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Volunteer Kudos
Volunteer Kudos is a place to show appreciation to groups or individuals that help to build girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place. Click here to submit your Volunteer Kudos.
Nominate an outstanding volunteer by submitting the Adult Recognition Nomination Form today!
Girl Scout Leader Honored on 90th Birthday
(continued from S’MORE magazine)
On Jan. 19, 2011, Virginia Smith (Smitty), turned 90 years old. To honor her, 15 members of Girl Scout Troop 249 gathered on Jan. 22 to celebrate the Girl Scout leader who changed their lives. Smitty served as their Girl Scout leader and advisor from 1960 to 1975.
Smitty became an Assistant Leader in 1960, with Mary Lou Houston and Mrs. Heston for Troop 1433 when her daughter, Cynthia, joined. She stayed with Troop 1433 until 1964, when she became a Senior Troop Advisor with Bettina Garvey for Troop 249. In 1969, Smitty was joined by Mrs. Coughenour to serve as Advisors for Troop 249, and in 1971, Mrs. Thelma Duffy joined as well.
As the years went by, friendships were created. Girls would graduate from high school and go off to college, but they would always make time for a visit with friend and advisor, Smitty. In 1972, still the Advisor for Troop 249, she received help from two girls that had been in her troop in earlier years, Lynn Garvey & Ann Heston. 1974-75 was her last year, but she left the troop in good hands–Anne Coughenour, Tia Watts and Ann Heston.
Smitty loved being an advisor, and encouraged girls to be involved with younger troops and plan their own activities. Even though the girls were different in their own way, they still got along well. They went to Allegheny County Fairs, Washington D.C., Capapon Park in West Virginia, white water rafting, canoeing and many other adventures. Troop 249 did patrol encampment, were camp counselors, worked for the Girl Scout Council downtown and more. Some of the girls went to Nationals, Lynn Garvey went to Hawaii, Carolyn Mason went to Germany, Eve Pinsker went to Israel and Sarah Smith went to Wyoming.
According to Smitty, the January gathering in honor of her birthday was unexpected but breath-taking. Former troop members planned the gathering, and even created a caper chart to get the work done! Ninety-two-year-old Bettina Garvey was even able to attend.
As a gift Smitty received a photo album created by her former Girl Scouts. The album was created with pictures from different outings from throughout the years, including picnics in South Park, a gathering at Duffy’s farm, Camp Yough outings, a Colorado trip, a Deep Creek visit and more, as well as a page from each girl.
In the last 15 years, our friendship has grown stronger since the loss of one of our dearest members. Since we enjoyed working with younger Girl Scouts, the Anne Coughenour Memorial Fund was established to help young girls go to camp.
“We are so grateful for Smitty, and are so glad that we could all get together to mark this special day for an extraordinary woman,” said Karen Folmar, one of the troop members in attendance. “We will keep our Advisor Smitty young since we invite her to everything, and she never has to worry about getting anywhere as someone is always there to drive her. She is our number one advisor and best friend.”
Kudos to Linda Blount, an Outstanding Leader!
Mrs. Linda Blount was honored with the Outstanding Leader Award at the 2011 Girl Scout Court of Award and Bridging Ceremony on Sunday June 5, 2011. Linda has been a leader for her daughter Emily's troop, Troop 30606, in Girard and Lake City for the past four years. She is a true example of the Girl Scout Law and Promise. Linda provides the girls in her troop with a wonderful experience every time they meet. She is also an active part in the Service Unit as a whole. Linda was nominated by the parents of her troop.
Pictured: Mrs. Kim Ozimek, Service Unit Manager, presents Mrs. Linda Blount with the Outstanding Leader Award Pin.
Kudos to Diana Brush, GSWPA Volunteer
Diana Brush is a lifetime member of GSWPA who is dedicated to the mission of the Girl Scouts Western PA, and has been a Girl Scouts facilitator for many years. She was recognized as one of the 30 Outstanding Community Volunteers for NAWBO. She was presented with her award by guest presenter Randy Grossman (#84 Former Pittsburgh Steelers). Congratulations Diana!
2011 Adult Award Winners
Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania was honored to recognize the following Board-approved adult recognitions at this year’s Annual Meeting:
Honor Pin
The Honor Pin is awarded to volunteers who have significantly contributed to meeting one or more council goals in membership growth and retention, fund development, or increased community visibility in two or more geographic areas.
Katharine Svidro – Washington, PA (Tingoocqua Service Unit)
Mae Lynne Edwards – Harrisville, PA (Glacier’s End Service Unit)
Thanks Badge II
The Thanks Badge II is for volunteers who have already received the Thanks Badge and who have continued to serve in extraordinary ways that benefit the total council or the entire Girl Scout movement, including having taken a leadership role in developing a model that has been replicated at the national level in or more of the following areas: membership, program, fund development, pluralism, marketing & communications, strategic leadership and human resources.
Jeanne McGuire-Conlon – Slippery Rock, PA (Glacier’s End Service Unit)
Sharon Enslen – Prospect, PA (Glacier’s End Service Unit)
Sally Williams – Johnstown, PA
Congratulations to these volunteers! Your outstanding service is greatly admired and appreciated!
Kudos to you, Tonya Bohatch!
I would like to recognize my co-leader, Tonya Bohatch, for being an outstanding volunteer.
Tonya is extremely organized, always keeping the parents well informed of all of our activities and events. She is also in charge of keeping track of attendance, uniform attendance, dues, permission slips, and newsletters. Tonya is always jumping to assist in anyway she possibly can. She made a beautiful banner that our troop uses in parades, cookie sales, etc. We are constantly receiving compliments about it. Tonya is very devoted to Girl Scouts and I deeply appreciate all of her hard work.
Submitted by: Rose Ziglear, Girl Scout Daisy Troop 51063
Kudos to the Volunteers who Helped at the Washington County Mall Show
I would like to salute the 100 adult volunteers who worked so hard to make the biennial Washington County Mall Show at the Washington Crown Center on Saturday, March 12, 2011 a success.
Six Service Units from Washington County were represented by more than 300 girls, ranging from Girl Scout Daisies to Ambassadors, from 39 troops. We had nearly 40 activity stations, including make-your-own Campfire Marshmallow Lip Gloss, a Voting Booth to select your favorite cookie (Thin Mints won!), lots of food to sample, SWAPS to make and trade, and a Sing-a-Long.
President Judge Debbie O'Dell-Seneca and Washington County Commissioner Diana Irey Vaughn (both former Girl Scouts) helped to kick off the day with opening remarks; the day was concluded with an Honor Pin presentation to Kate Svidro for her years of help at this event and a kick-off to 100th Anniversary celebrations.
During the day, we made more than 100 bookmarks for the Washington County Literacy Council, 100 quilt squares for Operation Quiet Comfort and more than 200 notes of thanks for military personnel, and we collected more than 600 items for the local woman and children's shelter.
Special kudos to Mall Show Co-Chair Virginia Kearns for all her hard work!
Submitted by: Kriss Svidro, Washington County Mall Show Chair
Kudos to Kerri King
My co-leader, Keri King, did a superb job as the Cookie manager for our Girl Scout Daisy Troop. Keri attended the cookie training, driving through a fierce snow storm to get there, and scheduled all of our cookie booths. Keri met with everyone to collect their orders, even if it meant driving to multiple locations for special needs parents. She and her husband picked up all of our cookies and went through a similar ordeal getting them to the parents, and again with collecting cookie money.
Keri also managed all of our cookie booth sign-ups, sent reminders, managed all of the cookie booths, while my co-leader Tonya Bohatch and I rotated, kept track of all of the cookies sold and replenished our supply at the cookie cupboard.
Keri never asked for or accepted help beyond assisting at cookie booths. She did a tremendous amount of work and did a fantastic job at it. Tonya, and I deeply appreciate all of the hard work Keri put into the cookie program.
Kudos to you, Keri King!!!
Submitted by: Rose Ziglear, Leader, Troop 51063
(left to right: Angie Stengel, GSWPA's COO; Bill Isler, President & CEO of the Fred Rogers Company; Joanne Rogers, Fred Rogers' Wife)
GSWPA Honored with the Fred Rogers Good Neighbor Award
On behalf of more than 6,000 volunteers Angie Stengel, GSWPA’s Chief Operations Officer, accepts the Fred Rogers Good Neighbor Award, in recognition of their commitment and dedication to volunteerism.
Congratulations to our volunteers! Your work helps our girls and their neighborhoods in incredible and meaningful ways.
