Girl Scouts will honor county emergency director

When the CSRA Girl Scouts announced their annual list for the Women of Excellence, one of Columbia County's most influential leaders was among them.

Columbia County Emergency Services Director Pam Tucker was named the Girl Scout Woman of Excellence for the government division.

"With Women of Excellence we are recognizing the outstanding women who personify the ideals of the Girl Scout program," said Girl Scouts Director of Communications and Marketing Susan Simmons.

"Our mission is to inspire girls with character, conduct and patriotism so they can become successful people. Through Women of Excellence we recognize women who have become successful and provide a role model of achievement."

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Tucker said the honor was especially poignant coming on the heels of her 25th anniversary in emergency services.

"It's not about getting this award for something you've recently done. It is for years and years of achievement," Tucker said. "It's not about doing something really spectacular one time in your career. It's about consistently doing things of high achievement and benefiting the community."

An April 30 luncheon will honor each of the nine women recognized by the Girl Scouts.

Other honorees include Evelyn Ellis for arts, Pat Knox for arts, Cheryl Cheek for business, Edythe Diamond for community service, Betty Ryberg for community service, Elizabeth House for education, Betty Wray for health and Elizabeth Kemple Adams for profession.

Each of the women were chosen by a nine-person nominating committee.

In the 15 years CSRA Girl Scouts has been recognizing Women of Excellence, more than 100 women have been selected for the honor.

"It's not a contest where someone wins. It recognizes achievements of the individual women in the past," Simmons said.

"This isn't a prize that they're given. It's something they've already earned. It's a recognition of what they've already accomplished," she said.

Tucker said she was very pleased and felt like it was a real vote of confidence when she found out County Administrator Steve Szablewski was the one who originally nominated her for the 2003 Women of Excellence award.

"I'm a hard working girl and I think everybody who knows me knows that," Tucker said. "I put a lot into my job. It's always been about helping somebody."