Elsa Riepert

In 1910 Riepert was general secretary of the Canadian Council, GGA.^[13][14] Ten years later she was elected as dominion secretary of the Girl Guides in Canada, holding the position for 21 years, stepping down in 1941.^[15]

In this role she traveled to England in 1934, bringing back a White Ensign of the Royal Navy, one of the flags that had been retired from their role at London's Cenotaph, donated to the Imperial War Museum and subsequently redistributed to relevant organisations around the world, including the Imperial Girl Guides Association.^[16]

She attended training at Foxlease, Girl Guiding's UK training centre, in the New Forest,^[17] and Camp Edith Macy, the Girl Scouting equivalent in Pleasantville, New York.^[18] Riepert was a delegate at the 10th WAGGGS World Conference in Adelboden, Switzerland in 1938.^[19] She served on the staff at the Canadian National Camp in New Brunswick.^[20] As part of her role she would train Girl Scouts in singing^[21] or accompany them on the piano.^[22] One of her favourite themes when presenting or training was international friendship.^[23][24]

In 1942 she moved to the US and was installed as executive secretary of the Girl Scouts Shore Council at Asbury Park, New Jersey,^[25][26] which had been established five years previously.^[27] She was Camp Director for the Council in 1943 and 1944,^[28][29] resigning from the Council in 1945 due to ill health.^[30]

Whilst living in Marmaroneck with her sister, she became program chair for Mamaroneck Girl Scout Council in 1946^[31][32] and Training Chair in 1947.^[33]

• 1939 – Silver Fish Award, Girl Guiding's highest adult honour^[34]
• 1950 – Thanks Badge, Girl Scouts of the USA's highest adult honour^[35]