GSSEF 2015 Adult Recognition Awards

The 2015 Adult Recognition Awards

Letter from Our CEO I am thrilled to celebrate and honor our council’s outstanding volunteers who have achieved National Adult Recognition this year.

The value of volunteering is undeniable. This is true for both the girls and the adults who support them. Direct service is one of the most common volunteer contributions; volunteers often enable organizations to reach more people or deliver more programs, than they could with paid staff alone.

We know in Girl Scouting, this is especially true and incredibly valuable.

As I looked at the list of those volunteers receiving awards, I was struck by the magnitude of the volunteer contributions with in our organization. I stopped and thought the value of a new Troop Leader who gets advice and coaching from another at a Service Unit meeting, a food pantry with stocked shelves, a clean beach or a girl being accepted by a peer instead of being teased by one. I took some time to think about the extraordinary nature of today’s culture of volunteerism in the Girl Scouts. None of the things I recalled could be accomplished without our volunteers.

I feel proud that Girl Scouts of the USA has established Adult Recognition levels that allow local councils to recognize volunteers consistently. I know how connected to the Girl Scout Mission I feel when wearing my own Thanks Badge. I am also honored that our council created additional local recognitions for the individuals, businesses and families who support our efforts here in our communities. This portfolio of recognition is what helps us create a culture of gratitude.

I marvel at the list of Community Awards because I know these are the businesses that allow our troops to utilize meeting space and participate in the annual Girl Scout Cookie Sale program. Our Family Awards demonstrate just how deep the roots of Girl Scout service can grow and flourish within new generations. Our list of those individuals receiving the Appreciation and Honor Pins show us the incredible reach of volunteers involved in troops, Service Units and programs. The volunteers receiving the Thanks Badge and Thanks Badge II, as well as The Lifetime Service Award, have given Girl Scouting an enormous gift of time and talent that spans geographic boundaries and nearly defies the fact that there are only 24 hours in a day. When I read these nominations, I would swear that these people have found a stash of extra time that the rest of us didn’t even know about!

In all, GSSEF is recognizing 248 adults, businesses and families in 2015. These are the people who make Girl Scouting so meaningful for our girls, our communities and our world. Our volunteers are impossible to measure because your value is priceless.

Sincerely, Denise W. Valz, CEO

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Volunteer of Excellence The Volunteer of Excellence Award is given to an individual who has 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 has contributed outstanding service in support of the council’s mission delivery to girl and adult members.

Congratulations to the Volunteer of Excellence Recipients: Tina Aberhorn, Royal Palm Anitra Agate, New River Barbara Ahmad, Royal Palm Kimbelry Albriton, Delphinus Debby Artman, Sea Star Kim Atkinson, Royal Palm Angela Barnard, Luna Beth Bertsch, Tri Star Beth Besu, Pinetree Christine Blount, Sea Star Amy Brass, Jupiter Laura Brihn, Tri Star Manon Brothman, Blazing Star Lindsey Brown, Aquila Kristina Bruni, Royal Palm Jess Cabillot, Royal Palm Maxine Calaluca, Royal Palm Stephanie Carten, Royal Palm Beth Castle, Sea Star Sandra Clutter, Sunchariot Robin Cole, Royal Palm Tresa Crabbe, Sea Star Joan Cruz, Royal Palm Brianne Culliton, Phoenix Amanda Cumbie, Leo

Mary Catherine Dansky, Royal Palm Tiffany Degroot, Phoenix Judy Demboski, Sea Star Debbie Didovic, Everglades Linda DiGennaro, Royal Palm Heather DiSanto, Sandy Beaches Chrissy Dixon, Delphinus Psyche Doe, Orange Blossom Geisel Donaldson, Wetlands Joanna Donaohoe, Jupiter Jody Drexler, Royal Palm Lisa Drzata, Royal Palm Mary Elizabeth Duncan, Royal Palm Norma Duran, Jupiter Judi Ebbole, Orange Blossom Denise Engelhart, Everglades Vanessa Essery, Phoenix Cindy Eversole, Everglades Candy Fender, Aquila Mary Fernandez, Luna Caroline Frame, Misimaka Aimee Fretwell, Royal Palm Linda Gaynor, Blazing Star Darlene Giol, Royal Palm Sonya Gomez, Sunny River

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Volunteer of Excellence Jennifer Goodman, Sea Star Melissa Guttman, Royal Palm Traci Haberland, Royal Palm Stacy Havens, Royal Palm Aimee Healey, Sea Star Lezley Hsiao, Royal Palm Betty Hubert, Phoenix Mayte Insua-Auais, Pinetree Sherry Irwin, Phoenix Beth Jarvis, Royal Palm Kelly Karge, Royal Palm Bettyann Kinney, Royal Palm Holli Kwak, Great Earth Tracy Lemus, Everglades Tracy Leve, Blazing Star Gila Libier, Royal Palm Todd Lind, Royal Palm Anissa Lorenz, Royal Palm Sophia Magette, Royal Palm Maggie Mansito, Pinetree Griselle Manzor, Royal Palm Nicole McLaughlin, Orange Blossom Susan McNeil, Royal Palm John Mejia, Royal Palm Kelly Michelin, Silver Sands Lisa Miller, Sea Star LaVonda Miller, Sunny River Michele Mizrachy, Everglades Kanisha Mortin, Tri Star Nancy Murphy, Misimaka Jennifer Negreira, New River Ann Neu, Luna Amber O'Brien, Delphinus

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Jocelyn O'Neill, Jupiter Doreen Paez, Sawgrass Nancy Patterson, Indian Treasure Bill Penland, Royal Palm Deborah Perez, Delphinus Roopa Persaud, Sawgrass Kristina Phelps, Luna Angela Pietrantonio, Sunny River Jessica Pirtle, Great Earth Natasha Rapplean, Leo Gina Reichenbach, Royal Palm Leslie Reigel, Everglades Trish Rhodes, Sunchariot Laurel R-Love, Sawgrass Valeska Roberts, Wetlands Vivien Rubel, Royal Palm Nicole Saperton, Luna Erin Silver, Leo Maya Skalski, Misimaka Julie Skoskie, Misimaka Richard Smith, Royal Palm Betty Steele, Wetlands Michelle Sturgess, Silver Sands Lauren Susman, Blazing Star Bethany Tomlinson, Sea Star Shannon Veller, Luna Jodi Weiksnar, Sea Star Laura Welser, Silver Sands Owen White, Leo Sindee Winkler, Great Earth

Appreciation Pin The Appreciation Pin is given to those who have shown exemplary service in support of delivering the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. This service, which has had measurable impact on one geographic area of service, helps reach and surpass the mission-delivery goals of the area.

Congratulations to the Appreciation Pin Recipients: Judith Backof, Aquila

Gina Lambert, Royal Palm

April Barbarosh, Sunchariot

Angie Laycock, Indian Treasure

Karyl Bertram, Aquila

Peggy Leonard, Phoenix

Annie Broderson, Wetlands

Lorena Miranda, Tri Star

Danielle Brooks, Tri Star

Sarah Nickoson, Royal Palm

Sandra Brown, Blazing Star

Michelle Niska, Royal Palm

Jackie Bruder, Tri Star

Beth Oren, Great Earth

Lynn Burns, Sunchariot

Jessica Pack, Sea Star

Jennifer Chalmers, Blazing Star

Amanda Prater, Phoenix

Cecilia Chin-Palles, Jupiter

Erica Price, New River

Carol Eubanks, Leo

Sandra Ragl, Sea Star

Margie Fisher, Luna

Monique Reed, Aquila

June Fortnash, Pinetree

Becky Spicer, Wetlands

Heather Franklin, Jupiter

Angie St. Hilaire, Royal Palm

Dawn Freeman, Aquila

Heather Stewart, Sea Star

Deborah Geiger, Sea Star

Yanitzia Torres, Aquila

Jessica Goforth, Tri Star

Celeste Tripician, Phoenix

Jennifer Goldfarb, New River

Caroline Tummino, Phoenix

Michelle Hathcock, Sea Star

Ofelia Utset, Jupiter

Jill Johnson, Sea Star

Stacey Vayne, Great Earth

Kim Johnson, Sea Star

Laura Weiss, Great Earth

Natalie Johnson, Orange Blossom

Kate Van Zile, Seabreeze

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Honor Pin The Honor Pin is given to those who have shown exemplary service in support of delivering the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, which has had measurable impact on two or more geographic areas of service, allowing the council to reach and surpass its mission-delivery goals.

Congratulations to the Honor Pin Recipients: Elissa Arencibia-Eisenman, West Hi Acres Rae Ann Brewer, Misimaka Don Brooks, Leo Karen Brown, Sunchariot Lidia Castillo, Wetlands Tracey Eller, Jupiter Jeri Gumbinner, Sea Star Debbie Hanley, Sandy Beaches Linda Hennequin, Wetlands Jeannie Horvath, Everglades Alicia Howard, Jupiter Toni Jacobsson, Sawgrass Maria Mednia, Royal Palm Susan Mejia, Royal Palm Pamela Metzger, Tri Star Lyn Monette, Phoenix Jamie Turner, Aquila Jennifer White, Leo

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Family Award The Family Award is given to a family making a significant contribution to Girl Scouting over a period of time by several members of the same family.

Congratulations to the Family Award Recipients: Langton Family, Royal Palm Post Family, Aquila White Family, Leo

Langton Family Royal Palm

Post Family Aquila

White Family Leo

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Thanks Badge The Thanks Badge is given to an individual whose ongoing commitment, leadership and service have had an exceptional, measurable impact on meeting the missiondelivery goals and priorities of the entire council or the entire Girl Scout movement.

Congratulations to the Thanks Badge Recipients: Lorna Brown-Burton, GSSEF Board Chair Jonna Circe, Sunny River Lisa Cook, Sunshine Acres Lisa Dennis, Sawgrass Elizabeth Fonteccio, Phoenix Merribeth Manning, Sea Star Faye Souchet, Royal Palm

Lorna Brown-Burton GSSEF Board Chair

Jonna Circe Sunny River

Lisa Cook Sunshine Acres

Elizabeth Fonteccio Phoenix

Merribeth Manning Sea Star

Faye Souchet Royal Palm

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Lisa Dennis Sawgrass

Thanks Badge ll The Thanks Badge II is given to an individual who is a previous Thanks Badge award recipient who has continued to provide exemplary service in a leadership role, resulting in a measurable impact that benefits the Girl Scout movement.

Congratulations to the Thanks Badge II Recipients Paula Fontaine, Jupiter Carolyn "Ocean" Friedman, Phoenix Gail Lunsford, Great Earth Nazly Nardi, West Hi Acres Laurie Pharr, Pegasus

Paula Fontaine Jupiter

Carolyn "Ocean" Friedman Phoenix

Nazly Nardi West Hi Acres

Gail Lunsford Great Earth

Laurie Pharr Pegasus

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Lifetime Service Award Girl Scouts has a long and proud tradition of volunteer service; individuals who volunteer in dozens of capacities influencing the lives of thousands of girls each year.

Inspired by these volunteers, Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida introduced a new award in 2014 — the Lifetime Service Award. Its purpose is to recognize individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the Girl Scout mission through consistent and far-reaching acts of volunteerism that has resulted in strengthening of the organization.

These extraordinary individual volunteers give, and give and give to the Girl Scouts - not hundreds of hours, but thousands of them. Not one group of girls— dozens and even hundreds of them.

Not even a few years of consistent service, but decades of them.

These individuals have given the Girl Scouts a lifetime, and Southeast Florida Girl Scouts are the beneficiaries of their tireless and unyielding commitment.

Congratulations to the this year’s Lifetime Service Award Recipients

Terry Gearing Palm Beach Gardens

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Edith “Edie” Kappler Pompano Beach

Community Award The Community Award is given to a business or organization in the community who has provided considerable contributions of service in forms of facility, financial support or other benefits to the mission and GSSEF. Congratulations to the this year’s Community Award Recipients: Acacia Masonic Lodge Anthony's Coal Fire Pizza Atlas Embroidery & Screen Printing Bass Pro Shops - Dania Beach Bed Bath and Beyond Carrabba's Chevron # 208663 Chili's Coral Park Elementary Custom Crate Logistics Company Duffy's Sports Grill Epworth Church & Preschool Fire Station #28 - Royal Palm Beach Golden Corral Hurricane Grill and Wings iHeart Media Palm Beach + Treasure Coast Immanuel Lutheran Church Kawa Orthodontics Lisa Carbaugh Lowe's Loxahatchee Green Market Martin County Fair Association Outback Steakhouse Palm Beach County Fire Station 7 Palm City Elementary Palms West Presbyterian Church Park Trails Elementary Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office

Peter & Julie Cummings Library Plantation General Hospital Publix #01046 Publix #01107 Publix #00362 Publix #00394 Publix #00851 Publix #413 Romano's Macaroni Grill Ruby Tuesday S/M Community Outreach District 9 Silver Palms Elementary School St Luke’s Catholic Church Sunoco Tequesta Community Park The Ice Cream Club Toys ‘R Us USA Self Storage Walgreens - Forest Hill Walgreens - Green Market Walgreens - Lake Worth Walgreens - Okeechobee Walgreens - Southern Blvd Westfield Broward Mall Wildwest Diner Winn Dixie The Women’s Club of Stuart

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