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.

Mars Hill Student Earns Gold Award for Forgotten of India Project

Rachel, a senior at Mars Hill Bible School, recently earned the Girl Scout Gold Award for her project The Forgotten of India. Her project focused on the plight of widows and orphans in India. She gave presentations to raise awareness about the poverty, lack of education and culture that contribute to the problem. As part of her project, Rachel worked with the Jack Nelle Institute, whose work focuses on these issues. While working with the organization’s staff, Rachel identified several internal needs to make the Institute’s work more efficient and that would also broaden its reach. She designed marketing materials including a logo, letterhead and newsletter templates. She also designed and trained the staff on a database allowing them to track and evaluate the organization’s impact locally and in India. 

“I would like to see more people help India whether that be through an organization or not,” said Rachel. “I want to see a true passion and desire to help those less fortunate than us, and I hope I planted the seed to do this.”

“By earning the Girl Scout Gold Award,” said Trish Coghlan, chief executive officer of the Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama, “Rachel has become a community leader. Her accomplishments reflect leadership and citizenship skills that set her apart.”
The girl who goes for the Gold embraces challenges, achieves excellence, and works diligently to make the world a better place, in her own unique way. Her leadership, vision, and boundless energy is an inspiration to all Girl Scouts. Each girl earning her Gold Award demonstrates excellence through a leadership project totaling more than 65 hours. Girls who earn their Gold Award are also recognized by the President of the United States, the U.S. Congress, the U.S. Armed Services, state legislatures, colleges and universities for admission and scholarship opportunities, and the American Legion. Some universities and colleges offer scholarships unique to Gold Award recipients, and girls who enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces may receive advanced rank in recognition of their achievements. 

The Girl Scouts Gold Award represents the highest achievement in Girl Scouting; it recognizes girls in grades 9 through 12 who demonstrate extraordinary leadership through sustainable and measurable Take Action projects. Since 1916, girls have successfully answered the call to go gold, an act that indelibly marks them as accomplished members of their communities and the world. For more information about the Gold Award, visit girlscoutsnca.org/gogold.

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.

Dog Safety Project Earns Gold Award

Carron, a freshman at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and graduate of Sparkman High School, recently earned the Girl Scout Gold Award. Carron earned her Gold Award for her project The North Alabama Dog Safety Seminar. She organized a free seminar teaching families how to protect themselves from vicious dogs and how to be responsible dog owners. Experts including a veterinarian, K-9 unit police officer and an attorney gave demonstrations, passed out literature and talked about common issues such as spaying/neutering, dog health, dog bites/aggressiveness and dogs’ memories of past abuse/fear. Children could also take part in activities, including inflatables, games, prizes and face painting.

“The most successful aspect of my project was finding unique ways to get 160-180 children in attendance of all ages to stay engaged for about one and one-half hours thinking about dog safety, and empowering parents to make wise decisions when introducing a dog into the home…,” said Carron.

“By earning the Girl Scout Gold Award,” said Trish Coghlan, chief executive officer of the Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama, “Carron has become a community leader. Her accomplishments reflect leadership and citizenship skills that set her apart.”

The girl who goes for the Gold embraces challenges, achieves excellence, and works diligently to make the world a better place, in her own unique way. Her leadership, vision, and boundless energy is an inspiration to all Girl Scouts. Each girl earning her Gold Award demonstrates excellence through a leadership project totaling more than 65 hours. Girls who earn their Gold Award are also recognized by the President of the United States, the U.S. Congress, the U.S. Armed Services, state legislatures, colleges and universities for admission and scholarship opportunities, and the American Legion. Some universities and colleges offer scholarships unique to Gold Award recipients, and girls who enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces may receive advanced rank in recognition of their achievements.

The Girl Scout Gold Award represents the highest achievement in Girl Scouting; it recognizes girls in grades 9 through 12 who demonstrate extraordinary leadership through sustainable and measurable Take Action projects. Since 1916, girls have successfully answered the call to go gold, an act that indelibly marks them as accomplished members of their communities and the world. For more information about the Gold Award, visit girlscoutsnca.org/gogold.

Troop 993 Earns Silver Award

Thompson Middle School students and members of Girl Scout Troop 993 members Leah, Tabitha, Jamie and Sarah recently earned the Girl Scout Silver Award for their project Crafting and Snacking. Once a month for one year, the girls visited the elderly at Riverchase Village Nursing Home, teaching art and serving snacks. At the end of the project, the girls held a talent and art show, sang Christmas carols and presented the residents with a scrapbook of their time there. 

The Girl Scout Silver Award is the highest award a Girl Scout Cadette (grades 6-8) 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.

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.

Girl Scouts' Savannah Trip Coldest on Record

Girl Scout Troop 419 of Vestavia Hills traveled to Savannah, Ga., on President's Day weekend. They braved the cold city streets on one of the coldest days on record for the area. The day started with a special interest session where the girls met Troop 300 of Cary, N.C. “Come into my parlor,” the guide said, as the girls stepped back into the late 19th century. They had a lot of fun with their fellow Girl Scouts as they modeled dresses from the period inspired by Queen Victoria and played parlor games.

Afterwards, they trekked down River Walk’s brisk streets during lunch against gale force winds and sleet. “We loved the hot chocolate best on River Walk,” Girl Scout Sydney remarked. Another Girl Scout, Grace, said, “It burned my tongue, but it was worth it!” 

The group then walked back to Juliette Gordon Low’s birthplace for a special tour of her childhood home. Girl Scout Elena said, “I loved the furniture and how the rooms were set up!” Grace discovered that the spiral staircase was really steep, and Cameron noted that the garden outside was beautiful and well maintained. Elizabeth remarked how large the aloe plant was!

They spent the rest of the day touring Juliette’s town, and wandered into the Savannah Candy Kitchen for a tour. The pralines were scrumptious and Morgan especially enjoyed the homemade ice cream. Jane Margaret’s favorite part of the tour was when the tour guide told us they were going to make the troop leader, Laura, eat a baked cricket. Co-leader Dale  watched in disbelief as Laura devoured the bacon flavored nasty cricket! Eek!

They then hiked to dinner at the Pirates House, the oldest building in Savannah. There is where ghost stories are combined with a wonderful dining experience complete with pirates! We finished our day with a Ghost carriage tour where Girl Scout Lydia had some ghost stories of her own to share. 

After a good night’s rest, the girls braved the frigid Tybee River and kayaked several miles while earning the Coastal GA patch. All of the girls also earned the Polar Bear patch, as this was the coldest Savannah trip on record!

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.

Registration Open for Summer Camp

Summer camp is known for being a place to have fun outdoors, make new friends and create lifelong memories. But what children don’t realize is that summer camp provides so much more. They have five key opportunities at summer camp: encounter new challenges, experience success, develop leadership skills, improve self-esteem and build life skills. 

“Children who attend camp have shown improvements in leadership, peer relations and self-esteem,” said Trish Coghlan, chief executive office for the Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama. “Learning involves acquiring behaviors, skills, values and understandings that are not always academic in nature. They participate in activities that offer intentional opportunities to practice decision making and teamwork.”

“Girl Scout camps offer experiences for everyone, regardless if they are Girl Scouts or not,” said Coghlan. “Both camps even offer day camp programs to boys! Day camps are a great alternative to daycare.”

Camp Cottaquilla
Telephone: 256-295-9082 or 800-734-4541 x1902
Address: 2500 Cottaquilla Road, Anniston, AL 36207
Email: bgable@girlscoutsnca.org
Website: girlscoutsnca.org/camprocks
Ages: 5-17. Resident camps for girls only and day camp programs for girls and boys (ages 6-10), members and non-members
Start and End Dates: June 3 – August 2
Price Range: $125-$429 Camp Cottaquilla offers some very unique resident camp programs. Special sessions include a Cupcake Business, Me & My Duct Tape and, a week of Craft Wars or Myth Busters, both inspired by the popular TV show. There are also camps that let you travel to different states! There are even sessions where girls can bring their American Girl ® dolls and do activities with them! Of course, there’s always time for traditional camp activities of swimming, canoeing or archery. To learn what Camp Cottaquilla can offer your child, come to an open house on Saturday, March 16 from 2 to 4 PM. 

Kanawahala Program Center (KPC)
Telephone: 205-678-8843 or 800-734-4541 x1600
Address: 831 Girl Scout Road, Chelsea, AL 35043
Email: jking@girlscoutsnca.org
Website: girlscoutsnca.org/camprocks
Ages: 5-17. Resident camps for girls and day camp programs for girls and boys, members and non-members
Start and End Dates: May 28 – August 2
Price Ranges: $125-$350 KPC has a private lake perfect for week-long water sports sessions. KPC offers creative camps where girls practice cake-decorating skills, tie-dying clothes or making jewelry. Special camps include a Harry Potter-themed week, a photography week and a theater week. Girls also have opportunities to ride the zip line at night or solve a camp mystery in addition to traditional camp activities. KPC offers resident and day camps. To learn what KPC can offer your child, come to an open house on Sunday, March 10 from 2 to 4 PM. 

About GSNCA Camps
At Girl Scout camps, everyone experiences outdoor programs that build courage, confidence and character. Activities can include swimming, archery, boating, canoeing, crafts, games, hiking, horseback riding, archery, rock climbing and ropes courses. Everyone who comes to camp enjoys balanced meals with healthy choices. Camp Cottaquilla and Kanawahala Program Center are accredited by the American Camp Association. Both camps are available for outside groups to rent for family reunions, as well as church, civic or corporate group events.

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. 

Troop 31033 Earns Bronze Award

Glen Iris Elementary School student and member of Girl Scout Troop 31033 Ashanti recently earned the Girl Scout Bronze Award for her clothing drive project. Her troop was pen pals with another Girl Scout Troop in Staten Island, NY, an area affected by Hurricane Sandy, so she wanted to do something to help. She collected donations from her church and sent them to those who needed them. Ashanti plans on holding another drive later this year.


The Girl Scout Bronze Award is the highest award a Girl Scout Junior (fourth and fifth grades) 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.

Chelsea Intermediate Students Earn Bronze Award

Troop 764 members Arabella, Callie, Emily and Audrey, fourth graders at Chelsea Intermediate School, recently earned the Girl Scout Bronze Award for their recycling project. The girls taught other Girl Scout troops how to recycle common items in their homes, like turning an old T-shirt into a purse. The girls learned how easy it is to recycle and conserve energy.

The Girl Scout Bronze Award is the highest award a Girl Scout Junior (fourth and fifth grades) 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.

Girl Scout Daisy Honors Girl Scout Junior with Hair Donation

Girl Scouts often perform acts of courage and kindness without seeking badges or other recognition. 

Rachel, kindergartner and Girl Scout Daisy of Troop 968, donated two thick ponytails of her hair to Locks of Love, a non-profit organization that provides wigs for children who have lost hair due to medical treatments, in honor of fourth grade Girl Scout Junior Maddie in January. 

Maddie was diagnosed with lymphoma in late 2011 and she lost her hair to chemotherapy treatments. Maddie had the honor of cutting Rachel's hair. Both troops are led by Rachel's mother, Stacey.

Troop 47 Earns Bronze Award

Kayla, Caylee, Karissa and Skyler, fifth graders at Fayette Middle School and members of Girl Scout Troop 47, recently earned the Girl Scout Bronze Award for their project To Be a Helper in Our Community. The girls helped with several projects in their community, including organizing a daycare, cleaning a cemetery and neighborhood and helping an older Girl Scout earn her Gold Award by painting a bathroom at the city park.

The Girl Scout Bronze Award is the highest award a Girl Scout Junior (fourth and fifth grades) 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.

National Girl Scout Cookie Day Celebrates World's Largest Girl-Led Business

To celebrate the largest girl-led program in the world, Girl Scouts has named February 8 National Girl Scout Cookie Day. Girls will ask cookie fans everywhere to buy more boxes in honor of the real purpose of the $790-million cookie program, which is to teach girls five essential life skills: goal setting, decision making, money management, business ethics and people skills. 

“When it comes to skill building, statistics show the Girl Scout Cookie Program works,” states Trish Coghlan, chief executive officer of the Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama (GSNCA). “According to the Girl Scout Research Institute, 85 percent of Girl Scout “cookie entrepreneurs” learn money management by developing budgets, taking cookie orders, and handling customers’ money. Eighty-three percent build business ethics; 80 percent learn goal setting; 77 percent improve decision making; and 75 percent develop people skills.”

All the revenue earned—every penny after paying the baker—stays with GSNCA. Councils use cookie revenue to supply essential services to troops, groups and girls, such as providing program resources and communication support, training adult volunteers and conducting events. As part of their experience in any Girl Scout product sale program, girls can earn official Girl Scout awards at every level of Girl Scouting, including cookie and financial literacy badges and the annual Cookie Activity Pin.

To help customers buy cookies on National Girl Scout Cookie Day, Kristen and Kaitlyn Gurosky, 12-year old Girl Scout Cadettes in GSNCA’s area, suggest the following tips:

1. Say hi. “Hello” and a smile gets everything off on the right foot! It builds our confidence and is basically the start of the greatest conversation ever. 
2. Look me in the eye. Some of us may seem a little shy, but that’s just because we don’t know you yet. It’s not easy talking to people you don’t know or asking people to trust you—but that’s what we’re learning to do. 
3. Let me know if you’re a Girl Scout. There are a lot of Girl Scouts out there. So tell us how being a Girl Scout has helped you become who you are. It means a lot to us, seeing what we can become. 
4. Please don’t call us cute. We know we’re cute, but selling cookies is real! We’re learning how to run a business. We want you to buy cookies because you want them and respect what we’re learning. We’re running the largest girl-led business in the world. That’s not cute. That’s incredible. 
5. Ask about our inventory. You probably have a favorite (we sure do), but we have a lot of cookies to tell you about. It’s our responsibility to explain what we have and then make sure you get exactly what you ordered so you are a satisfied customer.
6. Ask where the money goes. We decide where our money goes. It’s amazing to see all the great things we can do with what we earn. Some groups use the proceeds to go on new adventures, to new places, or to support causes they care about. We are hoping to go to Savannah, GA with our proceeds!
7. Let’s talk money. When you hand us money, it’s about more than making change. We learn how to set up a budget and track money, and how money can do a lot of good in the world.
8. Ask us why we’re Girl Scouts. Everyone joins for a different reason, but we all make great friends and accomplish things we wouldn’t otherwise. Our leadership awards and skill-building badges prove it. We learn that we can do anything. 
9. Let us know how we did. Selling cookies is hard work, and it’s a new thing for a lot of us. Feedback helps us get better and grow into leaders. 

“We’re challenging everyone who buys cookies on February 8 to share it on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook and use the hashtag phrase #onemorebox,” shared Hilary Perry, director of communications and advocacy for GSNCA. “We hope to educate customers that it’s more than just handing Girl Scouts money for a box—or four—of cookies. It’s about helping girls learn how to reach their full potential.”

For more information about National Girl Scout Cookie Day, contact Hilary Perry at hperry@girlscoutsnca.org.

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.