Rankin Inlet (Mar 10/03) - Every organization has members working behind the scenes to keep things running smoothly.

These unheralded volunteers put in long hours of their own time, often with little or no recognition.

Girl Guides of Canada district commissioner Kathleen Broderick spent some quality time with Guides member Reba Kowmuk during Thinking Day activities in Rankin Inlet this past month. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

The Girl Guides of Canada is no different when it comes to needing people to work in the background administering its programs.

The Kivalliq Guiding movement received a boost this year when Kathleen Broderick and Angela Dale of Rankin Inlet agreed to take on the administrative positions of district commissioners.

Broderick takes care of Sparks, Guides and other district positions.

Dale looks after the Brownies, Pathfinders and Senior Branches.

Broderick, who has been in the North for nine years, accepted the position to give something back to the community.

She says it's better to be proactive and contribute to your community in a positive way, rather than just sitting back and complaining about everything.

"I decided to become a district commissioner because I've been a district member for about four years and I know a lot about the program," says Broderick.

"In addition to my other duties, I'm also in charge of our annual cookie drive -- making sure the cookies are being sold and the different units are taking their share."

Girl Guides has played an important role in most of Dale's life.

She has spent 11 years in the movement as a youth and five as an adult.

Also a Pathfinders Guider, Dale has lived in Rankin since November 2001 and accepted a commissioner's position because of her business background.

"I don't have a lot of extra time, so taking on an administrative role allows me to work around my schedule," says Dale.

"We look after registration, finances, fundraising, and recognizing and rewarding our leaders.

"That's important, because they're volunteers."

Dale says the fact so many girls in Rankin return to Guides every year shows how much they enjoy the program.

She says one area that can be improved is to have more Inuit leaders involved.

"They're the ones with traditional skills to pass down to our future generations.

"We have 25 adults involved with Girl Guides now, but we can always use more volunteers because the more we have, the more areas we can expand our programs into."