[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6730]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



           TRIBUTE TO GIRL SCOUT GOLD AWARD RECIPIENTS--2000

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                          HON. BERNARD SANDERS

                               of vermont

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 3, 2000

  Mr. SANDERS. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to salute six 
outstanding young women who are being presented with the Girl Scout 
Gold Award by the Vermont Girl Scout Council. They are:
  Kellie Miner, 619 Basin Harbor Road, Vergennes, VT 05491, Cassie 
Charlebois, PO Box 323, Vergennes, VT 05491, Catherine McEnerney, 39 
Boothwoods, Vergennes, VT 05491, Linnea Oosterman, 1074 Slatterly Road, 
Vergennes, VT 05491, Stephanie Leonard, 201 Sunset Drive, Morrisville, 
VT 05661, Rebecca Robare, 6 Giorgetti Blvd., Rutland, VT 05701.
  They are being honored on May 16, 2000 for earning the highest 
achievement in U.S. Girl Scouting.
  The Girl Scout Gold Award symbolizes outstanding accomplishments in 
the areas of leadership, community service, career planning and 
personal development. The award can be earned by girls aged 14-17, or 
in grades 9-12. To receive the award, these Girl Scouts first earned 
four interest project patches, the Career Exploration Pin, the Senior 
Girl Scout Leadership Award and the Senior Girl Scout Challenge as well 
as designing and implementing a Girl Scout Gold Award project to meet 
what they saw as a need in their community. A synopsis of Gold Award 
projects is provided here.
  Kellie Miner, Vergennes, VT is a musician with a gift for teaching 
youth. Kellie developed an after school music program teaching guitar 
and keyboards at her local elementary school with another Senior Girl 
Scout from her community. Kellie knows that musical education enhances 
children's ability to focus, to practice numerical and language skills 
and to feel a sense of success. Kellie served children from 
Kindergarten through sixth grade. Though the age range was a bit broad, 
she enjoyed teaching something she loves. She believes that her Girl 
Scout Gold Award Project will influence her to decide about a future as 
a high school choral director.
  Cassie Charlebois, Vergennes, VT was the song leader for the after 
school music program she developed with another Senior Girl Scout from 
her community. Cassie collaborated on the project with the hope of 
engaging children in the fun and sense of group cooperation that 
singing provides. Cassie taught music to younger children who had 
varying reading abilities through repetition and reinforcement with the 
words written out on a flip chart. She organized a closing concert and 
invited the community. Cassie feels her own personal growth was in 
discovering her success as a teacher and overcoming shyness. She knows 
that her project has reminded children of the importance of music in 
their lives.
  Katie McEnerney of Vergennes, VT is an artist. Her Gold Award Project 
was to collaborate with a fellow Senior Girl Scout to restore a 
playground structure at a local preschool. Katie first had to 
communicate with the school's administration to explain how the 
playground area could be improved. She selected a colorful rainbow 
theme, created the plans, and sketched the designs over the entire 
wooden structure inside and out. Katie was also concerned about the 
structure's stability and the over all safety of the playground. Her 
involvement in this Gold Award Project has been one that required 
careful planning, negotiating skills and a sense of timing so that the 
project would not inhibit the school schedule. Katie hopes to continue 
her skills through a career in the arts.
  Linnea Oosterman of Vergennes, VT is interested in art. Linnea chose 
to collaborate with a fellow Senior Girl Scout to restore a playground 
structure at a local preschool. Linnea contributed to the project by 
securing the necessary materials, painting the design created by her 
partner and helping to restore the safety of the playground by sanding 
and treating the wood before painting. She completed the project by 
building a sandbox around the base. Linnea was primarily concerned that 
the children have a fun, safe and colorful place to play. Linnea chose 
this project as a worthwhile activity that she hopes will improve the 
playspace and make her a better artist.
  Stephanie Leonard of Marrisville, VT is a musician who plays several 
instruments. In her community it is sometimes challenging for families 
to find adequate after school child care that is fun, accessible and 
safe. Stephanie developed an after school arts program for the Bishop 
Marshall Catholic School as part of their ongoing after school 
offerings. Stephanie incorporated both her musical talents and her 
interest in arts and crafts in the activities for the children. 
Stephanie enjoyed working with the children and found the collaboration 
with the existing after school program goals to blend well with her own 
vision of a fun experience for youth.
  Rebecca Robare of Rutland, VT is a multipl talented young woman. As a 
past member of our Board of Directors, Becky was personally involved in 
policy decisions at the Council. Becky chose her Gold Award Project to 
respond to what she felt was a lack of creative statewide offerings for 
older girls through the Vermont Girl Scout Council. This project was 
her attempt to create change on a programmatic level. Becky chose to 
host an event at the Fletcher Farm School for Arts and Crafts. She 
coordinated use of space for activities, meals, lodging and 
entertainment and collected her own registrations. Becky learned a 
great deal about her organizational abilities and how to effectively 
communicate with numerous players in hosting of this event. The success 
of the event was evident from the evaluations of girls in attendance.

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