Girl Scouts Heart of the South convened in Oxford, MS for our Annual Meeting on Saturday, April 30, 2011 at the Oxford University United Methodist Church. After weeks of rain, and days of severe storms, the clouds cleared for a beautiful sunny day so we were able to enjoy a pre-meeting tailgate at the church. 

Click HERE to view the photo album from the Annual Meeting.

The meeting was called to order at 1 p.m. by Board Chair, Grace Hutchinson and Board Secratary, Shelia Lewis, informed the council that we had made quorum and were able to conduct official elections.

We are pleased to welcome the following people to our Board of Directors: 

• Allegra Brigham, Interim President, Mississippi University for Women, Columbus, MS
• Leonie Hefley, Vice President, Commercial Bank & Trust, Humboldt, TN
• Dr. Norris Howell, DDS, Owner, Family Dental Clinic, Ripley, MS
• Grace Hutchinson, Deputy Director, Shelby County Government, Germantown, TN
• Bill Rayburn, Chairman and CEO, FNC Inc., Oxford, MS
• David Vance, Owner, My Friends Place, Houston, MS
• Kathleen Webb, Attorney, Murphy, Dezonia & Webb, Memphis, TN
• Sheila Whalum, Deputy Director of Finance, City of Memphis, Memphis, TN
• Gwen Woodson, Community Development Director,Grenada Area Chamber of Commerce, Grenada, MS

We also welcome the following to our Board Development Committee:

• Gail Akins, Deputy City Clerk, City of West Point, West Point, MS
• Shawn Brevard, President, Cultural Alliance of Tupelo/Lee County, Tupelo, MS
• Tammy Boyd, Chief Administrative Officer, The Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce
• Kim Cherry Executive Vice President of Corporate Communications, First Horizon National Corp., Memphis, TN
• Abi Rayburn, Community Volunteer, Oxford, MS
• Carolina Willie, Chief Financial Officer, Aeneas Communications, LLC, Jackson, TN
• Debbie Wiley, Medical Technologist, OB/GYN Associates, Tupelo, MS
• Gwen Woodson, Community Development Director, Grenada Area Chamber of Commerce, Grenada, MS

And, we are thrilled to be sending the following delegates to represent Girl Scouts Heart of the South at the 100th GSUSA National Convention:

• Elizabeth Booth, Girl Scout
• Chrystal Climber, Girl Scout
• Pamela Evans, GSHS West Tennessee Community Advisory Board, Chair
• Grace Hutchinson, GSHS Board of Directors, Chair
• Abi Rayburn, GSHS Board Development Committee
• Bill Rayburn, GSHS Board of Directors, Finance Chair
• Angela Woods, GSHS Chief Executive Officer

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Girl Awards

Some exciting numbers were revealed for the council's two product sales. Did you know that we sold approximately 121,000 cans of nuts and candies? 4,000 magazine subscriptions and 1.3 million boxes of cookies?  And with the inaugural Gift of Caring, Troop to Troops, we as a council sent 9,212 boxes of Girl Scout cookies and 1,134 cans of nuts and candies to military men and women serving our country?

See more pictures HERE.

Here are the top Fall Product Sellers:

1. Joycelyn Davis from Troop 30093 in Leflore Co. with $1,872 in sales.
2. Fran’kesha House from Troop 30093 in Leflore Co. with $1,848 in sales.
3. Kimberlee Roberts from Troop 40455 in Carroll Co. with $1,571 in sales.
4. Symeria Purnell from Troop 30093 in Leflore Co. with $1,548 in sales.
5. Davida Khambraya Shaw from Troop 30093 in Leflore Co. with $1,517 in sales.

 And the top Girl Scout Cookie Sellers are:

1. Kimberlee Roberts from Troop 40455 in Carroll Co. selling 3,540 boxes.
2. Katherine Tackitt from Troop 20611in Itawamba Co. selling 3,044 boxes.
3. Ruth Black from Troop 10636 in Crit-Ark selling 2,950 boxes.
4. Quavasha Harris from Troop 20140 in Oktibbeha Co. selling 2,254 boxes.
5. Nicole Wilson from Troop 10458 in Whitehaven selling 2,075 boxes. 

Cookie Caravan Contest Winners:

1. Tipton Co. Troop 10295
2. Arlington/Lakeland Troop 10125
3. Gibson Co. Troop 40199

Cookie Booth Contest Winners:

1. Arlington/Lakeland Troop 10125
2. Itawamba Co. Troop 20611
3. Cordova Troop 10380

Fall Product Seller with $250+ Nintendo Wii winner:

• Ashley D. Griffin from West Greenwood Troop 30093

Girl Scout Cookie Seller with 300+ boxes Nintendo Dsi winners:

• Emily Woods from Troop 40487 in Chester Co.
• Mikayla Hutchison from Troop 10902 in Shady Grove
• Mackenzie Kay Graham from Troop 40076 in Madison Co. 

Girl Scout Cookie Seller with 300+ boxes digital camera winners:

• Lydia Todd from Troop 40310 in Gibson Co. 
• Kaylie Woodard from Troop 40105 in Madison Co.
• Cecelia Hartney from Troop 10336 in Evergreen

Girl Scout Cookie Seller with 300+ boxes iPod Touch winners:

• Raven Kirkwood from Troop 10543 in Shelby East
• Madalyn Boyd from Troop 40119 in Gibson Co.
• Aaliyah Copeland from Troop 20321 in Lee Co.

Girl Scout Cookie Seller with 300+ boxes Nintendo Wii winners:

• Olivia Morgan from Troop 10202 in Hernando
• Jariah Burnside from Troop 30390 in Washington Co.
• Ruth Black from Troop 10636 in Crit-Ark

Girl Scout Cookie Seller with 300+ boxes laptop computer winners:

• Ashley Winters from Troop 10475 in Horn Lake/Walls
• Sarah Powers from Troop 30040 in Washington Co.
• Caitlyn Fisher from Troop 40007 in Gibson Co.

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Girl Scout Award Recipients 

Click HERE to download the Annual Meeting program which lists all Girl Scouts who were recognized for their achievements.

See more pictures HERE. 

Gold Award

All the Girl Scouts who have earned the Girl Scout Gold Award have put in long hours of work in service to uphold the Girl Scout Promise and Law. They took the road less traveled and faced the challenge head on. They completed the rigorous path towards earning this prestigious award, the highest in Girl Scouting. Their journey caused them to change the lives of others and their own in amazing and significant ways. Congratulations Girl Scouts!

2011 Girl Scout Gold Award Recipients:

• Alaina  Ulmer, Troop 20679, If You Only Knew
• Breanna Temple, Troop 20679, If You Only Knew
• Christina Nagy, Troop 10601, Collecting & Creating to Fill the Time of Waiting
• Courtney Hall, Troop 10089, Mission Monarch
• Crystal Climer, Troop 40054, Save the Animals
• Dana Morton, Troop 200341, The Secret Life
• Elizabeth Booth, Troop 10190, ABC’s (Animal Based Careers)  and Animals
• Haley Griffin, Troop 20040, Mississippi Girl Scouts License Plate
• Heather Warf, Troop 40044,  Restore Food Bank Pantry
• Hillary Medlin, Troop 200341, The Secret Life
• Julia Waters, Troop 10108, Art It Up
• Katherine Love, Troop 10209, Blankets for the Brave Part Deux
• Lessie Goolsby, Troop 20217, Operation Restoration
• Paige Lambert, Troop 200341, The Secret Life
• Peytyn Markham, Troop 10108,  Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention
• Quavasha Harris, Troop 20140, Rescue Bear Project
• Raylee Alford, Troop 20040, Mississippi Girl Scouts License Plate
• Samantha McBryde, Troop 20217,  Operation Restoration
• Shanice Campbell, Troop 20140, A Day to Smile-Day Camp
• Shelby Akins, Troop 20217, Operation Restoration
• Stephanie Kreitel, Troop 20679,  If You Only Knew

Gold Award Scholarship recipients:

• Elizabeth James
• Haley Griffin
• Katherine Love
• Shelby Akins
• Stephanie Kreitel

West Tennessee Leadership Scholarship recipients:

• Samantha Crews, The Jane E. Hazlewood Leadership Scholarship
• Lindsey Hutchison, The Sharon Younger Leadership Scholarship

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Volunteer Recognition

In Girl Scouting 99% of our workforce is made up of volunteers. It is through these caring hearts that our organization succeeds at building girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place. Our volunteers consistently engage girls in girl-led activities and give them plenty of opportunities for cooperative and hands on learning. They give unselfishly of their time, energy and talents to make an impact on girls' lives. A heart-felt thank you goes out to all of the volunteers of Girl Scouts Heart of the South.

See more pictures HERE.

Leadership Development Pin:

• Jennifer Sparks, Henry Co. Service Unit
• Loralei McGee, Lee Co. Service Unit

Outstanding Volunteer Award:

• Carol Holt, Carroll Co. Service Unit
• Lisa Roberts, Carroll Co. Service Unit
• Gwen Holland, Carroll Co. Service Unit
• Kristi Zravkov, Chester Co. Service Unit
• Kim Pettigrew, Decatur Co. Service Unit
• Cheryl Ratliff, Hardin Co. Service Unit
• Alisha Weber, Henderson Co. Service Unit
• Laura Dougherty, Henry Co. Service Unit
• Gay Francisco, Henry Co. Service Unit
• Renee Gray, Horn Lake/ Walls Service Unit
• Linda McMillen, Itawamba Co. Service Unit
• Michelle Aten, Lafayette Co. Service Unit
• Linda Lewis, Olive Branch Service Unit
• Lynn Bowers, Hollywood Service Unit

Outstanding Leader Award:

• Jennifer Martindale-Adams, Evergreen Service Unit
• Missy Foster, Gibson Co. Service Unit
• Tammie Jennings, Horn Lake/Walls Service Unit

Appreciation Pin:

• Amy Merrick, Gibson Co. Service Unit

Thanks Badge:

• Helen York, Madison Co. Service Unit
• Jennifer Lawrence, Lee Co. Service Unit

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100th Anniversary

We are excited to launch a two year celebration of the centennial Girl Scout Year. We invite you to take part and serve on one of our Centennial Committees:

• Alumnae Engagements
• Alumnae Camp-Outs
• GirlTopia 100th Celebration
• Member "Take Action" Project
• Volunteer Initiative 

In addition we are pleased to announce several girl opportunities and events to mark the 100th:

• GirlTopia, March 24, 2012 
• Girl Scout Appalachian Hike, June 2012 
• Mi Cabana Es Su Cabana Trip, July 19-27, 2012 
• Tennessee Statewide Camporee, October 12-14, 2012 

Girl Scouts Heart of the South has also chosen three extraordinary women to serve as 100th Anniversary Honorary Chairwomen:

• Dr. Karen Bowyer
• Maxine Atkins-Smith
• Elizabeth Gwin