The recipients for the Thousand Island Girl Scout Council's seventh annual Women of Distinction awards today know well what it means to be a Girl Scout.

Coincidentally, Pauline A. Graveline, associate provost of academic affairs at SUNY Canton; Karen F. Richmond, executive director of the Children's Home of Jefferson County, and Catherine M. Moore, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County's nutrition and Fort Drum issues leader, all were involved in the Girl Scout program as young girls.

Council Director Jane G. Gendron said that a "woman of distinction" is a strong woman who has made several accomplishments or overcame a difficult incident in her professional, community and personal life.

"This year, very strong women were selected with very different accomplishments," she said.

The 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. awards ceremony will take place at the Ramada Inn, Route 3.

KAREN F. RICHMOND

Mrs. Richmond, who said she was the number one Girl Scout cookie seller in Palermo for three years when she was younger, said she is flattered to be recognized by the community and her peers.

"I'm lucky to get a career that complements my personality," she said.

She has worked at the Children's Home for 25 years, 11 of them as director. Mrs. Richmond was a bookkeeper when she started in 1983.

The Children's Home oversees about 30 children in its residential cottages, and serves more than 1,000 children in the community through various programs associated with the agency, such as Big Brothers Big Sisters.

"I just fell in love with what we did," Mrs. Richmond said. "I treat people how I'd treat my own children."

Mrs. Gendron said Mrs. Richmond received letters of support from various community members, encouraging the council to select her as a Woman of Distinction.

PAULINE A. GRAVELINE

Mrs. Graveline said she was taken by surprise when she learned she was selected as a Woman of Distinction.

"It's the kind of thing that makes you a little teary-eyed, knowing that people recognize what you are trying to do," she said. "They recognize how hard I work."

Mrs. Graveline, who started her Girl Scouts path as a Brownie and worked her way up the ranks, directs SUNY Canton's international initiative.

She visits higher education institutions worldwide to discuss the college's programs, in hopes of attracting students from other countries to the Canton campus or taking classes online.

The former Girl Scout leader said she has read some of the letters of support people submitted, and she appreciates the respect they have for her.

"A couple mention what a mentor and role model I am, and when you're in education, you can't help but to wish for any more than that," she said.

Mrs. Gendron said Mrs. Graveline, who has worked at SUNY Canton for 27 years, was one of two nominees from St. Lawrence County. Typically the Council tries to select a recipient from Jefferson, St. Lawrence and Lewis counties.

The women who weren't selected, she said, offered high accomplishments, but this year's honorees just had something special about them.

"Mrs. Graveline is another dedicated and caring individual in a field that's not dominated by women," she said.

CATHERINE M. MOORE

As a former Brownie and Girl Scout camper, Ms. Moore knows the importance of setting a good example for young girls.

As a registered dietitian with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County for the past 19 years, she teaches nutrition and how people can lead healthier lives through eating well.

"It's really our home breast-feeding support program that I'm proud of," Ms. Moore said. "It's also our focus on trying to bring local food growers into direct contact with consumers, so we support the farmers markets."

Mrs. Gendron said many people benefit from Ms. Moore's knowledge and expertise.

"She starts that education with individuals at a very young age and she mentors women and young children to try to achieve a sense of balance," Mrs. Gendron said.

Ms. Moore said being a leader and role model is a "weighty responsibility."

"Every person is a role model to who they are around," she said. "I'd hope that by addressing our day-to-day lives that we'd all be role models."

Ms. Moore, Mrs. Graveline and Mrs. Richmond will attend today's ceremony with their families.