Once a Girl Scout, always a Girl Scout. That especially rings true for Nita Blose who, after 23 years serving as neighborhood manager for Fountain Hills, is finally stepping down.

Blose has been involved with Girl Scouts for nearly 30 years, taking part in the program as a youngster, serving as a Girl Scout leader for 25 years and, for all but two of those years, also doubling as the local neighborhood manager.

Along the way, Blose also served as the Service Team secretary, new leader coach, registration/recruitment organizer, Neighborhood Cookie Manager, Fountain Hills fund developer, neighborhood recognitions organizer and coordinator for numerous events supporting local girls. In short, green blood flows through her veins, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“When we moved to Fountain Hills, I wanted one of my daughters to be involved in Girl Scouts, so I went to a recruitment meeting,” Blose said. “Soon after, I realized that if I wanted my daughter to be in Girl Scouts, I was going to have to step up and volunteer to be a leader.”

A few years later, with the local organization in need of a neighborhood manager, Blose decided to double down and take on the new title while remaining a group leader as well.

Blose said she had no idea she would remain involved in Girl Scouts as long as she has been.

“Once you get involved in Girl Scouts, you see it’s a great program,” she said. “I love what it stands for and the values it teaches the girls.”

Blose said that it is important for girls to be nurtured in the type of environment provided by Girl Scouts, where they can build confidence, leadership skills and more.

Looking back over the years, Blose said she has loved being around so many fantastic girls, as well as supporting the other local leaders.

Especially in the early days, Blose said Girl Scouts stayed pretty steady for a small community. The standard high, she said, was that one out of every five girls would be involved in Girl Scouts. Numbers have dwindled a little over the years. Blose notes that there’s been little trouble getting the girls to participate, but the difficulty has been getting enough adults to take up leadership positions.

Still, the local program has been making a big difference in the lives of local ladies, something Blose doesn’t see changing anytime soon.

“It’s a wonderful, nurturing program that gives these girls so many opportunities,” she said.

Blose spoke to the importance of how Girl Scouts introduces leadership and responsibility into the lives of its members, a little bit at a time, allowing them to grow and become more driven, confident people. It looks great on a college resume, too.

That kind of leadership preparation clearly has an impact, as Blose herself is an example of. She was leader of four different troops over the years, supported and assisted girls working on their coveted Silver and Gold Awards, chaperoned trips, chipped in at encampments, took part in the local council and the Arizona Cactus-Pine Council and so much more.

“I am proud to have supported the girls and leaders of Fountain Hills for 26 years, helping to keep Fountain Hills a stellar neighborhood with key focus on community service,” Blose said. “If I had to pick something I’m most proud of over the years, it was my last troop’s Silver Award. We cleaned and painted the underground tunnel near Golden Eagle Park. I can’t tell you how many hours that took, and we have a small troop. But those girls stuck in there and it turned out amazing.”

Looking ahead, Blose said it was her time to step down and let some new leadership guide the town’s troops into the future. She was delighted to announce that Katie Hermie and Erika Percic will be serving as co-neighborhood managers moving forward.

“Our leaders and girls are in good hands with these two ladies,” Blose said. “They are the new ‘green blood’ of Fountain Hills. They both share true dedication and passion for Girl Scout values and will keep Fountain Hills Girl Scouts alive and active in our community.”

For more information on Girl Scouts, to sign up a girl or for those considering offering their time to a leadership position, visit girlscouts.org. Hermie can also be reached at kathrynbb7@yahoo.com, with Percic at Erika.crna@gmail.com.