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| By Debbie Gardner PRIME Editor GREATER SPRINGFIELD Do you know a woman who has conquered the challenges of change with grace and creativity? Someone who has embraced the whirlwind of elements that engulf the shift of an organization, a company, even a job, as situations realign to meet new needs? The Girl Scouts would like to hear about her. Nominations are now being accepted for the Girl Scout's annual "Women of Distinction" awards, which will be presented on March 13 at the Log Cabin in Holyoke. This year's theme is "Champions of Change." The deadline to nominate a woman is Jan. 18. "We've had different categories over the years; some years we've recognized women in the arts, some years in the sciences," said Judith Bullock, spokesperson for the Women of Distinction selection committee. "Our council is undergoing a transformation now, and I think that's how we came to this theme." Bullock said the Pioneer Valley Girl Scout Council recently merged with the councils from the Berkshires and Worcetster to become the Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts (GSCWM). "There's so much change in the world it just seemed like a good category, champions of change," said Brenda Wolfe, special projects manager for GSCWM. Wolfe said six women will be chosen from among all the nominations submitted. A selection committee of 20 community leaders will determine which women will be recognized this year. "We have women in our community who are change agents and we recognize the positive changes that are a result of their vision, their hard work and their creativity," Bullock said, adding that these are the kind of women Girl Scouting believes will inspire the girls involved in scouting. Wolfe said the nomination form for this year's Champions of Change/Women of Distinction Awards is available on the Girl Scout Web site,www.gspv.org, either as a download or as an online submission. Those without Internet access can call the Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts office at 525-4124 to request that a form be either mailed or faxed to them. The Women of Distinction Awards was created by the Pioneer Valley Girl Scout Council in 1991. To date, 79 area women have been honored at the annual awards ceremonies. |