Hannah Grotecke from Granite City Has Earned the Girl Scout Gold Award

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) is pleased to announce that Hannah Groetecke from Granite City has earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can receive. 

For her Girl Scout Gold Award project, called Old Six Mile Museum, Gabriella said she wanted to help make improvements to the Old Six Mile Museum and save part of the history of Granite City. The museum roof was damaged and needed to be replaced. Through her Girl Scout Gold Award project, Hannah was able to mobilize volunteers to help and to donate supplies needed. After the roof was repaired, Hannah helped to promote the great things the museum offered including the free library, tours, home-made honey, unique history books and its new produce stand.

"I not only learned about my hometown," said Hannah, "but also learned that there are many helpful citizens that can be brought together to get things done." 

Hannah is the daughter of Heather Groetecke and Donny Groetecke. She completed her Girl Scout Gold Award Project during her senior year of high schoo and currently is a student at Southwestern Illinois College. She was a Girl Scout for 13 years.

The Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can earn, recognizes a Girl Scout's commitment to excellence as she develops skills and values to meet present and future challenges in her life. To earn the Girl Scout Gold Award, a Girl Scout Senior or Girl Scout Ambassador must design and carry out a project that fulfills a need within a girl’s community, creates change, and is sustainable. The project must be completed with a suggested minimum of 80 hours of work. Only about 5 percent of eligible girls earn the prestigious Gold Award.

Shelby Tingley from Granite City Has Earned the Girl Scout Gold Award

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) is pleased to announce that Shelby Tingley from Granite City has earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can receive. 

For her Girl Scout Gold Award project, called "Homing the Homeless Birds," Shelby wanted to help birds that had their nests destroyed. She noticed that nests being built on or around people’s homes were often knocked down by the residents, so she decided to build houses in trees to provide a safe place for the birds. Shelby researched and built five bird houses and also taught other Girl Scouts how to make bird houses. She then enlisted the help of other Girl Scouts to monitor the bird houses and keep seeds nearby. Her hope is that the birds will find the safe haven she built next spring.

Shelby credits Girl Scouts and her Gold Award experience with providing her great leadership skills. “The most important thing I have learned through Girl Scouts is to not be afraid to try new ideas to achieve my goals,” said Shelby. “It has taught me how to be a great leader and an empowering woman,” she added.

Shelby is the daughter of Penny Tingley. She was a Girl Scout for 10 years and completed her Girl Scout Gold Award project her Senior Year.  She was a 2016 graduate of Granite City High School and currently attends Hickey Vet Tech Institute. 

The Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can earn, recognizes a Girl Scout's commitment to excellence as she develops skills and values to meet present and future challenges in her life. To earn the Girl Scout Gold Award, a Girl Scout Senior or Girl Scout Ambassador must design and carry out a project that fulfills a need within a girl’s community, creates change, and is sustainable. The project must be completed with a suggested minimum of 80 hours of work. Only about 5 percent of eligible girls earn the prestigious Gold Award.

Dakota Smallie from Granite City Has Earned the Girl Scout Gold Award

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) is pleased to announce that Dakota Smallie from Granite City has earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can receive. 

The idea for Dakota’s Girl Scout Gold Award project, called Pontoon Beach Patchwork Garden, was sparked from a brainstorming session she had with a group of Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. The group discussed the issues of hunger and nutrition, and Dakota thought a community garden would be a great way to address both issues. In addition to starting and maintaining the garden, Dakota provided education on the topic to elementary school students as well as other Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. 

Through her Girl Scout Gold Award project, Dakota learned important life skills that she will be able to use throughout her life. “The most important thing I have learned through Girl Scouting is that I can accomplish anything I set my mind to,” said Dakota.

Dakota is the daughter of Scott and Nancy Smallie. She is currently senior at Granite City High School and, upon graduation, plans to pursue a degree in Chemical Engineering. Dakota has been a Girl Scout for 12 years.

The Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can earn, recognizes a Girl Scout's commitment to excellence as she develops skills and values to meet present and future challenges in her life. To earn the Girl Scout Gold Award, a Girl Scout Senior or Girl Scout Ambassador must design and carry out a project that fulfills a need within a girl’s community, creates change, and is sustainable. The project must be completed with a suggested minimum of 80 hours of work. Only about 5 percent of eligible girls earn the prestigious Gold Award.

Bailee Warsing from Granite City Nominated For Girl Scouts' National Young Women of Distinction Award

Bailee Warsing

Every year, ten exceptionally inspiring Girl Scout Gold Award recipients are selected as Girl Scouts' National Young Women of Distinction (NYWOD). This honor is given to Girl Scouts whose Gold Award projects demonstrated extraordinary leadership, had a measurable and sustainable impact, and addressed a local challenge that ties into to a national and/or global issue. These young women are making a positive difference on the world! 

Girl Scouts named as National Young Women of Distinction are models of the movement's mission of building girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. The program provides these young stars with the opportunity to be an inspiration to girls around the world. 

Each council can nominate three Girl Scouts for the opportunity to be selected to be a National Young Woman of Distinction.  This year, one of GSSI's nominations was Bailee Warsing from Granite City.

Watch Bailee's Nomination Video:

Bailee’s Girl Scout Gold Award project, called Raptor Residence, was to build a large residential cage for birds at Tree House Wildlife Center. In addition to working with volunteers and donors to raise $3,000 to build the cage, Bailee also tackled the issue of dangers of human expansion on birds and particularly an osprey who had been hit by a car in Granite City. As part of her project, she spoke to various groups about Tree House Wildlife Center and its efforts to rehabilitate injured birds. She spoke to students at Granite City High, younger Girl Scouts and community members.

Bailee Warsing from Granite City Receives Outstanding Graduating Girl Scout Scholarship from Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois is pleased to announce that Bailee Warsing from Granite City, Illinois has received its 2016 Outstanding Graduating Girl Scout Scholarship. She was recognized April 9 during GSSI's annual All That Glitters Ceremony held at the Holiday Inn in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. 

Bailee is a Girl Scout Ambassador who is also a Girl Scout Gold Award and Trifecta recipient. She states that through Girl Scouting she has gained the communication and leadership skills necessary to become a community member that makes a difference in the lives of others. Bailee is currently a senior at Granite City High School and plans to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in the fall. 

“During my eleven years in Girl Scouting, I have been able to participate in so many activities I wouldn’t have otherwise had the opportunity to. I have become a leader. It is the most influential activity I have participated in,” said Warsing. 

Also receiving scholarships from Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois were Katie Albert from Waterloo and Alexandra Lloyd from O'Fallon. 

The Outstanding Graduating Girl Scout Scholarships are funded from proceeds from the annual Brownie Haunted Camp, which is planned, organized and conducted by older Girl Scouts. Two scholarships are awarded each year. This year, an additional scholarship was funded by Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois' staff campaign. To earn the scholarship, girls submitted an application and reference letters which were reviewed by a committee of staff and volunteers.

Nancy Smallie from Granite City Receives Thanks Badge for Exceptional Volunteer Service

Nancy Smallie from Granite City has received the Thanks Badge for her exceptional volunteer service to Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois. The Thanks Badge recognizes an adult member whose performance is truly outstanding and benefits the total council or the entire Girl Scout movement. 

“Nancy’s love of the Girl Scout program is apparent. She is directly responsible for the growth in our area and the pride we have in our local and national Girl Scout program," said fellow volunteer Chris Scarborough.

Bailee Warsing from Granite City Has Earned the Girl Scout Gold Award

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) is pleased to announce that Bailee Warsing from Granite City has received the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can receive. 

For her Girl Scout Gold Award project, called Raptor Residence, Bailee built a large residential cage for birds at Tree House Wildlife Center.  In addition to working with volunteers and donors to raise $3,000 to build the cage, Bailee also tackled the issue of dangers of human expansion on birds and particularly an osprey who had been hit by a car in Granite City.  As part of her project, she spoke to various groups about Tree House Wildlife Center and its efforts to rehabilitate injured birds.  She spoke to students at Ganite City High, younger Girl Scouts and community members.       

 “I learned that I really like leading events and coordinating of volunteers,” Bailee said.  I really liked spreading knowledge about topics I feel strongly about like wildlife conservation. I also learned many leadership skills including how to manage a team and to not procrastinate.”

Bailee is currently a senior at Granite City High School.

The Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can earn, recognizes a Girl Scout's commitment to excellence as she develops skills and values to meet present and future challenges in her life.  To earn the Girl Scout Gold Award, a Girl Scout Senior or Girl Scout Ambassador must design and carry out a project that fulfills a need within a girl’s community, creates change, and is sustainable.   The project must be completed with a suggested minimum of 80 hours of work.  Only about 6 percent of eligible girls earn the prestigious Gold Award.

Lynette Melton-Wolfe Named GSSI's Pearl of the Month for September

 

GSSI is pleased to announce Lynette Melton-Wolfe of Granite City is the September Pearl of the Month.

 The Pearl of the Month Award recognizes a Girl Scout volunteer who has delivered service beyond expectations and helped to ensure that approximately 14,000 Girl Scouts in southern Illinois benefit from a premier Girl Scout Leadership Experience. Nominees must meet several criteria, including completion of all required training for his or her volunteer position as well as providing outstanding service to his or her Service Unit or the Council.

Lynette planned and carried out the first ever twilight Day Camp for Service Unit 102 this year. It was attended by 70 campers and 11 PA/CITs. The girls learned cake decorating, kitchen chemistry and dinner party basics as well as games including life-size Candyland and Cracker Jack Jenga. Lynette was careful to plan activities that tied to badges and she even created a book for each camper including pictures so they would have a keepsake. The week ended with an overnight of 25 girls. She also recruited volunteers to help, made a patch, and stayed for cleanup! The real measure of success was the hugs she received from girls and both girls and adults asking to come back next year.

Heather Grotecke from Granite City is GSSI's August Pearl of the Month

 

 

GSSI is pleased to announce Heather Groetecke of Granite City is the August Pearl of the Month. The Pearl of the Month Award recognizes a Girl Scout volunteer who has delivered service beyond expectations and helped to ensure that approximately 14,000 Girl Scouts in southern Illinois benefit from a premier Girl Scout Leadership Experience. Nominees must meet several criteria, including completion of all required training for his or her volunteer position as well as providing outstanding service to his or her Service Unit or the Council.

Heather leads a troop of Junior girls as well as a Senior/Ambassador group. She has involved them both in the Challenge and Change project which is a Girl Scout grant program funded through the USDA. The girls put the garden plot together and meet weekly to weed, water, mow, and tend to their portion of the garden as needed. Heather has even brought chickens out so that the girls can learn about animals. She utilizes the different age levels of her troops to allow the older girls the opportunity to teach and supervise the younger girls. It is a great learning experience for all involved.

To nominate a volunteer from your area for a Pearl of the Month award, please fill out the form on the following page and e-mail it to volunteer@gsofsi.org.

GSSI's FIRST TECH Challenge Team Starting Competition

 

 

 

GSSI’s flagship FIRST TECH Challenge team is ready to launch. OOPS! Robotics coached by Kristi Smith of O’Fallon consists of middle and high school girls from O’Fallon, Granite City and Belleville. They will compete in several qualifier tournaments this winter. Stop by and cheer them on at their competitions at Meramac Community College in St. Louis on Jan. 10, SIU Carbondale’s Transportation Education Center on Jan. 31 and Decatur Hope Academy on Feb. 7.

FTC is designed for students in grades 7-12 to compete head to head, using a sports model. Teams are responsible for designing, building, and programming their robots to compete in an alliance format against other teams. The robot kit is reusable from year-to-year and is programmed using a variety of languages. Teams, including coaches, mentors and volunteers, are required to develop strategy and build robots based on sound engineering principles. Awards are given for the competition as well as for community outreach, design, and other real-world accomplishments.

Follow Oops! Robotics on their blog: http://oopsrobotics.wordpress.com/

Girl Scouts Honored For Community Service By Comptroller Topinka

Illinois State Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka honored several GSSI Girl Scouts for their dedication to community service during the Illinois State Fair this summer. 

Those honored include:

Troop #440 from Granite City - Kaitlin Koenig, Kristen Koenig & Dakota Smallie

Troop #899 from Granite City - Katie Reagan

Troop #8174 from Carbondale - Josie Pimental & Athena Wrenn

2014 Graduates Cheyenne Chalkus from Salem & Kathryn Dragovich from Mt. Olive

We're so proud of the amazing things that Girl Scouts do in their communities!  Way to go, girls!

Granite City Troop #371 Sending Girl Scout Cookies to U.S. Military Overseas

A growing fondness for community service inspired Granite City Girl Scout Troop #371 to show some love to U.S. military members stationed overseas in the form of Girl Scout Cookies.   The troop is currently selling cookies and accepting donations to send the sweet treats overseas through the help of the local VFW Ladies Auxiliary and USO in St. Louis.   They call their campaign “A Little Love From Home.”

The troop of Girl Scout Cadettes has been working on earning their Girl Scout Silver Award – the highest honor that Girl Scouts in 6-8^th grade can earn.   Earning the Girl Scout Silver Award requires a minimum of 60 hours of community service to a project that addresses a need in girls’ communities.   The troop chose to dedicate their efforts to Good Samaritan House, which provides temporary housing to homeless women and children.   They are currently working to help replace the flooring and furniture in the living area of the shelter, as well as volunteering to coordinate children’s activities.  Their positive experience led them to want to take on another service campaign.

“We were talking about Memorial Day and what it was about, that soldiers had given their lives,” said Troop Leader Lynette Melton Wolfe.  “The girls wanted to send something from home to soldiers to remind them that people here in the United States are thinking of them no matter where they are.   The girls decided to go with the theme ‘A Little Love From Home’ with Girl Scout Cookies representing the love from home.”

To help turn their idea into reality, the troop connected with the Granite City VFW Ladies Auxiliary, who are gathering personal goods for service men and women overseas, which the USO is shipping.   They are also campaigning around town to collect donations and spread awareness.

The Girl Scout Cookie Program helps girls learn valuable personal and professional skills such as goal setting, decision making, money management, business ethics and people skills.   Money raised through cookie sales helps troops finance trips, programs and special activities.  Yet, many use their earnings to fund service projects in their communities, as well.

“Most of our girls are not from a mountain of wealth,” said Wolfe, “so to be working to earn money and giving it away is a big commitment for them.  But they’re seeing where it’s going.  They love to do things for other people.”

“I’ve always had a need to take care of other people and do things for other people.  I have a bit of that service personality,” she added.  “Girl Scouts, in my position, is leading by example - trying to see things and teach what service can do and what the potential of it can be.” 

Wolfe appreciates how she has seen the girls grow through their years in Girl Scouts.  “You see the girls expanding themselves- trying things they’ve never tried before, getting opportunities, learning.  Girl Scouting is getting girls a little bit out of their comfort zones because you don’t know what you like until you’re there.”

To help support Troop #371’s “A Little Love From Home” campaign or their Girl Scout Silver Award project to renovate the living area of the Good Samaritan Home, please contact Lynette Melton-Wolfe at 618.980.0273 or e-mail lynettemeltonwolfe@gmail.com.   

Checks can be made out to “Girl Scouts Troop #371” and mailed to 2nd Baptist Church, 2100 Illinois Avenue, Granite City, IL 62034 with ATTN: Cookies for Soldiers.

Troop #371 also welcomes any opportunities to speak to organizations or groups, as well as to set up a cookie booth at area businesses.