Women of Courage, Character and Confidence
Each year, Girl Scout Council of Colonial Coast honors a select group of women who have achieved success in their professional lives, supported
Girl Scouting and have worked to improve the lives of girls and women
in the community.
In a world that still presents barriers to a girl in developing her leadership qualities, the achievements of these women being honored today, and their high visibility, set a powerful example. Their successes are inspiring to girls, encouraging them to aim for excellence. That is what the Girl Scout Leadership Experience is about – helping each girl develop to her full potential and become a competent, resourceful woman.
 Meyera Oberndorf,
Mayor of Virginia Beach
1988—2008
2009 Recipient
As the 23rd mayor of the City of Virginia Beach, Meyera Oberndorf was the city’s first female and longest serving mayor,
from 1988 to 2008.
Throughout her term, she was an advocate for families and addressed issues they faced – adequate and safe housing, quality education and access to organizations that helped them with health needs. Her tireless efforts resulted in a thriving city that is rated among the top cities in the nation. Her focus on schools, cutting edge educational programs and top rated teachers for the City of Virginia Beach, has resulted in Virginia Beach becoming a model city for others in the state. For example, her efforts to increase higher education opportunities in the city sparked an economic development growth in the Princess Anne corridor where the center for higher education is located.
Oberndorf received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Old Dominion in 1964. The university honored her with its Distinguished Alumni Award in 1995 and an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree in 1998.
During her time in office, the city was recognized for a wide variety of achievements, including USA Weekends 2003 Best Place to Live; one of the five best managed cities in the country in 2000 by Governing Magazine; the number one city for women by Ladies Home Journal in 2002; the number 2 city for families by Child Magazine in 1999; and the 8th most efficiently run large city by the Reason Public Policy Institute in 2001.
Oberndorf was recognized by Newsweek magazine as one of the 25 Most Dynamic Mayors in the U.S. She was named Outstanding Woman of Virginia by the American Legion Auxiliary and the 1997 Newsmaker of the Year by Virginia Press Women. She was awarded the Women’s Achievement Award by the Zonta Club of Hampton Roads in 2002.
The Dorothy Barber Lifetime Achievement Award
The Dorothy Barber Lifetime Achievement Award honors a woman who has achieved success in her personal and professional life, contributed to her community and to the Girl Scout Council of Colonial Coast and is a role-model and mentor to other Girl Scouts. It is named after former Council president Dorothy Barber who served from 1993 to 1997, and is the highest adult award sponsored by the Girl Scout Council of Colonial Coast.
 Rowena Fullinwider,
Owner and President,
Rowena’s Inc., Norfolk, Virginia
2009 Recipient
Rowena Fullinwider has been a Girl Scout all her life. She started as a Brownie at the age of six. As a member of a military family, she saw the world and she experienced Girl Scouting in many places. She has made friends far and near and continues to do so as our Girl Scout ambassador. She’s a friend and advocate for many organizations and has worked to raise funds for education, hospitals, the arts, and Girl Scouts.
She accredits Girl Scouts with instilling important values that she believes helped her succeed as an entrepreneur.
She is the owner and president of Rowena’s Inc., a gourmet food business headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia. She distributes food nationwide and outside of the U.S.A. Her product line can be found in over 1,500 gourmet gift shops. While a Girl Scout leader and busy mom, she developed her business from home.
Rowena’s leadership skills were quickly recognized and she was asked to serve on the Council’s board. She would later become A Place for Girls Capital Campaign Chair. The kitchen at A Place for Girls is named in her honor.
Rowena continues to participate as a volunteer and advisor and speaks at numerous Girl Scout events and has helped launch leadership programs, such as Camp CEO.
She has been featured in Ladies Home Journal, Gourmet, Bon Appetite, Taste of Home, Redbook and Southern Living. She has appeared on The Food Network, 700 Club and PBS. She is the founding member of FLAV (Food and Libation Association of Virginia); served on the Board of Directors of the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce, and was voted Tidewater Woman Business Owner of the Year by the National Association
of Women Business Owners. |
