Many of our Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana volunteers are exceptional at supporting Girl Scouts in a variety of ways. Marty Devereaux-Poch is definitely one of those volunteers. Marty’s passion for Girl Scouts started in her girl years and continues to this day, over 60 years since she donned the Brownie uniform. In honor of National Volunteer Month, let’s take a look at the long-term relationship which Marty Poch has had with the movement.
It was in 1962 that Marty started her Girl Scout experience when she became a second grade Brownie with legacy Cloverleaf Council in Cicero, Illinois. Although Marty’s mom had been a Girl Scout through eighth grade, she was not the one to lead Marty’s troop at the beginning. It was her grandmother who took on that role for the troop through Brownies and Juniors. When the troop was getting organized, Marty’s grandmother told her daughter to “watch your own kids, and I’ll do this with Martha.” One of Marty’s fondest memories of her grandmother was her insistence on being in proper attire, even when at camp. When Grandma went to camp, she was always in a dress and stockings and often times in full uniform. She also made sure that the girls had their full uniforms, including white gloves, when at camp. On Sunday morning, the girls would put on those uniforms when they went to mass at a local convent. At one point, Marty’s Mom took Grandma shopping to purchase slacks to use when camping. However, the girls embarrassed her when they made such a fuss over Grandma wearing slacks, that she went back to her original wardrobe. She was known throughout the council for wearing a dress and stockings to camp. When Marty became a Cadette, her Mom took over the troop, and she stayed with them all the way to high school graduation. Marty’s Mom and Grandma became her role models for volunteering. That being said, Marty’s first volunteering experience came to her during high school. She took the Leader-in-Training (LIT) training and helped with a Junior troop that included her younger sisters.
One of the highlights of her girl years happened when Marty was a high school senior. She was selected for a Wider Opportunity (Wider Op) that was taking place during winter break. The Wider Op was an immersion language camp being held in West Virginia. Each participant focused on a particular language, and Marty chose German. The two-week program culminated in a celebration that had the girls wearing traditional clothing and doing traditional crafts. They also had to make a dinner reflective of the culture. Marty prepared potato pancakes, a recipe that her grandmother taught her how to make. Being part of a Wider Op was definitely a way to culminate Marty’s girl years.
After high school, Marty attended college at Loyola University, where she found various ways of giving service to Girl Scouts. One of her college classes required her to do an internship with a social service agency. This gave Marty the opportunity to work with legacy Chicago Council by helping two new field directors with recruitment. She also worked with two troops for several months, which resulted in her spending a lot of time on public transportation. Marty also volunteered with Cloverleaf Council with their camp program during all four years of college.
Another college endeavor for Marty was the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). This is a college-based program that combines academic studies with military training, allowing students to earn a degree while preparing to become commissioned officers. Because of Marty’s extensive Girl Scout training, she had an advantage over other ROTC recruits because she already knew how to camp, AND she could put up a tent correctly.
In 1974, Marty became a volunteer for a Junior troop, first as an assistant leader, then taking on the role of leader. She would have the gratification of leading her three nieces, staying with these girls through their high school years. She was the Junior leader for seven years, and the Cadette leader for eight years.
One of Marty’s favorite troop excursions as a volunteer was to Savannah, not just once, but twice. She was particularly impressed by seeing how different the experience was for the girls from the time they were in grammar school to the time they went there in high school. During the second visit, Marty took the girls on a ghost tour through Savannah, which ended up on the steps of the Birthplace for a photo. While on the steps, the girls noticed a curtain in the window starting to move, and they were SURE it was the ghost of Juliette. However, it should be noted that when air conditioning turns on, curtains are likely to move.
Over the years, Marty has taken on a variety of roles. She has been a trainer for all age levels and has facilitated the training for outdoors, including archery, orienteering and Leave No Trace. She was volunteer staff at Camp River Trails, where she was the camp cook for mother/daughter events. Marty has also served on the LEAP team for numerous years.
Besides her various duties as a trainer, Marty has stepped up to take on other key positions. She was a Service Unit Manager for Whispering Oaks, Prairie Winds, and Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana. She has been a Council Delegate for various councils, including legacy Lone Tree, Whispering Oaks, and Prairie Winds, along with serving in that position for GCNWI. She has also taken on the responsibility of National Delegate numerous times, serving in that role for Whispering Oaks, Prairie Winds, and GCNWI. Even with all the various volunteering positions that Marty has had over the years, she will still tell you that her most rewarding volunteer experience was as a troop leader.
Marty’s first full time job was very unusual for a woman at the time. She applied to work for the Saukee Area Boy Scout Council in West Central Illinois that included the counties of Hancock and Adams. Marty had been told that the Boy Scouts only hire Eagle Scouts. However, she got the job because she was a First Class Girl Scout. She became the first female in Illinois to hold the position of District Executive. While an employee for the Boy Scouts, Marty also took on the responsibility of volunteering as a Den Mother for Cub Scouts.
Besides her involvement in Girl Scouts, Marty has found other ways to be of service in her community. She has been a volunteer income tax aid for AARP. She has also done volunteer tax preparation for Ladder Up, an organization that supports low income individuals. Marty is on the HOA board for her homeowners’ association. Additionally, she has been a part of the music ministry at her parish, playing her guitar for services.
Marty’s dedication to Girl Scouts has not gone unnoticed. She has received almost every Girl Scout recognition that is available, including the Thanks II Badge and induction into the GSGCNWI Hall of Fame. However, Marty will tell you that the most rewarding recognition she received was Outstanding Leader, presented to her while volunteering for the Whispering Oaks Council. The award is so special to Marty because the girls in her troop wrote the letters of endorsement, which was a testimonial of their appreciation for her leading them. May all Girl Scout leaders feel that same gratitude, not only during Volunteer Month, but all year long.
A big Thank You goes out to Marty and to all of our volunteers who make Girl Scouting possible for so many girls!