USAGSO Overseas Volunteer Partners

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! 

Meet the OVP Advisory Team leading the development of this exciting new program for USAGSO!

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 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.

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 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 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."

Growing up through Girl Guiding UK, Victoria spent her years as a Brownie, Guide, Ranger and Young Leader before becoming a Unit Leader at a Guide Unit in her home town of Tamworth, England.

She attended international camps and jamborees before being selected to represent her region for an international opportunity. Victoria headed to international camp hosting Girl Scouts and WAGGGS members, followed by heading to Taiwan for her service project. She engaged with local children as well as meeting Taiwanese Scouts. Victoria’s passion for travel and Scouting grew by attending camps and jamborees before applying for roles at camps in America.

Victoria landed her first role at Girl Scout camp in Iowa as a Program Manager, where she successfully implemented “choice time” into the camp sessions. The following year, she attended camp in northern California as an Assistant Camp Director implementi,ng integral training for staff members.

Victoria has received recognition by Girl Guiding UK for her efforts in the creation of the latest Girl Guiding program. Since moving across the United Kingdom, Victoria is currently a unit leader for a Rainbow (Daisy) and Brownie unit.

When Victoria is not volunteering, she works in the construction industry and as an ambassador for women in STEM. She also works freelance, advising others wanting to attend summer camps in America through the J1 Visa program.

Victoria is excited to learn more about USAGSO through the OVP role, following her recent experience as a camp counselor in Switzerland.

Anna is a DODEA Europe School Nurse and American Red Cross 1st Aid/CPR/BLS/AED Instructor in Germany. She has a Honors BS in Zoology and Biology, a BS in Nursing and a MSN in Nursing Management and Leadership. She has been a nurse for over 20 years. She has volunteered with the National PTA, served on the board of the European PTA and is currently on the board of the Overseas School Health Nurses Association. She has two teenagers, two dogs and loves her robot vacuum. Her family enjoys traveling and taking advantage of living in Europe. Anna loves to chase the sun- Sorrento, Italy is her favorite place!

Anna was a Girl Scout Brownie and a Junior as a child in Colorado and fondly recalls the friendships and adventures that she experienced. Her military family has been stationed in Germany since 2015. Anna began her Girl Scout volunteer journey the same year, when her daughter was enchanted by the idea of selling cookies (although she was initially disappointed to attend her first Daisy meeting to find there were no cookies!). Since then, Anna has been a Daisy, Brownie, Junior and Cadette leader, Cookie Manager, Overseas Committee Chair, USAGSO National Delegate alternate, USAGSO Camp Lachenwald Camp Nurse and an Overseas Volunteer Partner.

Anna enjoys traveling to other Girl Scout communities and collaborating with volunteers. Her specialty areas are Girl Scouting in military communities, Overseas Committee management and camp nursing. Her favorite part of volunteering is seeing the smiles and excitement of Girl Scouts when they try something new or have an amazing adventure that embraces the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. 

Anna was awarded the Volunteer of Excellence in 2022 and the Thanks Badge in 2024. She is aLifetime Member and loves the support and life-long friendships she has found in the Girl Scout community. 

“The work of today is the history of tomorrow, and we are its makers” - Juliette Gordon Low

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.

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.

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.

Sue Handy graduated from Lasell Junior College in Newton, MA with a degree in Medical Laboratory Technology. After graduating, she began her career at Smith Kline Labs in Waltham, MA, as a Medical Lab Tech in the Toxicology Department. Just before getting married, Sue switched careers to the Accounting Department of McGraw Hill in Lexington, MA and stayed with them until her daughter was born.

She didn’t re-enter the work force until she was offered a position in the Adult Development Department at Girl Scouts Coastal Pines in Raleigh, NC. She worked with them for four years. Her final “occupation/career” was as Resident Camp Director of Camp Mary Atkinson in North Carolina in the summer of 2007.

Sue was a Girl Scout for nine years as a girl, from Brownies through Cadettes/Seniors. She has been a Girl Scout as an adult since 1994, when she wanted her daughter to become involved in Daisies and was told, “there are no leaders available” and so began her Girl Scout journey.

She was a Daisy leader for one year, a Junior leader for five years and a  Cadette/Senior leader for six years. She has been a Red Cross Instructor, as well as an Outdoor Trainer. Sue directed local day camps in the summer for six years. She was very honored to receive the Appreciation Pin in 2005 and the Honor Pin in 2007.

She became a Friend of Nuestra Cabana in 2006 and set a goal of visiting all four World Centers. She accomplished this goal in 2008! Sue is also a member of the Olave Baden-Powell Society, reaching the Gold level.

Her favorite hobby/interest is travel and this passion has now taken her to all five World Centers and all seven continents. Sue's newest interests are learning Spanish and acquiring her driver's license in Spain.

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.

Jodi Kittle has been a member of the Girl Scout community for over 45 years, first as a 12 year girl member and Girl Scout Gold Award recipient and currently as a lifetime member. Jodi was a Daisy troop leader in the U.S. and created the first non-military USAGSO troop in South Korea, a multi-age, multinational group of Girl Scout Brownies, Juniors and Cadettes. Currently a Juliette mentor to her Girl Scout Senior daughter (a very involved USAGSO girl) Annika, her involvement with the Girl Scout Movement has taken her from Wyoming’s National Center West to the Pax Lodge and Sangam World Centres. Jodi and her family now reside in Barcelona, Spain.

Jodi's passion for Girl Scouting is deeply rooted in her family history, as both of her mothers are lifetime Girl Scouts with a combined 115 years of service. As a result, Jodi grew up at camp and knows a song (with motions!) for almost ANY occasion.

In her professional life, Jodi is an internationally recognized educational leader with over 30 years of experience in teaching, curriculum development, inclusion and student support. She has worked in schools across the United States and on multiple continents, consistently incorporating the values and skills she gained through Girl Scouting into her educational practice. Jodi is passionate about empowering young women, fostering inclusive learning environments and promoting personal growth and leadership development.

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.

Meredith Miller, or “Bear” as she is known at Girl Scout camp, is a dedicated and passionate volunteer committed to empowering young individuals and fostering community engagement. With a strong background in leadership development, youth mentorship and event coordination, Bear brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to the Girl Scouts Overseas program.

As an Overseas Volunteer Partner (OVP), Bear is focused on creating inclusive and enriching experiences that align with the Girl Scout mission of building girls of courage, confidence and character. With 20 years of experience in the Girl Scouts at Camp Lachenwald in Germany, Italy and Our Chalet in Switzerland, she has a proven ability to adapt to diverse cultural environments. Bear strives to ensure every Girl Scout under her guidance feels supported and inspired to achieve their goals.

In addition to her role with the Girl Scouts, Bear enjoys exploring local cultures through traveling, organizing creative workshops within communities or engaging in outdoor activities such as running, biking, swimming, hiking and camping. With this opportunity, she is always eager to learn and grow alongside Girl Scouts Overseas and the troops that they serve.

Bear looks forward to contributing to the vibrant global community of Girl Scouts Overseas, supporting its mission to create a better world, one girl at a time.

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 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.

Emi (Emiko) Ray, born in Japan, grew up in Japan, the U.S., Canada and France as a third culture kid. She nurtured her interests in outdoor activities while being on the rowing and search and rescue teams at St. John’s College in Maryland and New Mexico. 

Inspired by her international summer camp counseling in Maine, she aspired to become a polyglot and pursue a career in international organizations. She moved to France for her studies in Russian and political science at Science Po and achieved her dream by interning and later becoming an international civil servant at the OECD (Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development) in Paris. Her international journey continued as she and her husband, a St. John’s classmate, moved to the Netherlands, Japan and Saudi Arabia, where they have lived for the past 14 years.

Emi’s Girl Scout adventure began in 2012 when her daughter joined as a Gil Scout Brownie, coinciding with the Girl Scouts Centennial Celebration Concert in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Desert campouts have been their favorite pastime, creating lasting memories and friendships. Another highlight was attending the USAGSO summer camp Tama in Japan, where they met wonderful volunteers and Girl Scouts from various communities and Japanese Girl Guides.

Emi progressed from a parent helper to a leader, a camp couselor and OCMT member, concentrating on membership and volunteer recruitment, as well as organizing campouts, events and volunteer training. She also played a key role in mentoring Girl Scouts on their highest award projects. Her Girl Scout Cadette, Senior, Ambassador troop was recognized as an Honor Troop just after Covid and grew over 50 teenagers.

The Girl Scout program has offered her and her daughter a valuable opportunity to develop essential life skills alongside diverse peers and leaders, particularly during a time when women's roles were more restricted, such as not being allowed to drive. This enriching experience ultimately led to her daughter earning the Girl Scout Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards, making her the first recipient in Riyadh.

Emi, now a Lifetime Member, received the Volunteer of Excellence and Appreciation Pin awards and has actively nominated other leaders for adult awards, further contributing to the growth and recognition of her Girl Scouting community.  She looks forward to fostering connections with USAGSO communities across the country and in the Middle East, as well as collaborating with relatively new Saudi Girl Guides. 

Emi further enriched her experiences and deepened her commitment to youth development and leadership by serving as her son’s Cub Scout volunteer parent and co-founder after it was inactive for over a decade in Riyadh, and as a Boy Scout troop patrol mentor, merit badge counselor, membership chair and committee chair. 

Additionally, she enhanced her volunteer skills by coordinating rescue operations and ongoing TNR (trap-neuter-release) efforts, helping to maintain a healthy population of community cats and sharing similar interests with Girl Scouts for their take action projects. 

Emi joined an international school in Saudi Arabia seven years ago, where she served as a long-term substitute teacher for IB social sciences and as a middle school and high school learning commons assistant, providing student support. She enjoys exploring a diverse array of books in the library and traveling with students on both local and international trips. Emi particularly values her experiences with the Model United Nations (MUN) delegation and cross-cultural community service groups.

She looks forward to learning from experienced OVP members and becoming more involved in Girl Scout communities across borders, enriching her understanding and contributing to a diverse network that promotes growth and connection among girls and adult volunteers worldwide.

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 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.

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.

A Girlguiding UK member from the age of 5, Sarah has worked her way through from being a Rainbow (Daisy) to a leader of Brownies (aged 7-10) and Rangers (aged 14-18) in Suffolk, England.

During her time as a Girlguiding member, Sarah has represented Girlguiding at the 2014 Helen Storrow at Our Chalet, been Vice Chair and Chair of the region youth forum, part of the Service Team at the WAGGGS 34th World Conference in Edinburgh, sat on the Trading Services Board of Directors, been a Peer Educator and County Communication and PR Adviser. She has also achieved her Queens Guide Award, which is the highest award you can work towards in Girlguiding.Sarah has also spent some time as a short term volunteer at Pax Lodge, working with some amazing volunteers and getting to meet some great guests from around the world.

Outside of Guiding/Scouting Sarah works in a university supporting apprenticeships, as well as a library. She likes to travel and craft. It is her aim to visit all of the World Centres, two down, three to go!

Sarah joined USAGSO at camp in Germany in 2024 as a camp counselor, but has also spent two summers as an Arts and Crafts Specialist and Program Director at a Girl Scout camp in Massachusetts. Now a Lifetime Member, she is looking forward to sharing her Guiding knowledge while learning more about the Girl Scout ways.

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.

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. 

Carol Youssif is a school librarian and debate/public speaking teacher, currently serving as Taipei American School's Middle School Librarian. Her lifelong passion for reading turned into a college degree and a dream job! Her role facilitates literacy, promotes reading, offers a safe space for young people and advocates for social justice. An active member of the American Library Association, Carol also reviews books for the School Library Journal.

Carol began her Girl Scout journey alongside her daughter when she started as a kindergarten Daisy. They both had so much fun, Carol took over the troop when their leader relocated. She also serves as USA Girl Scouts of Taipei's Communications and Marketing Manager, handling their strong social media presence and organizing events. After five wonderful years, many camping experiences and travels with USAGSO, she can't imagine her life without Girl Scouts. Chosen to be an OVP has been an honor for her, and she has had the opportunity to put her almost 20 years of teaching to use when facilitating workshops, helping plan recruitment opportunities and hosting the PA/VIT training.

Girl Scouts is a platform for change, an empowering experience and a way to build community and sisterhood. Carol wants to make every girl's journey a wonderful one, where they can unlock their potential and strength.

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