Volunteer Spotlight: Meet Valerie Jones

Valerie Jones has been a Girl Scout troop leader for about eight years. She has been a troop leader for Daisies, Juniors and Cadettes, and she has served on the 100th Anniversary Taskforce and as a national council delegate and adult trainer. Through her experiences, she has seen the positive impact the Girl Scout Movement has had on the girls she has led.

“I believe Girl Scout is for all girls and women, young and old. We foster self-worth and leadership skills, while giving the support needed to be successful,” she says. “We teach our smallest Daisies to make friends, be helpful and explore the world around them. We teach our oldest Ambassadors to stand for what is right, to make good decisions and become the leaders that will forever change the world. It is very fulfilling to be a part of an organization that has such a positive impact on girls and women.”

Valerie says that being a Girl Scout volunteer is one of the most rewarding and best decisions anyone can make. As an adult volunteer, she has had the opportunity to experience things that would not have been possible otherwise.

Because of her involvement with Girl Scouting, she has slept in total darkness deep inside a cave, worked in a soup kitchen, camped with Native Americans and dances in their pow wow, seen the White House’s Oval Office, survived in the wilderness, cried with girls at the Vietnam Wall, cooked biscuits in a cardboard box, flown down a zip line, learned to ice skate, rafted whitewater, made friends from around the world and more. 

Valerie’s own daughter became old enough to join Girl Scouts about three years ago, something her daughter had been waiting on for quite some time. Since then, she has been able to share in Valerie’s excitement and adventures, and Girl Scouting has become a special bond Valerie shares with her daughter.

“Though uniforms and handbooks have changed a bit since Juliette’s time, our guiding principles have remained the same,” she says. “We will continue to push forward by developing new programs, remaining current on the issues and keeping up with technological advances. All the while, we will raise our Girl Scout Sign, say our Promise and live by the Girl Scout Law.”   

Meet Margaret Morton, 2013 Woman of Distinction, Frances E. Couch Awardee

Margaret Morton has been the executive director of the Sylacauga Alliance for Family Enhancement, Inc. (SAFE) since 1997, and she is the president of the Alabama Network of Family Resource Centers. Under her leadership, SAFE has grown to offer more than 25 programs in the areas of case management, job searching, parenting education, marriage and family relationship skills, family literacy, youth empowerment and more.

When the city of Sylacauga had to shut down public transportation because of the recent economic downturn, Morton reached an agreement with city officials that allowed SAFE to take over management of the transportation system so that families and others who depended on the system would be able to get to work. The transportation system is now in the black financially.

She is known nationwide as having the model family service center, and has presented at national conferences in Denver and San Francisco.

Morton serves on the boards of the Sylacauga Literacy Council, the Talladega County Community Improvement Foundation, the Alabama Partnership for Children and others. She is also involved in state government to support family services.

Morton has received Sylacauga’s Woman of Achievement Award; the Award for Outstanding Commitment to the Children and Families of Alabama; and the Talladega County Women Committee to Excellence Award-Professional Category.

Morton says she has learned many lessons through Girl Scouting and her work in the community. “I have learned that leadership is not about being in an executive leadership position; it’s about responsibility, discipline, preparedness, cooperation and partnership, problem solving, service and shared vision,” she says. “Leadership is about being a role model without intention, but by nature. It’s about a moral compass that drives every aspect of the choices you make and the way you live your life. It’s about determination and persistence. It’s about service; it’s about service to the ‘least of these.’ And most importantly it’s about service to God.”

Morton will be honored at the 2013 East-Central Women of Distinction luncheon on Friday, March 8. For more information, visit http://girlscoutsnca.org/wodeastcentral. 

Meet Judge Debra Goldstein, 2013 Woman of Distinction - Mildred Bell Johnson Awardee

Judge Debra Goldstein has been an administrative law judge for the Social Security Administration for the past 20 years. Before this position she was a trial attorney with the United States Department of Labor for 12 years. She is also an accomplished writer, and received an Independent Book Publisher (IPPY) Award for her mystery novel Maze in Blue, published in 2011. She has published numerous award-winning short stories and essays, as well as legal articles on sexual harassment, sex offender registration and notification, sex-based wage discrimination, mentoring, equal pay act and social security practice.

She currently serves on the YWCA board, the UAB Center for Metabolic Bone Disease Community Leadership Council, Alys Stephens advisory board, the American Heart Association Go Red for Women Executive advisory board and the Birmingham Bar Association Bulletin. In the past she has served on the executive board, board of directors and several committees for United Way of Central Alabama; as president, executive board member and program committee member of the Women’s Network; as social action vice president, administrative vice president and board member for Hadassah; as well as numerous other positions in the community.

Goldstein was a 2002 Woman of Distinction and was named one of the Birmingham Business Journal’s Top Ten Women in 2004. Her involvement with Girl Scouting began when she was Brownie as a girl. She has since served as a board member and troop leader.

With all of her accolades, Goldstein says her family is still her greatest sense of pride. “My children are my proudest accomplishment. Through them I see that whatever I have done, they have the capacity to go beyond,” she says.

The most valuable lesson she has learned from her service to the community is, “to be a good listener and to always try to leave something better than I found it.”

Goldstein will be honored a the 2013 East-Central Alabama Women of Distinction luncheon on Friday, March 8. For more information, visit http://girlscoutsnca.org/wodeastcentral. 

Meet Bonika Wilson, 2013 Woman of Distinction

Bonika Wilson is president and chief executive officer of Wilson Capital Management. Prior to this position, she was senior vice president with SunTrust Bank, a position she earned at age 30.

Wilson has supported women and minority-owned businesses throughout her career by giving free workshops on small business financing, financial management and business planning. She also consults women on motivating employees and maintaining work/life balance. She mentors teenage girls on college preparation, self-esteem, entrepreneurship and community service through the nonprofit I am My Brothers/Sisters Keeper.

She also serves on the boards of the YWCA of Central Alabama and others, in addition to her involvement with several organizations including the Leading Edge Institute and Court Appointed Special Advocates.

She received the 2009 Impact Award from George Washington University and has been featured in several magazines for her success and community involvement.

Wilson’s greatest accomplishment is balancing motherhood and successful entrepreneurship. She reveals her passion for mentoring: “Women have a special ability to nurture, support each other and celebrate success. There is an unbelievable synergy when you get women together who have shared interests, goals and passion-nothing is impossible!” She measures her success by how she plants seeds, and how the work she does today will impact those who came after her.

Wilson will be honored at the 2013 East-Central Alabama Women of Distinction luncheon on Friday, March 8. For more information, go to http://girlscoutsnca.org/wodeastcentral.

Meet Deborah Voltz, 2013 Woman of Distinction

Deborah Voltz has served as dean of UAB’s School of Education since 2011, becoming the first African American dean at UAB. Prior to her appointment, she was an associate professor at the school, has been the director of UAB’s Center for Urban Education and its Urban Education Project.

Voltz has collaborated on books, journal articles and other publications, and she has made presentations at several national conferences. She has spoken about teaching in urban classrooms, special education and learning diversity.

She was given Phi Delta Kappa’s Educator of the Year Award in 2010 and named an Unsung Hero in the Birmingham Times’ Trailblazers for the Next Generation in 2008.

“It is important to me to make a difference as I move through the journey of life. As an educator, you have the opportunity—or really, the responsibility—to make an impact in many young lives. These young people, throughout the course of their lives, go on to impact many, many others. Consequently, the influence of an educator can live on indefinitely,” Voltz says.

Voltz will be honored at the 2013 East-Central Women of Distinction luncheon on Friday, March 8. For more information, go to http://girlscoutsnca.org/wodeastcentral. 

Meet Joyce Spielberger, 2013 Woman of Distinction

Joyce Spielberger is executive director of Magic Moments, Inc., a wish-granting organization for children in Alabama. Her creativity, community building skills and compassion have increased the organization’s visibility among families, funders and volunteers. Before this position, she served as director of community relations and overseas programs for the Birmingham Jewish Federation for 11 years.

Spielberger has worked with the Israeli Consulate to the Southeast, the Anti-Defamation League American Israel Public Affairs Committee, American Israel Chamber of Commerce, the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to address societal issues.

She currently serves on the boards of directors of the YWCA of Central Alabama, the Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama, the Alabama Poverty Project, University of Alabama Hillel and MeetUP for Change.

Spielberger is passionate about serving her community. “The most valuable lesson I have learned through my service to the community is the importance of joining forces whenever possible,” she says. “In my years of communal service, I have met so many passionate people, all dedicated to the same goals of lifting our community, helping those in need and correcting social injustices. There is truly strength in numbers; the value and importance of combining forces and limited resources cannot be understated.”

Speilberger will be honored at the 2013 East-Central Alabama Women of Distinction luncheon on Friday, March 8. For more information, visit http://girlscoutsnca.org/wodeastcentral.

Meet Lori Snodgrass, 2013 Woman of Distinction

Lori Snodgrass is a partner at Deloitte & Touche LLP. When she assumed the position, she was one of only two women in Alabama authorized to lead an audit on publicly-traded companies.

Snodgrass is a member of the boards for Junior Achievement of Greater Birmingham and the Birmingham Girls’ Choir, where she serves as treasurer. She is a member of the professional advisory board for the Culverhouse School of Accountancy at the University of Alabama, and she and her husband are members of the Tocqueville Society of United Way of Central Alabama. She also serves on the Homewood Middle School Parent Teacher Organization board and is a Homewood High School band booster.

She is passionate about encouraging young women to pursue careers in math and science. She leads on-campus recruiting at the University of Alabama for her firm.

“I have learned how very important it is to serve as a mentor to young women, those in my community and church, and the younger female professionals in my firm. In my role as a mentor, I try to encourage young women to try new experiences to build confidence,” she says.

Snodgrass will be honored at the 2013 East-Central Women of Distinction luncheon on Friday, March 8. For more information, visit http://girlscoutsnca.org/wodeastcentral.

Meet Lisa Narrell-Mead, 2013 Woman of Distinction

Lisa Narrell-Mead began her professional career with a legal career in private practice. She then transitioned to the banking community, where she has worked for more than 20 years.

She serves on the junior board of the YWCA of Central Alabama, and on the boards of the Red Mountain Theatre Company, the American Heart Association and the Alabama Humanities Foundation, for which she helped to raise more than $50,000 at a fundraiser saluting Harper Lee’s classic To Kill a Mockingbird. Narrell-Mead was also chosen as a finalist for the Birmingham Business Journal’s Top Human Resources Executives Award and is an alumna of the Momentum Women’s Leadership Program.

Narrell-Mead received her bachelor of science in political science from Birmingham-Southern College and her juris doctorate from Emory University School of Law. She has a particular passion for giving back to her community, with an emphasis on issues affecting women and children.

Narrell-Mead will be honored at the 2013 East-Central Women of Distinction luncheon on March 8. For more information, go to http://girlscoutsnca.org/wodeastcentral.

Meet Suzan Smith Doidge, 2013 Woman of Distinction

Since 2008 Suzan Smith Doidge has served as executive director of the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce. Since then, she has grown the membership base, strengthened the board of directors and leadership, and improved events held to support local businesses. Under her leadership, Mountain Brook businesses have seen growing sales in spite of a tough economy, and sales tax revenues have increased.

Before working with the Chamber, Doidge was instrumental in bringing Southwest Airlines to Birmingham as the company’s marketing manager of its Birmingham office. She also worked with the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and was a social worker at Hillcrest Hospital.

In the community, Doige has served on the boards of Ronald McDonald House, the McWane Science Center and Childcare Resources. She has also been involved with City Stages, the Sidewalk Film Festival and Junior League of Birmingham, where she is a member and sustainer.

Her passion for community is evident in her professional life. “Community service gives you a sense of personal satisfaction that you have made a difference. Understanding community needs helps foster empathy and self-efficacy,” she says.

Doidge says being a working mom is her greatest accomplishment.

Doidge will be honored at the 2013 East-Central alabama Women of Distinction luncheon on March 8. For more information, visit http://girlscoutsnca.org/wodeastcentral.

Meet the Honorable Agnes Chappell, 2013 Woman of Distinction

Judge Agnes Chappell has served as senior trial referee for Jefferson Family Court and as municipal court judge for more than 30 years. Before this position, she was a partner with the law firm Brown, Chappell & Burrell for three years, and was the managing attorney with Birmingham Area Legal Services.

She presides over the domestic violence court, and has worked in the community to decrease the incidence of domestic violence. She has been a leader in The Women’s Fund’s program to reduce sex trafficking in our community, educating law enforcement officials and social workers so they recognize the signs of sex trafficking. She also developed the Purple Dress Campaign to educate teenagers about healthy relationships, in addition to her service to many other organizations in the area.

“The most valuable lessons I learned were perhaps through Girl Scouting; these are the lessons of courage and caring for others by trying to make the world a better place in which to live,” says Chappell.

Chappell will be honored at the 2013 East-Central Alabama Women of Distinction luncheon on Friday, March 8. For more information, visit http://girlscoutsnca.org/wodeastcentral.

Meet Anita Allcorn-Walker, 2013 Woman of Distinction

Anita Allcorn-Walker joined Alabama Power Company in 1990 as an internal auditor. She held positions of increasing responsibility associated with financial planning, finance, treasury, trust finance and budgeting. She has held the position of vice president and comptroller since 2010.

Allcorn-Walker is a member of the current class of the Momentum program, which focuses on empowering women to develop leadership skills that positively impact business, culture and politics in Alabama. Believing that mentoring is a requirement of leadership, she also mentors college students and young professional women, pointing them toward future success.

“One person can make a difference. If you look at all that needs to be accomplished in the community, you can become overwhelmed. Instead, take a look at one person at a time and see what their needs are. You as an individual can make a difference in that life, and that person can make a difference in someone else’s life. Before you know it, you have multiplied your impact in the community,” she says. Despite her success and involvement, Allcorn-Walker considers her two children to be her greatest accomplishment.

Allcorn-Walker will be honored at the 2013 East-Central Women of Distinction luncheon on March 8. For more information, go to http://girlscoutsnca.org/wodeastcentral. 

East-Central Women of Distinction 2013 to Be Recognized

The Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama will combine the east and central regions of its council for one Women of Distinction Luncheon on Friday, March 8, 2013, from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the Harbert Center in downtown Birmingham. This luncheon will recognize 10 outstanding women representing Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Chilton, Clay, Cleburne, Etowah, Jefferson, Randolph, St. Clair, Shelby, Talladega or Walker counties.

The Women of Distinction program pays tribute to women who have made special contributions to their community through civic, academic or professional involvement. 

Judge Debra H. Goldstein of Hoover, Admin Law Judge, Social Security Administration, will receive the 2013 Mildred Bell Johnson Lifetime Achievement Award. The award is given annually to a woman who has a prior affiliation with Girl Scouting and has made a lifelong contribution to her community by distinguishing herself through professional, community or humanitarian efforts. The Mildred Bell Johnson honoree serves as a role model for past, present and future Girl Scouts.

Margaret Morton of Sylacauga, Executive Director, Sylacauga Alliance for Family Enhancement, Inc.; President, Alabama Network of Family Resource Centers, will receive the 2013 Frances E. Couch Lifetime Achievement Award. This distinguished award honors an outstanding woman who embodies unselfish leadership, is committed to community service in East Alabama, and exemplifies the ideals of Girl Scouting. 

The 2013 Women of Distinction Honorees are:

• Anita Allcorn-Walker of Birmingham, Vice President & Comptroller, Alabama Power Company 
• The Honorable Agnes Chappell of Birmingham, Municipal Court Judge, The City of Birmingham 
• Suzan Smith Doidge of Mountain Brook, Executive Director, Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce 
• Lisa Narrell-Mead of Vestavia, Executive Vice President, Cadence Bank 
• Lori Snodgrass of Homewood, Partner, Deloitte & Touche, LLP 
• Joyce Spielberger of Birmingham, Executive Director, Magic Moments 
• Deborah L. Voltz, Ed.D., of Hoover, Dean, UAB School of Education 
• Bonika Wilson of Birmingham, President and CEO, Wilson Capital Management 

Proceeds from the East-Central Women of Distinction Luncheon provide direct support to Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama, which serves more than 15,000 girl members in 36 counties.

The presenting sponsor is Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama. For more information on reservations or sponsorships, please contact Kelly Connelly at 800-734-4541 x1030 or visit http://girlscoutsnca.org/wodeastcentral. Reservations to the luncheon are $60 for general admission and $45 for Girl Scout members.

Oxford Troop Learns About Aviation

Troop 20136 from Oxford met with Mr. Scott Schmick at the Talladega Airport and learned about planes and aviation, including things like the phonetic alphabet, call numbers and air currents.

Pictured: Kristyn, Anna, Justice, Jaelyn and Alexia.

Breanna Earns Silver Award

Breanna, a member of Troop 10053 in Fort Payne, earned her Silver Award by teaching Cub Scouts how to make a scrapbook during a day camp program last summer. Breanna worked with the Cub Scouts every day for a week, so the boys could share their camp experience with their families.

The Girl Scout Silver Award is the highest award a Girl Scout Cadette can earn. This award symbolizes a Girl Scout Cadette 's accomplishments in Girl Scouting and community activities as she matures and works to better her life and the lives of others.

Troop 1282 Earns Bronze Award

Troop 1282 members Annalyn, Claire, Taylor, Madison and Ashley from Hayden Middle School, and Caroline, homeschooled, recently earned their Bronze Award. The girls made and distributed collection boxes for Yellow Books in their community. Over a six-week period the girls were able to collect over 1,000 outdated Yellow Books and take them to a recycling center in Birmingham.

The Girl Scout Bronze Award is the highest award a Girl Scout Junior can earn. This award recognizes that a Girl Scout Junior has gained the leadership and planning skills required to follow through with a project that makes a positive difference in her community.

Vanessa, Jennifer Earn Bronze Award

Vanessa and Jennifer, students at Ruhama Junior High School and members of Troop 10053, recently earned their Bronze Awards for creating Halloween games to entertain babies and toddlers at last year’s Cub Haunted. The girls came up with the idea after they realized that some of the games at Cub Haunted were too scary for younger children.

The Girl Scout Bronze Award is the highest award a Girl Scout Junior can earn. This award recognizes that a Girl Scout Junior has gained the leadership and planning skills required to follow through with a project that makes a positive difference in her community.

Sarina, Katelyn Earn Bronze Award

Sarina and Katelyn, of Troop 20003 in Anniston, recently earned their Bronze Award after learning about the Girl Scout recruitment process. The girls made posters, displays, crafts and passed out flyers about the new Girl Scout year. The girls attended several recruiting events to talk to girls about joining the Movement. The girls said this project helped them learn confidence and how important it is to believe in yourself.

The Girl Scout Bronze Award is the highest award a Girl Scout Junior can earn. This award recognizes that a Girl Scout Junior has gained the leadership and planning skills required to follow through with a project that makes a positive difference in her community.

Mayor Presents Troop 20244 with 100th Anniversary Proclamation

Heflin Mayor Anna Berry presented members of troop 20244 in Cleburne County a proclamation acknowledging 100 years of Girl Scouting. The troop received the proclamation during their award and bridging ceremony at Heflin Baptist Church. The proclamation recognizes the success and influence Girl Scouting has had on the world, and declares 2012 as the “Year of the Girl”.

Troops Send Flags to U.S. Soldiers

On Tuesday, April 17th, 26 girls and adults from Girl Scout Junior Troop 20051 and Cadette/Senior Troop 20054 met at Jacksonville First United Methodist Church to fold 400 American flags and write messages to send to US soldiers serving in Afghanistan.

This project started last year as part of a Bronze Award leadership project for Junior Troop 20051. Stephanie Hurd, one of the troop co-leaders, got the idea from her father who was stationed in Afghanistan and received a pocket flag at a Marine checkpoint. The “Pocket Flag Project” was started over 10 years ago by a Boy Scout troop in Colorado. It provides a 2” x 3” folded flag for soldiers to carry in their pocket with a note of encouragement to remind them they have supporters at home. To date, the project has sent over 1.7 million flags to soldiers serving on the front lines. As part of their Bronze Award, the troop also learned how to be a model citizen and performed a flag ceremony at the Major Dwayne Williams Memorial in Jacksonville. 

Thanks to donations provided by the Bellsouth Pioneers, American Legion post in Piedmont, VFW post and VFW Auxiliary post in Anniston, 1,200 flags have been sent to active-duty soldiers in Bagram and Kandahar, Afghanistan by Troops 20051 and 20054. They would like to make this a continuous effort. For more information on this project, contact Stephanie Hurd at juniortroop51@yahoo.com.

Christen Earns Gold Award

Christen, a senior at Our Lady of Good Counsel and a member of Girl Scout troop 480, recently received her Girl Scout Gold Award for her St. Clair County Cemetery project.

Christen spent 75 hours collecting data to create a genealogy website for St. Clair County. Christen travelled all over the county taking pictures of each headstone and recording the information in a database that can be accessed by anyone interested in finding relatives or historical figures from the area. During a Merit Badge Day, Christen had the opportunity to teach some Boy Scouts about how to use the new website and talk about the importance of preserving local cemeteries and graveyards.

Christen is the daughter of Roger and Suzanne. She will attend Gadsden State Community College in the fall.