Girl Scout Council fiscally sound Officers elected at annual session

BREWER – Abnaki Girl Scout Council held its 44th annual meeting on April 29 in Brewer. At the business meeting of the corporation, bylaw revisions were approved and delegates presented with a financial report that shows the council to be in sound fiscal condition. Karen Keim of Veazie was elected chairwoman of the board of directors.

Other officers elected were third vice president, Angela Butler, Bangor; treasurer, Elsa Gettleman, Bar Harbor; and secretary, Ann Homola, Old Town. Members-at-large are Glenn Goodwin, Atkinson; Heather Brountas, Bangor; and Barry Burgason, Old Town.

On the nominating committee are Sandra Tijerina, Old Town; Merlene Sanborn, Brownville; Mary Budd, Bangor; and Paul Bolin, Bangor.

Senior Girl Scouts elected for one-year terms on the Girl Advisory Board were Lyron Blum-Evitts, Patten; Karrie Brawn, Presque Isle; Patricia Merrill, Ellsworth; Elizabeth Kevit, Eddington; Caitlin Kupferman, Knox; Kayla Cortwright, Hancock; and Erin Keim, Veazie.

Hilda Roderick, Bar Harbor, a former council president and a delegate from Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. to the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, reported on the world conference she attended in Amman, Jordan, last June.

Delegates attended workshops on planned giving, international travel and an open space forum on realignment of Girl Scout Councils in Maine. Teenage Girl Scouts attended their own girl congress.

Thanks Badges, given to recognize truly outstanding service that benefits the entire council, were presented to Karen Keim of Veazie, and Heidi Brugger of Freedom, for their work on the council board of directors and for their work with numerous committees, which has resulted in the council being rechartered by Girl Scouts of the U.S.A.

Other awards were Trainer of the Year, Kate Kevit, Eddington; and the Johnny Crosson Award for training excellence, Shannon Perro, Orono.

Honor pins were presented to Paul Bolin, Bangor; Denise Wescott, Detroit; Mary Budd, Bangor; and Kate Kevit, Eddington, for their work guiding the council through the Council Performance Assessment; to Deborah Chaiken, for her work on the board of directors; and to Kathy Davis, Presque Isle, for her troop’s humanitarian efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Outstanding Senior Girl Scout pins were presented to Laila Sholtz-Ames, Exeter; Lyron Blum-Evitts, Patten; and Kyla Bailey, for their dedication to Girl Scouting both as girl members and for assuming extra volunteer roles.

A $1,000 college scholarship, in honor of former executive director Jo Stevens, was presented to Laila Sholtz-Ames.

The President’s Award was given to the 18 girls of Girl Scout Troop 81, Caribou, for their massive “Make a Difference Day” project, which resulted in 330 backpacks filled with school supplies shipped to families relocated to Pensacola, Fla., in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Their project was recognized by Make a Difference Day as one of the “Heroes” in Maine.

Adult years of membership pins were awarded for 40 years: Kathryn Suminsby, Hilda Roderick and Elizabeth O’Donnell; 30 years: Nellie Soloniewicz and Laura Poll; 20 years: Karen Keim; 15 years: Jean Guptill, Patricia Locke, Darlene Tibeault and Denise Wescott; 10 years: Dorothy Iverson, Michelle Redmond and Wendy Schoppee.

Megan Davis and Erika Golding were given 10-year girl membership pins. Joan McDonald, chief executive officer, and Joanne Crepeau, chief financial officer of the Girl Scouts of Kennebec Council, were guests of Abnaki Girl Scout Council for the annual meeting.