Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois Presents Angie Worthey with Honor Pin

GSSI CEO Sarah Durbin, Angie Worthey, Kayli Worthey, GSSI Board Chair Linda Manley

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois has awarded Angie Worthey from Neoga with the Honor Pin, which recognizes an individual's exemplary service in support of delivering the Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE), which has had measureable impact on two or more geographic areas of service, allowing the council to reach and surpass its mission-delivery goals. The award was presented during GSSI's Annual Meeting on April 1 at Holiday Inn in Mt. Vernon. 

“I believe Girl Scouting is so important and vital to girls today because it allows them to experience such a wide variety of things they might have never encountered without Girl Scouts. Like camping, robotics, and so much more. It gives them leadership skills along with self-confidence.”

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois Presents Penny Pejka with Thanks Badge

GSSI CEO Sarah Durbin, Penny Pejka, GSSI Board Chair Sarah Durbin

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois has awarded Penny Pejka from O'Fallon with the Thanks Badge, which honors an individual whose ongoing commitment, leadership and service have had an exceptional, measureable impact on meeting the mission-delivery goals of the entire council or entire Girl Scout Movement. The award was presented during GSSI's Annual Meeting on April 1 at Holiday Inn in Mt. Vernon. 

“I volunteer with Girl Scouts because I enjoy the camaraderie of the adults who are all focused on the girls," said Pejka. "We all have positive aims and a lot of compassion for the girls, that makes us a very important group of people in girl’s lives. I would tell a person that volunteering with Girl Scouts is always an adventure. The girls supply never ending amounts of joy, thanks, and fun.  Try it, you’ll like it!”

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois Presents Angie Zahn with Heart of Gold Award

GSSI CEO Sarah Durbin, Angie Zahn, GSSI Board Chair Linda Manley

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois has honored Angie Zahn from Trenton with the Heart of Gold Award, which 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 maintaining and recruiting new girls and/or adults in one or more areas of the council. The award was presented during GSSI's Annual Meeting on April 1 at Holiday Inn in Mt. Vernon. 

Angie is the owner of Zahn Appraisal Service and a Broker with Strano & Associates Real Estate. Currently she serves on Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois  (GSSI) Board of Directors as Secretary.  Angie served as a Past President of Girl Scouts of River Bluffs Council for six years and on the Board of Directors for 12 years.   She has been Girl Scout Mentor and Girl Scout Leader for the past 30 years and under her leadership, seven of her girls have earned the prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award.   Angie is a Lifetime Member of the Girl Scouts and a founding member of GSSI’s Juliette Gordon Low Society.  

“Girl Scouting is a very important part of my life," said Zahn.  "I always wanted to write a book entitled ‘Everything I Need to Know, I Learned in Girl Scouting.’  I started it...My experiences with Girl Scouting have been lasting.  While all of my experiences have been as an adult, they have made a lasting impression on me and the best thing I can do is to volunteer to help others -- girls and adults.  

"I believe that we get more by giving back," she continued.  "Volunteering for Girl Scouts has put more meaning into my life than many things.  I try to live the Promise and the Law every day. What could be a more powerful reason to get involved, than working and playing as a volunteer with an organization who has such a strong purpose and message!”