Girls Scouts Seeking Women of Distinction

Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York seeking Women of Distinction Nominations

Queensbury, NY –Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York (GSNENY) is currently seeking nominations for the upcoming “Defy the Ordinary – Women of Distinction” awards event to be held in Saratoga. The awards will be presented on May 1, 2008, at the Saratoga Hotel & Conference Center and will recognize outstanding women from Northern Saratoga (north of Burnt Hills), Southern Hamilton (south of Indian Lake), Warren, Washington and Fulton Counties. Nominations will be accepted until Nov. 30.

This year’s awards will recognize women for a variety of accomplishments, from career and personal achievements to outstanding community service and dedication to family and peers. An award will also be presented to an outstanding young woman under 21 who has made a significant impact in her community.

The “Defy the Ordinary – Women of Distinction” award categories include:

Distinguished Trailblazer (age 40 and over)
This category honors a woman who has Defied the Ordinary in her chosen field, “broken glass ceilings,” overcome and excelled under extreme challenges and demonstrated perseverance. She has been in her chosen field for more than 5 years and has demonstrated steady growth, exhibited leadership and fostered development of others.

Distinguished Junior Trailblazer (age 40 and under)This category honors a woman who has a proven track record of reaching ambitious or unconventional goals demonstrated by upward career mobility, steady growth and leadership skills. She is willing to take risks, inspires and motivates others.

Distinguished Personal Achievement (21 and over)This category honors a woman who is a risk taker in the non-traditional way to achieve an unconventional or ambitious goal outside the realm of volunteer activities or career endeavors. She is persistent in her efforts, remains focused and accepts challenges with confidence.

Distinguished Community Leader (age 21 and over)
This award will be given to a woman who has demonstrated outstanding contributions over a period of time to her community. She is a role model, community leader, mentor, or has broken new ground. She is an agent for change who has made a measurable difference to those around her.


Distinguished Leader of Tomorrow (under age 21)
This award will be presented to a young woman who has demonstrated outstanding leadership ability and has contributed to her school and community. She has spearheaded a project or program to improve quality of life.

Those wishing to nominate someone should complete a nomination form, which can be downloaded at http://www.gsneny.org/events/index.asp or requested by calling GSNENY’s Queensbury Service Center at 792-0947. Forms are also available at the Queensbury Service Center, located at 213 Meadowbrook Road. A 250-word essay stating why the nominee should receive the award should also accompany the completed form. Both documents should be mailed by Nov. 30 to:

Defy the Ordinary – Women of Distinction
Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York
Queensbury Service Center
213 Meadowbrook Road
Queensbury, NY 12804

About the Event:

The Defy the Ordinary - Women of Distinction event is hosted by GSNENY in three locations throughout the Council’s 16-county jurisdiction: Lake Placid (Nov. 2, 2007), Saratoga (March 6, 2008) and Scotia (May 1, 2008). The event serves as a fundraiser for Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York, with proceeds supporting girl programs, volunteer recruitment and training.

For more information regarding the Defy the Ordinary - Women of Distinction event, or to request a nomination form, please contact Tammy Quackenbush, Events & Community Cultivation Specialist, at 518-489-8110 x 105 or tquackenbush@gsneny.org.

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About Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York
Girl Scouts “builds girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place” and has served local girls since 1916. Nearly one of every eight girls between 5-17 years old is a Girl Scout, gaining access to leadership and team building skills, career skills and exploration, and character building with the guidance of caring adult role models. The Council recruits and trains adult volunteers, delivers special programs, provides outdoor education and camping and administers Girl Scouting. Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York was created from the union of four Girl Scout Councils: Hudson Valley, Mohawk Pathways, Adirondack, and North Country. The newly-created Council serves over 14,500 girls in Albany, Clinton, Columbia, Greene, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Montgomery, Hamilton, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Warren and Washington Counties and a portion of St. Lawrence County.