GREEN BAY, Wis. - A Girl Scout troop leader in Green Bay has lost her job in the wake of a fundraiser her troop held for families of victims of a fatal crash near Chippewa Falls.
The members of Troop 4029 helped host a vigil in Green Bay in honor of three Chippewa Falls-area scouts and a parent who were struck and killed while collecting trash along a rural highway earlier this month.
Troop leader Elizabeth Steffel also helped launch an additional fundraiser involving the sale of a special commemorative badge.
Steffel says she was fired for raising money directly for the families of the crash victims without filtering it through scout management.
Steffel tells KARE 11 she was told to stop telling people to give money directly to the families, instead of donating through the Girl Scouts.
"We decided in this situation where people lost their daughters, we need to support the families, because they're who are important," she said. "A business is not important. The families are important in this situation."
She said she agreed that since they differed on the issue, it made sense to be terminated from her position with the Girl Scouts. But that wasn't the most painful part.
"Then they told me I was losing my troop that I've had for three years," she said. "I've only been working for Girl Scouts for two months. So I've been running a troop for three years. My troop is primarily made up of at-risk girls who have a lot of different issues at home and this is their one safe place."
Steffel said when she realized she was being separated from the girls, she decided to speak out.
"That's when I decided I can't be quiet anymore," she said.
The Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes posted the following statement:
"We all continue to deeply grieve the tragic loss of life in Chippewa Falls. The communities across Wisconsin, in particular our members and volunteers, that have shown their support for the victims and their families through rallies, private fundraising efforts, and other means of support play a critical role in the grieving and healing process.
Yesterday, there were a series of media stories and social media posts suggesting that the Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes suspended a troop leader because she organized a vigil and raised funds for the Chippewa Falls victims’ families that were not earmarked for Girl Scout use. Unfortunately, these reports are incomplete and false and do not accurately reflect the Council’s ongoing efforts to provide compassionate support for those impacted.
Because of privacy laws, we cannot disclose information about our employees or volunteers, but we feel it important to correct the misinformation that is being disseminated:
1) Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes makes every attempt to retain our valued volunteers and staff working with individuals to make sure both their needs and Council standards are met.
2) Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes did not take punitive action on any individual, organization, or troop for any event or action related to supporting the families impacted by the Chippewa Falls tragedy.
3) Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes, as a 501(c)(3) did not, will not, and cannot fundraise for the families impacted by the Chippewa Falls tragedy or direct the use of funds others raised. Any funds raised through private efforts, such as GoFundMe, are not for use by our Council. Accordingly, we have no stake in how these funds are used.
We understand that emotions are high and personal relationships may impact how certain events are interpreted. Our Council, members, and volunteers were deeply saddened by the great loss in Chippewa Falls and those feelings extended far and wide in the Girl Scout sisterhood.
Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes and Girl Scouts of the USA have a legacy of honesty, integrity, and adherence to the guiding principles of the Girl Scout Promise and Law. We thank you for being partners with us in Girl Scouts to support girls and families in both difficult and joyful times. Thank you also for your trust in our continued, faithful commitment to making every attempt to maintain positive relationships with current or former staff, volunteers, and members."