By Catherine Amoriello
Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania (GSHPA) is excited to officially announce its Virtual Volunteer Conference (VVC) speaker lineup!
The third annual VVC will be held Nov. 5 and will feature three different tracks geared toward Service Units, troop leaders, and girls. Each track will take a deeper dive into a multitude of topics led by guest speakers. And additionally, for the first time ever, there will be an all-girl panel so volunteers and girls can learn more about the Girl Scout experience from the best possible source – our Girl Scouts!
Get ready for this information-packed event by learning more about our guest speakers below.
Becca Zelner
Becca lives in New Cumberland, Pa., in Cumberland County. She serves as a lobbyist at Greenlee Partners, LLC. Becca will be speaking to the topic of mental health under the girl track and will cover information related to the difficulty of mental health in young women and how to overcome barriers, as well as self-care and how to express emotions revolving around mental health. Becca is a former Girl Scout and participated for eight years as a girl. During her Girl Scout journey, she received the Bronze Award for creating a community garden with her troop.
Belinda S. Stefl
Belinda lives in Milton, Pa., in Northumberland County. She is a retired graphic designer who worked for Geisinger and the Times Leader newspaper. Belinda will be speaking to the topic of planning events for Service Units under the Service Unit track and will cover information related to event planning, utilizing resources available in one’s own community to host events, and identifying individuals who are willing to share their skills and volunteer for Girl Scouts. Belinda currently provides special event support for multiple Service Units. She has been volunteering for Girl Scouts since 1979 and has received several recognitions, including the Thanks Badge, for her dedication to building girls of courage, confidence, and character. Belinda is a former Girl Scout and began as a Brownie in 1966 and has been involved with the organization since. During her Girl Scout journey, she received the First Class award in 1973, now known as the Gold Award.
Carissa Burgett
Carissa lives in Shippensburg, Pa., in Cumberland County. She serves as assistant to the president and board administrator at the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry. Carissa will be speaking to the topic of new troops under the troop leader track and will cover information related to getting past first-year hurdles, building relationships with Service Units and other leaders, using available technology and processes to stay organized, and leveraging personal strengths to build and lead a troop with courage. Carissa served as a troop leader for five years, and is a former Girl Scout and participated for five years as a girl.
Caroline Ross
Caroline lives in Selinsgrove, Pa., in Snyder County. She serves as a therapist at Susquehanna University within the Office of Counseling and Psychological Services. Caroline will be speaking to the topic of supporting a friend through mental health issues under the girl track and will cover information related to learning how not only to support yourself, but how to support loved ones through trying times. Caroline served as GSHPA’s community initiatives coordinator and initiated the Girl Scouts Beyond Bars program (now defunct) at SCI Muncy. Caroline is a former Girl Scout and participated as a Daisy and Brownie when she was a girl.
Erica Koup Logsdon
Erica lives in Harrisburg, Pa., in Dauphin County. She serves as a self-employed marketing strategist and is Mrs. Harrisburg Pennsylvania 2022. Erica will be the moderator for the girl panel. Erica is a former Girl Scout and participated for 18 years as a girl. During her Girl Scout journey, she received her Silver and Gold Awards.
Faith Hall
Faith lives in Zionsville, Ind. She serves as cookie program consultant at Hearthside-ABC. Faith will be making a special presentation on ABC Bakers, GSHPA’s new Girl Scout Cookie baker. She will take attendees on a deep dive into the cookie line-up, discuss the new cookie for the 2023 season, and unveil the cookie theme and mascot. Faith is in her second year as a lifetime member of Girl Scouts. She also participated as a girl for three years as a Daisy and Brownie on Grissom Air Force Base in Indiana.
Jennifer Betts, Psy. D.
Jennifer lives in Plains, Pa., in Luzerne County. She serves as clinical director and psychologist at Evergreen Behavioral Intervention for Children and as a psychologist-evaluator for the IMA Group. Jennifer will be speaking to the topic of girl behavior management at troop meetings under the troop leader track and will cover information related to positive ways to prevent problem behaviors, intervention methods for problem behaviors, and focusing on girls’ strengths and troop retention. Jennifer is currently a troop leader for Service Unit 331 and is involved with a sister Junior troop. She has been volunteering for Girl Scouts for seven years and received the Volunteer Appreciation Award in 2021 for her dedication to building girls of courage, confidence, and character. She has also served as a Service Unit Delegate in the past and is currently an alternate Service Unit Delegate. Jennifer is a former Girl Scout and participated as a Brownie and Junior.
Jen Zarko
Jen lives in Elysburg, Pa., in Northumberland County. She serves as a GME program manager at Geisinger Medical Center. Jen will be speaking to the topic of safe zones for older girls under the troop leader track and will cover information related to how to support LGBTQ girls to provide an inclusive experience for all girls in the troop; identifying types of discrimination and bullying LGBTQ teens often experience; and learning how to be an ally to the LGBTQ community. Jen is currently a troop leader for Troop 32922 and a Service Unit Leader for SU 303. She has been volunteering for Girl Scouts for six years. Her troop was nominated for a Columbia Montour Pride Community Award in 2022 for her troop’s Bronze Award work to increase resources at SCA Middle School for LGBTQ students.
Kathy Leight
Kathy lives in East Stroudsburg, Pa., in Monroe County. She is a retired health and education teacher and taught in the Pocono Mountain School District for 30 years. Kathy will be speaking to the topic of engaging volunteers in the Service Unit to provide assistance under the Service Unit track and will lead an open discussion on roles within the Service Unit. Kathy is a long-time Service Unit lead and a lifetime Girl Scout member. During her time as a Girl Scout volunteer she has been recognized as an outstanding leader and an outstanding volunteer for her dedication to building girls of courage, confidence, and character. She has also served as a Service Unit Delegate and a National Delegate. Kathy is a former Girl Scout and has been involved since she first began as a Brownie in second grade. During her Girl Scout journey, she received the First Class award, now known as the Gold Award.
Marianne S. Davis
Marianne lives in Scranton, Pa., in Lackawanna County. She serves as a life skills special education teacher at Commonwealth Charter Academy. Marianne will be speaking to the topic of disability inclusion under the troop leader track and will cover information related to addressing disability issues in troops and making every girl feel included in activities.
Michelle Fox
Michelle lives in York, Pa., in York County. She serves as development director at Olivia’s House: A Grief and Loss Center for Children. Fox will be speaking to the topic of guiding girls through loss under the troop leader track and will cover information related to supporting grieving children and facilitating healing through grief and loss education.
Sarah Baldwin-Monelli
Sarah serves as property and outdoor manager at Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania and works out of the Harrisburg headquarters in Dauphin County. Sarah will be speaking to the topic of new outdoor opportunities under the girl track and will cover information related to Trailblazer Troops, property updates, camp programs, and grant-funded programs. Sarah is a former Girl Scout and participated for three years as a girl.
Girl Panel Speaker – Brylea S.
Brylea lives in Lycoming County and is a member of Troop 60041. She is a Senior Girl Scout and has been in Girl Scouts for four years. Her Girl Scout interests and areas of expertise include Product Program and marketing. Brylea is a member of the S’mores Executive Club and is a Very Involved Camper (VIC). She served as a speaker at the National Product Program Conference in Hershey in May 2022 and will represent GSHPA as a National Delegate at the 56th annual Girl Scout Convention and National Council Session in Orlando, Fla. in July 2023.
Girl Panel Speaker – Josephine V.
Josephine lives in Centre County and is a member of Troop 40429. She is a Senior Girl Scout and has been in Girl Scouts for 10 years. Her Girl Scout interests and areas of expertise include travel and Girl Scout destination trips. Josephine is a member of the GSHPA 2023 Destination Committee, is a Bronze Award earner, and is on track to earn her Silver Award in November 2022.
Girl Panel Speaker – Lindsey R.
Lindsey lives in Cumberland County and was a member of Troop 11592. She is a former Girl Scout and was a girl member for 13 years and is in her first year as a lifetime member. Her Girl Scout interests and areas of expertise include Product Program, international travel, camp counseling, and serving as a girl delegate. During her time in Girl Scouts Lindsey was a Bronze and Silver Award earner, a National and Service Unit Delegate, a Very Involved Camper (VIC), and a member of the S’mores Executive Club.
Girl Panel Speaker – Sarah K.
Sarah lives in Lycoming County and is a member of Troop 60041. She is an Ambassador Girl Scout and has been in Girl Scouts for 13 years. Her Girl Scout interests and areas of expertise include the Very Involved Camper (VIC) program and serving as a troop leader for Daisy and Brownie Girl Scouts. Sarah is a member of the S’mores Executive Club and is a VIC.
For only $5 per person, don’t miss the opportunity to learn more from these knowledgeable speakers and register for the VVC today!
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