Lifetime membership as a Girl Scout adult is available to any individual who believes in the Girl Scout movement and wants to stay connected to the largest leadership development organization for girls in the world! By making a lifelong commitment to Girl Scouts, you support the Lifetime Membership Endowment Fund, which helps make Girl Scout memberships available to all girls.

Jeanne Allen, a nonprofit consultant, speaker, and trainer, is a Girl Scout lifetime member living in Durham, NC. We asked Jeanne to share with us what Girl Scouts means to her and how she’d like to see lifetime members continue to support Girl Scouting.

You were a Girl Scout for many years! Please tell us about your favorite Girl Scout experiences and how you became a lifetime member.

I was a Girl Scout from about 4^th through 8^th grade in the Pines of Carolina Council. After I graduated college, I got a job in New York City working for Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA), where I joined Girl Scouts as a lifetime member! Later, I returned to Durham, NC and became a co-leader for my niece’s troop so I could spend more time with her.

Since I worked at GSUSA, I had some very unique, amazing experiences. I really appreciated the diversity in the national office and the fact that anyone can join Girl Scouts. I liked that everyone had different backgrounds, religions, races, family situations, etc. I even met people from around the world! This diversity is so important to me. I interacted with people I wouldn’t have met otherwise and they introduced me to new ideas. It’s a special gathering of women with the same values – like dedication to helping girls. Even though it’s been 20 years since I worked there, I still feel like I could call up any of the remarkable women I met and have a conversation because we will always be connected by those experiences.

What are the benefits of being a lifetime member?

What excites me about being a lifetime member is when I hear about women leading in our community and I find out they were Girl Scouts too! For example, I found out that the Chief of Police in Raleigh was a Girl Scout. If I ever meet her, this is how we could connect. I recently met a fellow Girl Scout and felt proud to say “I was involved with Girl Scouts, too. I am a lifelong member!” It just felt like we had experiences we could share because we were in a values-based organization and we knew what those values were.

Also, you’re supporting Girl Scout programs with your membership fee, and you get to stay up-to-date on these programs! I receive emails about what’s happening in our council and possible events to attend.

How can lifetime members support Girl Scouting?

This is a tremendous program for girls that helps them develop skills and curiosity, building the girl leaders of tomorrow. As a lifetime member, there are many ways to stay involved and support our incredible organization:

• If you move to a new council, update your contact information so you can continue to receive information.
• Speak with someone in alumnae affairs or recruitment to learn how you can be involved.
• Learn about your council and act as an ambassador in your community, wherever you go! We can be ambassadors in our friend circles, churches, PTA’s, and professional groups! And if ever needed, lifetime members can act as a collective voice.
• Feel empowered to speak up and advocate for the program that meant – and means – so much to you!

Any parting thoughts for your lifetime member friends out there?

I suppose I would suggest they ask themselves “Why did I become a lifetime member and what matters to me still about Girl Scouts?” It’s called a lifetime membership for a reason – so let’s go help our girls!

If you’re interested in learning more about lifetime membership or how to engage as a lifetime member please contact alumnae@nccoastalpines.org.