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On Monday, Nov. 12, Gardner was recognized for her 13 years as a leader for the Girl Scout service unit in Paynesville and St. Martin.

Gardner serves as the service unit treasurer, community coordinator, events coordinator, recruiter, public relations director, and cookie drive coordinator.

She has also directed the Girl Scout Day Camp for 10 years and has been the council trainer for new leaders.

Replacing Gardner from her many duties are: Jane Leitzman, Jane Rondeau, and Shelby Vaske, community coordinators; Karla Stransky, public relations; Stacy Weber, events coordinator; Sara Uhlenkamp, recruiter; Diane Schultz, cookie coordinator; and Betty Monson and Cheryl Scanlon, registration.

Gardner felt it was time to step down. Her daughter, Becca, ended her Girl Scout career two years ago, and now the rest of her Brownie troop is ready to graduate.

Gardner will continue to be the service unit treasurer and will help the new leaders fill their roles.

"I have enjoyed working with the Girl Scouts," she said. "You work with a lot of other people and have the opportunity to watch kids grow and mature."

Girl Scouting is a fun organization where girls can be girls and they don't have to compete with boys, she added. They learn a lot of leadership skills that are carried into their adult years, she said.

According to Gardner, it is a very gratifying feeling to see former Girl Scouts succeed as adults.

Gardner was a Girl Scout herself while growing up in Minneapolis and achieved scouting's highest honor: First Class Girl Scout (now called the Gold Award).

Her first experience as a leader was for her sister's Brownie troop. She started in Paynesville when her daughter joined the local troop.

s and achieved scouting's highest honor: First Class Girl Scout (now called the Gold Award). Her first experience as a leader was for her sister's Brownie troop. She started in Paynesville when her daughter joined the local troop. Gardner also served as a leader for a year in Park Rapids.