Building front of the Mary Nichols Family Leadership Center. (Photos by David Faytinger).

The Mary Nichols’ Family Leadership Center was the scene for the Girl Scouts of Western Oklahoma’s ribbon cutting and open house.

Ceremony speakers included Shannon Evers, Linda Whittington, Polly and Larry Nichols and Mary Nichols. Mary Nichols told about her days as a Girl Scout leader and about her experience about going to Girl Scout Camp last year for a day. Polly talked about the great community people helping with the GS campaign and Larry said “Any project that makes my wife happy, honors my mother and helps a great organization in the community is an easy decision” (to support).

 Susie Booth provided food including mushroom caps, Mexican cheesecake, pecan delights. Gerbera daisies in glass vases were on the tables.

Among the guests were Karen and Rob Luke, Ann-Clore and Walt Duncan, Joan Maguire, Alice and Dr. Ken Whittington, Tracy Alford, LaDonna Meinders, Gene Rainbolt, Teresa Rose, Wendi Schurr, Dr. Gabriel Pardo, Rusty LaForge, Susan Hardy-Brooks, Annie Bohanon, Mike Turpen, Kyle Essmiller, Nancy Anthony, Dr. Kay Goebel, Holly Healy, Tom Brett, Sally Starling, Crystal Slater,and Susan Bohl.

 Crystal Slater, Mary Nichols, Linda Whittington, Shannon Evers were at the event.

Chairmen Anne Gray and Myrla Pierson greet guests as they arrive for the kickoff luncheon. (Photo by Helen Ford Wallace).

A group of dedicated women (many of them former Girl Scouts)  met in the Gaillaridia home of Linda Whittington to discuss plans for the 2013 Juliette Low Leadership Luncheon set for February 21st, 2013.  Myrla Pierson and Anne Gray are co-chairmen. Joan Maguire and LaDonna Meinders are honorary co-chairmen. 

Lunch was provided by Deep Fork Grill and hostesses provided mini-cupcakes with the Girl Scout insignia in icing. Party favors were small boxes of candy with the GS words of “Courage, Confidence and Character” printed on them.

Honorary chairmen told how they became involved with the Girl Scouts and committee members gave reports including Karen Keith, Renee Knox, Cindy Batt, Donna Lawrence, Ann Johnstone, Joan Maguire, Joan Gilmore, Julie Hall, Ann Cameron, Lindsay McIntyre.

Advisory committee members were introduced. They are  Ann Alspaugh, Annie Bohanon, Molly Boren, Anne-Clore Duncan, Christy Everest, Tricia Everest, Jose Freede, Kay Goebel, Dannie B. Hightower, Sarah Hogan, Karen Goebel Keith, Lou Kerr, Renee Knox, Lana Lopez, Karen Luke, Joan Maguire, Mary Nichols, Polly Nichols, Charlotte Richels, Meg Salyer, Jane Thompson and Linda Whittington.

Also introduced were Crystal Slater, Chief Development Officer and Shannon Evers, Chief Operating Officer. They reported about new events taking place in the Western Girl Scout organization.

The February 21st luncheon will be at the Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club. With a $250. membership to the Juliette Low Leadership Society, a luncheon ticket is provided. Barbara Pierce Bush and Jenna Bush Hager, twin daughters of Laura Bush and former president George W. Bush, will be guest speakers.

Ann Millerborg, Lela Sullivan, Ginny Dick, Ann Kruse were in Brownie Troop #5. (Photos by David Faytinger).

Eleven members of the # 5 Edgemere Brownie and Girl Scout Troop, 1947- 1953, met for a reunion in the home of Lela Sullivan. An “Honorary Brownie,” Nancy Baysinger, also attended and one member Kaye Fillmore could not be there but they talked to her via speaker phone.

Party favors and the centerpiece were boxes of Girl Scout cookies and Girl Scout bracelets and a Girl Scout Friendship Patch.

The women were from Washington D.C., Texas, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Colorado and California. They were Mary Vanmeter, Ann Henry, Margaret Queen, Carole Harrington, Kay Lynn Sturm, Diane Parker, Mary McMorris, Kaye Fillmore, Ann Millerborg, Ann Kruse, Ginny Dick and Lela Sullivan. The late Lois Stuart was the Brownie leader.

The lunch was catered by Kyle’s 1025 and were favorite foods from the former “Sleepy Hollow” menu. Carole Harrington brought brownies for dessert.

Mary VanMeter, Carole Harrington, Margaret Queen, Diane Parker enjoyed the luncheon.

Kay Lynn Sturm, Mary McMorris, Ann Henry were at the party.

Cathy Stackpole, Ann-Clore Duncan and Annie Bohanon talk about the Girl Scouts of Western Oklahoma on Parties Extra !

Hostess Annie Bohanon shows off a Brownie hat for honoree Sarah Hogan. (Photos by Helen Ford Wallace).

Annie Bohanon was hostess for a party to honor Sarah Hogan, honorary luncheon chairman of Juliette Low Leadership Society for the Girl Scouts.

The luncheon was at The Coach House the day before the actual Girl Scout luncheon.

Green vases and ribbons held white roses (green and white are GS colors) and the women took them home as party favors.

Annie awarded each person at the event a personal Girl Scout badge. Among them: Cathy Stackpole received the “Behind the scenes” badge; Karen Luke,  “I love Girl Scouts cookies” ; Jose Freede, “Visionary”  and  Dannie Bea Hightower,” Leadership” ; Lou Kerr, “Save the Planet”, and Mary Nichols, “Seniors Are Cool”.

Others at the party were Polly Nichols, Ann Alspaugh, Renee Knox, Karen Keith and Joan Gilmore.

Sarah received her GS hat and a tee shirt.

Jose Freede enjoys her GS badge.

Dannie Bea Hightower and Renee Knox were at the party.

Renee Knox and Joan Gilmore enjoy the conversation.

Cathy Stackpole, Dannie Bea Hightower, Jose Freede and Mary Nichols get their party favors.

Annie Bohanon and Sarah Hogan enjoy the party.

Liz Murray-”Homeless to Harvard” (Photo provided)

Liz Murray will be the speaker at the 2010 Juliette Low Leadership Society Luncheon in Oklahoma City on Feb. 18. at the Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club.

Murray’s story was told on Lifetime Television’s orginal movie “Homeless to Harvard.” It is her story of living with two drug addicted parents and how she was homeless at age 15, but finally went to Harvard on a scholarship. “Liz Murray’s story of the stuggles she faced in her young life in order to reach her goals is an inspirational story that we believe will encourage young people in Oklahoma City, especially the girls served by Girl Scouts in our community,” Linda Whittington, co-chairman of the luncheon said.

“We are looking forward to hearing her speak at the Juliette Low Leadership Society Luncheon, but are also grateful that she is taking additional time while she is in Oklahoma City to speak to local students. Providing opportunities to learn about leadership is what Girl Scouts of Western Oklahoma is all about, ” she added.

Whittington and Ann-Clore Duncan are chairmen. To purchase a ticket for the luncheon, go online at www.gswestok.org/jlls.

See a video message from Liz Murray which is also posted on the GS-West web site: Click here for… http://tinyurl.com/yfopjch

Karen Luke receives the president’s gavel from Pat Aaron. (Photos provided)

Karen Luke is the new board president of the Girl Scouts-Western Oklahoma. She was named at the annual meeting Jan. 16th. New members of the board were also announced.

Three special awards were given to longtime supporters of the Girl Scouts-Western Oklahoma: Jan Garrett, Oklahoma City; Deanne Hughes, Tulsa, and Mary Nichols, Oklahoma City.

Luke graduated from the University of Oklahoma. She served as the first director of Leadership Oklahoma City, Chairman of the OKC National Memorial Foundation and Junior League past president and is currently director of SSM Oklahoma/St. Anthony and Bone & Joint Hospitals and Allied Arts. She is on the Oklahoma City Board for BancFirst Oklahoma.

She has been honored by Downtown Now, Girl Scouts Red Lands Council Women of Distinction, Junior League International, Byliners Award, Phi Beta Kappa-Oklahoma City Chapter- and the Oklahoma Health Center Foundation.

She is also active with the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and the OU Institute for Breast Health and has worked with the Juliette Low Leadership Society for the Girl Scouts.

Jan Garrett, Mary Nichols and Deanne Hughes were presented special awards at the meeting.

This is a very precious Thanksgiving message from the Girl Scouts….we add our own message of  thank yous to those who make differences in our lives. HFW

This is the season of giving thanks to those who make a difference in our lives.

All of the staff at Girl Scouts-Western Oklahoma wants you to know how important you are to the organization and, most importantly, to the girls we all serve.

Without your dedication and support to the mission of building girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place, we would not be able to provide the leadership experience to thousands of girls in western Oklahoma.

Have a very happy Thanksgiving,
From the staff of Girl Scouts-Western Oklahoma

Karen Luke, Annie Bohanon, Cathy Stackpole and Meg Salyer were at the party in the Salyer home. (Photos by Helen Ford Wallace).

Annie Bohanon, Karen Luke and Meg Salyer honored Cathy Stackpole at a party in the Salyer home to celebrate her anniversary with the Girl Scouts of Western Oklahoma. She has been  the Chief Executive Officer for five years.

A beautiful appliquéd white tablecloth was on the table where tea sandwiches, cookies, brownies and cheese and fruit were served about with a special champagne drink.

Julie Nichols, Susan Young and Jim Dawson enjoy the afternoon in the home of Meg Salyer.

Crystal Slater and Connie Wanjohi were at the party.

Annie Bohanon and Koshia Silver discuss the Girl Scouts‘ Urban Campout.