5 minute read
Adult Recognitions
Volunteer Spotlight: Diania Sporisky
Troop Leader Diania Sporisky is currently in her 9th year of leading her Clyde, Texas-based troop. She tells anyone who is thinking about volunteering with Girl Scouts but might be hesitant to try: “Put preconceived ideas of what a Girl Scout volunteer is out of your head. A volunteer is anyone who has the heart to help the girls achieve their goals! I’m a deaf woman who has no daughter of her own and I can do this! Anyone can! As long as you remain focused on the girls and what’s best for them then that’s what’s important!”
Diania’s favorite part about being a Girl Scout volunteer is being able to watch the girls grow and become who they are. Her original group of girls is in high school now. Seeing who they have developed into and knowing that she got to help with that it is an honor.
“A volunteer is anyone who has the heart to help the girls achieve their goals!”
Vanessa Martin joined Girl Scouts when her daughters joined, in the 2nd grade and Kindergarten. She was never a Troop Leader but that doesn’t mean she hasn’t been a busy volunteer. Vanessa helped out her daughters’ troop where she could – transporting the girls, helping out during meetings, providing a snack, etc.
Due to some extenuating circumstances within the troop leadership, Vanessa was asked to be the Troop Cookie Chair in November of that year, which means that she missed several trainings at that point. This did not deter her. Vanessa reached out to Service Unit Cookie Chairs and other Troop Cookie Chairs for support. When her Service Unit’s Cookie Chair was about to “retire”, she tried to recruit Vanessa for the position. Today, with the help of two other volunteers, she is the Cookie Chair for two Service Units.
GSUSA Awards
Honor Pin
Christi Baker, Lubbock
Appreciation Pin
Norah Offutt, Keller
Volunteer of Excellence
LaChandra Hooper, Wichita Falls Gwen Irby, Arlington Kodie McManus, Amarillo Richel Newborg, Fort Worth Bodil Overtree, Arlington Melissa Stevenson, Abilene Melissa Tacconi, Grapevine Sophia Young, Wichita Falls
Council Awards
Bobbie Heckathon Cookie Sale Award Julie Barona, Saginaw Kelly Soter-Gunn, Fort Worth
Courage in Adversity Award Melissa Purifoy, Fort Worth Marian Hardy Service To Volunteers Award Christine Beeman, Euless
Family Involvement Award Tammy and Bryce Backers, Euless
Program Service Award Karen Albers, Euless Summer Hamilton, Mansfield Dinah Schnurr, Keller
Unsung Hero Award
Sheila Allen, Clyde London Beeman, Flower Mound Jennifer Chavira, Lubbock Antonio “Tony” Gonzales, Amarillo Heather Kaplan, Euless Margarita Olivarez, Lubbock Carmen Ramoz, Plain Lucy Richards, Amarillo Renae Warren, Fort Worth Krista Wiehle, Fort Worth
Volunteer Years of Service
40 Years Diane Kinzlmaier, Arlington
30 Years Tami Lara, Shallowater
20 Years Cynthia Bortzfield, Arlington
15 Years Kelly Anderson, Fort Worth Joyce Callaway, Fort Worth Sharon Champagne, Bedford Jeanette Kaplan, Fort Worth Tisha Orth, Saginaw Heather Powell, Arlington Helen Rankin, Bridgeport Melissa Roenbeck, Grand Prairie Jennifer Sigrest, Euless Sarah Sparks, Wichita Falls Dusti Steele, Arlington Ronalee Tedesco, Arlington Joshua Tedesco, Arlington Janet Rozanne Welch, Joshua Mandy Kitchens, Perryton
10 Years Desmond Atkins, Fort Worth Riki Atkins, Fort Worth Kandace Beavers, Keller Irma Bustos, Amarillo Jaklyn Demots, Dalhart Vanessa Elizalde, Fort Worth Jennifer Flory, Fort Worth Dana Gaston, Grapevine Bernadette Guerrero, Grand Prairie Anne Gurdgiel, Keller Mary Lee Harder, Southlake Leanne Haynes, Arlington Angela Herring, Mansfield Jennifer Johnson, Arlington Tracy Lambert-Jack, Aledo Clementine Martin, Arlington Melissa Miller, Saginaw Debbie Nail, Arlington Jenna Nelson, Arlington Kimberly Plaga, Fort Worth Russell Poer, Crowley 10 Years, Cont.
5 Years Jaimie Ables, Granbury Lisa Beam Euless Teresa Diaz, Lubbock Ralene Hall, Fort Worth Natasha Hetrick, Wichita Falls Krista Hubmer, Fort Worth Megan King, Arlington Shelley King, Amarillo Kate Nichols, Keller Piper Ogan, Fort Worth Jessica Rajian, Colleyville Jessica Stemmons, Arlington Kimberly Williams, Wichita Falls
Membership Numerals
80 Years Sandy Kautz, Fort Worth
In Memoriam 1933-2022
At the Volunteer Leadership Summit this past August, we had the honor of celebrating Sandy in person for her 80-years of Girl Scouts membership. We also announced, much to her surprise, that the Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains corporate office in Fort Worth will be renamed the Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains Sandy Kautz Leadership Center.
Membership Numerals
40 Years Mariana Sherwood, Fort Worth
25 Years Amy Bell, Arlington Jody Piper, Hurst
20 Years Jessica Brooker, Keller Cheryl Grove, Euless Emily Piper, Hurst
15 Years Britney Osborne, Fort Worth Della Purdin, Blue Mound Reyka Smith, Fort Worth Melissa Stevenson, Abilene Victoria Swaney, Fort Worth Carin Teeter, Watauga Mary Ann Wittboldt, Lubbock 10 Years Rebecca Haywood, Pampa Shannon Hamburger, Springtown Gwen Irby, Arlington Elizabeth McCuller, Euless Lydia Miller, Canyon Luci Strowd, Springtown Christie Swan, Hurst
5 Years Adrianne Allison, Fort Worth Rachel Bevan, Azle Christina Cavazos, Ralls Tori Guardado, Venus Laurell Moore, Wichita Falls Elizabeth Swaney, Fort Worth Teri Teaff, Nemo Cheri Pruett, Alvarado
Presidential Volunteer Service Award
Adults, Ages 26 and above Gold Award: 500+ hours Leanne Haynes, Arlington Melissa Tacconi, Grapevine Richel Newborg, Fort Worth
Group/Family Award: 1000+ hours McManus Family, Amarillo
Bronze Award: 100-249 volunteer hours Darlena Hoyl, Decatur Lindsey Laskey, Saginaw Jessica DeBois, Fort Worth
Silver Award: 250-499 hours Amy Bell, Arlington Anne Marie Burns, Springtown Stephanie Caesar, Haslet Jennifer Gibbs, Fort Worth Alicia Gill, Arlington Beki McDonald, Saginaw Christine Torres, Fort Worth Jessica Burrows, Fort Worth Jessica McDonald, Fort Worth Andrea Smith, Haslet
Young Adults, Ages 16-25 Bronze Award: 100-174 hours Kamryn Whitney, Troop 2772 Kyliegh Whitney, Troop 2772
Gold Award: 250+ Hours Kenna Bryn Hogan, Troop 2137
Teen Awards, Ages 11-15 Gold Award: 100+ hours Quinn Emmalie Hogan, Troop 211 Madison Naftal, Troop 2740 Victoria McDonald, Troop 2778 Caitlyn Newborg, Troop 2740
Silver Award: 75-99 hours Brantley Elizabeth Whitney, Troop 2772 Mary Grace Dierling, Troop 2772
Bronze Award: 50-74 hours Hannah Watt, Troop 2772
