Patti Bardle of Pinckneyville and Christina Rheaume of Highland Named June Pearls of the Month

Patti Bardle of Pinckneyville and Christina Rheaume of Highland are GSSI’s June Pearls 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 the 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.

Patti is an exceptional leader and event planner.  The most recent event she coordinated was “Girl Scout Princess Day,” which attracted over 60 girls.  Stations included making a homemade wand and crown, princess etiquette, spa treatment, hair styling and games.  With the help of her husband, she built a princess castle that the girls could walk through.  She made sure everyone had a wonderful experience. Knowing it would be popular, the SU team also used the event as a for recruitment!

Christina is a very involved leader and event planner.  Recently, she organized a new event called “Movie Morning.”  It was a family event and included one movie for younger girls and another option for older girls to make it enjoyable for all ages.  Donations of food were also collected and donated to a local pantry.  Christina plans to continue this event annually and look into new ideas to make the event even better.

Frederick Bardle from Pinckneyville Named May Pearl of the Month

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) is pleased to announce that Frederick Bardle from Pinckneyville has been named the May 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 the 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.

Frederick has been a volunteer with Troop #8842 for three years, as well as helped with many Perry County Service Unit recruitment events.  During this year’s Girl Scout Cookie Program, he helped promote, transport and deliver cookies.  He has assisted several local Girl Scout events and projects, including taking Girl Scouts hiking and teaching them about emergency preparedness and outdoor safety during a Memorial Day camporee.  He also helped Troop #8842 organize a food collection drive to work towards earning their Girl Scout Bronze Award.  As a Captain with the Pinckneyville Fire Department, Frederick’s knowledge and experience has been greatly appreciated. Other Girl Scout volunteers in the area say that he has their highest respect and refer to him as the “backbone of the troop.”     

 The mission of Girl Scouting states:  Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place.   Girl Scouts is the world's pre-eminent organization dedicated solely to girls - all girls - where, in an accepting and nurturing environment, girls build character and skills for success in the real world.  In partnership with committed adults, girls develop qualities that will serve them all their lives - like strong values, social conscience, and conviction about their own potential and self-worth.

Today’s Girl Scouts not only enjoy camping and crafts, but they also explore math and science and learn about diversity, good citizenship, leadership and teamwork.  Girl Scouting is the place where girls experience the fun, friendship and power of girls together. Girl Scouting has inspired more than 50 million girls and women since its founding in 1912. 

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois is a not-for-profit organization supported by various United Ways throughout the region.  Girl Scouts is a Proud Partner of United Way.