Poway Girl Scout leader, PUSD honored at event

Poway Girl Scout leader Lisa Grismer and Poway Unified School District were among those honored at Girl Scouts San Diego’s Volunteer Conference and Celebration.

The Aug. 15 event was held in the San Diego Convention Center.

Grismer was given Girl Scouts’ Appreciation Pin for her efforts to help potential new troop leaders, while the school district received Girl Scouts’ Friendship Award to recognize its support of the organization for more than two decades.

The district’s award, accepted by PUSD Board Vice President Michelle O’Conner-Ratcliff, was due to it providing low- and no-cost meeting space for troops and service units.

Grismer, who was nominated by some of her peers and troop members’ parents, said the Appreciation Pin represents their gratitude for the “quality programing were giving the girls” and reinforces the verbal thank-yous she has received.

The Poway resident has been a leader since 2011. For the past four years she has been leader of Troop 2183, whose members started as Brownies and are now Junior Girl Scouts. She also volunteers with Cadette Troop 8382; is co-leader of Brownie Troop 2176, which she formerly led; and is registrar and encampment director for the Blue Sky Service Unit in Poway. She is the former co-leader of Junior Troop 8804 and former activity consultant and membership organizer for the Rancho Bernardo Service Unit. Grismer is a certified archery instructor and trained in backpacking, wilderness first aid and CPR.

Grismer said she was a youth member for five years, as a Brownie and Junior. Her daughters are Cadette Elisiana Grismer, Junior Genevieve Grismer and Brownie Nicolette Grismer.

“My daughters were interested in Girl Scouts before I became a leader,” she said. “(For them) it is fun spending time outside of school with their friends and they love community service ... through the Girl Scout program.”

She said the organization for kindergartners through high school seniors gives girls opportunities, provides ways for them to give back to their community, grow and be independent. Grismer said she has seen girls “come out of their shell who were very shy.”

As for her efforts with adults, she said, “New leaders do not know where to begin and are unsure when taking on the role. So I invite them to meetings, to show what we do. It removes the mystery of being a leader and running a troop meeting, so they feel better about taking it on and it is not scary.”

Grismer said through the service unit she has gone on activities before her troop so she can learn the needed skills to teach to the girls. “It helps me if I’m active in the service unit, because it helps me plan programs better. Through advanced training I feel more confident in learning the skills first.” She added this also gives her an opportunity to do activities with her oldest daughter.

One of the activities Grismer developed that nominators praised was a Chinese New Year program for World Thinking Day.

Nominator April Quinones wrote, “Lisa is a great role model for girls of all ages. Her dedication goes far and beyond what any leader does. She has exceptional leadership skills and is such an outstanding mentor.”