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'Walawi Love' event to honor Girl Scout leaders

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Contributed by: rachel randazzo on 10/14/2008

In October, a committee of volunteers associated with Girl Scout Troop 823, or more commonly known as Walawi, will be hosting a recognition banquet dinner and silent auction, called "Walawi Love," to honor their leaders.

This banquet is to honor our Girl Scout Leaders for over 30 years of dedication to our community, Lois Young and husband, Bill Young, who recently passsed away, and Sue and Dave Lipman.

Leaders Lois and the late Bill Young and Sue and Dave Lipman are the heart and sole of Walawi. Together, they have devoted more than 30 years of service to Girl Scouts. They have significantly impacted thousands of girls' lives with their devotion, excitement and just opening doors to young women who may never have had that opportunity.

They have motivated and inspired girls to become the best young women they can and to be leaders in today's world. "The leaders care for the girls as if they were their own daughters," says Tami Kessler, a 2007 graduate of Walawi.

Jaemi Mitchell, current member of Walawi, remembers the first moment she went to Camp Lakota, saying, "It was my first big camping trip and competition with Walawi, Tambu. We backpacked into camp, while singing at the top of our lungs, letting the words resonate through the mountains of Camp Lakota and that's when it hit me, 'I'm a Walawi girl"!"

Mitchell says the help of our leaders is what makes her time with Walawi, the best time of her life.

Sue and Lois not only have volunteered as leaders to the Girls Scouts of San Fernando Valley but they have participated in many different levels of Girl Scouting, most of which involved mentoring young girls and guiding them to be the best they can be.

Sue says of her co leader, Lois, "Everything about Lois is Girl Scouts. I don't remember when she ever taken a vacation that was not related to Girl Scouts." Lois's husband, Bill, had been at her side every step of Scouting. Last year after getting home from a camp with the girls, Bill passed away in his sleep. It has been a tough time for Lois and Walawi, but Lois has continued with Bill in her heart as well as those who were touched by him. Camp Lakota was Bill's pride and joy. Lois and her son Steve, who has stepped up to help his mom, are still members of the 'Posse' who volunteer their time to repairs of Lakota."

Sue andDave have been involved in Scouting since their girls were young. Sue has a special way of listening to the girls and helping young girls work their way through the challenges of life, relationships and growing up.

Her enthusiasm for competition, playing fairly and doing your best has brought the best out of the girls she has worked with, sometimes surprising even the girls at their accomplishments.

Some of her resume includes being on the senior planning board advisor, Tambu advisor for two years, age-level consultant and a leader at every level of Scouting.

The Walawi family wants to acknowledge our leaders for devoting their time and energy to benefit all of our lives. This is why we are organizing this recognition banquet, called Walawi Love. When people call a place "home," they do not always refer to a house.

Walawi is home for many girls and women across the greater Los Angeles area. Our leaders are a symbol of all leaders in our communities, past, present, and future who will always be remembered throughout the lives that they have touched.

If you would like to make a donation to the silent auction or attend this event, please contact Rachel Reiter-Randazzo at walawilove@gmail.com.

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