From left, Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York Annual Giving Manager Nikki Hilchey, GSNENY Director of Philanthropy Ellen Donovan, honoree Marilyn Gillespie, 40-plus-year Girl Scout alumnae Valerie Trudeau and Mary Brown, and GSNENY CEO Brenda Episcopo pose at Lake Clear Camp. (Provided photo — Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York)

LAKE CLEAR — In a private ceremony held at Girl Scout Lake Clear Camp in Saranac Lake, Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York recently honored longtime volunteer Marilyn Gillespie of Saranac Lake for her 70 years of service to the organization and the girls it serves.

In addition to receiving her 70-year pin, Gillespie was presented with the Juliette Gordon Low Society pin, named for the founder of Girl Scouts, and presented in recognition of Gillespie’s planned estate gift to GSNENY. The society named in Lowe’s honor is an exclusive group of individuals who have made a legacy gift to Girl Scouts.

Throughout the years, Gillespie has been in many Girl Scout roles, many of them in Western New York, before coming to the Saranac Lake region. Currently, she is a volunteer director for Lake Clear Camp, an Adirondack 46er, an Adirondack Mountain Club canoe guide and an avid outdoorswoman.

Joining Gillespie at the event were two other Saranac Lake residents, Mary Brown and Valerie Trudeau, both of whom have more than 40 years with Girl Scouting. Brown is an outdoor advocate; she previously served on the planning committee for the Lake Clear Adult Conference and as a Girl Scout board member. Trudeau is an Adirondack 46er, a former CEO of Girl Scouts of the North Country and a former manager of program support to councils for Girl Scouts of the USA.

“We are so thankful for the support and volunteerism these amazing women have provided over many decades,” said GSNENY CEO Brenda Episcopo. “They have been instrumental in building courage, confidence, and character in Girls.”