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Gunta Douglas
When Gunta accepted a new job with the Cleveland Girl Scout
Council in 1961 little did she know that she began a life’s journey
that would lead her through decades of adventures with both
girl members and adult volunteers. Serving on the staff, her frst
position was in the feld with volunteers which led to other jobs
in various departments with titles including: Adult Education
Director, Director of Business Operations, Personnel Director,
Ombudsman, and Director of Special Projects. She fnally
settled in the role of Assistant Executive Director with a stint as
Interim Executive Director in the 1980s.

In her position she worked with volunteers on council projects,
including Basic and Advanced Management Skills courses, Stop
Family Violence – Lend a Hand, and Invest in Humanity with The
Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity. She gives credit to the
Domestic Violence program for being the most meaningful of
these programs, educating Girl Scouts, adult volunteers, and
families about these social issues and overseeing the council
collection process to support several shelters for battered
women and children. The Invest in Humanity council project
covered the many aspects involved in raising funds, learning
construction skills and watching Girl Scout volunteers and
girls actually build a home for a needy family, the frst such
Girl Scout project in the nation. She recently stated that
the accomplishment she is most proud of is initiating the
Management Skills courses held at Cleveland State University
under the guidance of Dr. Tom Kuby. Volunteers had the
opportunity to earn continuing education credits in addition
to acquiring skills that could help them handle many of life’s
challenges at work, in their homes, and especially with troop and
service unit management.
Of her responsibilities and special projects, the yearly Council
Recognition event called “Something Special” was a favorite
among adult volunteers. This weekend hotel event combined
workshops, service projects, a craft fair and the all-important
recognition of the outstanding volunteers and community
supporters in our council at a formal dinner. Attendees
shared plenty of fun, friendship, and enjoyed very meaningful
programming. It was an event planned and carried out by
volunteers under Gunta’s guidance, a labor of love every year
for the committee involved.

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