THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 7, 1996 TAG: 9603060118
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SHIRLEY BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 84 lines
GIRL SCOUT leader Dottie Harris encourages her charges to develop a sense of adventure.
Harris learned early on, however, that she was expected to set an example.
``One day, one of the girls said, `Miss Dottie, how do you expect us to try something if you won't?','' Harris recalled. ``That was it. I got on the roller coaster. Now I'm willing to try anything.''
When no one else volunteered to coordinate the Girl Scout cookie sale in the local area last year, Harris consulted her husband, Ray, and they agreed to assume the responsibility.
Training coordinator and registrar for Girl Scout Service Unit No. 730, Ray Harris worked with his wife and seven other volunteers recently to help unload 2,316 cases of cookies from a tractor trailer.
``We were so tired,'' Dottie Harris said. ``Two police officers took a vacation day to help us.''
There are 41 active Colonial Coast Girl Scout troops in Suffolk, and they have good parental participation, Harris said.
After dispensing the cookies ordered by other troop leaders, the Harrises stacked 138 cases in their own home in the Lake Kilby area.
``They were all over the house, but we're used to it,'' said Harris, laughing.
Prior to delivery, Girl Scouts throughout the area took orders from customers, which included 200 cases more of the most popular cookie, Thin Mints. After troop leaders compiled them, Harris phoned the orders into the Little Brownie Baker in Virginia Beach.
Recently, Harris worked on Saturday and Sunday at a cookie sale held at Wal-Mart. When she ``called it a day'' on Sunday, there were only six boxes of cookies remaining. Proceeds from the sale are used for long camping trips, day trips or year-end parties for each troop.
Harris, 40, was born in Tazewell and grew up in Norfolk. The Harrises moved from Virginia Beach to Suffolk 21 years ago, when Ray Harris was transferred by the Virginia Department of Transportation.
The couple became involved in Scouting when their 11-year-old daughter, Beverly, joined Brownie Troop No. 199. During Beverly's second year in Scouting, Dottie Harris was invited to be a leader's assistant and later, a leader of a Junior Scout troop. She is also the Junior Scout consultant, who stays in touch with other junior leaders and helps when problems arise.
``Seven evenings are taken up with Scouting,'' Harris said. ``I have paperwork to do, and I plan and make arrangements for something every day.''
In April, Harris and four other delegates will attend the annual council meeting of the Colonial Coast Girl Scouts in Southampton County.
Harris meets with 14 Junior Girl Scouts, ages 9, 10 and 11, from 7 to 8 p.m. Mondays, and with a new Cadette Troop from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays at Kilby Shores Elementary School.
``Most of the girls are old enough to set independent, reasonable goals,'' Harris said. ``I tell them possible obstacles and then, we work around them.''
Harris and her troops have done community service work by collecting canned food, clothes and toys for burned-out families. They have taken trips to Busch Gardens, Kings Dominion and museums; participated in overnight camping trips at Camp Darden; and had sleepovers at the Harris home.
``During sleepovers, I'm right in the middle of 15 or 16 girls,'' Harris said, laughing. ``We play games, work on crafts, and cook. They sleep wall-to-wall on sleeping bags. When the last ones go out the door the next morning, I try to go back to bed.''
The troop is participating in a Girl Scout exhibit entitled ``World of Art Display'' at Riddick's Folly, 510 N. Main St. Featuring a variety of art media, the exhibit will continue through March 31.
Last year, Harris's troops gave her a surprise birthday party and as a token of their appreciation, presented her with a plaque that read, ``Miss Dottie - No. 1 Leader'' at their year-end ceremony.
When Scout meetings adjourn for the summer, Harris goes to work for the Sausage King, cooking and selling Polish sausage dogs.
``We work in a booth and do special events such as Peanut Fest and Harborfest,'' Harris said. ``Sometimes, we go out of town . . . to Ocean City, Md., to work on the boardwalk. But my hobby is my girls.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
When Dottie Harris isn't busy leading her Girl Scout troops or
unloading cases of cookies, she enjoys playing with her dog,
Boomer.
by CNB