Girl Scout Council Salutes Local Women

From the Gainesville Sun:

While Verna Jackson Johnson was not a Girl Scout or a troop leader like several fellow honorees for the Women Who Make a Difference award, she shares their sense of courage and call to service. And perhaps for Johnson, co-founder of Caring and Sharing Learning Charter School, her sense of confidence can be better described as humbleness.

On Wednesday, Johnson, along with Victoria Condor-Williams, Alachua County Sheriff Sadie Darnell, Margaret "Peg" Nattress, and Ellen Shapiro, were named the 2009 Women Who Make a Difference by the Girl Scouts of Gateway Council.

Each year the Gateway Council of Girl Scouts hosts the luncheon to honor local women whose careers and community service illustrate the values of the organization.

The Gateway Council began honoring local women in 1989. Women honored over the years include Ann Marie Rogers, Rosa Williams, Ester Tibbs, Mary Wise, Marilyn Tubb, Cynthia Chestnut, Pegeen Hanrahan and Kay Ayers.