Thanks Badge II The Thanks Badge II is awarded to volunteers who have already received the Thanks Badge and who are actively giving service that impacts the council or the entire Girl Scout Movement.
Marge Blake Nominated by Jessica Glawe Marge has held many roles with Girl Scouts and continues to provide excellent service to her service unit and community. She has impacted countless girls and women in her area and continues to give her best time and time again! Marge researched needs in the community to determine what programs troop leaders were struggling to do on their own. Next, she reached out to GSNI Preferred Partner Womanspace in Rockford, so she could offer special programs at their facility. These events included Junior Journey in a Day, Cadette Night Owl Badge Burst, World Thinking Day, and Girl Scout Birthday Pizza Party Event. Many people were impacted by the pandemic, and there were changes to overcome to continue with the Girl Scout year and keep girls engaged. Working with her service unit, Marge made a plan with modifications to offer programs virtually. Thanks to her leadership, the service unit’s Camporee was sorted into supplies per troop with detailed instructions from start to end. She also planned and implemented a Cookie Fun Fair “in a bag” event, so girls could learn the 5 Skills of the Girl Scout Cookie Program—plus get fired up about participating in cookie season during lockdown. Marge worked with GSNI staff to implement recruitment events and get fliers for local schools during the pandemic, so families would know Girl Scouts was still going strong in their communities! During this stressful time, she also helped onboard two new service unit managers, so they felt comfortable starting their Girl Scout year. In addition, Marge is a proud member of the GSNI Recognition Committee.
Bobbie Riley Nominated by Fiona Cummings GSNI CEO Fiona Cummings says, “In her Board roles for 12 years, Bobbie has been a wonderful deputy to Board Chair, Scott McCleary. She has also acted as my personal advisor and confidante from time to time but particularly during the design and implementation of the Long Range Property Plan (LRPP). This included decisions and investments for our camps, as well as the sale of our four legacy service centers and leasing of the new Resource Centers. Without her support and guidance, GSNI would not have the current camp portfolio nor the flexibility and modernity of our Resource Center portfolio.” GSNI’s entire membership has been impacted by the LRPP. It has enabled camp improvements, which have continued even through the pandemic. Nearly every member has visited at least one GSNI Resource Center to purchase uniform
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