History of the Girl Scouts - Fox Valley Council (1957-Present)

First Girl Scout troop in Aurora organized May 31, 1923
Work began to form a council in 1931
First Charter was obtained January 1932 and Miss Marjorie Cooper was elected the first Commissioner. Our first day camp was held at Camp Waukesha, the Boy Scout Camp on the Fox River. Old railroad coaches were used for shelter
The first Annual meeting was held in 1935

In 1957 St. Charles, Geneva, Batavia, and Aurora Councils were consolidated by Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. to form the Fox Valley Girl Scout Council of Illinois, Inc.

In 1957, the first Executive Director of the Fox Valley Girl Scout Council was Marie Wallace "Chips" deMartelly who was the Executive Director of the Aurora Council. We now have an award unique to the Fox Valley Council named in her honor. "Chips" was Executive Director until 1974, when she retired. She and one staff occupied a small council office in the Old Second National Bank building. The council moved to 75 S. Stolp and then to a building at 901 N. Lake Street in Aurora, behind the Burger King restaurant. The council owned a log cabin on North Lake Street called the "Little Cabin." The council owned
cabins at Johnson's Mound, St. Charles, and Whispering Oaks cabin in Batavia which burned by arson.

In 1974, Robert A. Paton was hired as Executive Director. He served in that position until he retired in 1992. In 1981, the Fox Valley Girl Scout Council built a service center, at 200 New Bond Street, Aurora, (next to the Prestbury water tower). Land was donated to the council for a service center. The girl membership was about 5,000 when Bob was Executive Director. The corporate management system was put into effect when Bob was ED. This system uses geographic divisions of associations as the primary contact between the operational volunteers and the council board of directors.

In 1992, Lynn E. Freyberg was hired as the Executive Director of Fox Valley Council, Inc.. Lynn brought us a new outlook on diversity. She worked to bring more minority girls and adult leaders into Girl Scouting. Lynn left the council in September of 1997.

The President, board of directors, council delegates, troop consultants, organizers, troop leaders, assistant troop leaders, and committee members are all volunteer positions. This is the backbone of the council responsible for policies and delivery of Girl Scout program to girls.

The geographic area of the Girl Scouts - Fox Valley Council includes all of Kendall County, Sandwich and Squaw Grove township in DeKalb County; Mission township in LaSalle County, and Aurora, Batavia, Big Rock, Blackberry, Campton, Geneva, Kaneville, St. Charles, and Sugar Grove townships in Kane County.

The Girl Scouts - Fox Valley Council has a membership of over 5,000 girls and more the 1,100 adult volunteers. Over 67 adults are lifetime members of Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. The council sponsored three national wider opportunities in 1968, 1976, and "Coasters, Cabins, and Mrs. O'Leary's Cow" 1997. Each year girls may apply and be selected to participate in national wider opportunities sponsored by Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. and individual councils.

In the year 2000, the council went through some more change. The name of the council was changed to
Girl Scouts - Fox Valley Council.
December marked another change in the looks and function of the office. Support staff offices were restructured and a full line store was added.

Board President
Archie Needam

Executive Directors
Marie (Chips) deMartelly 1957-1974
Robert Paton 1974-1992
Lynn E. Freyberg 1992-1997
Margaret Renwand 1998-2004
Susan Kendall 2005-Present