(
FAMILY COMES FIRST
GIRT SCOUTS
A LEGACY OF INCLUSION
#602
APPEARANCES IN ORDER:
VINCENT J. RUSSO ESQ. Russo Law Group, P. C.
VICTORIA ROBERTS-DROGIN Russo Law Group. P. C.
EDITH HEINSOHN, Girl Scout Troop Leader
INDA HENSOHN
SUSAN RUSSO, President, Theresa Foundation Exec. Dir. , Theresa ACademy Of PerfOrming Arts
TODD BELISLE, President Center for Special Needs Trust Administration
KIM CHRISTIAN, ESQ., Special Needs Attorney RuSSO Law Group, P. C.
DONNA CERAVOLO, CEO Girl SCOuts Of Nassau County
- ANTHONY STANGANETTI
1 O
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
2O
21
22
23
24
25
- RUSSO: Welcome, everyone, to
Family Comes First. I’m Vincent J.
RUSSO.
- ROBERTS – DIRIOGINI: And I’m
Victoria Roberts-Drogin. Thank you for
joining us.
For years, the Girls Scouts has
been an organization where girls can
build courage, confidence and character,
and then go on to make the World a better
place.
- RUSSO: Absolutely awesome.
And just because a girl may have special
needs, it doesn’t mean she Can’t be a
part of the Girl Scouts.
- ROBERTS-DROGIN: Today on
Family Comes First, we’re going to talk
about how all girls can benefit from
being a part of Scouting; a legacy Of
inclusion right here on Family Comes
Fir St .
実 ★ ★ *****
- ROBERTS-DROGIN: We are talking
today about how girls with Special needs
can be a part of the Girl Scouts.
Page
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
2O
21
22
23
24
25
Edith Heinsohn is here and she was
inspired to start a troop in her area, a
Girl Scout troop, where children like her
daughter Linda with Special needs, Could
parti Cipate .
- RUSSO: This is going to be
such a great show.
And also with us, Of Course, is
Linda, Edith’s daughter, who is part Of
that troop and One of my favorite guests,
I have to say that, Susan Russo of the Theresa Academy of Performing Arts for
children with special needs, and we’ll
talk about the tie-in there, which is
really fantastic.
- ROBERTS-DROGIN: Absolutely.
So, tell us about your two beautiful
Children.
- HEINSOHN: Both of my children
are special needs; Linda is thirteen and
Scott is fourteen.
- ROBERTS-DROGIN: What kinds of
activities do you do with them?
MS . HIETINSOIHIN : Of COur Se We dO
TAPA, we have a respite camp, and we do a
Page 3
1 O
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
2O
21
22
23
24
25
lot of the activities; arts and crafts. We
do bowling through the Nassau County PAL,
and they’re in Camp Anchor now and they
also do bowling through Anchor. We do
softball in the spring through Shining
Stars of Levittown. We’ve very busy.
- ROBERTS – DIRIOGIN : I was just
going to Say.
- HEINSOHN: And Girl Scouts.
- RUSSO : Can I be a part of
your family?
MS . ENSOHIN : Se
- RUSSO: My parents didn’t
offer me all these things when I was
little. It was just go play in the – – –
- ROBERTS-DROGIN: Yes, go play
Outside.
- RUSSO: – – – in the street,
in Brooklyn.
And so, Linda, you’re very busy.
LINDA: Yes, I am.
- RUSSO: And who’s your friend
here?
LINDA: Annie.
- RUSSO: Annie? Aw, she’s
Page 4
黏 貌 靈
1 O
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
2O
21
22
23
24
25
beautiful. She’s been with you a long time,
I understand.
- ROBERTS-DROGIN: And does
Annie do Girl Scouts with you, Linda?
Does she keep you Company?
- RUSSO: That’s a trick
questi On.
LINDA: Yep.
- RUSSO: Okay. So, Linda, what
do you like the most about going to the
Girl Scouts? Do you like having fun?
TINDA: Yes, having fun.
- RUSSO: Fun with all your
friends, right?
TINDA: (Smiles)
MS, ROBERTS-DROGIN: And what’s
your favorite badge? What’s your
favorite patch?
LINDA: Dance. I love dance.
- RUSSO: Dance, okay.
- ROBERTS – DIROGIN : That’s great.
And dance is part of the program at TAPA?
- RUSSO: Linda is a very good
dan Cer. She al SO take S dan Ce ClaSSeS ,
and she’s a part of the Banana Splits
Page
1 O
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
2O
21
22
23
24
25
Club, which is an exclusive club within her
dance school where she attends.
- ROBERTS-DROGIN : How nice .
- RUSSO: The girls earned a
dance badge with us.
- RUSSO: Talk about how there’s
been this connection between you starting
up the troop, 2477, did I get that right?
MS . HEINSOHN : Mm-hmm.
MR . RUSSO : And the ServiCeS We’ re
providing at TAPA?
- RUSSO: We’ve known Edith and
the kids for a few years now.
- HEINSOHN: Many years.
- RUSSO: Yes. They’ve been to art classes, and drumming Classes and
they’ve attended TAPA camp for a long
time, several years.
Her son Scott is an amazing
African drummer. He is really, really
good. That ‘ s his favorite part of TAPA
Camp. And when Edith started with the
troop, the girls, they’ve earned three
badges, working at TAPA, three Or four
badges. They’ve earned an art badge, a
Page 6
Page 7
1 yoga badge, a dance badge, a ballet badge and
2 I believe there” S One Other. Music . A
3 music badge.
4 MS. ROBERTS-DROGIN: So there S a
5 ni Ce Support .
6 MS RUSSO : It is . It is. And
7 it’s a great group of girls to WOrk With.
8 They’re lovely, lovely girls. All about
9 the same age.
1 O MS. HEINSOHN: They’re from ten
11 through Sixteen.
12 MR. RUSSO: So, how ‘d you come up
13 with – – – you weren’t in the Girl
14 SCOutS.
15 MS HEINSOHIN: NO .
16 MR. RUSSO: And now you’re a troop
17 leader, so how did that happen?
18 MS. HEINSOHN: Linda was asking
19 for a long time to become a Girl Scout.
2O MR. RUSSO: Oh, great.
21 MS. HEINSOHN: And I investigated,
22 and although any girl can join any troop,
23 it really wasn’t appropriate for her, SO
24 I thought I would start my own, and I
25 just gear it towards the girls and their
1 O
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
2O
21
22
23
24
25
abilities.
- RUSSO: Wow, that’s fantastic.
- ROBERTS-DROGIN: How big is the
troop?
- HEINSOHN: I only have four
girls, but they’re very, very active.
- ROBERTS-DROGIN: It makes it
very special; there’s a lot of attention.
- RUSSO: They have so many
projects they work on, and I – – –
- ROBERTS-DROGIN: Well, I can
See from this beautiful – – –
- RUSSO: Yes, let S See. Let’s
See. Let’s see it, if we can hold that
- Just hold that up for a minute and
talk about what’s going with all this – –
- ROBERTS-DROGIN: There are a
lot of badges on there.
- HEINSOHN: These are the badges
that they work for. They’ve done first
aid, cooking, baking. We had a tea party.
They did a social tea. Exercise. We’ve
done it Over the years, and of course the
Cookie Sales.
Page 8
భ:భ 司祕、盔%洲磁缀侬葱燃照签秘、绶%、…°
1 O
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
2O
21
22
23
24
25
- ROBERTS-DROGEN: There’s a lot On
the back, too, I think.
- RUSSO: The back?
- HEINSOHN: These aire the
patches. These are just the fun patches.
- RUSSO: Where’s the yoga patch?
ITINIDA : (Points to yoga patch)
- RUSSO: There it is because I
understand that you love yoga.
- ROBERTS – DIRIOGIN : T See a
couple on there, right? Great.
- RUSSO : WOW.
- ROBERTS-DROGIN: Wonderful.
- RUSSO: Yes, that’s – – – what
are you going to do when you’re Out of
space?
- HEINSOHN: This is their junior
vest. They just bridged up to Cadets, so
this is her new One.
- RUSSO: Oh, this is the fancy
OG .
- HEINSOHN: We start loading
this One up.
- ROBERTS-DROGIN: I See there’s
stuff on there already.
Page 9
1 O
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
2O
21
22
23
24
25
Page 10
- RUSSO: Ye S. YeS.
- RUSSO: Linda, what’s your
favorite pose in yoga?
LINDA: Downward dog.
- ROBERTS-DROGIN: Downward dog.
- RUSSO: Okay. That’s really
wonderful. Now, Edith is also an
incredible baker, and she has baked for
the Theresa Academy as fundraisers and our
Theresa bowling event.
I remember all those great – – – SO
talk to us about all the cakes and the
Cupcakes and – – – Susan?
- RUSSO: And Edith has done,
helped us with some birthday, special
birthday cakes for camp as well.
- HEINSOHN: Some gluten free.
- RUSSO: Gluten free.
- HEINSOHN: We did the dinosaur.
- RUSSO: And you did a mermaid.
- HEINSOHN : MermaiC.
- RUSSO: Very, very, very nice.
- ROBERTS-DROGIN: Also for
eVent S.
- RUSSO: We SO love how involved
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
2O
21
22
23
24
25
Page 11
you are with your children.
- HEINSOHN: Thank you.
- RUSSO: You have a lot Of
Courage and you’re really inspirational to
people, you know, to step in as a mom and
make sure that they’re having the best
life that they can and – – – I wish I had
all this joy and all this fun.
- RUSSO : What ” S ni Ce abOut the
troop is that the girls have become such
fast friends. So it’s another, besides
all of the work that they do as Girl
Scouts and enjoy all of these wonderful
activities, they’ve made very close
friendships.
So, who is your best friend in Girl
SCOutSp
LINDA: Jillian Dolan.
- RUSSO: Jillian Dolan.
- RUSSO: So, it’s a great social
outlet for the kids.
- ROBERTS-DROGIN: Yes, sure.
- RUSSO: A lot of fun.
- ROBERTS-DROGIN: It S a
Community.
1 O
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
2O
21
22
23
24
25
- RUSSO: They make lifelong
friends. Yes. It’s really, really good.
- HEINSOHN: It’S WOnderful for
them.
- ROBERTS – DIROGIN : That’ S
terrific. Well, thank you so much for
being here. Thank you, Linda, for COming
and telling us all about this; telling us
about yoga, and Girl Scouts and
everything.
- RUSSO: That’s wonderful. And,
Susan, for being On.
MS ROBERTS-DROGIN: Susan frOm
TAPA, yes . All that you do .
- RUSSO : SUIre –
- RUSSO: This is one of my
favorite families.
- RUSSO: And we’re going to have
Edith stay on after we take our break, and
we’re going to talk more about your story,
which were thrilled that you’re sharing.
- ROBERTS-DROGIN: And then We’ll
come back with Kim Christian of your law
firm to talk about a legacy of inclusion
right here on Family Comes First.
Page 12
1 O
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
2O
21
22
23
24
25
Page 13
- BELISLE: Hi. 7 m TOCC
Belis le , the President Of The Center for
Special Needs Trust Administration.
Under current policy, individuals
receiving certain means tested public
benefits have very strict income and asset
limits. Our partnership with the Theresa
Foundation and Community Trust Program
helps individuals protect these valuable
benefits by giving the individual or their
representative the ability to create a
trust for the benefit of a loved One.
For additi Onal informati On On how
the Theresa Foundation Community Trust
Program might help you or a loved One,
please Contact us today.
- RUSSO: Welcome back to Family
Comes First.
Let’s continue with Edith’s
WOnderful and inspiring Story, and also
joining us is Kim Christian, a special
needs attorney in my law firm.
- ROBERTS-DROGIN : Wel COme tO
硕盈瑟丽琛影蕊蕊※※、
1 O
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
2O
21
22
23
24
25
you, both.
- CHRISTIAN: Thank you.
- ROBERTS-DROGIN: We’re so glad
to have you here.
- CHRISTIAN: Glad to be here.
- RUSSO: We re thrilled.
- ROBERTS-DROGIN: So, Edith,
when we left off, we were talking about
how you created the scout troop for Linda
and her friends, so that they could really
enjoy some of the benefits of Scouting.
Now, your background aligned with
this effort. You have a background in
special needs education?
- HEINSOHN: I am. I’m a special
ed teaCher.
- ROBERTS-DROGIN: So you brought
something unique to this. How do you help
the girls to succeed in your troop?
- HEINSOHN: Well, I take any
activity, and I break it down, and I make
it easy for them to do. But, we do cover
all the requirements, just in a different
way for each of the badges.
- ROBERTS-DROGIN: Wonderful.
Page 14
1 O
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21.
22
23
24
25
- RUSSO: How did you get into the
world of special needs as an educator?
- HEINSOHN: Well, I had a
sister, many, many years ago, who I never
met who was severely mentally retarded,
and I believe that I went that way because
Of her.
- RUSSO : SUire .
- HEINSOHN: So, I went back to
School when I was older, and I went
straight through for my master’s and
became a special ed teacher.
- RUSSO: So she inspired you.
- HEINSOHN: She did. She did,
and my sister’s name was Linda, too.
- RUSSO: There you go.
- ROBERTS-DROGIN: That’ S
beautiful.
- RUSSO: And my family, my
daughter, Lizzie, is a special ed teacher,
and Theresa; they were roommates growing
up, and so there’s that connection. It’s
just wonderful.
- ROBERTS-DROGIN: And it does
inspire you, to want to give back and
Page 15
1 O
11
12
13
14
1.5
16
17
18
19
2O
21
22
23
24
Page 16
support that world.
- RUSSO : Ye S.
- ROBERTS – DIRIOGINI: And She’ S
addOIrable .
- HEINSOHN: Thank you.
- RUSSO: So, Kim, a lot of
issues when parents COme to us, and they
have a child with special needs, and we
really need to kind of help them navigate
what they need to do and what turns they
may need to take in the future. So, let’s
hear your thoughts.
- CHRISTIAN: Sure. There’s a
lot of important issues and topi CS to
COVES .
One, mainly, making sure you leave
yOur estate plan in a way that protects
your child with Special needs.
One recommendation, no matter what
would have to be to have a Will with a
trust included in it that says, When I’m
no longer here, my assets pass to this
child in a protective way.
- RUSSO: So, it goes in a trust,
and then those assets are managed for that
Page 17
1 child.
2 MS … CHRTISTAN ; YeS.
3 MR. RUSSO: And is used to enhance
4 their quality of life?
5 MS. CHRISTIAN : That’s Correct.
6 MR. RUSSO: And will keep Medicaid?
7 MS. CHRISTIAN: Will keep Medicaid.
8 MR. RUSSO: And possibly SSI, if
9 they’re on SSI.
1 O MS. CHRISTIAN: SSI, if they’re on
11 SSI.
12 MR. RUSSO: What is SSI?
13 MS. CHRISTIAN: So, SSI is a
14 benefit that you could get for your child
15 with special needs, and again, helps With
16 insuring the quality of life, and you want
17 to make sure that you protect the assets,
18 because it’s a means tested program.
19 MR. RUSSO : So SSE WOuld be a
2O dollar amount, a monthly Stipend.
21 MS CHIRISTIAN: Mm-hmm.
22 MR. RUSSO: And typically at what
23 age would a child who is unable to WOrk in
24 the WOIrkfOIrCe be able tO aC CeSS SSII ?
25 MS. CHRISTIAN: Eighteen-years old
O
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
2 O
21
22
23
24
25
is the age where you can access SSI.
- RUSSO: And, Edith, you’ve done
all this planning, right?
- HEINSOHN: It’s all done.
- RUSSO: Which is fantastic, and
what I want to hear from you is why that
is important, because it’s unbelievable in
one way that we meet with families all the
time, and they have no planning. What are
the benefits?
- HEINSOHN: Well, I’m a single
mom, so I wanted to make sure if anything
happened to me that everything would be
covered, and I own a home, so I wanted to
make sure it would all be taken Care of
right.
- ROBERTS-DROGIN: And designated
someone that you trust.
- HEINSOHN: Yes my friend.
MS, ROBERTS-DROGIN: Ye S.
- RUSSO: So, for example,
guardian. So, if you’re at SOme point
Unable Oir not available to make thOse
decisions On an Ongoing basis for yOur
daughter or your son, you’ve named a
Page 18
1 O
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
2O
21
22
23
24
25
Standby guardian.
- HEINSOHN: Right. Correct.
- RUSSO: And what’s great about
what you’ve done is many families hesitate
to do the planning, because they don’t
have any family member that’s available to
step in, and sometimes We’ll get in
discussions with Our Clients about the
options there, and you have a friend who
is willing to step in and – – –
- HEINSOHN: I didn’t select any
of my family members. I selected my
friend.
- RUSSO: But you made a
selection, and that’s why it’ s SO
important, because we don’t want that to
prevent a parent from going ahead and
doing the documents.
- ROBERTS-DROGIN: Right.
- RUSSO: You know, to put in
place, the plan.
- ROBERTS – DIRIOGIN: And what
happens if you don’t? I mean the
Consequences – – –
- RUSSO : YeS.
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
8
19
2O
21
22
23
24
25
- ROBERTS-DROGIN: What if you
neglect to do this planning, or you just
aren’t up to it?
- RUSSO: Right.
- ROBERTS-DROGIN: And God forbid
something happens?
MS . CHRISTIAN: Suire …, AS II
mentioned earlier, your goal is to do
whatever you can to protect your child and
kudos to you, because you’re right. Not
many people do it, or they put it aside
for whatever reason they have.
So it’s so important, to answer
your question, if they do receive assets
outright, there is a potential, first, to
lose benefits such as Medicaid or SST , Or
not be eligible for those benefits when
you otherwise would have been, and of
Course, from a guardianship Standpoint you
want to put the person in place who you’re
going to entrust your child to; their
likes and wants and needs.
- RUSSO: So what happens is
ChaOS.
MS ROBERTS-DROGN: YeS
Page 20
1 O
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
9
2O
21
22
23
24
MS . CHRISTAN : YeS.
- RUSSO: You know? If there’s
no plan in place like Edith’s done, it’s
Chaos, it’s Crisis.
- ROBERTS-DROGIN: And then the
children Suffer.
- RUSSO: And right. That’s the
point Kim’s making is that yes, now they
may lose benefits, where are they living?
Who is taking care of them? And also
sometimes family members have differing
opinions, and then they’re all in Court.
And then it gets so expensive, it’s time
consuming. You’d have to bring a
guardianship proceeding if there was no
guardian, right?
- CHRISTIAN: Right.
- RUSSO: And how long would that
take?
- CHRISTIAN: Several months and
very costly.
MR, RUSSO : YeS.
- CHRISTIAN: And the person that
may ultimately become the guardian may not
have been the person that you would have
Page 21
1 O
11.
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
2O
21
22
23
24
25
selected in your documents.
- RUSSO: Yes, sometimes a judge
will punt, because a judge will Say, Well,
I’ve got two family members who are
fighting with each other, how are we going
to reconcile that? So, we’ll bring an
independent person who is now going to
make personal decisions, health Care
decisions financial decisions. You don’t
Want that.
- ROBERTS-DROGIN: N.O.
MS HEINSOHIN: NO .
- RUSSO: Right? You want to
Control as much as you can, right? The
WOrld that your daughter is living in
which is so hard, because we don’t always
– – – because there’s a higher being who
kind of looks down on us and kind of, then
things happen. And so you’ve done the
most that you could.
So, SSI is supplemental Security
income?
MS, CHRISTITAN : YeS .
- RUSSO: And SO that WOuld be a
monthly check.
Page 22
1 O
11
12
13
14
5
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
- CHRISTIAN: That S Correct.
- RUSSO: Right. And so can that
just go to the person directly, Or does it
need to go into a trust?
- CHRISTIAN: Well, you can put
it in a trust to make sure that it’s spent
properly and used so it doesn’t affect any
benefits that the person is currently
receiving, and to your point, to enhance
quality of life. That’s what’s important.
MR, RUSSO : Ye S.
- ROBERTS-DROGIN: And can you
delineate specifically things about your
Children’s lives?
Like, can you say, these are their
preferences, this is how I want the money
spent. These are the activities I want.
I want them to continue to do bowling, I
want Linda to stay and – – – Can you get
that specific with this vehicle?
- CHRISTIAN: Sure. I’m so glad
you brought that up. There’s something
called a memorandum of intent.
- ROBERTS-DROGIN: Okay.
- CHRISTIAN: And We reCOmmend
Page 23
鷲
1 O
11.
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
2O
21
22
23
24
that to all our clients, and basically, it’s
a road map that says, if I’m not here,
these are the things that my children
love .
MS , ROBERTS – DROGIN : YeS.
- CHRISTIAN : From food S tO
activities to their favorite Raggedy Ann
doll that they’re holding. I mean, it’ S
so Critical.
MS, ROBERTS-DROGIN: It S SO
important .
- CHRISTIAN: It’s the human
element that’s so important.
- RUSSO: And even though it’s
technically not a legal document, it may
be the most important document, and Our
viewers can download it at no cost Off Our
website at VURussOLaw. COm, and a lot Of
families are well — intentioned, but they’ Ire
so busy taking care of their child and
they’re so anxious about all the things
they need to take care of that it’s hard
for them to find the time, and So what
we’ve learned in our practices, we’ll have
the family member just come down and we’ll
Page 24
1 O
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
2O
21
22
23
24
25
Page 25
record their answers and then we’ll type
them up into the memorandum for them, and
then we’d love for them. On an annual basis
to update it.
- ROBERTS-DROGIN: Yes, because
that, I imagine you don’t think about your
life while you’re living it. You know, so
to recreate an environment for your child
or your children which probably is the
thing that’s going to touch them the most,
because the money, you take care of
Strategically, you do the proper planning
legally, but the actual experience of
their day-to-day is what they’re going to
feel. You know, at a time of loss or
transition, that’s going to be tough
enough as it is . So, I would imagine
that – – –
- CHRISTIAN: Sure, the personal
Connection.
- ROBERTS-DROGIN: Yes, assisting
parents in actually debriefing their days
and capturing it and sort of
deconstructing, Oh, this is the morning.
This is the – – – you know, at every age.
10
11.
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
2O
21
22
23
24
25
Page 26
- RUSSO: Right.
- ROBERTS-DROGIN: It’s probably
really important .
- CHRISTIAN: Very important.
- RUSSO: We try, when we’re
meeting with our clients, not to give them
homework.
- ROBERTS-DROGIN: Well, I get
that. Sure. Nobody likes to do it.
- RUSSO : Especially when you
have so many responsibilities that you
need to take Care Of.
- ROBERTS-DROGIN: Yes, it’s
overwhelming. Yes.
- RUSSO: So we’ll try to do as
much as we can, and make our Clients feel
very comfortable.
You know, most people don’t have
Wills. Parents who have a child with
special needs, I think is even more of a
compelling reason to make sure there’s a
Will with a proper trust called a
supplemental needs trust Or Special needs
trul St.
- ROBERTS-DROGIN: Right.
1 O
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
2 O
21
22
23
24
25
Page 27
- RUSSO: I Want to COme baCk tO
the Girl Scouts a moment, because the
Organization has always been an
inclusionary type organization, which is
not true of certain other organizations
through the years. And, the Girls Scouts
have been around a long time. I ” ve been
down to the original, to the house in
Savannah which is unbelievable where they
- ROBERTS-DROGIN: They founded
土t?
- RUSSO: They founded it.
It’s just amazing. I don’t know if you
had a chance to go down to Savannah.
So when you brought this up, you
know, was that something that they felt in
higher ups that that was a COmfortable
situation for you to go ahead and do this?
- HEINSOHN: I did. I spoke to a
few people and they said the troop has to
be available to any child – – –
- RUSSO : Slure.
- HEINSOHN : – – – that COeS Want
to join, but they were very, very
1 O
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
2O
21
22
23
24
25
Page 28
supportive. And I have a cadet now who is
volunteering with me and she’s typical,
and she’s a great role model, so it’s been
wOnderful.
- RUSSO: That’s fantastic.
- ROBERTS-DROGIN: That’s great.
- RUSSO: And I know, we’re going
to talk more about the Girl Scouts as a
national Organization, WOrldwide
Organization.
- ROBERTS-DROGIN: Absolutely.
- RUSSO: And I just love the
Cookies, so – – –
- ROBERTS-DROGIN: Yes. The
cookies are a great part.
- RUSSO: – – – we’ll see. And
so, it’s been fantastic. A lot Of great
insights on the planning, Kim. We really
appreciate your being here.
And, Edith, you’ve been terrific.
And, I know you continue to be terrific
and thanks for baking all those goodies that
We’re able to raffle Off and Sell. Those
fundraisers.
- ROBERTS-DROGIN: Ye S.
1 O
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
2O
21
22
23
24
25
- RUSSO: Because we, all the Small
organizations, need all the Support they
can get. So thank you very much for being
Ol …
- HEINSOHN: My pleasure.
- RUSSO: Family Comes First.
SO, let’s take a break.
** ★ ★ ★ ** *
- RUSSO: Victoria, the Girls
Scouts have been a part of American
culture for over one hundred years with
the message that girls can be successful.
- ROBERTS-DROGIN: Absolutely.
It’s Such a Special Organization. I was a
Brownie and both of my girls were Girl
SCOutS.
- RUSSO : T was a Cub Scout.
- ROBERTS-DROGIN: Okay. And
there are troops all over the country.
And today we’re so fortunate to
have with us Donna Ceravolo, CEO, Chief
Executive Officer of Girls Scouts for
Nassau County and also Father Tony to
offer his reflections on this wonderful
topi C .
怒蛟※燃签蕊砚签懿、磁蕊、 ,※※
Page 29
1 O
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
2O
21
22
23
24
- RUSSO: Okay, so we want to know
about the Girl Scouts.
- CERAVOLO: Well, we are the
Girl Scouts. We are a very large and
long-standing Organization. We’re in Our
103rd year. In Nassau County, we have
just under 20, 000 Girl Scouts and we’re
able to do that, because we have the
support of 7,000 adult volunteers.
- ROBERTS-DROGIN: And it is a
volunteer. This is people who are – – –
- CERAVOLO: This is a volunteer
Organization.
MS, ROBERTS-DROGIN: – – – jumping
in, and – – – there’s so much time. I know from my girls, the generosity of the
troop leaders. So much time and energy.
- CERAVOLO: The troop leaders.
Without them, I would not have the best
job in the world and so I think every
single one of you out there; thank you for
being Girl Scout volunteers.
- RUSSO: And, Edith?
- CERAVOLO: Edith is One Of Our
very special Stars.
She has really
Page 30
1 O
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
2O
21
22
23
24
25
stepped up when sometimes other people have
not been able to do what she’s done and
we’re very, very grateful for her
leadership in establishing a Special,
regular after-school troop for girls.
That’s great.
- RUSSO: Are there any others?
- CERAVOLO: Yes. There are Six
other specific special needs troops in
Na SS au COunty .
- RUSSO: Tell us. Tell uS.
- CERAVOLO: There are two at
BOCES Schools, and there is one at the
Henry Viscardi School; there’s one at
Little Village, and there’s one at UCP
here in Nassau County.
- RUSSO: Great organizations.
- CERAVOLO: Those are all
flagship Organizations and what they do,
and all of them have Girl Scout troops
within their program, either during the
school day or after School.
- RUSSO: That’s great. That is
WOnderful. Father?
- STANGANELLI : This has been
Page 31
O
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
2O
21
22
23
24
25
such a wonderful show, so hopeful and
inspirational.
FR . STANGANELLI : Truly. Absolutely.
Especially, I love that theme of inclusion,
and I never thought of that with
regard to the Girl Scouts, but specifically
that, All are wel COme. All are wel COme.
And I was thinking about the words of
Jesus When Jesus Said, Let the Children
come to me, and do not hinder them, for it
is to just such as these that the kingdom
of God belongs.
I think about how maybe sometimes
adults hinder children because they feel
they’re not capable, they’re not ready, or
they’re not able to do whatever they think
that children should be doing or could be
doing, and that inclusi On Of Jesus , let
them come to Me. Don’t hinder them. It is
to just such as these that the kingdom of
God does belong.
- RUSSO: Sometimes parents worry
about what other people think, and it
limits them.
- ROBERTS-DROGIN: Or they worry
Page 32
1 O
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
2O
21
22
23
24
25
Page 33
that they can’t – – – that they’re not
capable enough to handle that Or take it On.
You have someone like Edith who says, I’m
just going to do it, and does it.
And I think my own, and I have to
give her a shout Out, because my
daughter’s troop leader, Debbie O’Gorman
gave such a special experience to my
daughter that you know, whether you think
you can or you can’t, try it. Do it. You
know, because what you give is more than
what doesn’t exist if you don’t try and
you don’t do it.
- CERAVOLO: If you look at the
statistics about four to five percent Of
girls in Nassau County have Some degree of
disability at some level or another. We
have many leaders who either take the
girls on their waiting list with no
questions asked, and we have SOme leaders
who go that extra mille that who know that
child who needs to be included as Father
Said. 褒
- ROBERTS-DROGIN: That’s amazing.
- RUSSO: Well, thank you so much.
1 O
11
12
13
14
15
6
17
18
19
2O
21
22
23
24
25
Page
- CERAVOLO: Thank you.
- RUSSO: It’s been Wonderful to
have you give the broader perspective of
the Girl Scouts, and Edith sharing her
story and Father Tony and your remarks
were just – – – inclusion. It’s all about
inclusi On.
- ROBERTS-DROGIN: So, for more
information. On the Girl Scouts, you can
certainly visit their website at
GirlScouts . Org .
- RUSSO: Absolutely. I support
them.
- ROBERTS-DROGIN: Yes. And alSO
On your law firm website, Vincent, which is
WURuSSOLaw. Com. There’s a lot of
information about Special needs planning for
your children and also all Of the resources
from Family Comes First are on the website.
- RUSSO: My personal commitment is
to continue to buy cookies and eat them.
And eat them.
- ROBERTS-DROGIN: Most definitely.
Most definitely. Tagalong S . Tagalongs
and Thin Mints.
1 O
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
2O
21
22
23
24
25
- RUSSO: All right. Thanks to all
our viewers for joining us, and remember,
family truly does come first.
:
Page 35