Girl Scouts recognize individuals, organizations with awards

Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois recognized individuals and organizations with awards at its recent annual meeting.

Hall of Fame Award

Two women were given the Hall of Fame Award, recognizing a lifetime commitment to the Girl Scout movement within Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois.

• Among her many accomplishments as board president, Lisa Normoyle of Rockford led the charge to create the Young Women of Distinction event where Girl Scout Gold Award and scholarship recipients are recognized for their achievements. Normoyle was also instrumental in the creation of "Thin Mint Sprint" which emphasizes fitness for girls and women.

• Kildeer resident Diane Saber has been involved with Girl Scouts for a total of 22 years. She has consistently used her abilities to serve her Girl Scout Ambassador Troop and Lake Zurich Service Unit. She has helped girls to discover their values, to connect with other girls and their communities, and to take action globally. She has far exceeded the expectations of a troop leader and has gone on to work on a national and global level, with Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. and the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.

Thanks Badge

• Carol Ayars of Rockford received the Thanks Badge II, which is awarded to volunteers who have already received the Thanks Badge and are still actively giving service that impacts the council or the entire Girl Scout movement. Ayars serves as a troop leader, Recognition Chair, and Service Unit Trainer for Creekview Service Unit (Rockford). She is committed to giving excellent camp-related trainings across the council and brings good humor, expertise, and wisdom when it comes to training volunteers.

• Two women, Robin Witt of North Aurora and Evie Fiandaca of Sycamore, received Thanks Badge, which honors an individual whose ongoing commitment, leadership, and service have impacted the council or the entire Girl Scout Movement.

Witt has been on GSNI's Long Range Property Task Force for the past 4 years. She has also organized the Phillips Park Day Camp for many years in a culturally diverse area. In addition, she is a featured trainer on the Outdoor Education Trainers' Committee and has been helping to standardize and update GSNI's outdoor curriculum for the last year.

Fiandaca is the driving force behind Double Tree Service Unit (Sycamore). She has reached new heights in her Service Unit Registrar responsibilities, a role she has enthusiastically embraced for the past 10 years. She also serves as the Service Unit Treasurer, Fall Product Program Chair, and is archery trained so the service unit can offer archery as an activity for its annual day camp.

President's Award

The President's Award is given to a geographic area team or program delivery team that has significantly contributed to meeting one or more council goals in membership growth and retention, fund development, or increased community visibility.

• Quapaw Service Team: Carrie Cittadino and Kathy Huemann, both of Johnsburg; Cindy Koch and Joanne Mulvey, both of McHenry; Julie Gathman and Monica Kessel, both of Richmond; Margaret Backman-Boettjer, Margie Dacheff, Karen Grant and Julia Wong, all of Spring Grove; and Heather Nelson of Wonder Lake.

• Outdoor Trainer Committee: Sue Reimer of Aurora; Mary Ann Knoll and Sue Mills, both of Dixon; Lesley Tennessen of Holiday Hills; Chris Alsip of Joliet; Mary Jo Hare of Leaf River; Patty Graw of North Aurora; Jan Starke of Oregon; Lee Holmes of St. Charles; Jana Link and Mary Tull, both of Sycamore; and Julie Schmale of Wheaton.

• Southern Ogle Service Team: Karin Podolski of Chana; Faith Hayenga and Sara Sanderson, both of Kings; Mary Jo Hare of Leaf River; Patty Head of Oregon; Michelle Hardcastle and Mandy Tabor, both of Rochelle.

Honor Pin

Kathy Kaney of Loves Park earned an Honor Pin, recognizing volunteers actively giving outstanding service in two or more geographic areas. Kaney volunteers with Creekview Service Unit (Rockford) as an event coordinator, service unit treasurer, troop coordinator, and troop leader. As event coordinator, Kaney plans monthly events and camporees for the service unit, always making sure to incorporate elements of the Girl Scout leadership experience.

Appreciation Pin

Appreciation Pin is awarded to volunteers actively giving outstanding service to at least one geographic area or program delivery audience. They include: Margie Dacheff, Spring Grove; Elizabeth Elliott, Malta (awarded posthumously); Lee Holmes, St. Charles; Amanda Honchell, Mt. Carroll; Angela Juneau, Hinckley; Angela McMeel, Crystal Lake; Heidi Provo, Rockford; and Sandra Tegel, Crystal Lake.

Community Partnership Award

Community Partnership Award recognizes organizations that have significantly supported Girl Scouts in better serving girls and volunteers.

• Riverfront Museum Campus (Rockford Art Museum, Burpee Museum of Natural History, Rockford Dance Company and Discovery Center Museum) for planning a Museum Adventure Day Program for girls

• YMCA Camp Benson in Mt. Carroll for partnering with GSNI for the past 2 years to host a council-sponsored program, Adventure Camp Overnight for Girl Scout Juniors and Cadettes

• The United Way of Ogle County for annual funding that helps provide the Girl Scout Leadership Experience to hundreds of girls in Ogle County

• The McHenry County Community Foundation for providing critical funding for special initiatives in their county, including a partnership with the Sage YMCA in Crystal Lake and environmental restoration of the prairie ecosystems at Mary Ann Beebe Center in Harvard

• WREX Channel 13 for being the premier media sponsor of the Thin Mint Sprint race event for 10 years and working to create and schedule Public Service Announcements to encourage race participation and spread awareness about Girl Scouts in their media market

Volunteer of Excellence Award

Volunteer of Excellence Award recognizes those volunteers who have contributed outstanding service, while partnering directly with girls in any pathway to implement the Girl Scout Leadership Experience.

• Arapaho Service Unit (McHenry, Wonder Lake): Jennifer Sorensen;

• Aurora Service Unit (Aurora East and West): Mary Garza;

• Aztec Service Unit (Cary, Fox River Grove): Amy Stefani, Denise Kennelly, Denise Ulaszek, Gina Huber, and Lisa LeRette;

• Barrington Service Unit (Barrington, Barrington Hills): Allison Abrahamson, Christy Rebbeck, Helen Sheyka, Moira Kennedy-Rapp, and Nicole Higgins;

• Batavia Service Unit (Batavia): Kellie Tratar and Pennie Hall

• Blackhawk Service Unit (Campton, St. Charles West): Shannon Sullivan, Linda Strohschein and Kara Zakin

• Boone Service Unit (Belvidere, Caledonia, Capron, Garden Prairie, Poplar Grove): Michelle Dixon and Stephanie Gunn

• Broken Arrow Service Unit (Carpentersville, Dundee, Gilberts, Hampshire, Sleepy Hollow): Corrine Maurer, Jeannine Silenzi, Jennifer Hoffmann, Marie Scarbrough and Mary Hill

• Cheyenne Service Unit (Bartlett, Carol Stream, Wayne, Hanover Park, Streamwood): Lisa Greenberg, Karen Florio, and Karen Sanders;

• Creekview Service Unit (Rockford): Erica Kahle;

• Double Tree Service Unit (Sycamore): Patricia O'Neil;

• Genesis Service Unit (Montgomery, Oswego, South Aurora): Dayna White;

• Geneva Service Unit (Geneva): Elaine Haughan, Jennifer Turek, and Julie Salomon;

• Jo Daviess Service Unit (Elizabeth, Hanover, Scales Mound, Stockton, Warren): Diane Hamilton;

• Lake Zurich Service Unit (Deer Park, Hawthorn Woods, Kildeer, Lake Zurich): Gail Ludwigsen, Kim Klunder, Kristi Givens, and Wilma Kirshenbaum;

• Lee Service Unit (Amboy, Ashton, Franklin Grove, Dixon, Paw Paw, Polo): Amber Edwards and Melissa Allen

• Menominee Service Unit (Island Lake, Fox River Valley Gardens, Wauconda): Allison Vodicka, Rachel Coty, Serenity Jensen, and Sherri Sorensen;

• Northern Ogle Service Unit (Byron, Davis Junction, Leaf River, Monroe Center, Stillman Valley): Jill Smith;

• Ojibwa Service Unit (Crystal Lake): Cathy Johnston, Kelly Akerberg, and Tammy Bowers;

• Osceola Service Unit (Algonquin, Lake in the Hills): Beth McKinney and Suzanne Abendroth;

• Park North Stateline Service Unit (Machesney Park, Roscoe): Shannon Ptacek;

• Pleiades Service Unit (Lisbon, Millbrook, Millington, Plano, Sandwich, Newark): Suzy Hoover;

• Quapaw Service Unit (Johnsburg, Richmond, Ringwood, Spring Grove, Wonder Lake): Julia Wong, Julie Gathman, Karen Grant, Katherine Felch, Jean Schenk;

• Spring River Service Unit (Rockford, Loves Park): Marge Blake, Stephanie Waddell, Tammy Coles;

• Trefoil Service Unit (Big Rock, Elburn, Hinckley, Kaneville, Maple Park, Sugar Grove): Amie Fox;

• Vega Service Unit (Aurora North/Northwest, Mooseheart): Cassie Spenny;

• Wanauka Service Unit (Earlville, Lee, Leland, Shabbona, Somonauk, Waterman): April Sanderson.

Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois is 20,000 strong - 15,000 girls and 5,000 adults who believe every girl can change the world. Our girls develop leadership skills in 16 counties including parts or all of Boone, Carroll, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Jo Daviess, Kane, Kendall, Lake, LaSalle, Lee, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside, and Winnebago. We help girls build courage, confidence, and character, so they can make the world a better place by inspiring them to discover their inner strength, talents, and passions. And with programs from Stomp Rockets to Camp Explorers, there's a chance for every girl to do something amazing! We're Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois. To volunteer, reconnect, donate, or join, visit www.girlscoutsni.org or call (800) 242-5591.