services were most cooperative