Local Volunteer Serving as Girl Scout National Delegate

LOCAL VOLUNTEER SERVING AS GIRL SCOUT NATIONAL DELEGATE

Laura Klipfel, Cape Girardeau, is one of nine delegates representing Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland at Girl Scouts of the USA National Council Session. Every three years, Girl Scouts gather together for the National Council Session and Convention to energize the Movement, celebrate accomplishments, and chart the future. This year's 53rd National Convention is being held October 16-19, 2014 in Salt Lake City, Utah. This exciting event will reunite alumnae and invigorate a global movement of girls, women, and men around the theme, "Discover, Connect, Take Action: Girls Change the World."

Laura is a lifetime member of Girl Scouts. She started as a Girl Scout Brownie in the first grade and continued through her senior year of high school, earning both the Girl Scout Silver and Girl Scout Gold Awards. Laura has participated in three Girl Scout travel opportunities (called Destinations) in California, Massachusetts, and Indiana. She attended summer camp at Cherokee Ridge for nine years and was a summer camp employee in 2000. Laura has been a troop leader for Girl Scout Junior Troop 64001 for six years, recently taking her troop to visit Juliette Gordon Low's Birthplace in Savannah, GA. She has served as a council service unit delegate for two years, school coordinator for three years, service unit media coordinator for two years, and has also planned several successful service unit events. Laura and her husband Travis have two children, Taylor (11), and TJ (6). She stays very active with her family as a Girl Scout troop leader, classroom parent, Cub Scout Pack 16 parent, and soccer coach. Laura also serves her community as a food bank volunteer, United Way volunteer, Special Olympics Missouri games management team member, and member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. She enjoys spending time with her family, running, baking, and volunteering.

"We are honored that Laura is serving as a national delegate representing Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland," says Anne Soots, CEO. "Laura believes in the Girl Scout mission of building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. She will be a valued voice in the discussion on the future of our Movement."

About the Girl Scout Leadership Experience

Founded in 1912, Girl Scouts of the USA is the preeminent leadership development organization for girls in grades K-12. With 3.3 million girl and adult members worldwide, Girl Scouts is the leading authority on girls' healthy development. Today's Girl Scout Leadership Experience has evolved to fit a wide variety of interests of schedules. With five program pathways -- events, series, camp, troops, and travel -- girls have more options and more reasons to join than ever before. Through hands-on learning opportunities and a girl-led decision-making process, the Girl Scout Leadership Experience empowers girls to discover a strong sense of self, connect with others in a changing world, and take action to help make the world a better place.

About Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland

Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland has a membership of just over 16,000 girls and 5,000 adults across 68 counties in central and southern Missouri, southeast Kansas, and northeast Oklahoma. With the support of community partners, donors, and volunteers, we mentor and support girls as they develop crucial life skills and prepare to take the lead -- today, tomorrow, and for the rest of their lives. For more information on how to join, volunteer, reconnect or donate to Girl Scouts, call 877-312-4764 or visit us on the web at www.girlscoutsmoheartland.org.