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The Victoria College. Full-time salaried position with benefits available...
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Photo Credit: Roni Gendler/Advocate Staff PhotographerTerry Blevins, adult in center, holds hands with her Girl Scouts during their friendship circle at the conclusion of their last meeting together.
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On Thursday, Blevins stood for the last time before the troop she helped organize almost 20 years ago. She led the members in the Girl Scout promise and the pledge of allegiance to the U.S. flag.
After the meeting on the F.W. Gross campus, she received embraces from many of the girls.
“It’s sad, but it’s time to move on. I’ll miss the interaction with the girls,” she said. “You see the girls grow. You see them learn. You see them become responsible. I’ve seen some of them go on to college. I’ve seen some of the girls grow up, come back and bring their children to the troop.”
Blevins, who has been a staffer with Girl Scouts since 1985 and was membership director when the troop at F.W. Gross was formed, is now the coordinator of volunteer services for the Girl Scouts of Greater South Texas. Since Jan. 2007, Blevins has been juggling both jobs.
“To do it right, I need to pull back, let go,” explained Blevins. ”I’ve always worked with adults, but since our council has grown so much, that will now be my sole responsibility.”
Blevins estimates more than 1,000 girls in Victoria take part in Girl Scouts and the Greater South Texas council now includes Corpus Christi, Laredo, Harlingen and McAllen.
Getting a Girl Scout troop established in the F.W. Gross area was a challenge, Blevins recalled.
“We did a lot of outreaches at apartment complexes,” she said. “Girl Scouts was one of the first groups to come into this area and try to really reach these kids. A lot of little girls need that extra push toward leadership and service.”
Blevins is adamant about what Girl Scouts has to offer. She first got involved with the organization when her daughter turned 5. Now in her 30s, that daughter has three daughters of her own and leads a Girl Scout troop.
The troop that meets at F.W. Gross was installed in 1988 as a regular, traditional Girl Scout troop with about 15 girls earning badges and doing community service. During the last decade, the troop has averaged about 100 members a year. Blevins hopes the adult volunteers can now continue the tradition.
“We’ve got some great moms down here,” Blevins said.
Sonny Long is a reporter for the Advocate. Contact him at 361-580-6585 or slong@vicad.com.
Want to know more about Girl Scouts?
Girl Scouts include:
Daisy Girl Scouts: ages 5-6 (kindergarten or grade 1)
Brownie Girl Scouts: ages 6-8 (or grades 1, 2, 3)
Junior Girl Scouts: ages 8-11 (or grades 3, 4, 5, 6)
Cadette Girl Scouts: ages 11-14 (or grades 6, 7, 8, 9)
Senior Girl Scouts: ages 14-17 (or grades 9, 10, 11, 12)
The Girl Scout Promise:
On my honor, I will try:
To serve God and my country, To help people at all times, And to live by the Girl Scout Law.
The Girl Scout Law:
I will do my best to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do, and to respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout.
For more information, call the Girl Scouts of Greater South Texas Victoria Service Center at 361-573-6451 or 800-865-3069. Terry Blevins can also be reached at tblevins@gsgst.org.
New Home in Victoria:
A ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremony will be held at 3 p.m., Thursday, May 22 for the new Girl Scouts of Greater South Texas Victoria Service Center, 104 W. River St.