Closing of Girl Scout service center, camp discussed at meeting

DEXTER, Mo. -- Residents voiced their concerns about the possible closing of the Dexter Girl Scout Service Center and nearby Camp Latonka at a meeting Tuesday.

Anne Soots -- whose new position as CEO of Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland Inc. was only announced Tuesday -- headed up the two-hour, informal gathering of about 50 people, inviting comments and suggestions from the attendees, nearly all of whom had worked closely with Girl Scouting as employees or as volunteers.

A June 2010 decision by the organization's board of directors that called for the closing of the service center was reconsidered after a grassroots campaign began following the announcement. Since then, administration has worked on alternatives in an effort to deal with a flailing economy and lost revenue within the Girl Scout organization.

At Tuesday's meeting, Kent Polsgrove, a local retired school administrator and former board member of the Cotton Boll Council, suggested capitalizing on the current Camp Latonka at Lake Wappapello.

"You've got a unique set up with Latonka," Polsgrove said. "It would be a huge mistake not to keep it. It's waterfront property with tremendous potential." The problem, Polsgrove said, is development.

Polsgrove said the Girl Scouts should look at what he called a "cooperative venture" -- an expansion of Latonka with involvement of, for example, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other entities to enhance the property and the opportunities at the campgrounds.

Others voiced concerns about the distance volunteers and employees of the council would have to travel, should the local service center shut down.

"We have to look at the demographics," one woman said. "Girls need us in this area. We have a high at-risk population with more children in foster care than in any county in Missouri. We need to provide these girls and all girls with opportunities that they cannot receive elsewhere. You need to reconsider [closing down the center]."

A final decision regarding the sale of properties will be made at the November meeting of the Girl Scouts of Missouri Heartland's Board of Directors.

Pertinent address:

Dexter, Mo.