Thanks Badge

Thanks Badge I

Honoring an individual whose ongoing commitment, leadership, and service have had an exceptional, measurable impact on meeting the mission-delivery goals and priorities of the entire council or the entire Girl Scout Movement.

Becky Mundy - Lawrence County

Becky has been a stable and active presence for Girl Scouts in Lawrence County for many years. She has served in numerous roles, including service unit manager, service unit treasurer, service unit product manager, and troop leader. She never fails to work hard for the girls in her county, always advocating on their behalf. She has been willing to take on additional challenges and works to help volunteers and girls of nearby service units.

Becky helped provide valuable feedback for registrar training. Her work helped the Volunteer Service Department create an interactive online training. Last year Lawrence County merged into one service unit. Modeling a sister to every Girl Scout, Becky helped staff, volunteers and girls through the process. Becky always seeks out correct information, answers promptly, and finds innovative ways to support all things Girl Scouts, including building relationships with many council staff members. Whenever Becky contacts Girl Scouts of Central Indiana we know that she is coming with good questions, concerns, or ideas and that she is dedicated to carry out her volunteer responsibilities to her absolute best capabilities. Her focus is not solely her team or service unit, but how can we have thriving Girl Scout activities and opportunities throughout the entire council.

Leadership of Excellence Award

The Leadership of Excellence Award is one that is unique to Girl Scouts of Central Indiana and recognizes an adult volunteer who demonstrates a profound direct impact on the lives of girls and serves as a positive role model. The impact must benefit the Girl Scout Leadership Experience and is open to all leadership roles in all pathways. The award represents the leadership of Juliette Gordon Low, Girl Scouts’ founder.

Christina Gantt - Southern Johnson County

Christina has instilled the belief that girls can solve problems and be strong leaders in their community. Through numerous community service projects, the girls have learned the importance of helping others and what impact they will have on their community and the future. The troop made dog treats for the Humane Society and helped other local organizations. Through Christina’s positive role modeling and allowing the girls to choose issues that concern them, the girls have developed a dedication to help others and make a difference in their community.

Christina helped organize a Daisy/Brownie camping event for the service unit. She used team building skills to work with the volunteer Girl Scout Seniors to create fun programming including games and songs. She fostered an atmosphere of inclusivity, encouraging the younger girls to offer problem solving suggestions alongside older girls. The relationships Christina developed with the older girls empowered them to plan, organize and take the lead, creating a successful event with their own ideas. The girls whom Christina interacts with discover and model that all girls can make a difference and be a positive impact in the world.

Kareston became involved with her troop as a cookie manager, not only helping the girls develop their financial literacy skills but also working with the caregivers offering a clear understanding of the opportunities and skills girls develop from the Girl Scout Cookie Program. She created a video to learn more about the cookie sales program and how each girl had a special role in the program. Over five years ago, Kareston helped her troop organize and host a program called “UP LATE at SOUTH” for Junior and Cadette troops. The lock-in, held at Monroe County South High School, offers girls a fun, holistic approach to learn about self-care. In the beginning, the program was hosted by high school girls and adults, with activities focusing on becoming a teenager, skin and hair care, and self-Image.

As her troop matured, they began to take over the program with another troop. Together, the girls now lead activities and share their knowledge and experiences with the younger girls. By empowering her Girl Scouts, the annual program now has over 200 participants with additional topics including exercise, dance, yoga, what to expect in middle and high school. Kareston’s dedication to teach and empower one Girl Scout troop now has spread to hundreds of girls with quality programming for Monroe County.

Colleen Mitchell Southern Johnson County

On top of being a leader for two troops, Colleen is a tireless volunteer for the Southern Johnson County Service Unit. She was co-service unit manager through a service unit merger a few years ago; and her flexibility and positivity helped make the transition a smooth, easy one. She has since served as the coordinator for service units camporee, community troop organizer for Clark Elementary, camp promoter, and co-treasurer. This past year she was also a mentor for a new troop leader. Colleen has worked with a Cadette troop to plan a trip to Savannah. She guided the girls in deciding activities on their trip and setting a realistic budget. She provided them information to help measure their progress and oversaw their efforts for additional fundraisers. Colleen also transitioned from adults leading the meetings to the girls. Her troop chose various

roles for each meeting. The girls decided they wanted to have less meetings, and more outings and community service activities. She supported them in these efforts, helping them identify ways to serve in their community, which has led to her troop understanding the importance of learning by doing. Over the years her efforts to engage the girls at all levels of troop planning has allowed them to be free to discover and connect in a way that is meaningful for them and has fostered strong leadership and planning skills.

Jen Newton - Monroe/Owen County

Jen has served as a leader, service team member, service team event coordinator, fall product sales coordinator for the service unit, and service unit manager for the Monroe/Owen service unit over the years as a dedicated volunteer. She is an excellent resource for the area leaders and brings a wealth of understanding and communication with her to the monthly service team and leader meetings. As a troop leader, she has guided her girls to their senior year in high school and has been dedicated in helping facilitate all the activities, events and awards. Jen has also created a troop atmosphere that is welcoming and inclusive to all girls. Using their platform at CSA Round-Up last fall, Jen’s troop educated other troops on the use of personal pronouns, which was something her troop had personal experience in. Her understanding and acceptance of something somewhat foreign to many is a wonderful example of why Jen is being honored with the Leadership of Excellence Award.

The President’s Award recognizes the efforts of a service-delivery team or committee whose exemplary service in support of delivering the Girl Scout Leadership Experience surpassed team goals and resulted in significant, measurable impact toward reaching the council’s overall goals. Accomplishments reflect the 2019 membership year.

North and South Vigo County

North and South Vigo County Service Unit exceeded their retention goal this year and met their spring renewal goal as well showing that girls and volunteers are excited to return to the service unit for another year of Girl Scout activities within the community. North and South Vigo did a wonderful job providing program opportunities that addressed the four pillars of Girl Scouts as well. In the spring they hosted a camporee; in the fall they hosted STEM focused activities at their recruitment events as well as a financial literacy program with their cookie rally. They also mentored older girls as they put together a CSA cultural night program for Vigo County Girl Scouts. Their commitment to providing a variety of high-quality program started in the fall when they host their Super Saturday potluck event for all new leaders. This welcome event coupled with training helped new leaders feel connected to the service unit which in-turn kept their retention high as leaders are eager to return with their troop.

Howard/Tipton County

Howard/Tipton Service Unit worked tirelessly to recruit new membership and it paid off when they doubled their girl membership this year. Recruitment was only the first step in their plan to grow membership. After leaders and girls signed up, they hosted several new leader meetings and trainings to ensure that leaders felt connected to the community and secure in leading their new troop. Service unit events were added in the fall so that new girls had the opportunity to participate in a variety of local activities. The commitment to getting new members to buy-in to Girl Scouts successfully paid off as their retention numbers exceeded their goal as well. The service unit wants all girls to have long lasting Girl Scout

experiences and fosters long-lasting relationships with older girls. This past year they had a Gold Award Girl Scout from their service unit with three more girls on track to complete their highest awards as well. From beginning to end, Howard/Tipton is creating a service unit that leaders and girls want to join and remain actively involved with.

Zionsville – Boone County

Zionsville faced new challenges this year as their access to schools was limited within their county, which in turn limited recruitment efforts. They rose to the challenge and through innovative approaches managed to create recruitment opportunities at local libraries, back to school nights and through displaying their Girl Scout pride while wearing their uniforms throughout the community. Besides advertising, they held several programs that encouraged new girls to register and returning girls to renew. Daisy by Mail was a success as well as their Escape Room recruitment event held at the library. Girl Scouts learned what the different types of uniforms looked like and put the Girl Scout grade levels in order to unlock the code and receive a prize. Another program that was well attended and received was the camporee. Over 200 participants attended hiking, sports, scavenger hunts, swimming, and camping over three days and two nights out at Camp Dellwood. These well attended events, along with their creative recruitment efforts have set them up for a successful year of Girl Scouts in Zionsville.

Avon – Hendricks County

2020 Volunteer Awards Avon reached their retention goal early by offering creative incentives for troops to renew such as a spring renewal swim party. The service unit strives to provide free programming throughout the year so all Girl Scouts can attend. This includes an annual STEM event, World Thinking Day and cookie rally. Last year they started a cookie drive-through where all troops take turns hosting the centralized cookie booth. Avon is proud of their older girl participation and have created a grant program for girls working on their higher awards. This funding is intended to help girls earn Girl Scout Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards with minimal financial obstacles. In 2019 the service unit boasted five Gold Award Girl Scouts.

During the last two years this service unit has seen a county wide increase in the number of girls participating in Girl Scouts and remaining in Girl Scouts. The volunteers seek to include all who want to participate in our program by offering free or reduced cost events for troops to participate. All girls are offered a 1:1 mentor to earn their My Promise, My Faith award. When volunteers had difficulty reaching out to the LatinX community, they sought out a Spanish translator in the community. The leadership has worked with leaders to offer trainings and support at every service unit meeting including topics of financial management and serving girls who have special needs. This welcoming and inclusive philosophy has helped Girl Scouts grow strong and increase in visibility throughout the county.

Wagon Trails – Hendricks County

Wagon Trails had an outstanding membership year, reaching their recruitment goal and surpassing the number of girls and volunteers renewing in Girl Scouts. They took on their largest community service project to date, creating and packaging 600 snack packs/ care packages for troops about to deploy. After four months of planning, research and working with the community, the service unit combined packaging day with the Think Like an Engineer Girl Scout Journey. Girls literally learned to build bridges while figuratively building a bridge to Indiana service men and women. The service unit strives to not only have quality program for the girls but also support for the volunteers and families. Recognizing a need to include all girls in Girl Scouts, the service unit has offered mini trainings on working with girls who have special needs and creating troops that are equitable for all girls regardless of socioeconomics.

Midtown – Marion County

Midtown Service Unit works to include and welcome all troops in their service unit. They looked at traditions that might omit or confuse volunteers and troops in their area. The service team chose to move their meeting from the basement of a school to a centralized meeting location to increase meeting attendance. They