Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) initiated the Women of Distinction in anticipation of the 90th anniversary of Girl Scouts in 2002. GSUSA asked Girl Scout councils around the country to identify women who live or work within their council’s jurisdiction and to recognize their distinguished achievement, excellence in their profession, and community leadership.
The Board of Director’s of the Thousand Islands Girl Scout Council made the decision to adopt the program from GSUSA and expand the areas of accomplishment to also include personal life. Currently the TIGSC looks at Professional life and the individual’s accomplishments, reputation and recognition by peers, credentials, innovation (pioneer infield, founder) and mentoring. In the area of community life we looks at the individual’s depth of involvement, breadth of involvement, lasting effort of work efforts, amount of people affected by efforts, role model/mentor and innovation (founder of organization or event). In the area of personal life we look at overcoming adversity, courage and dedication to family.
The TIGSC also choose to honor 3 women each year, one from each of the counties we serve, Jefferson, St. Lawrence and Lewis. We also chose to hold the event in the spring of each year. Nominations are solicited in January of each year and the honorees are announced in March.
The TIGSC’s inaugural event was held May 2002.
Our first Women of Distinction recipients: Elizabeth Brown Dede Scozzafava and Kim Pierce.
2003 awardees: Cindy Intschert, Ruth Garner, and Gertrude McDonald
2004 awardees: Cathy Pirscuk, Karen St. Hilaire, and Kathy Gillen
2005 awardees: Sharon Kelly, Charlene Austin, Annette Farrell
2006 awardees: Mary Danser, Kate Couch, Maxine Quigg, Sister Donna Franklin, Kathie Watson
This year The Thousand Islands Girl Scout Council Women of Distinction Luncheon was sponsored by Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield. Four Women of Distinction were honored this year:
Mary Morgan - Executive Director of Watertown Urban Mission is the recipient for Jefferson County
Charlotte Beagle - Town of Lowville Historian and Retired Educator is the recipient for Lewis County
Margaret Vining - Dean of Nursing (retired) SUNY Canton, Board Member of Canton-Potsdam Hospital Foundation and
Evelyn Riehl - Retired Educator and Girl Scout for more than 70 years are both recipients from St.Lawrence County.
