Achievers

Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas is proud to announce the three exceptional women and amazing Girl Scout who will be honored at the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas’ upcoming Real Girls Real Women Awards Luncheon, sponsored by Frito-Lay, on Sept. 18 at the Willow Brook Country Club: Julia Arnold, Barbara Bass, Judge Judith Guthrie and Jane McElmurry. Their community involvement illustrates their commitment to girls’ and women’s issues and demonstrates their considerable leadership skills.

Real Girl Honoree Julia Arnold is a junior at Robert E. Lee High School where she excels in student leadership as well as academically. She will soon receive the highest award in Girl Scouting – the Girl Scout Gold Award.

Julia’s Girl Scout Gold Award project was sustaining a kids’ backpack program at the East Texas Food Bank, where she continues to volunteer even though her Girl Scout Gold Award project was completed some time ago. Each Friday Julia sorts and loads backpacks full of nutritious foods for the 35 children who are ongoing clients of ADAPT.

Julia is also very active at her church and is currently working on choosing a college to attend and plans to dedicate part of her summer to a mission trip to Guatemala.

Real Woman Honoree Mayor Barbara Bass is a passionate volunteer who easily grasps the vision of our community organizations and was recently sworn in as the first female mayor of Tyler. Barbara is a Certified Public Accountant and Shareholder/Partner with Gollob, Morgan, Peddy & Co., P.C., Certified Public Accountants. With more than 30 years experience Barbara’s primary areas of practice are in tax, accounting, and consulting for small businesses and their owners.

Barbara has received service awards from the East Texas Chapter of CPAs and Texas Society of CPAs for her work as a professional volunteer. Her compassion is revealed through her involvement with a host of local organizations — such as Hospice of East Texas, Pollard United Methodist Church, Tyler Economic Development Council, Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce, Better Business Bureau of Central East Texas, Leadership Tyler, Zonta Club of Tyler, Tyler Executive Women’s Network, and Tyler Chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants — which mirrors the Girl Scout mission to “make the world a better place.”

Real Woman Honoree Judge Judith Guthrie is the United States Magistrate Judge and presides over civil and criminal cases in the federal court for the Eastern District of Texas. Judith has accomplished much — both professionally and in our community — including becoming the first woman to lobby at the Texas Legislature on behalf of business interests. Judith is currently an active member of several bar associations and professional organizations, serves on the boards of Leadership Texas and Habitat for Humanities, and is a charter member of the Women’s Fund. She also serves every year on the planning committee for Women in Tyler. Judith is a friend to many nonprofit organizations in Smith County and is an amazing role model for our Girl Scouts.

Real Woman Jane McElmurry has more than 50 years of Girl Scout experience. She and her twin sister Jean were Girl Scouts in Jacksonville in the 1940s.

Jane began serving as a Girl Scout Troop Leader in 1966 for her two daughters. After her daughters entered college Jane became an Administrative Team Volunteer and later served as the Cookie Program Chairman, Registrar, and practically every administrative volunteer position available. Most recently, Jane became an Assistant Girl Scout Troop Leader for her granddaughters’ Girl Scout Troop.

Three generations of Girl Scouts prevail in the McElmurry family under the matriarchal leadership of Jane.

The Real Girls Real Women Awards Luncheon will also feature Judge Carole Clark of the 321st District Court as the keynote speaker and Mistress of Ceremonies will be Jillian Sheridan, KLTV evening news anchor. This year’s sponsors to date are Arp State Bank, Gollob, Morgan, Peddy & Company, Oncor Electric Delivery, and ETMC. For sponsorship opportunities or to purchase tickets ($35 per person) contact Joyce Brown at 903-526-2007 or jbrown@gsnetx.org.

Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas: Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place. Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas serves nearly 42,000 girls and 15,000 adults in 32 northeast Texas counties.

Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas Real Women honorees are (from left) Judge Judith Guthrie, Barbara Bass, Julia Arnold (Real Girl) and Jane McElmurry.
(Courtesy Photo)