Spotlight

Troop leader receives scout's honors

Jackie Jeffery proves that Girl Scouts have far more to offer their communities than the much-anticipated annual cookie sale.

(Photo by Paul Jaronski, U-M Photo Services)

A senior architect at U-M, Jeffery has been involved in Girl Scouts for 10 years and heads two troops in the Girl Scouts of the Huron Valley Council (GSHVC) area, which stretches from Chelsea to Newport and Fowlerville to Monroe.

One troop consists of 39 girls, ranging from seventh to 12th grade, with whom she goes on trips and provides career exploration opportunities. "Whatever adventure they want to do, I am up for it," the U-M alumna says.

Her other troop is the Mackinac Island Governor's Honor Guard, in which the 56 girls involved serve guide duty at historical locations around the island. They answer tourist questions and raise and lower the flags on the island for 10 days every summer.

Jeffery, in her third year as co-director of the program, serves alongside the girls, including the two days of barrack duty, during which they are responsible for all the cooking and cleaning. She also keeps track of the group's money in her role as as finance coordinator, and she trains the girls for their tasks. It's hard work, but Jeffery enjoys her time on the island.

"It's an outstanding opportunity to be part of this program because we take young ladies up and they learn an outstanding amount of responsibility, and are given a wonderful opportunity to represent their state," she says.

In addition to these activities Jeffery acts as the liaison between the 40 troops in the Pinckney-Hamburg-Lakeland area, and the GSHVC. She also is the accountant for a group of 24 Girl Scouts planning a trip to England this summer.

All of these responsibilities on top of being a single mom and holding down a full-time job might overwhelm others, but Jeffery takes it in stride.

"My first priority is my children, and then I am good at balancing my time and efforts," she says. "As an architect I have been trained in delegating and team building, and I have very good teams that provide support in my troops."

While Jeffery's skills as an architect allow her to manage her troops efficiently, the time she spends with them has a positive impact on her career as well.

"It keeps me well rounded and balanced in everything I do, and as a designer it helps me open new avenues of creativity," she says.

She specializes in research laboratory design and building codes but has been given the opportunity to work with the Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Athletic Facilities as well. She will be part of the Botanical Gardens Architecture in Nature Feb. 22, where visitors can explore architectural forms in plants.

Her work with the Girl Scouts landed Jeffery the honor of being a national delegate for the GSHVC at the national convention in Long Beach, Calif., last year.

"It was absolutely inspiring," she says. "It was amazing to be in an arena with individuals from all over the world, and to have a common interest and goal of improving conditions and opportunities for girls."