USAGSO Overseas Volunteer Partners
Overseas Volunteer Partners (OVPs) support the unique needs of USAGSO volunteers and staff by tackling operational, training, and program development challenges, resulting in long-lasting transformations enhancing the Girl Scout experience.
Are you interested in being an OVP? Check out the OVP position description and FAQs to learn more about the role. Then, apply here!
Are you interested in requesting OVP consultation or service for your Girl Scout community? Explore each tab below to learn more about working with OVPs. Then, submit your request here!
OVP Priority Focus Areas 
Consultation or Service Request
Process for Submitting a Request
What Does USAGSO Cover?
What Does the Requester Cover?
Meet the OVP Advisory Team leading the development of this exciting new program for USAGSO!
Laura Anderson (United Kingdom)
Having trained to be a facilitator at age 18, Laura was previously a member of the Global Facilitator team who specialized in new volunteer and outdoor trainings. Out of all her years as a Girl Scout, only seven have been at a stateside council; all the rest have been as a member of USAGSO, which means that she is keenly aware of the challenges that our communities face – as well as how rewarding it can be to be a Girl Scout Overseas! Elsewhere in USAGSO, she has been involved in the Gold Award committee, event organization for both adults and girls, as well as being camp staff and then Camp Director for both of our resident camps, Camp Lachenwald and Camp Tama.
Within GSUSA as a whole, Laura plays an active role in representing USAGSO to both our organization and to other WAGGGS members. Laura spent four years as a National Volunteer Partner for GSUSA, which meant that she worked with council staff and national staff on projects to further our movement, including events such as the National Council Session and G.I.R.L. 2020, before resigning that position to focus on establishing the OVPs. Laura has also represented all of GSUSA by attending the WAGGGS Juliette Lowe Seminar in 2015 and by being a facilitator at the US Hub of the expanded version of the Seminar in 2019. She is a recipient of the Thanks Badge, the Honor Pin, the Appreciation Pin, and the now retired USAGSO-NA Service Award.
Hadley Barth (Germany)
Hadley was raised in Texas and Colorado where she was a Brownie and a Junior Girl Scout herself. As adult, Hadley and her family moved often following her husband’s career in those early years that saw them living in 5 US States in 8 years.
Once their oldest was a Girl Scout, Hadley’s husband would always
caution her as she headed to the first parents’ meeting in the newest
place “Have fun and don’t volunteer for anything.” Somehow she always
came home as a leader or cookie mom, usually both, anyway and here
they are, 22 years later, 7 years since they have had a Girl Scout of
their own and Hadley is still a leader and OVP.
She has also spent many years as OCC in Heidelberg, worked at Girl
Scout camps, served on the Gold Award Committee and been a delegate to
the national convention. Once a Girl Scout, always a Girl
Scout!
When not Girl Scouting, Hadley was a Junior High English teacher and
a Youth Librarian in the US. Hadley has been in Germany for the past
13 years where she does not have a paying job. Her non-Girl Scout
hobbies include traveling, hiking, cooking and volunteering in other
areas.
Desiree Blickens (Guam)
Desiree Blickens spent 13 years as a Girl Scout from Daisy to Senior in New York state. Girl Scouting was an integral part of her childhood, providing some of her favorite memories. From a survival weekend on the grounds of West Point Military Academy, to running the lost children’s booth at the county fair, to making lifelong friends, and selling countless boxes of cookies… She loved it ALL!
Desiree credits her Girl Scout experience with cultivating a sense of duty to service that led her to enlist and serve in the U.S. Navy for six years. Following her years of Naval service, Desiree earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Old Dominion University and became a Certified Public Accountant. She worked in accounting until she decided to stay at home with her 3 beautiful children. When her oldest daughter became a Daisy, Desiree, like her own mother before her, decided to become a troop leader. She is a Lifetime Member and has been a leader for six years now at the Daisy, Brownie, and Junior levels, volunteered as a Service unit manager in the US, and served as an OCMT member overseas.
Desiree’s passion is not only to provide a top-notch Girl Scout program for her troops but to help any and all leaders along the way. Desiree’s personal definition of feminism is “women helping other women be their best self.” She wants to help our volunteers at all levels provide a quality program without them feeling overwhelmed or getting burnt out. She truly believes in the Girl Scout Leadership Program and wants to see it flourish. Desiree believes that volunteers are the heart and soul of the Girl Scout organization and by helping them, every Girl Scout under them gains as well. Her goal to help other volunteers is her way of making this world a better place and being a sister to every Girl Scout.
Lisa Cupps (South Korea)
Lisa Cupps grew up in sunny Southern California, and following in her mother’s footsteps participated in Girl Scouts for many years as a young girl. When her daughter was old enough to join, she continued the tradition her grandmother started and became a Daisy troop leader. Lisa has continued through Brownies, Juniors, and now, while living in South Korea, Cadettes.
As Girl Scouting began to give-back as much to Lisa as it was to the girls she was leading, her passion for empowering young women grew along with the need to deepen her commitment to the Girl Scout community. For over two-years Lisa was the OCMT Chair for Shanghai responsible for over 50 troops city wide. While Chair she built-up her OCMT management team with a group of diverse passionate volunteers which then revitalized troops at several international schools with recruitment and training and also ensured a quality GIRL experience for the over 600 Shanghai Girl Scouts. Last year Lisa was awarded the Thanks Badge for her dedication to Girls Scouts.
Previous to Girl Scouting, while living in Shanghai, Lisa took a leap of faith and pivoted from her MBA educated third-world economic consulting background and built a female-owned small business around her passion for using documentary photography as a tool for storytelling. Prior, she worked for over 15-years with various organizations building strategic business alliances and organizational marketing communications strategies that increase market presence and promote sustainable development in Eastern Europe, Central America, India, Southeast Asia, and China.
Ruth Miller (United States)
Ruth began her Girl Scout life when her oldest daughter became a GS Daisy; she later took on the role of leader upon moving to Okinawa, Japan. She has been a Girl Scout Volunteer for 28 years. She spent many years volunteering overseas where she was the Overseas Committee Chair (OCC) for more than three years in two locations; additional roles include Events Chair, Registrar, Secretary, Troop Consultant, Higher Awards Representative, OCC Referral Committee Chair, USA Girl Scouts Overseas-North Atlantic Facilitator, Global Facilitator, 2014 National Convention Delegate and in 2016 became a National Volunteer Partner (NVP). As a member of the USA Girl Scouts Overseas Global Facilitator team, Ruth assisted in the design of trainings and facilitated adult learning opportunities in Germany (various locations); Pisa, Italy; Paris, France; Rota, Spain; Singapore; Geneva, Switzerland; United Kingdom and most recently facilitated a number of virtual learning opportunities. Ruth was also a member of the planning team for the two USAGSO Virtual Annual Learning Conferences. Ruth currently resides in the United States and is the OVP / NVP Liaison and a member of the OVP Advisory Board.
Ruth has received the Thanks Badge, Honor Pin, Appreciation Pin and Volunteer of Excellence. She is the proud mother of two Girl Scout Gold Award recipients and Girl Scout Volunteers.
Meet the current OVPs!
Vicki Adams (Japan)
Vicki Adams has been a Girl Scout for 29 years and has worn a variety of hats in the movement: Gold Award Girl Scout, troop leader, camp counselor and director, staff member and delegate. In 2016, she became a member of USA Girl Scouts Overseas, helping rebuild the community in Panama City, Panama during a three-month period. She was hired by USAGSO in 2018 and served as a membership manager in the Camp Zama office in Japan for three years. Vicki later transitioned into a volunteer role on Yokosuka Navy Base, where she currently supports troop leaders and the council as an Overseas Volunteer Partner.
In her non-Girl Scouting life, Vicki works for the American Red Cross. She is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Morocco 2014-16) and AmeriCorps alumna (Roger Williams Park Zoo) who has worked for nonprofit organizations for more than 15 years. Vicki loves geocaching, scuba diving, and cooking.
Marika Barth (United States)
Marika is a lifelong Girl Scout and a USA Girl Scouts Overseas alum. Moving frequently as a child, Girl Scouting provided a constant in their life. A Girl Scout since the age of 5, they first joined USAGSO as a 12 year old Cadette. They were thankful that Girl Scouts was still there for them even in a new country. They have continued to be involved with the USAGSO community ever since.
As a member of USAGSO, Marika has filled many roles. They attended two National Girl Scout Conventions, one as part of the Girl Scout Leadership Institute and one as a USAGSO delegate. They worked at Camp Lachenwald as a camp counselor. They designed and implemented two USAGSO community patch programs for the Heidelberg, Germany overseas committee. And, of course, they volunteered in many different capacities within their local community: leading troops, planning camporees, organizing events, and much more.
Marika now lives in the USA. Outside of Scouting, Marika works as a special education teacher at a high school in Pennsylvania. Having learned to take full advantage of every community they live in, Marika spends much of their time enjoying the wonderful theatre and hiking found in and around Philadelphia. Their hobbies include board games, square dancing, and creative pursuits of all kinds. Many of the activities they enjoy today are ones they were first introduced to through Girl Scouts."
Amy Dutailly (France)
Amy Dutailly is a Lifetime Girl Scout based in Paris, France where she
moved to after graduating from the University of Denver 14 years ago.
She was a Girl Scout throughout elementary and middle school, and knew she wanted to give back to the organization that helped her grow up. However, she never imagined it would be from the City of Lights, but one day her coworker mentioned that she had signed her daughter up for a Daisy troop. Immediately, Amy wanted more information on how to volunteer - she had no idea that Girl Scouts existed overseas.
Soon she had a junior troop who had gone through a rotation of several leaders. Together they gelled into a cohesive troop that first year, and throughout her tenure they affectionately called themselves the "Troop of Misfit Toys".
During her time as troop leader, she also took on the role of Troop Organizer for USAGSO Paris where she discovered that she loved recruitment. She loved meeting the new volunteers and girls and finding the perfect fit for them. To this day it is still something she is very passionate about and is planning on turning it into her career, all thanks to Girl Scouts.
Eventually she became Co-OCC on the Paris OCMT where she continued her troop organizing and helped with the rest of the day-to-day functioning of the community.
She received Paris's Prix d'Excellence Award for the Open House recruiting event she hosted her first year as Troop Organizer, as well as the Volunteer of Excellence and the Appreciation Pin for both her troop and OCMT service.
She has been a volunteer for 10 years, and has also attended two Global Learning Conferences, one hosted by Paris and another in Rome, where she met the Dream Team - the Global Facilitators! She would sit in those sessions not only learning from the facilitators, but also from the other USAGSO volunteers and thinking that it would be the coolest thing in the world to become a Global Facilitator.
Well, in USAGSO dreams do come true! She joined the Global Facilitation Team in 2017. She has done various online trainings and helped organize and participated in the last two Virtual Adult Learning Conferences. It was a very real "how it started vs. how it's going" moment for her, and still remains a huge highlight of her volunteer career.
She then transitioned to the Overseas Volunteer Partner team where she is looking forward to working with even more volunteers and focusing on specific areas that need assistance while still delivering a great program to both girls and volunteers.
After all of this there is only one thing left for her to do, start all over as a Daisy troop leader when her daughter enters kindergarten in less than two years.
Once a Girl Scout, always a Girl Scout and as a Lifetime Member she will serve this organization in whatever way she can.
She was a Girl Scout throughout elementary and middle school, and knew she wanted to give back to the organization that helped her grow up. However, she never imagined it would be from the City of Lights, but one day her coworker mentioned that she had signed her daughter up for a Daisy troop. Immediately, Amy wanted more information on how to volunteer - she had no idea that Girl Scouts existed overseas.
Soon she had a junior troop who had gone through a rotation of several leaders. Together they gelled into a cohesive troop that first year, and throughout her tenure they affectionately called themselves the "Troop of Misfit Toys".
During her time as troop leader, she also took on the role of Troop Organizer for USAGSO Paris where she discovered that she loved recruitment. She loved meeting the new volunteers and girls and finding the perfect fit for them. To this day it is still something she is very passionate about and is planning on turning it into her career, all thanks to Girl Scouts.
Eventually she became Co-OCC on the Paris OCMT where she continued her troop organizing and helped with the rest of the day-to-day functioning of the community.
She received Paris's Prix d'Excellence Award for the Open House recruiting event she hosted her first year as Troop Organizer, as well as the Volunteer of Excellence and the Appreciation Pin for both her troop and OCMT service.
She has been a volunteer for 10 years, and has also attended two Global Learning Conferences, one hosted by Paris and another in Rome, where she met the Dream Team - the Global Facilitators! She would sit in those sessions not only learning from the facilitators, but also from the other USAGSO volunteers and thinking that it would be the coolest thing in the world to become a Global Facilitator.
Well, in USAGSO dreams do come true! She joined the Global Facilitation Team in 2017. She has done various online trainings and helped organize and participated in the last two Virtual Adult Learning Conferences. It was a very real "how it started vs. how it's going" moment for her, and still remains a huge highlight of her volunteer career.
She then transitioned to the Overseas Volunteer Partner team where she is looking forward to working with even more volunteers and focusing on specific areas that need assistance while still delivering a great program to both girls and volunteers.
After all of this there is only one thing left for her to do, start all over as a Daisy troop leader when her daughter enters kindergarten in less than two years.
Once a Girl Scout, always a Girl Scout and as a Lifetime Member she will serve this organization in whatever way she can.
Amelia E (Netherlands)
Amelia began her Girl Scout journey in 1st grade and continued for 10 years to earn her Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards. Her Gold Award centered on building a wheelchair accessible garden bed, and her best memories are from being a Program Aide at annual GS day camp where she received her camp name, Skittles.
Thinking she was done with Girl Scouts after high school (where in 9th grade she even quit for a year, then was roped back in by her friends and snacks), Amelia was surprised to find Campus Girl Scouts, a registered student organization for volunteers. Once more tempted by an ice cream social, she joined Campus Girl Scouts and was even elected Secretary/Treasurer, helping to plan and oversee events for girls in the community.
Years later, she became involved with another Service Unit as an SU Team Member - coordinating cookie rallies and various STEM Journeys & badges.
In early 2022, Amelia accepted a job offer in Amsterdam having never visited Europe before. With the closest USAGSO community 1.5 hours away in The Hague, Amelia reached out on social media to see if anyone would be interested in restarting an Amsterdam hub. With a Co-Leader and 19 girls, she formed a new multi-level troop that August. From Daisies to Cadettes, all girls met the requirements for Honor Troop in their first year, and are now looking forward to earning a blend of the Lady Baden-Powell Award, the Bronze Award, and the Silver Award for 2023-2024!
Amelia has an educational background in technology and library science, combining the two to work in corporate digital information management. She is an avid reader and traveler. Within 10 months of moving to the Netherlands, she visited 20 new countries across Europe and Asia! Amelia has the goal to experience all 5 World Centres, and hopes to complete this by checking Nuestra Cabaña and Kusafiri off of her list soon.
This is Amelia's first year as an OVP. Throughout her years as a
volunteer, she has received the Volunteer of Excellence Award and the
Appreciation Pin. She is a Lifetime Member and there is a very good
chance she will take that to heart.
Sarah Ehrlich (Germany)
Catherine Gritz (Germany/United Kingdom)
A volunteer with USAGSO for 20 years, Catherine became a Troop Leader
for her daughter’s Brownie Troop while living in Singapore and continued
to lead it through all the levels after the family moved to Bonn,
Germany. She was OCC for a decade in Bonn, during which time
registrations reached an all-time high, and the Committee enjoyed many
amazing experiences such as camping on a farm in the Neanderthal Valley
and hiking along the Mosel river. In 2017 she volunteered at Pax Lodge
for three months and later became a Friend of Pax Lodge, where she
assists in putting their bi-annual newsletter together as well as
managing communications in her role as Secretary. During COVID she
created and/or ran several virtual sessions for Pax Lodge and continues
to help with events, such as the Juliette Gordon Low Seminar and Global
Friendship Week, there. Since becoming a Global Facilitator in 2020,
Catherine has done GIRL Talks, run training sessions, and both presented
at and helped with both Virtual Conference events.
A native of New Jersey, Catherine worked in accounting and finance in both the US and Switzerland prior to nurturing her second career in tourism. She qualified as a City of Westminster Guide in 2020 and works freelance as both a Tour Guide and Tour Director for several different agencies (including her own obscuretourslondon.com), leading tours in London as well as around Europe. Her passion for Girl Scouting and history have led her to her developing tours which focus on the history of the Baden-Powell family, Juliette Gordon Low, and the early days of Girl Guiding in London. Related to this, she created the Juliette Gordon Low in London Challenge Badge to raise awareness as well as funds for a plaque to commemorate where JGL lived in London. Catherine is excited for the new challenges her OVP role will bring and looks forward to playing her part to facilitate the Girl Scout Leadership Experience and make the world a better place.
A native of New Jersey, Catherine worked in accounting and finance in both the US and Switzerland prior to nurturing her second career in tourism. She qualified as a City of Westminster Guide in 2020 and works freelance as both a Tour Guide and Tour Director for several different agencies (including her own obscuretourslondon.com), leading tours in London as well as around Europe. Her passion for Girl Scouting and history have led her to her developing tours which focus on the history of the Baden-Powell family, Juliette Gordon Low, and the early days of Girl Guiding in London. Related to this, she created the Juliette Gordon Low in London Challenge Badge to raise awareness as well as funds for a plaque to commemorate where JGL lived in London. Catherine is excited for the new challenges her OVP role will bring and looks forward to playing her part to facilitate the Girl Scout Leadership Experience and make the world a better place.
Monica Hofmann (South Korea)
Hello World! Ms. Monica E. Hofmann is a lifetime Gold Award Girl Scout currently volunteering in Pyeongtaek, South Korea. Monica (aka White Feather) started her Girl Scouting journey as a kindergarten Daisy and has never stopped trying to make the world a better place for everyone. During her time as a Girl Scout member, White Feather was active in her council in Monterey, California, where she was a super cookie seller, pioneered Juliette-ing before being a Juliette was a thing, went on a Wider Opportunity (now Destinations) to New Zealand, and earned her Gold Award. Her Gold Award required her to work as a citizen scientist collaborating between the City of Monterey Forester, California State University of Monterey Bay Environmental Biology Department, and Monterey County Parks to tag and catalog Monterey Pine Trees that were dying because of an infection. This project culminated in a presentation at a national convention on the subject. Shortly after bridging to an Adult Girl Scout member, Ms. Monica moved to the US military community in Rota, Spain where she became the Girl Scout Community’s Registrar and Events Coordinator as well as serving as the leader or co-leader to Junior, Cadette, and Senior troops (Ambassadors were not around yet). As a leader, she took her girls on trips to Sevilla, Gibraltar, London, Frankfurt, Heidelberg, Munich, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, and Rome. To further imbed herself into Girl Scouting, she served as a Global Facilitator by helping train and consult other adult volunteers across Europe in the ways of outdoor adventuring, troop management, and the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. She also worked with other members of USAGSO-North Atlantic on the launch of Studio 2B and the development of adult training initiatives.
Since moving to South Korea in 2021, Ms. Hofmann has again entrenched herself in the Girl Scouting community despite being a mom to two young boys. She is presently serving as a Co-Chairperson and co-leader to a rambunctious Girl Scout Cadette troop. Entering the next GS year, White Feather will begin serving as the Overseas Committee Chair, an OVP, and begin mentoring incoming leaders to the local community.
In her professional life, Ms. Monica is a lifelong learner and earned her Associate of Arts Degree from Monterey Peninsula College before graduating from Monterey High School, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with a minor in Law from The University of Maryland University College, a Master of Human Relations Degree from the University of Oklahoma, and a Post-Masters Certificate from Capella University. She is currently pursing both a Master of Elementary Education and a Master of Library and Information Science. In her free time, White Feather works as a University Compliance Officer and Institutional Research Officer as well as an elementary school substitute librarian and substitute teacher. She is also attempting to complete the Black Yak 100 Peak Korean Hiking Challenge and visit as many countries in southeast Asia as she can within the next 4-years.
Amy Kennedy (United States)
Amy Kennedy grew up overseas, and has continued the expat life as an adult, living outside her passport county for thirty-six years. She brings this lifetime of knowledge to USA Girl Scouts Overseas and has special interest in embassy communities. Amy attended New England Conservatory and the University of Georgia and has worked as a Montessori elementary teacher. She has also been awarded the U.S. Department of State Professional Development Award in 2005 and 2019.
While only a Brownie as a child, Amy has been involved in Girl Scouting for the last twelve years and has served in a variety of roles and locations. She began as a Daisy leader in Ottawa, Canada, and then served as Overseas Community Chair in both Moscow, Russia and Beijing, China. Additionally, Amy spent two years establishing a USAGSO community in Skopje, North Macedonia, which has continued to thrive. In 2019, she worked for USAGSO as a Community Development Manager, helping to establish a USASGO community in Maputo, Mozambique. While working in Mozambique, he joined with WAGGGs staff to re-establish Girl Guides in Mozambique through the implementation of a grant from the World Foundation. From 2019-2022, Amy was the Program Development Coordinator for the USAGSO Virtual Troop, serving girls around the world. She has worked on additional projects for USAGSO, including Girl Roundtables, every virtual conference and webinars specific to Embassy communities. In 2020 Amy received the Thanks Badge and in 2022, she received the Thanks II Badge.
Matthew Loheide (Italy)
Matt is in his first year of being an Overseas Volunteer Partner. His daughter joined the Girl Scouts as a Daisy 4 years ago. He always loved his daughter’s experience as a Girl Scout and greatly admired their ideals and commitment to empowerment. As he retires from the U.S Army, he seeks to further his volunteer activities with his two passions, being involved with his kids and helping others accomplish their goals.
Matt moved to Italy with his family in the summer of 2021 and is excited to be volunteering again. Matt’s previous work experience is primarily with the military in leaderships roles, including a position in one of the Warrior Transition Battalions where he helped the wounded and disabled find relief through adaptive sports. In another position, he was assigned to a Basic Combat Training unit where he helped people from around the world achieve their dreams of becoming a Soldier. He currently works in the Transition Assistance Program, helping people find employment before they leave military service.
Matt is looking forward to his volunteer experience with the Girls Scouts and hopes his work experience can assist the organization.
Franca Mazzotti (Peru)
Franca Mazzotti is a Peruvian American who started her Girl Guiding (as it is called in her birth country) life in Peru when she was seven years old. Her mom, along with two other moms from school, started a troop with a group of girls who are Franca’s lifelong friends. Now in their late thirties, they still hang out and connect across international borders! Franca’s younger sister also became a girl guide, making them a Girl Guiding Family.
Franca went through the whole educational guiding/scouting program with Guías Scouts del Perú. She then became a volunteer in her local council in Lima as part of the Program Committee. A couple of years after starting her undergrad, she started volunteering with Peru’s national council, as one of the youngest members of the team. She was appointed International Commissioner (2013 – 2015) when she was under 30!
WAGGGS was also an important part of Franca’s journey from a young age. Her first international trip with girl guides was to Our Cabaña at fifteen. She was a winter volunteer in Our Chalet during her college years and she has attended international events in all the World Centers. In 2016, Franca was appointed as an international leadership facilitator by WAGGGS and was elected as Vicechair of the WAGGGS Western Hemisphere Committee (2016-2019), supporting their mission in the Americas, all the way from Canada to Argentina, including the Caribbean. After a pandemic break and taking time to be a mom, Franca has come back to the world of girl scouting as a Girl Scout Overseas Partner.
Along the different volunteer positions she’s held, Franca has always loved to support organizational and leadership development. She has worked in training adult volunteers internationally so they can develop their fullest potential to be the best girl scouting can offer to girls and their organizations. She is really passionate about capacity building, which is infused by her professional career in nonprofit management. She’s in love with the Girl Scout Cookie Program and her favorites are the Samoas and the S’mores.
Franca holds a bachelor’s in Economics, a master’s degree in Nonprofit Administration and certifications in project management and social impact strategy. She has worked in Peru and the US in educational and environmental nonprofits and foundations. She is currently based in Lima, Peru, really excited to support and work with the Girl Scout overseas community, especially in Latin America.
Besides girl scouting, Franca loves to travel the world, eat dishes from different countries and go for walks with her dog. She’s also a mom of a two-year-old boy who loves the outdoors.
Lisa Minnella (United States)
Although Lisa was not a Girl Scout as a girl, she has been a strong advocate for the program since signing her oldest daughter up in 1996. By 1998 she was the leader for her older daughter’s troop and a co-leader for her younger daughter. In 2000, the family took their second assignment overseas and landed in Milan, Italy where she immediately stepped in as the OCC while continuing her roles as the leader and co-leader of her daughter’s troops. By 2002 she had become a facilitator. Two short years later the Director of USAGSO tapped Lisa to be the first Global Trainer and by 2007 Lisa had helped create a solid team with paid staff and a budget that allowed the now renamed Global Facilitators to travel outside their own Overseas committees to help our volunteers grow and develop. After 4 years in London as the OCC and regional coordinator, Lisa returned to the USA in 2008where she added two terms as a National Delegate to her resume as well as a Gold Award Committee member, Service Unit Secretary, and Level 2 Archer, which allows her to facilitate the girls and certify volunteers to do the same. Through all the moves and changes, Lisa remained a Global Facilitator, now called OVPs and looks forward to this latest incarnation where she hopes her experience with course design and conference facilitation will continue to benefit the organization.
The time Lisa spent facilitating in China, England, Italy, Germany, Greece, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Sicily, and The Hague along with the more than 20 conferences she has had a variety of roles participating in makes her uniquely qualified to be an OVP. Most recently, Lisa was part of the planning committee (as well as a facilitator) for both of the USAGSO Virtual Annual Learning Conferences.
Lisa is currently part of the Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana council and is honored to have received the Thanks Badge and Volunteer Appreciation Pin.
Franny Puente-Bonilla (United States)
Franny Puente-Bonilla was a Girl Scout as a child and has been in many troop, service unit, and council-level volunteering roles across multiple councils as well as most recently serving as the OCC for USAGSO-Bogotá, Colombia. Her focus has been on serving and supporting the children of Military families. She joined the USAGSO Council of Advisors in 2021.
Franny is currently working at First Command Financial Services. Franny holds a Bachelor of Science in Math from the University of Puerto Rico, a Certificate in Adult and Youth Ministry from the Institute for Pastoral Initiatives as well as a Certificate in Women’s Entrepreneurships from Cornell.
Franny and her husband Ed, also a Girl Scout troop Leader, have three children. Their oldest daughter Madee is also a Girl Scout Lifetime Member.
Diana Ringquist (United States)
Diana Ringquist started her Girl Scout journey in the 1970s as a Brownie Girl Scout who refused to wear her beanie. Enjoying Girl Scouting immensely and always the first to try something new, Diana’s journey as a Girl Member ended in her freshman year of college when her Council sent her a letter “kicking me out for being too old” but invited her to become an Adult Girl Scout. Diana, claiming to “bleed green,” immediately signed up as an Adult Girl Scout and has continued her journey ever since, earning every adult award with the exception of the Thanks II Badge, “and a bunch that no longer exist.”
Diana was an active volunteer during college, graduate school, and during her early career. She stepped into the role of CoLeader in 2006 when her daughter’s troop leaders all moved away within two months. Happily serving as a CoLeader in Missouri and Kansas, Diana offered to be a CoLeader when she moved to New York. Diana met with the Service Unit Manager who handed her a large pile of binders, smiled, and congratulated a stunned Diana on becoming the new Service Unit Manager. Never one to shy from a challenge, Diana recruited 17 new Adult Leaders, CoLed a Troop, held “just about every non-paid position,” revitalized the Service Unit’s Girl Scouting program, met or surpassed all military requirements of a private organization, connected with neighboring Service Units, and dedicated herself to Girl Scouts by becoming a Life Member. Under the leadership of the Service Unit Team, the Girl Scouts became the “go-to” volunteer organization in their community and served as an example for regional Service Units. At the Council level, Diana was a strong advocate for her girls, volunteers, Service Unit, military Girl Scouts, and the Girl Scout movement serving as a Council Trainer, Delegate, Task Force Leader, and Centennial Celebration CoChair. Diana credits this experience for preparing her for her next Girl Scout journey challenge.
Diana continued to advocate for, organize, and lead Girl Scouts during her time overseas in Nigeria (2012-2014, #BringBackOurGirls), Senegal (2017-2019), Germany (2019-2021), and Angola (2021-2023). Her experiences and advocacy allowed her the honor of participating in the Board Transition Task Group that worked to create the basis for the current Council of Advisors. Diana served on the Nomination Committee to stand up the COA and served several terms on the COA’s Council Development Committee. After serving in seven U.S. locations across six states, Nigeria, Senegal, Germany, and Angola, Diana claims she can actually hear others “roll their eyes” when she speaks up for underserved populations within the Girl Scout family.
While in Germany, Diana was introduced to the Global Facilitators and was instantly excited to join in order to help volunteers around the world (or at least in her corner of it) share the Girl Scout experience with girls around the globe. Through her involvement, Diana participated as a volunteer for the 2021 and 2022 Volunteer Adult Learning Conferences. As Global Facilitators was reimagined into our current Overseas Volunteer Partners, Diana was excited to continue her service to volunteers and girls in whatever manner may present itself. Wherever her semi-nomadic life takes her next, Diana is determined to continue her Girl Scout journey. “Girl Scouting is a profound force in the lives of girls,” Diana says, “whether providing a sense of continuity and community to U.S. girls or showing host nation girls opportunities they could never have imagined, Girl Scouts changes lives for the better - the lives of our volunteers, the lives of our girls, the lives of communities - and shapes our global future.”
Emily Schetter (Japan)
Emily Schetter was born in Southern California, where she grew up with Disneyland in her back yard. She married her high school sweetheart, and they share two children together. Being a military wife, Emily has devoted her life to her husband’s career while still pursuing her own interests.
Emily’s interests include baking, camping, hiking and all things crafts. She has enjoyed coaching soccer teams and cheer squads throughout the years. Spending quality time with her family in organized events and volunteer opportunities has always been important to her. She supports the community by being involved and making enjoyable memories while she pursues volunteer work.
Emily has been volunteering as a Girl Scout leader for seven years leading all levels of girls. Her Girl Scout journey started in her 20’s going from Las Vegas, NV, to Oceanside, CA, and now overseas in Okinawa, Japan. Currently, as well as being an OVP, she is the camp director for her overseas committee and a co-leader of a cadette troop. Over the last decade, Emily has devoted herself to directing camps all over the United States. Professionally, Emily maintains teaching credentials, but she is currently enjoying her freedom overseas.
Ashley Selvarajah (Germany)
Ashley Selvarajah currently serves on the Kaiserslautern Overseas
Committee Management Team (OCMT) Community Liaison and as a part of
the USAGSO Overseas Volunteer Partner (OVP) team. She is also an
Individually Registered Girl Scout (IRG) leader for both of her
daughters.
Ashley is in her sixth year as a Girl Scout volunteer. She started volunteering in Yokosuka, Japan, when her eldest daughter was a Daisy. She continued to volunteer with her daughter's Brownie troop and was awarded her first Volunteer of Excellence award in 2019.
Being an Active Duty Navy spouse makes the Girl Scout sisterhood all the more important, and the first thing she researches when moving to a new duty station. After Japan, Ashley’s family moved to Kaiserslautern, Germany, where she took on her first leadership role with her youngest daughter’s Daisy troop. For her efforts, she was recognized in 2021 with her second Volunteer of Excellence award.
In 2022 she took on a second year of leading, this time with her eldest daughter’s Junior troop, as she loved working with the girls and wanted to pour as much as she could into her community. She also volunteered as the OCMT Secretary which helped her expand her impact throughout the local and larger USAGSO communities. In April 2023 Ashley was awarded the Prix d’Excellence for her collaborative work with the Paris council.
With her strong ties to the military community, Ashley is always looking for ways to make the world around her a better place. Community service is a huge passion for Ashley and she has led numerous projects. Two of her largest successful events were fundraisers for Operation Allies Refuge (OAR) and Hearts for Ukraine.
She embarked on the role as an OVP this past June and is excited to further her community work with the Fisher Houses at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC), where military members and their families can stay for free while recovering or receiving medical care, as well as the Veterans of Foreign Wars organizations across Europe.
Ashley is excited for her new role with USAGSO and looks forward to working with the overseas councils, helping wherever she can, and growing through hands-on experience within the Girl Scout community
Arjean Smith (United States)
Arjean Smith comes from a proud Girl Scout volunteer family. She spent five years as a Girl Scout from Brownie through Junior in Missouri under the troop leadership of her mom and three aunts. Girl Scouting was an integral part of her childhood, providing some of her favorite memories including camping, making lifelong friends, and selling boxes of cookies… She loved it ALL!
When her daughter asked to join the program, Arjean decided to volunteer with the program in the capacity needed at the current time. During the past 11 years, Arjean has volunteered with multiple councils, both in the US and Overseas. She led troops at the Junior and Cadette levels, volunteered as a Service Unit Manager in the US, and served as Overseas Committee Chair overseas. Additional roles include Events Coordinator, Registrar, Secretary, Cookie Manager, Recruiter, Adult Recognition Chair, Troop Consultant, and Camp Coordinator. She has taken troops to Our Chalet and Pax Lodge WAGGGS centers and to the National Jamboree.
Arjean’s passion is not only to provide a quality Girl Scout program but help other volunteers flourish along the way without feeling overwhelmed. Arjean truly believes in the Girl Scout Leadership Program and wants to see it thrive. Arjean believes that volunteers are the heart and soul of the Girl Scout organization and by helping them, every Girl Scout under their leadership benefits. Her goal to help other volunteers is her way of making this world a better place and developing girls to be America’s future leaders.
Arjean enlisted in the US Army during High School and continues to serve – garnering 30 years of military service while currently instructing at the Army’s Command and General Staff College. While on Active Duty, she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Business Management and Master of Business Administration in Accounting.
Arjean has received the Honor Pin, Appreciation Pin and Volunteer of Excellence (2). She is the proud mother of one Girl Scout Silver Award recipient, 2020 USAGSO Convention Delegate, and Girl Scout Volunteer.
Frances Turner (Germany)
Frances is a North Carolinian. She started her Girl Scout adventure as a Daisy Girl Scout which continued through graduation. Girl Scouts has been and continues to be a place where she discovers sisterhood and service. Frances earned her Silver Award by partnering with a local fire department to teach Cub Scouts about fire safety. This led Frances to be interested in fire prevention and investigation. She became a North Carolina Firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician as her first career. Frances earned the Girl Scout Gold Award by creating a learning series and patch program at a local 1700s historical museum. This learning series included survival skills needed in the 1700s in the foothills of NC, challenges women faced, and brought awareness to a local museum and community hub for culture and learning. This project left a lasting impact on Frances as she became a Special Education Teacher and Principal in her teaching career.
Frances has served as a Girl Scout Camp Counselor. She has
enjoyed the beach to the peaks of NC “glamping” to primitive
camping. From the Appalachian Trail to the Alps, Frances loves any
chance to be outdoors. If she’s not hiking, you can find her in the
water via kayak. All these skills she contributes to her time in
Girl Scouts and the mentors guiding her along the way! As an Adult
Girl Scout, Frances has helped mentor Gold Award Candidates, served
as cookie manager, is a troop leader, and currently the Overseas
Committee Chair for the Ansbach Community.
Frances is ecstatic to share Girl Scouting with her daughter,
who is a current Girl Scout! Seeing scouting through her
daughter’s eyes and mentoring a new generation of Thinkers,
Adventurers, and Leaders is her passion! When not at Girl Scouts,
you can find Frances with her husband, an Army Combat Veteran,
with her son at Cub Scouts, or in her classroom.
Taylor Weeden (Japan)
Taylor was raised in a small rural community in Tennessee, later moving to a tourist town along the coast of South Carolina. She was raised by a single mom with the help of her loving grandparents. Taylor is now married to an active duty Marine and has dedicated her life to her husband and 3 children. She was a daisy for a season as a child and has now become invested in the Girl Scout Movement to be involved with her daughters’ troops. Taylor is a current OVP member and social media, marketing, and communications manager for her local council in Okinawa, Japan. She also plans to be a co-leader next season.
Growing up with such humble beginnings, she is committed
to serving and welcoming all girls with open arms from varying
communities, regardless of demographics. Taylor believes they should
have the opportunity to be welcomed into a warm and loving
environment that fosters confidence, friendship, and leadership
skills.
Ursula Werner (Germany)
Ursula has been a Girl Scout volunteer for almost 30 years. She started as a Girl Scout Daisy troop leader when her oldest daughter joined and a leader was needed. Since then she has led troops from Girl Scout Brownies to Girl Scout Ambassadors.
Her volunteer activities stretch from the local to the national and global level. She is part of the Stuttgart Girl Scouts OCMT (Overseas Management Team). Her positions are Special Events Coordinator/Host Nation Liaison and Higher Awards Chair. She is currently leading a multilevel troop (Brownie to Cadettes) that focuses on the great outdoors, environmental issues and loves to connect with the local Pfadfinders and troops from other regions. Volunteering at Girl Scout Day Camps in the Stuttgart and other overseas areas as well as at camps in the US are one of her favorite summer activities.
In 2005 she joined the original team of North Atlantic Trainers, the predecessor of the current Overseas Volunteer Partner team. Ursula is involved in curriculum writing and revision, mentoring new facilitators, conducting workshops and trainings at conferences.
She truly enjoys facilitating in person, especially the outdoor experience and new volunteer orientations, but also conducts virtual trainings. She facilitated at both Virtual Annual Learning Conferences, the virtual Cookie Rally, contributes to the Girl Talks and is part of the 'Taste the World' virtual cooking team.
She facilitated on site in military and non-military communities in Europe and outside of Europe such as the UAE, China, Switzerland, France, Spain, China.
In her role as National Volunteer Partner (NVP) with GSUSA, Ursula attended and also conducted and designed workshops at Edith Macy Center.
She has chaperoned Girl Scouts and international Scouts at National Conventions, organized several destinations for older Girls to the WAGGS World Center in Sangam India, took her troop to Japan to meet with Japanese Girl Guides and chaired girl conventions in Camp Darby Italy. She was part of the planning team in Heidelberg Germany (Hanging in Heidelberg and Keys to Leadership). Her passion is working with the older girls and inspiring them to reach their fullest potential. This lead to reviewing Gold Award applications and mentoring girls for higher awards.
As appreciation for her service to Girl Scouts Ursula has received Thanks Badge.
Ursula holds a Masters degree in Linguistics and a Bachelors in Business. She works as a free lance intercultural trainer, translator and language instructor.
She loves the outdoors, sports, travelling and her horses. Her 3 daughters, all Girl Scouts, who earned their Gold Awards, share those passions.
