Girl Scout for 55 Years Selected as Fourth of July Parade Grand Marshal

The theme for this year's and who better to step off the celebration than a long-time girl scout from Stow. 

Mary Lou Britton was selected by the Stow Fourth of July Parade Committee as this year’s parade grand marshal.

"The committee sought an individual who has been involved in girl scouting over time, and has contributed to the community via girl scouting in a significant way. To make the selection, the committee sought the input of the local girl scout leaders and counselors," a press release stated. "Mary Lou Britton came highly recommended by the local girl scouting network. Therefore, it was the pleasure of the committee to select her for this honor."

The, 2012. events. 

Read more about Britton:

I was born and grew up in Jamestown New York, living in New York until 1993 when my family moved to Stow so we have been residents of Wyoga Lake Estates for 19 years.

My husband is Timothy Britton and we will celebrate 40 years of marriage this year.

My children both graduated from . Gary M Britton graduated in 1995 and Theresa A Britton (married to Jason M Markovich) graduated in 1999. 

Theresa has already been aGirl Scout for 25 years and she will be joining me in the parade.

I graduated from Allegheny College with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and then I earned theMaster of Arts in Education from Allegheny.

I have served as a teacher or substitute teacher in public and parochial schools in New York and Ohiofor 20+ years. I also served as the computer trainer at in Stow from 1995 to 1999.

Since 2000, I have been a Lector teaching College Algebra, Intuitive Calculus, and Fundamental Mathematics in the Mathematics Department at Kent State University.

I have been a girl scout for 55 years. The first 11 years I was a Brownie, Junior, Cadette, and Senior during school. When I went to college I became an adult girl scout so I continued my membership as a camp counselor in a girl scout camp and after I completed school, I went to Chautauqua Area Girl Scout Council to volunteer and help with a troop.

I worked with girls, served on some council committees, trained and helped with Day Camp. Our family then moved to Syracuse New York so I volunteered to my local service group there by working with the service’s Girls Advisory Board, was director for a day camp a few years, was a service team member and coordinated a Workshop Week for the Service.

Another movement back to Jamestown and again served CAGS in western New York as the leader for my daughter’s troop from Daisys through Juniors, in addition to serving on the Council’s Board of Directors, several committees for the Council, and again as a Council Delegate for the Service group.

When we moved to Stow, I became a leader for my daughter’s Cadette and Senior troops, and trained more leaders to help girls become confident young ladies.

I also have served as a Council Delegate for Western Reserve and later for Girl Scouts of northe ast Ohio. I have served on the Girl Scout GoldAward Committee to encourage girls to “go for the Gold” for several years, and I have served twice as a Delegate to the National Girl Scout Convention, and have been a member of this region’s Order of Silver Trefoil for women who have been Girl Scouts for more than 15 years.

I have participated in many local activities including SMFPS High School Band, which my children were members of during school.

I am a member of and have served as a lector/commentator for several years. I also served as secretary for the full-time non-tenure track American Association of University Professors at Kent State for five years.

Volunteering is a necessary activity because as a Girl Scout I have followed the Girl Scout Law, one stanza particularly “A Girl Scout’s duty is to be useful and to help others.”

When I have time, I enjoy reading, sewing and crafting. I also enjoy doing outdoor activities including walking, bike riding, gardening, and camping.

I am a member of an investment club and I have served as president in the Homeowner’s Association of Wyoga Lake and also Wyoga Lake Women’s Club and am a lifetime member of my college sorority, Alpha Delta Gamma.

I simply never learned to say "no."