Girl Scouts honor local volunteers

The Girl Scouts of Genesee Valley, Inc. (GSGV) honored outstanding volunteers at its Eleventh Annual Recognition Gala on April 25 at Waver's Party House, Paul Road, Rochester.

Michelle Higgins, of the East Genesee Service Unit who lives in Bergen, received a National Appreciation Pin for Outstanding Service. She has served as a troop leader for seven years, a service team member, a cookie kick-off committee member, a camporee committee member and a service unit adult recognition committee member. She has orchestrated a father/daughter fundraising dance for three years. Her troop helped with the town Easter Egg Hunt, sang at nursing homes and is working towards the Silver Award. She has also helped with mother/daughter and Basic 8 adult volunteer training.

Lori Nelson, of the East Genesee Service Unit who lives in Bergen, was presented with the Star Among Us Award. Nelson has been a Girl Scout troop leader for six years at the Daisy, Brownie and Junior age levels. She also serves Girl Scouting by volunteering at day camp and being a service unit Girl Scout delegate.

Her other community involvement includes helping her husband coordinate the Batavia Cub Scout Day Camp program for three years and assisting with other Boy Scouting activities. She has been very actively involved with elementary, middle and high schools in her area, organizing fundraisers and assisting with school musicals.

She serves on the Byron-Bergen Board of Education and Parent/Teacher Association. She was an original member of the Byron-Bergen School District's Master Plan committee and was chairperson of the Middle School Cooperative Planning Team for two years.

Nelson has also volunteered for the Vacation Bible School at Bergen Methodist Church for four years.

This year's President's Award went to the Brighton Service Unit, the Brockport Service Unit (which has received this award for six consecutive years), the East Genesee Service Unit, the Millwheel Service Unit (which serves Penfield), the Redwood Service Unit (which serves Gates-Chili, has received this award for five consecutive years), the Rush-Henrietta Service Unit and the Wincroft Service Unit. These service units met national criteria in the areas of training, diversity, communication, community contacts, troop/group girl retention, leader retention and timely reporting.