Krys Tjarks was presented the Thank You Badge during a reception ceremony held at Camp Mitre Peak, April 26. Tjarks has volunteered with the Girl Scouts of the Desert Southwest for the past 40 years.
A local Girl Scout volunteer, who has dedicated 40 years of service, was honored during an annual Girl Scouts of the Desert Southwest meeting.
Krys Tjarks was awarded the Thanks Badge for her dedication to the organization. The award was presented to Tjarks during the GSDSW annual meeting in Alpine, Texas on April 26.
“It’s very overwhelming. I didn’t expect it in a million years,” Tjarks said.
Though Tjarks works two jobs on post, she still volunteers six days out of the week. Every Monday Tjarks hosts two Girl Scout meetings and an additional Girl Scout meeting on Thursday. She has been volunteering with the Girl Scouts for 20 years as a “girl” and 20 years as an adult. She also volunteers with the Post Chapel on Wednesdays and Sundays and with a Las Cruces community band on Tuesday nights.
The award came as a surprise to Tjarks who didn’t even know she was nominated. The nomination came from the Girl Scout Council in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Two letters of endorsements were submitted in order to nominate Tjarks for the award. According to the GSDSW website, the award is presented to individuals who have had a measurable impact on the goals of the council or the entire Girl Scout movement.
“She solely runs the troop at White Sands; no girl is ever turned away. She’s very dedicated to the organization,” said Las Cruces chapter Retail Office Coordinator Danielle Mulheron.
Tjarks comes from a long line of Girl Scouts. Tjarks’ grandmother served as a camp leader and Tjarks mother served as a troop member, camp leader, and a camp nurse. Tjarks said she grew up in a Girl Scout camp where her mother worked as a nurse. Tjarks’ daughter has also followed in her footsteps, having recently received the Gold award for a community project she spearheaded.
Less than six Thanks Badges are presented a year within the GSDSW. The GSDSW spans from Silver City, New Mexico to Odessa, Texas.