The year was 1936. The average cost of a new home was $3,925. An American’s average wage was $1,713…per year. A gallon of gas cost a mere dime. The Queen Mary was christened and launched on its maiden voyage. ‘Gone With the Wind’ was published. American legend Jesse Owens won four gold medals at the Berlin Olympics. FDR was elected to the second of his three terms as President of the United States.
And San Marino’s Sylvia Wikle attended her first Girl Scout meeting.
The Golden Gate Bridge, that many of this town’s scouts cross as a rite of Girl Scout passage?
Still two years away.
One could say Wikle “has seen it all,” and that wouldn’t be far from the truth.
“I am still having a great time,” Wikle said earlier this week after spending the day – surprise – volunteering for the Girl Scouts. “I’m still going strong. As long as I can manage, I will.”
Just two weeks past her 89th birthday, Wikle was recently given yet another 5-year pin for her service to the Girl Scouts of America. This most recent one signified her 80 years of participation.
She spends a great deal of her time at San Marino’s Hill Harbison House, a facility she helped secure for the community several years ago. Earlier that day, she had attended a board meeting and helped alphabetize the names of the more than 100 girls who earned their Gold Award this year.
“I still think it matters,” Wikle told this reporter when asked why she remains active. “I have seen what it has done for so many girls who grow up with it over the years.”
Wikle especially remembers an incident that took place when she was serving as a Girl Scout leader as a high school student.
“We had a younger girl in our troop and she had the worst language,” said Wikle. “She swore like a sailor. I remember talking with the other girls about it. We spoke with her and said ‘we meet for two hours a week. Do you think you can try to not use bad language during our meetings? We accepted her in spite of that habit but it also came through that we liked her. She later became an instructor and the director of a large aquatic program. That was an example of what Scouting can do if you have patience and hang in there. Girl Scouting teaches us so much. There is so much we can learn and Scouting gives girls a place where they can be themselves.”
After countless years as a local scouting guru – where she happily shared the stage with the late Sandy Fastnow – Wikle still loves to hear the shouts of “Mrs. Wikle, Mrs. Wikle” at the grocery store, from the flanks of the 4th of July Parade or just passing by on the street.
“And they are in their thirties and forties with children of their own,” Wikle jokes.
Wikle was recognized in April, 2011 for completing seventy-five years as an active member of Girl Scouts of the USA. A dedicated volunteer since childhood, she previously earned both the Thanks and Thanks II awards – the highest platitudes given to adult members of Girl Scouting. She is also a 2010 recipient of the prestigious Platinum GSUSA Award.
At San Marino’s 5th annual Bronze-Silver-Gold ceremony in 2011, she received the Robyn Manzini ‘Make A Difference’ award along with Debra Spaulding.
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