Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) held its 8th Annual Meeting on April 1 at the Holiday Inn in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. During the meeting, approximately 350 Girl Scout members (adults and girls) from throughout southern Illinois elected Board of Director members and received a “State of the Council” report from Linda Manley, GSSI Board of Director Chair, and Sarah Durbin, GSSI Chief Executive Officer.
In addition, Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois recognized top Girl Scout volunteers which are the heart of Girl Scouting. GSSI’s nearly 5,000 Girl Scout volunteers play an important role in providing leadership programming and opportunities for over 12,400 girls in southern Illinois. The theme for this year’s GSSI 8th Annual Meeting was GSSI Growing Stronger Together.
The following awards were presented at
GSSI’s 8th Annual Meeting:
GSSI Heart of Gold
Angie Zahn, Service Unit #202, Clinton/St. Clair Counties
The Heart of Gold Award recognizes the long-term impact a volunteer has had on girls and adults in his/her community through involvement in Girl Scouting. The service of this volunteer has been an integral part of the maintaining and recruiting new girls and/or adults in one or more areas of the council.
Thanks Badge
Penny Pejka, Service Unit #201, O’Fallon/Shiloh
The Thanks Badge recognizes an adult member whose performance is truly outstanding and benefits the total council or the entire Girl Scout movement.
Honor Pin
Angie Worthey, Service Unit #521, Western Coles County
The Honor Pin recognizes an individual’s exemplary service in support of delivering the Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE), which has had measurable impact on two or more geographic areas of service, allowing the council to reach and surpass its mission-delivery goals.
Appreciation Pin
The Appreciation Pin recognizes an individual’s exemplary service in support of delivering the Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE). This service, which has had measurable impact on at least one geographic area of service, helps the council reach and surpass its mission-delivery goals for that area.
Warren Carter, SU 111 – Collinsville/Maryville
Lisa Clamors, SU 211 – Waterloo
Buffy Madrid Diefenbach, SU 42 – East Williamson County
Michelle Glascock, SU 207 – Belleville/Swansea
Jodie Herbstritt, SU 207 – Belleville/Swansea
Peggy Hilmes, SU 210 – New Athens/Marissa/St. Libory/Freeburg
Melissa Huckleberry, SU 110 - Highland
Ron Labbee, SU 202 - ClinClair
Nancy Liberman, SU 39 – Lawrence County
Christina McGlasson, SU 110 - Highland
Sherry Sutton, SU 7 – Bond County
Heather Todd, SU 522 – Eastern Coles County
Ronnie Winterich, SU 111 – Collinsville/Maryville
Stacy Young, SU 201 – O’Fallon/Shiloh
Miranda Zerbst, SU 522 – Eastern Coles County
President’s Award
The President’s Award recognizes the efforts of a service-delivery team or committee whose exemplary service in support of delivering the Girl Scout Leadership Experience surpassed team goals and resulted in significant, measureable impact toward reaching the council’s overall goals.
Clay County, SU 12
Perry County, SU 54 *
West Williamson County, SU 90
Alton/Godfrey/Wood River/Roxana, SU 101
South Macoupin, SU 107
O’Fallon/Shiloh, SU 201 *
ClinClair, SU 202 *
Crawford/Jasper Counties, SU 544
* An asterisk designates Services Units earning the Service Unit Trifecta award presented to any SU
earning the President’s Award 3 consecutive years.
Volunteer of Excellence Award
The Volunteer of Excellence Award recognizes those volunteers who have contributed outstanding service while partnering directly with girls in any pathway to implement the Girl Scout Leadership Experience through use of the National Program Portfolio or who have contributed outstanding service in support of the council’s mission delivery to girl and adult members.
Joanna Beno, SU 42 – East Williamson County
Elaine Brandenburg, SU 521 – Western Coles County
Tanya Burman, SU 207 – Belleville/Swansea
Jessica Burris, SU 107 – South Macoupin
Laura Buss, SU 210 – New Athens/Marissa/St. Libory/Freeburg
Melissa Cantrell-Hays, SU 21 – East Marion County
Melissa Carver, SU 207 – Belleville/Swansea
Katina Deremiah, SU 521 – Western Coles County
Katie Feder, SU 210 – New Athens/Marissa/St. Libory/Freeburg
Scott Ganschinietz, SU 108 – Edwardsville/Glen Carbon
Ciara Gresham, SU 207 – Belleville/Swansea
Pamela Hall, SU 210 – New Athens/Marissa/St. Libory/Freeburg
Erin Harris, SU 111 – Collinsville/Maryville
Jaci Kelly, SU 54 – Perry County
Cindy Kennedy, SU 7 – Bond County
Cara Kettler, SU 211 - Waterloo
Michelle Kious, SU 7 – Bond County
Kim Lager, SU 7 – Bond County
Katie Maples, SU 7 – Bond County
Terry Menz, SU 110 - Highland
Taran Pinnell, SU 521 – Western Coles County
Chelsie Roberts, SU 60 – Randolph South
Jessica Silvia, SU 202 - ClinClair
Cheryl Sinn, SU 210 – New Athens/Marissa/St. Libory/Freeburg
April Stanley, SU 54 – Perry County
Anna Stogsdill, SU 209 – Millstadt/Columbia/Dupo/Smithton
Michael Stogsdill, SU 209 – Millstadt/Columbia/Dupo/Smithton
Rebecca Vanover, SU 209 – Millstadt/Columbia/Dupo/Smithton
Cheralee Vohlken, SU 7 – Bond County
Amanda Adams Wright, SU 202 - ClinClair
Christina Wright, SU 107 – South Macoupin
Watch for more Annual Meeting coverage coming this week here on our blog and on our social media feeds!
