Marion Troop #8893 Honored By City Council for Receiving Governor's Hometown Award

Micahya Banks, Kaitlyn Satterfield, Olivia Allen, Carlie Gunn and Hailey Buckingham
presented a sign that celebrates their award to Mayor Rinella

Congratulations to Girl Scout Troop #8893 for being recognized by The City of Marion for receiving the Governor's Hometown Award!

To earn the Girl Scout Silver Award, Troop #8893 helped The Lighthouse Shelter, which serves area homeless people. The shelter had recently been impacted by flooding, so the Girl Scout Troop hosted a fall festival and collected supply donations from participants as the entrance fee. 

Their efforts earned an Honorable Mention Governor's Hometown Award from the Serve Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service. The Governor's Hometown Award program gives formal recognition to communities that contributed to their community’s quality of life via projects that had strong volunteer support, met a need, and made a definitive impact.

A large sign recognizing the award-winning service project will be on display in Marion. 

Girl Scout Alum Makenzie Keiser Honored By Edwardsville City Council

GSofSI Alum Makenzie Keiser was honored by the Edwardsville City Council for her service to the community while earning the Girl Scout Gold Award - the highest award in Girl Scouting. Several Marines came to show their support - as Makenzie is entering the United States Marine Corps to continue her commitment to service. 

Makenzie, who graduated as a junior from Edwardsville High School in 2018, earned the Girl Scout Gold Award by teaching area children how to grow vegetable gardens.  She collaborated with the YMCA Early Childhood Development Center to design and develop three raised gardens, then taught children how to care for them. 

“If you give children a vegetable for a day, you feed them for a day,” she said.  “If you teach children how to grow vegetables, they will always have food.  Also, children who grow vegetables are more likely to eat them.”

Makenzie was honored with the Governor's Hometown Award (GHTA) for her service to the community as well. The GHTA program gives forman recognition to those who contributed to projects that improved their community’s quality of life.

Learn more about the Girl Scout Gold Award

GSofSI CEO Loretta Graham Named Transformational Leader of 2018 By Marion Chamber of Commerce

GSofSI CEO Loretta Graham with
Marion Chamber of Commerce Director Karen Mullins

Congratulations to GSofSI CEO Loretta Graham for being named Transformational Leader of 2018 by Marion, IL Chamber of Commerce! Watch her receive her award & hear her speech: http://bit.ly/2F71kz4

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois Around the Council: October 2018

Check out what's been happening around the 40 1/2 counties that make up
Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois' council!

Service Unit 42 - East Williamson County kicked off their Nut, Candy & Magazine Program by learning about "This Able Vet" service dogs. 

Effingham County Troops #2032, #2013, and #2300 traveled to Kentucky, where they toured Mammoth Cave and Crystal Onxy Cave, earned the Cave Explorer patch and two Junior Ranger badges offered by the parks.  They also visited Abraham Lincoln's birthplace and boyhood home.

Girl Scouts marched in the Jefferson County Fall Fest Parade.

Girl Scouts hosted a registration booth at Pinckneyville Mardi Gras. 

Paris Troop #2555 has been busy!  Some of the activities they welcomed the new Girl Scout year with included raising the flag at school, touring the local historical society, planting trees, geocaching, meeting police officers and firefighters, exploring the inside of an ambulance bay, volunteering at a soup kitchen, holding a fishing derby, earning the Junior Ranger badges at Walnut Point State Park, programming robots and coding, appearing in the Honeybee Parade and going to Disney on Ice. WOW!

Troop #8037 from Thompsonville and Troops #8005 and #8007 from West Frankfort welcomed veterans back to Southern Illinois from an Honor Flight at Williamson County Airport.  Each Girl Scout was able to walk a veteran off the flight down Freedom Path. 

Girl Scout Seniors from Service Unit 101 - Alton/Godfrey/Wood River/Roxana completed the first part of their Car Care badge with mechanic Chris White.  Girls learned everything they need to know about taking care of their car including changing a tire and changing their oil.

New Baden Junior Troop #242 hosted a Juliette Gordon Low birthday party for their Service Unit - complete with games from her era!  There was also a storytelling session about Juliette's life, a sign language lesson because Juliette had hearing loss and tea party style refreshments because Juliette would ask girls to join Girl Scouts by inviting them to tea.  

Girl Scouts from SU 522 - Eastern Coles County had a float in the Eastern Illinois University homecoming parade in Charleston, IL. 

DuQuoin Troop #8843 had some outdoor fun at Camp Wartburg. 

Girl Scouts from SU 54 - Perry County went to the Trunk and Treat parade together.

Johnston City Troops #8863 and #8084 made a great Girl Scout banner.

Troop #113 donated a branded sign and tablecloth to Metro East Humane Society.

Girl Scouts baked together at the Girl Scout information night in Ashley, IL.

Daisy Troop #8046 from Benton participated in the Fall Take Action project by having a Juliette Gordon Low birthday bash. Girls learned about Girl Scouts' founder with a story, craft and cupcakes.  They also discussed how important it was to JGL that girls serve their communities.  To honor JGL, each girl brought a donation to make a birthday party in a bag and donated 12 bags stuffed with party supplies to The Night's Shield Children's Shelter in West Frankfort.

Troop #688 enjoyed goat yoga.

DuQuoin Troop #8123 learned how to paint a girl dancing in the rain from their friend Joyce Ellege.  The inspiration for the artwork was the quote, "Don't wait for the storm to pass, instead learn how to dance in the rain."

Girl Scout Troop #8653 enjoyed Halloween festivities with residents of the Countryside Nursing Home in Mount Vernon.  They made BOOtiful crafts and decorations, listened to music together, wrapped mummies and painted pumpkins. 

Girl Scout Troop #8653 learned about Financial Literacy with Legence Bank.  Girls had a bank tour, explored all aspects of banking, looked at different currencies, and learned about the importance of saving and setting a budget. 

Femme Fit 618, an all women's gym in Mount Vernon, welcomed Girl Scout Troop #8653 and #8631 to get active and learn more about fitness and healthy eating.