Behind every Girl Scout and volunteer is a team of local staff ready to help them earn that next badge, embark on a camping adventure, or organize an impactful service project. That’s what a Girl Scout council is. We are here to maintain camp properties, provide local Girl Scouts skill-building workshops and resources to achieve whatever they can dream up.
Over 5,000 girls from across central and western Massachusetts are reaching their fullest potential. Our members are discovering what’s important to them, connecting with their community, and taking action to make the world a better place.
With the help of over 3,000 volunteers, we are creating adventures, learning opportunities, and future leaders at our four camps, two Leadership Centers, and with dedicated community partners.
We believe in the power of girls! From her first troop sleepover over with her very best friends to hiking Mount Washington to designing her own adventure—our Girl Scouts find the sparkle that makes them special. We think that’s pretty cool.
We connect over 8,000 members in 186 cities and towns in western and central Massachusetts, girls and adults who are experiencing new adventures every single day and building friendships that last a lifetime.
We get involved in our communities. Hundreds of service projects are completed each year! Our Girl Scouts and volunteers change the world through small acts of kindness and BIG ideas that make a lasting impact. Serving meals at a community soup kitchen, collecting items for local shelters and singing holiday carols to bring cheer to elders are regular aspirations for our members.
We value diversity and inclusiveness. Girl Scouts does not discriminate on any basis, including age, race, ethnicity, religion, and disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
If you have questions, concerns, or issues that need attention, we're here to help! Call us at 508-365-0115 or 413-584-2602, or email us at info@gscwm.org. Our hours are Monday–Friday, 9AM–4:00PM, or by appointment.
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors of Girl Scouts of Central & Western Massachusetts consists of a diverse group of volunteers who are community leaders and professionals. They are chosen by the Board Development Committee and elected by the voting members of the Council. The role of the Board of Directors is one of governance. Their responsibilities include strategic planning, fund development, appointment of the CEO, financial oversight, and interaction with the community.
Sheryl is Vice President Advisory Client Partner with Optum. With over 30 years’ experience in the health insurance and medical provider industry, Sheryl is an innovative and results-oriented executive and strategic thought leader with extensive experience in both operational and information technology domains committed to making healthcare work better.
In addition to her role as the Treasurer of the GSCWM, Sheryl is the President of the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Metro West chapter and a member of the board of advisors for the Macgregor Communications Boston Project Management Summit. She is a member of CHIEF a private network for executive women to maximize leadership impact.
Sheryl has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Bryant University and an MBA from Assumption University. Sheryl has mentored college freshmen at Bryant University for several years in the freshman IDEA design thinking program as well as a mentor for college seniors in the Women in Leadership course. Sheryl resides in Shrewsbury, MA with her husband and has a son and two daughters.
Elizabette is the Superintendent of Public Works for the City of Chicopee where she oversees nine departments and over 200 employees. She is a registered Professional Civil Engineer in the state of Massachusetts and has a combined 18 years’ experience in Consulting and Public Works management. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Northeastern University. She also serves as the President of the Board for the Portuguese Community Cultural Association as well as an active Board member for the Gremio Lusitano (Portuguese) Club, both in Ludlow. Elizabette resides in Ludlow with her family where she enjoys the strong presence of the Portuguese Culture that she grew up with.
Jennifer Cluett has worked at Worcester Polytechnic Institute for more than 25 years and currently serves as the Associate Vice-President for Enrollment Management & Dean of Admissions at WPI. She is responsible for the recruitment and enrollment of new undergraduate students. She also serves as a member of the University's inaugural Staff Council. Jennifer was a Girl Scout for seven years and later served as a Brownie troop leader while a college student at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. A resident of Charlton, Jennifer is married and has three children. Her passions include all things Disney and jigsaw puzzles.
Meagen is Executive Director at the Fitchburg Redevelopment Authority where she works across public, private, and corporate sectors to improve conditions within the community. She is very active in her community serving as board president for the Massachusetts Economic Development Council, a board member for Making Opportunity Count and alumni board member as well as an alumni admissions volunteer at Elmira College. She holds a Masters of Regional Planning from UMASS Amherst, a Masters of Science, Higher Education from Syracuse University and a BA from Elmira College.
Jessi is a servant leader and a strategic thought partner who founded JKirley Collective from her passion to create workplaces of dignity and high performance. As a Leadership Coach and Culture Strategist, Jessi brings workplace wellness strategies and solutions to organizations. Formerly a Business Advisor for the Goldman Sachs 10k Small Businesses Program and the Executive Director of the Family Business Center of Pioneer Valley, Jessi is now an Everything DiSC® Authorized Partner and a trained Emotional Intelligence and Mental Fitness™ Coach. She earned her BA from Smith College and her MBA from the Isenberg School of Management at UMASS Amherst. Jessi is native to Western Mass and is raising her 3 children there.
Cortney is the Associate Director of Admission, DEI coordinator at College of the Holy Cross. She is responsible for initiatives and programming that support marginalized populations through the college admissions process. As the first one in her family to go to college, access to education is important to her. She has presented numerous times on college access for first-generation students at the New England Association for College Admission Counseling Annual Meeting Conference and at the national level at National Association for College Admission Counseling, Guiding the Way to Inclusion Conference. She graduated from Assumption College with a degree in Mathematics in 2013 and went on to earn a Masters of Higher Education from Northeastern University in 2019. She currently resides in Pawtucket, RI.
Kimberly is a Workforce Development Specialist at College of the Holy Cross where she provides organizational development support to meet the College’s needs with a specific focus on DEI. She develops strategies for innovation and engagement with employees and community partners. Kimberly serves on the board of Sophia’s Fund and is a volunteer lead counselor at Camp Sunshine, a retreat for families who have a child with a life-threatening illness. She holds a Masters of Science degree from Northeastern University and a certificate in Diversity and Inclusion for HR from Cornell University.
Chris is the Chief Engineer of Television for New England Public Media (WGBY-TV) in Springfield. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from SUNY Plattsburgh. Originally from Rochester, NY, he has lived in South Hadley with his family for 26 years. Chris previously served on the board of directors for the Girl Scouts of Western Massachusetts and then on the GSCWM board after serving on the committee that merged the three central and western councils of Massachusetts in 2008.
Stefanie is the Director of Programs and Events for the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce. Prior to her role at the Chamber, Stefanie was the Sales and Catering Manager at the Sheraton Framingham Hotel. From 2005-2017 Stefanie worked for Outback Steakhouse, Bloomin Brands, as the Regional Director of Training, overseeing the training and operations of over 100 restaurants and new store openings in the Northeast territory. Born and raised in Worcester, Stefanie attended Worcester Public Schools and continued her education at Westfield State and Worcester State University. She currently serves on the Advisory Committee on the Status of Women for the City of Worcester. Stefanie lives in the city with her husband Clessio and son Luca.
Finn is going into their first year as a Girl Scout Senior. They joined as a Girl Scout Daisy and enjoy working with younger Girl Scouts. They have been helping younger troops for about three years, presently helping with a first and second year Daisy troop and a second year Brownie troop, as well as assisting leaders with events in their Service Unit. Finn is a member of GSCWM’s Girl Advisory Board, and a member of their service units’ Older Girl Scout Council. They have earned numerous leadership awards, including all LiA (Leadership in Action) awards, the Torch Award, the Cadette Community Service and Service to Girl Scouts bars, and the Gold Presidential Volunteer Service Award having completed over 250 hours of community service this year. They are a Bronze and a Silver Award Girl Scout.
Theresa Lynn, CEO of Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts, has made a life-long career of serving others in mission-driven organizations. Her strong commitment to community engagement and her passion for the wellbeing of children and families led her to previous roles as Senior Vice President of the United Way of Central Massachusetts where she focused on connecting people and much needed resources; as the executive director for Back on My Feet, addressing homelessness and job insecurity in Boston; and as executive director for ReadBoston where she ran the only comprehensive early literacy program in the city for 14 years.
Theresa serves as a board member for the Worcester Education Collaborative as well as the BioBuilder Education Foundation. She holds a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard Kennedy School in Cambridge, an MBA from Boston University, and a bachelor’s degree in economics from the College of Holy Cross in Worcester. Her contributions to the community have been acknowledged with a Heroes Among Us award from the Boston Celtics, and recognition as a Top 40 under 40 in Boston by the Boston Business Journal.
Suzanne has served as the Chief Operating Officer for the Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts (GSCWM) since the council was formed in January, 2008. For 19 years, she served as the CEO of the Girl Scouts of Western Massachusetts and, prior to that, for seven years as Executive Director and one year in an entry level position for the Girl Scouts of the Sierra Nevada based in Reno, NV.Ms. Smiley was a Certified Girl Scout Executive Director/CEO, earned a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the Mandel Center for Nonprofit Organizations at Case Western Reserve University, and completed an 11 day executive seminar in nonprofit management through the Harvard School of Business. In addition, she completed the Harvard Law School Program on Negotiation and numerous other short courses on fundraising, human resources management, and organizational change.
Suzanne has volunteered in many capacities, including serving as chapter president of Business Networking International, board member and secretary for the Employer’s Association of Western Massachusetts, board member for the Human Services Forum, and various officer positions with the Association of Fundraising Professionals. In addition Suzanne was the Town of Gill Planning Board Chair for 17 years and Zoning Board of Appeals Chair from 2006 to the present. She is currently a Music Minister and is a former religious education instructor at St. Patrick’s Church in Northfield, MA.
Deborah joined GSCWM in 2010, as office manager in Leeds, before it moved to its current location in Holyoke. In her formative years, Deborah was a Girl Scout in North Adams, and then a Troop Leader. Deborah studied Social Anthropology, as well as many accounting & business courses and earned her degree in computer science. Deborah has volunteered in various ways over the years; at a food co-op, as a member of the auxiliary fire department, and creator of a food share community program. Over her career, she has held various management positions; developed through extensive experience as an operations manager, office manager, administrative assistant and office administrator.
Growing within the GSCWM organization she has learned the shop functions, site rentals, team building, and has been instrumental in developing the Information and Referral (I&R) department. Deborah aids in resolving challenges with innovative solutions, systems and process improvements proven to increase efficiency, customer satisfaction and the bottom line. She emphasizes strong communication, managerial, customer service and organizational skills.
“Every badge you earn is tied up to your motto. This badge is not a reward for something you have done once or for an examination you have passed. Badges are not medals to wear on your sleeve to show what a smart girl you are. A badge is a symbol that you have done the thing it stands for often enough, thoroughly enough, and well enough to BE PREPARED to give service in it. You wear the badge to let people know that you are prepared and willing to be called on because you are a Girl Scout. And Girl Scouting is not just knowing.....but doing.....not just doing, but being.” – Juliette Gordon Low, Founder of Girl Scouting
The Girl Scout History Museum exists to preserve memorabilia related to Girl Scouting, so that it may be available for present and future users.
With the memorabilia, we offer exhibits and historical program activities to help foster a sense of belonging to the Girl Scout organization founded in 1912.
Museum Tours and Hands-on Exhibits at Camp Laurel Wood in Spencer
Browse the exhibits and displays of unique Girl Scout memorabilia and the library at the Gage Center at Camp Laurel Wood. Get a sense of how Girl Scouts have evolved over the years. Guided tours and vintage uniform try-on sessions are available by advance reservation. If your group is staying at camp for the weekend or you would just like to take a tour, do a program, or visit with Juliette Gordon Low make a reservation today. There is no charge for museum tours and they can be tailored to your group’s interest or badge work. Call 413-584-2602 or email historycommittee@gscwm.org. Reservations are required.
If you are interested please email historycommittee@gscwm.org to schedule your visit
Vintage Uniforms
Did you know that GSCWM’s Girl Scout Museum has vintage uniforms that you and your girls can try on, wear during fashion shows and parades, and use to learn more about Girl Scouting during the past 100 years?
Historic uniforms may be rented for activities such as parades, fashion shows, theater productions, or World Thinking Day.
Uniforms are available from both the Worcester and Holyoke Service Centers and are available in many sizes and vintages (from 1912-present).
Three weeks’ notice is required. Click here to reserve a set of uniforms. If you are looking for uniforms from a specific time period, please specify, otherwise we will find a mix of years which meet your size requirements.
Adventure Through Time Activity Boxes
Have you ever wondered what Girl Scouting was like in the past? All you need is an Adventure Through Time Box. There you will find a vintage uniform and handbook from another decade. Try some badge activities, learn a new song, play a new game. After completing the requirements, a Girl Scout History patch may be purchased. Click here to reserve a box.
Volunteers Needed – Donate Just 1 Hour Every Other Month
Volunteers operate our museum! We encourage you to consider being part of the team. Troops are invited to contact us about making a display and individual adults of every age are needed and appreciated. Can you assist with typing, record keeping or putting a display in place? Perhaps you’d like to help lead tours of our collection? Short term and continuing helpers are needed. To volunteer or learn more, contact historycommittee@gscwm.org.
Feedback
We want to hear from you! What types of exhibits or historic information would you like made available to your troop or group? How could we improve our tours? Any feedback you provide will help us provide better historic programming in the future. Email historycommittee@gscwm.org.
GSCWM is fortunate to have three regional Gold Award Committees fully dedicated to working with our Gold Award Candidates. The GAC consists of volunteer Mentors whose commitment of time, talent, and dedication to the Girl Scout Mission, supports our highest achievers throughout the Gold Award process.
The Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts, Inc. (GSCWM) is committed to protecting your nonpublic personal information and has taken steps to protect your privacy. The type of information we collect varies depending on the nature of your involvement with our organization. A “minimum necessary” rule is used for both collection and access of secure information. Employees and volunteers may receive, or have access to, information about you only if there is a good reason and they must agree to follow established security and confidentiality procedures.
Periodic training is provided for employees and volunteers who, in carrying out their responsibilities for GSCWM, have reason to collect or access nonpublic personal information. Annually, all employees sign an acknowledgement that they have read and understand our privacy policies and procedures.
We have technical, administrative, and physical security measures in place to protect your personal information from unauthorized access and improper use. Our security procedures are reviewed annually to ensure compliance with applicable federal and state regulations and to consider appropriate new technology and updated methods. Despite reasonable efforts, no security measure is ever perfect or impenetrable.