Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois: 2015 Annual Meeting

Showing posts with label 2015 Annual Meeting. Show all posts

Monday, March 30, 2015

GSSI Alumna & Former NASA Astronaut Dr. Sandra Magnus Keynote Speaker at GSSI's Annual Meeting

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) held its 5th Annual Meeting on April 5 at the Hilton Garden Inn in O’Fallon. During the meeting, approximately 300 Girl Scout members (adults and girls) from throughout southern Illinois elected Board of Director members and received a “State of the Council” report from Dixie Travelstead, GSSI Board of Director Chair, and Villie M. Appoo, 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 4,500 Girl Scout volunteers play an instrumental role in providing leadership programming and opportunities for more than 14,000 girls in southern Illinois.

Keynote speaker for GSSI’s annual meeting was Dr. Sandra Magnus who was an astronaut from Belleville. During her speech, Dr. Magnus encouraged girls to study hard, be dedicated to reaching their goals and to follow their passions. Dr. Magnus also stressed the importance of Girl Scouting and earning badges as a way for girls to try new things and discover what their interests are. Currently, Dr. Magnus is the Executive Director of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, which is the world’s largest technical society dedicated to the global aerospace profession, with more than 35,000 members in 79 countries.

As a girl, Dr. Magnus was a Girl Scout in GSSI’s legacy council River Bluffs. In 2009, she talked with 100 local Girl Scouts from the International Space Station via a satellite downlink provided by the Boeing Company. Not only did the girls get to ask Dr. Magnus questions, but they got to see her working on the ISS and see a Girl Scout flag floating behind her…a truly amazing and inspiring moment for local Girl Scouts.

Watch Dr. Magnus' full address on YouTube

Gretel Pierpoint from Marion Receives Girl Scouts' Thanks Badge II

Top volunteers were recognized at Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois' 6th Annual Meeting on March 28 at Rend Lake Resort. GSSI’s 4,500 Girl Scout volunteers play an instrumental role in providing leadership programming and opportunities for more than 14,000 girls in southern Illinois.

Gretel Pierpoint from Marion received the Thanks Badge II, which is the top award that an adult member can earn. This award recognizes an adult member who has already received the Thanks Badge and who has continued to contribute in extraordinary ways that benefit the total council or the entire Girl Scout movement.

Gretel Pierpoint, Service Unit #42, East Williamson

“I help build future leaders by encouraging girls to find their voice and have the courage and confidence to use it,” said Gretel.

Mary Alice Sims from Benton Earns Girl Scouts' Thanks Badge

Mary Alice Sims from Benton received the Thanks Badge, which recognizes an adult member whose performance is truly outstanding and benefits the total council or the entire Girl Scout movement.

Mary Alice Sims, Service Unit #51, North Franklin

“I love Girl Scouting because it has been my life, ” said Mary Alice

Connie Fair from Troy Earns Girl Scouts' Honor Pin

Connie Fair from Troy earned the Honor Pin, which 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.

Connie Fair, Service Unit #109, Troy, St. Jacob, Marine

“I love Girl Scouting because it provides opportunities for girls to learn about themselves through new experiences.”

Exemplary Service Unit Teams Honored with Girl Scouts' 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. The following Service Unit Teams received the President's Award:

Service Unit Team of SU 7 – Bond County

Service Unit Team of SU 12 – Clay County

Service Unit Team of SU 15 – Clinton County

Service Unit Team of SU 21 – East Marion

Service Unit Team of SU 30 – Jefferson County

Service Unit Team of SU 54 – Perry County

Service Unit Team of SU 57 – North Randolph County

Service Unit Team of SU 108 – Edwardsville/Glen Carbon

Service Unit Team of SU 110 – Highland

Service Unit Team of SU 201 – O’Fallon/Shiloh

Service Unit Team of SU 202 – Trenton/Lebanon/Mascoutah/New Baden

Girl Scouts' Appreciation Pin Awarded to 21 GSSI Volunteers

“Girl Scouting in southern Illinois would not be what it is today without the dedication, passion and leadership of all of our volunteers,” said Appoo. “We are honored to present these awards to our exceptional volunteers as they are the driving force behind carrying out GSSI’s mission of building leaders for America. I Can’t Wait To continue working with these amazing volunteers to ensure all girls in southern Illinois can benefit from a premier Girl Scout Leadership Experience,” Appoo added.

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. The following volunteers were recognized with the the Appreciation Pin:

Cyndi Addison, SU 21 – East Marion County

Patti Bardle, SU 54 – Perry County

Christina Boyce, SU 108 – Edwardsville/Glen Carbon
Steve Bushong, SU 211 – Waterloo
Jennifer Choma, SU 111 – Collinsville
Crystal Clement, SU 201 – O’Fallon/Shiloh
Miranda Groh, SU 42 – East Williamson County
Virginia Hall, SU 30 – Jefferson County
Deb Hibdon, SU 30 – Jefferson County
Loretta Hilmes, SU 202 – Trenton/Lebanon/Mascoutah/New Baden
Nikki Labbee, SU 202 – Trenton/Lebanon/Mascoutah/New Baden
Debbie McAuliffe, SU 201 – O’Fallon/Shiloh
Amy Parr, SU 85 – Wayne/Hamilton/White Counties
Linda Pennington, SU 24 – Fayette County
Karen Reed, SU 201 – O’Fallon/Shiloh
Jean Schad, SU 201 – O’Fallon/Shiloh
Karen Schmitz, SU 201 – O’Fallon/Shiloh
Marsha Shirley, SU 202 – Trenton/Lebanon/Mascoutah/New Baden
Jennie Smith, SU 66 – Shawnee
Ann Taylor, SU 108 – Edwardsville/Glen Carbon
Nichole Williams, SU 30 – Jefferson County

GSSI Recognizes 31 Volunteers with 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. The following volunteers received the Volunteer of Excellence Award:

Heather Barclay, SU 51 – North Franklin County

Shelly Blaies, SU 111 – Collinsville

Kristine Bohn, SU 7 – Bond County

Nicki Brown, SU 207 – Belleville/Swansea

Shannon Buchanan, SU 201 – O’Fallon/Shiloh

Janice Clevenger, SU 85 – Wayne/Hamilton/White Counties

Carla Crooker, SU 511 – Effingham County

Brandy Dodel, SU 211 – Waterloo

Amanda Doll, SU 7 – Bond County

Tara Godier, SU 7 – Bond County

Barbara James, SU 72 – Union/Pulaski/Alexander Counties (UPAC)

Debbie Kamp, SU 105 – Jersey/Calhoun Counties

Cindy Kinder, SU 106 – Bethalto

Susan Knapp, SU 15 – Clinton County

Lori Libby, SU 207 – Belleville/Swansea

Lynn Miener, SU 109 – Troy/St. Jacob/Marine

Leanne Montgomery, SU 111 – Collinsville

Melissa Oberlender, SU 110 – Highland

Christina Parr, SU 85 – Wayne/Hamilton/White Counties

Lisa Reed, SU 201 – O’Fallon/Shiloh

Nancy Robeen, SU 105 – Jersey/Calhoun Counties

Connie Schott, SU 105 – Jersey/Calhoun Counties

Stacy Schroeder, SU 15 – Clinton County

Allison Smith, SU 7 – Bond County

Kristi Smith, SU 201 – O’Fallon/Shiloh

Kathy Stachowski, SU 9 – Centralia

Jill Thomas, SU 15 – Clinton County

Andrea Weatherford, SU 209 – Columbia/Millstadt/Dupo/Smithton

Gail Webb, SU 72 – Union/Pulaski/Alexander Counties (UPAC)

Diana Williams, SU 106 – Bethalto

Amy Zajac, SU 108 – Edwardsville/Glen Carbon

GSSI Installs & Rededicates Board of Directors at Sixth Annual Meeting

New Board Members in attendance being installed.

On March 28, Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois held its 6th Annual Meeting at Rend Lake Resort in Whittington, IL. During the meeting, Board of Directors members were installed and rededicated.

Board of Directors members were elected:

Officers:
Linda Manley, Highland - Chair
Sarah Anderson, Mt. Vernon - Second Vice Chair
Susan Bowman, Highland - Treasurer

Directors-at-Large:
Rex Duncan, DuQuoin
Sandra Evans, Alto Pass
Richard Huntington, Mt. Vernon
Linda Manley, Highland
Sandra Maxwell, Carbondale
Carla Nilson, Herrin
Diane Siemer, Teutopolis
Gail Short, Anna
Annicka Webster, St. Louis

Board Development Committee Members:
Jane Childers, Carbondale
Sandra Evans, Alto Pass

Girl Board Members:
Lydia Fulton, Girl Member Mentor
Caroline Stewart, Belleville
Kayli Worthey, Neoga

GSSI Board of Directors Members currently serving their terms:
Bishop Albert Ingram, Jr., Harrisburg; Ellar Duff, Alton; Rex Duncan, DuQuoin; Sandra Evans, Alto Pass; Julie Furst-Bowe, Edwardsville; Candis Isberner, Carbondale; Sharon Mayo, Robinson; John McCracken, Edwardsville; Julie Reed, Edwardsville; Angie Zahn, Trenton.

Monday, March 2, 2015

Dr. Sandra Magnus to Speak at GSSI Annual Meeting on March 28, 2015

Dr. Sandra H. “Sandy” Magnus is the Executive Director of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), the world’s largest technical society dedicated to the global aerospace profession, with more than 35,000 individual members in 79 countries.

Born and raised in Belleville, Ill., Dr. Magnus attended the Missouri University of Science and Technology, graduating in 1986 with a degree in physics and in 1990 with a master’s degree in electrical engineering. She also holds a Ph.D. from the School of Materials Science and Engineering at Georgia Tech (1996).

Selected to the NASA Astronaut Corps in April, 1996, Dr. Magnus flew in space on the STS-112 shuttle mission in 2002, and on the final shuttle flight, STS-135, in 2011. In addition, she flew to the International Space Station on STS-126 in November 2008, served as flight engineer and science officer on Expedition 18, and returned home on STS-119 after four and a half months on board. Following her assignment on Station, she served at NASA Headquarters in the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate. Her last duty at NASA, after STS-135, was as the deputy chief of the Astronaut Office.

As a girl, she was a Girl Scout in Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois’ legacy council River Bluffs. In 2009, Astronaut Magnus talked with local Girl Scouts from the International Space Station via a satellite downlink provided by The Boeing Company. Not only did the girls get to ask Dr. Magnus questions, but they got to see her working on the ISS and see a Girl Scout flag floating behind her. During the long-distant call, Dr. Magnus told the girls, “I want you to believe in yourself. I want you to find out what your dream is and pursue it. You can be whatever you put your mind to!

While at NASA, Dr. Magnus worked extensively with the international community, including the European Space Agency (ESA) and the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA), as well as with Brazil on facility-type payloads. She also spent time in Russia developing and integrating operational products and procedures for the International Space Station. Before joining NASA, Dr. Magnus worked for McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Company from 1986 to 1991, as a stealth engineer. While at McDonnell Douglas, she worked on internal research and development and on the Navy’s A-12 Attack Aircraft program, studying the effectiveness of radar signature reduction techniques.

Dr. Magnus has received numerous awards, including the NASA Space Flight Medal, the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, the NASA Exceptional Service Medal, and the 40 at 40 Award (given to former collegiate women athletes to recognize the impact of Title IX).

See more about GSSI's 6th Annual Meeting

Dr. Magnus presents the flag that flew in the International Space Station to GSSI in 2010