By Annabeth Miller, SMT Editor
A major change in professional leadership with Girl Scouting in the region has been announced by the Girl Scouts of Missouri Heartland.
The Girl Scout Council’s chief executive, Jennifer Orban, has resigned, effective Nov. 30, to pursue career paths “outside of Girl Scouting.”
Orban has led the council since it was formed by a merger of Cotton Boll and four other legacy councils in Missouri, Oklahoma and Kansas in 2008.
In its third year of existence, GSMH achieved record growth with an 18% increase in girl membership and a 1.4% increase in adult membership. Out of 112 councils, this positions Missouri Heartland third in overall membership growth across the country.
"Partnering with Jennifer during the past three years to develop a high performing council and board of directors has been a pleasure," said Tina Stillwell of Springfield, board chair. Stillwell notes that under Orban's leadership the council has laid the foundation for a successful 100th Anniversary Campaign and Celebration in 2012. On behalf of the board, I thank Jennifer for her advocacy for Girl Scouting and her service and dedication."
Stillwell reports an interim CEO will be appointed soon.
Girl Scouts of Missouri Heartland serves girls throughout southern Missouri – from the Mississippi River westward to include counties in Oklahoma and Kansas. The council headquarters is in Springfield, with service centers in Dexter, Cape Girardeau, Jefferson City and Joplin.
Photo Above: Jennifer Orban, CEO of the Girl Scouts of Missouri Heartland, at a regional meeting addressing area volunteer concerns in 2010. Orban announced Thursday she is leaving the Girl Scout council at the end of November. (SMT file photo by Annabeth Miller)
“I feel very strongly that the Supreme Court should hear the arguments against the health care law. Not only is this an issue of personal freedom, but it is also an issue of states’ rights,” Emerson said.
The 2009 law requires Americans to purchase health insurance and levies a penalty for not doing so. Furthermore, it restricts states from choosing to not participate in the individual mandate to carry insurance.
“A challenge to the constitutionality of this mandate is certainly in order. And it is not insignificant that a majority of U.S. states and the small business owners of our nation are bringing this lawsuit to the Supreme Court,” Emerson said. “The harshest effects of the law are going to be felt by small businesses and Americans who get health insurance through their employers. The individual mandate is the focus of this court challenge, but the law is full of hidden taxes and will prompt scores of extreme federal regulations.”
The lawsuit is sponsored by 26 states and the National Federation of Independent Businesses, who state that the entire law must be found unconstitutional if the individual mandate fails the Supreme Court test.
By Annabeth Miller, SMT Edtior
On Saturday evening, at the end of the Southeast Missouri All-District Choir concert, Malinda Mayo heard two words she had been hoping for, dreaming of, and was anxiously awaiting: Her name!
At the end of the All-District Choir presentation, the announcement of who has earned positions in the Missouri All-State Choir is traditionally a much-anticipated event. Earlier in the day juniors and seniors who have earned All-District honors have the opportunity to be judged once more – for All-State. And the announcement is a closely-held secret and a moment of great excitement and anticipation.
So Mayo stood there on the risers at Jackson High School. Waiting. Surrounded by other members of the junior-senior All-District Choir who were also vying for the 16 coveted spots. She was probably praying, nervous, maybe wringing her hands. Then she heard those two words little words she had been hoping to hear: “Malinda Mayo.”
Mayo is a senior at Dexter High School and is one just a handful of students from the Southeast District to be selected for Missouri All-State Choir. It is a goal the senior music student has been working toward since she was in the middle school and was member of the SEMO Junior High All-District Choir. She first saw this simple announcement ceremony as a young student and was inspired. Seeing the excitement, the thrill and the prestige given at the regional concert during the announcement each year has placed many students working on the path to earning All-State.
Mayo is one of four altos, and 16 total choral music students from the region to be selected. She will have the opportunity to travel in January to the Missouri Music Educators Association conference at Tan-Tar-A. There, she will join other All-State choral students from throughout the ShowMe State for two intense days of rehearsal and finally a concert before hundreds of music educators, parents and friends.
“Malinda has always been a very hard-working student and I think this honor is due in a great measure to her hard work and her willingness to go the extra mile in her vocal studies,” said MaryRuth Boone. Boone, who retired at Dexter High School in May, teaches music at Three Rivers College and is Mayo’s private vocal music teacher. “I am extremely proud of her. I think this honor will help her future endeavors in studying music at the collegiate level tremendously.”
Mayo is the daughter of Malisa and Roger Mayo and has been an active member of the DHS Choirs throughout high school. She plans to pursue a degree involving music in college, although she is a bit uncertain where she will be head after graduation from DHS this May.
She has won top honors in vocal solos and ensembles in school at the District and State contest level, and participates each year in both voice and piano in the Music Festival sponsored by the Missouri Federation of Music Clubs.
“The Missouri All-State choir is one of our nation’s finest All-State ensembles, said DHS choir director Jaime Sepulvado. "Achieving such an honor will be one of the highlights in any high school students singing career. Malinda will be among the best vocal students from all over the state.”
By Annabeth Miller, SMT Editor
The Bearcat Event Center in Dexter was filled with colors Friday morning – from the red in the wreath in front of the center’s stage, to the blue in the uniforms, to the white in the Navy and Marine Corps caps on stage. It was, indeed, a patriotic morning.
Several hundred area veterans and residents along with every student in the Dexter Public Schools filled the BEC as Dexter honored her sons and daughters who have served the nation in the armed forces.
Master of Ceremonies was Dexter Mayor Joe Weber, himself a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. The crowd was welcome to the BEC by Jenny Blattman, DHS Student Body President. The colors were presented with great precision by the Honor Guard from Boy Scout Troop 200; Lt. Col. Manlove called the veterans in attendance for the presentation of colors.
The DHS Band, under the direction of Scott Rybolt, played the National Anthem as those in attendance snapped to attention. Blattman returned to the podium to lead the crowd in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance – as elementary school students’ young voices said that familiar Pledge loud and strong. The Rev. Phil Warren offered the innovation.
The DHS Band performed and very moving arrangement of “America the Beautiful” and a medley of the songs of the branches of the military – Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. As each song was played, veterans stood for their service song.
This is the first year that the community’s annual Veterans Day Ceremony was held at the BEC. In years past the ceremony was held at the City Administration Building and a wreath was laid at the Sisler-Eskew-Parker Monument. This year, Delois Gales, representing the families of the three Dexter residents killed in the Vietnam War, presented the wreath that will be placed at the monument at the city building.
Speaker for the morning the MAJ. (Ret.) Roger Alsup – who is also known as Dr. Roger Alsup, assistant superintendent of Dexter schools. Alsup joined the Air Force after graduation from Dexter High School, and later joined the Missouri National Guard and served in Iraq and eventually retired with the rank of major.
A special part of the program was the announcement of the winner of the new Eighth Grade Essay Contest sponsored by the American Legion Auxilary. Mary Kate Miller was the winner, and she read her essay.
In addition the winners of the Fifth Grade Poster Contest were announced. Winners include Bradley Langston, Savas Jimenez, Candi Conner, Eric Hahn & Nate Gargas, Maycie Martin, Jerrica Porter, Rylee Allen and Maddie Jacques.
ShowMe Times Gallery
Veterans, today is your day! Happy Veterans Day!
Today Dexter will join communities throughout America in saying 'thank you' to veterans and pay tribute to generations of veterans for the service, sacrifice, and dedication to our nation.
At 9:30 this morning the community observance will be held at the Bearcat Event Center. This program is a new addition to the community's observance, will include all the students in Dexter schools, and takes the place of the tradition parade in Downtown Dexter.
The Missouri State Veterans Cemetery south of Bloomfield will hold its annual Veterans Day Program at 1 p.m. today on the cemetery grounds.
Guest speaker is Ross Gartman, president and founder of the non-profit Heroes Way Organization. Gartman's organization was founded in 2008 following the death of his friend and fellow soldier, Brad Skelton, in Baghdad, Iraq.
But why does this holiday land on November 11? The idea of honoring US soldiers in November reaches back to the First World War, though we didn't call it Veterans Day back then.
American troops made significant headway in 1918, rebuffing a German offensive along the western front and moving Allied forces deeper into enemy territory. By November, Germany had had enough. It agreed to a cease-fire, signing the official armistice . On the "eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month," as the saying goes, the world knew peace once again.
The "War to End All Wars" had ended. For the next 36 years, America remembered November 11 as Armistice Day.
However, as we all know, war broke out again in 1939. A new generation of Americans risked their lives in World War II and the Korean War. By 1954, the name Armistice Day didn't sound right anymore. The scope felt too narrow. So Congress swapped out "Armistice" in favor of a word that could honor all of America's veterans, and Veterans Day was born.
But remember Armistice Day this year. Why? For the first time, this holiday has landed on the eleventh day of the eleventh month – of the eleventh year. That's right, 11-11-11.
Friday, Nov. 11 is a Federal and Missouri State holiday, which means most government offices and area financial institutions will be closed Friday, Nov. 11 in observance of Veterans Day.
Dexter City administrative and department offices will be closed. There will be no bulk trash pick-up on Friday, and banks in town will be closed to mark the special day.
