alumnae activities
A core group of Camp Staff Alumnae from the 1970′s have been hard at work doing service for the organization they grew up loving. One member of the group, Kathy Ostrander Gibson, volunteered to keep everyone updated as to their activities. Thank you Kath for the following articles.
Whose job is it to take care of Camp Mah Kah Wee?
Alumnae dismantle a stage at MKW
It is everyone’s — all Girl Scouts — past, current, and future. Growing up our troops all put in our time working at Ticochee and Deer Lake camps. It was expected that every weekend camping trip included a maintenance/service project. We are often told, “If we want to use it, we have to take care of it.”
Working together the tables and shades go together easily.
Ticochee and Deer Lake are long gone, but we have Camp Mah-Kah-Wee. This fabulous camp was once only a primitive site but today this campground has evolved into a treasure. We need to not only maintain it, but improve it. We need the help of everyone!
Alumnae Girl Scouts have already returned and held several workdays at Mah-Kah-Wee Program Center. Some of the projects they have completed are: dismantling the wooden stage in front of Tichochee Lodge, building Kayak racks at the waterfront and clearing the east side boardwalk so it would be usable for girls at summer camp to enjoy. The alumnae also saw a need for the pool area to have some shade and picnic tables available for girls using the pool to enjoy. The group purchased four picnic tables and removable shades that were in use this past summer at camp.
Summer campers enjoyed the shaded pool area with picnic tables provided by the alumnae.
This special group of alumnae have volunteered to help any troop that would like to do some maintenance/service projects while camping at one of our beautiful properties. If your troop would like to be involved in this project, email Sherry McMaster at smcmaster@citrus-gs.org. (July 2011)
Aggie “Mrs.O” Rosano
by Kathy Ostrander Gibson
Mrs. O (former married name Ostrander) and “girls” could do anything! This was my mom’s philosophy from the very beginning when she took over our Brownie Troop. Under her leadership we grew into confident young women who knew the meaning of hard work and it’s rewards.
She was never a Girl Scout growing up, but that didn’t stop her a bit. She helped us set goals and we accomplished everyone of them. She even told a troop in Wyoming that “her girls” were so good at using a compass that we could lead a less experienced troop into unmarked territory and bring them back safely. And you know what? We did!
During the course of her 24 years as a volunteer she was a troop leader, Neighborhood Service Unit Chairman, Neighborhood Cookie Sales Chairman, and Council Board Member. She did all of this while working full time and raising 3 children.
Mrs. Ostrander is shown with "her girls" in this newspaper clipping
She was so proud of being a Girl Scout that in 1981, during a camporee at Ticochee, she married for a second time. Her wedding was a hit and witnessed by a sea of little green uniforms.
Ask any of “her girls” and they will quickly relate some story of how my mom impacted their life. The memories and lessons have followed all of us into adulthood. She always just knew and remained one step ahead of us.
After a long battle with cancer, she passed away in 2009 and a bench was placed in her memory by the lake at Mah-Kah-Wee Program Center so that she could continue to help the girls. (Aug. 2011)
