Know How Much You are Appreciated
What begins with Girl Scouts speaking up at a troop meeting can go all the way to speaking in front of their city council for a cause they champion—and they will have your support to thank for that. Your volunteer role makes a powerful difference. Girl Scouts wouldn’t exist without volunteers like you. Your first step as a troop leader may lead to other volunteer opportunities once this year is over.
When you’re ready for more opportunities, be sure to let your council support team know how you’d like to be a part of Girl Scouts’ lives in the future—whether in the same position or in other, flexible ways. Are you ready to organize a series or event? Take a trip? Work with Girl Scouts at camp? Work with a troop as a yearlong volunteer? Share your skills at a council office, working behind the scenes? The possibilities are endless and can be tailored to fit your skills and interests.
GSUSA Adult Awards
1. The Volunteer of Excellence Award recognizes those volunteers who have contributed outstanding service while partnering directly with girls to implement the Girl Scout Leadership Experience through use of the national program portfolio or who have contributed outstanding service in support of the council’s mission delivery to girl and adult members.
2. The Appreciation Pin recognizes an individual’s exemplary service in support of delivering the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. This service, which has had measurable impact on one Service Unit, helps reach and surpass the mission-delivery goals in the area.
3. The Honor Pin recognizes an individual’s exemplary service in support of delivering the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, which has had measurable impact on two or more Service Units, allowing the council to reach and surpass its mission-delivery goals.
4. The Thanks Badge honors an individual whose ongoing commitment, leadership and service have had an exceptional, measurable impact on meeting the mission-delivery goals and priorities of the entire council or the entire Girl Scout movement.
5. The Thanks Badge II honors a previous Thanks Badge award recipient who has continued to provide exemplary service in a leadership role, resulting in a measurable impact that benefits the entire Girl Scout movement.
6. The President’s Award recognizes the efforts of a service-delivery team or committee whose exemplary service in support of delivering the Girl Scout Leadership Experience surpasses team goals and resulted in significant, measurable impact toward reaching the council’s overall goals.
Other Awards:
Service Units planning to recognize volunteers for Green Angel, Years of Membership, or Years of Volunteer Service are required to complete the appropriate order form found in GSMISTS Adult Recognitions Handbook. There is no charge for the pins if ordered by February 1.
Green Angel - Selected yearly by the Service Unit Director (SUD) or Service Unit Team and presented to one volunteer who has greatly assisted the Service Unit Team. This pin is presented at your service unit end of the year celebration and is accompanied by a certificate.
Years of Membership – Current members can be recognized for their total years of membership (girl and adult years combined, membership could be in multiple councils) in 5 year increments; 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, or more years. GSMISTS supplies Membership Numeral Guards to members beginning at 50 years who attend the annual Adult Recognition Ceremony.
Years of Volunteer Service - Volunteers to be recognized for years of active service in five-year increments; 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, or more years of adult volunteer service. Volunteers who have given five years of volunteer service or more (five-year increments) to Girl Scouts will be recognized at the Adult Recognition Ceremony.
All nomination packets, including letters of endorsement and supporting materials, are due annually on February 1. We recognize our volunteers at the Adult Recognition Ceremony, which is held in conjunction with our Annual Meeting in April.
More information can be found in the GSMISTS Adult Recognitions Handbook.
The GSMISTS Adult Recognition Committee is comprised of volunteers from throughout our council. Contact customercare@gsmists.org or call toll free 844-GSMISTS if interested in joining this committee or you have any questions on Adult Awards.
Volunteer Appreciation
Without our passionate and dedicated volunteers, there would be no Girl Scouting. That’s why we celebrate National Volunteer Month every April and turn up the party as we ring in National Girl Scout Leader’s Day on April 22.
Girl Scouts also celebrates National Volunteer Week, which falls during the third week of April. What can we say, we love our volunteers!
GSMISTS recognizes volunteers during our annual Adult Recognition Ceremony held in conjunction with GSMISTS Annual Meeting in April.
© Copyright 2009–2024 Girl Scouts of the United States of America. All rights reserved. All information and material contained in Girl Scouts’ Volunteer Essentials guide (“Material”) is provided by Girl Scouts of the United States of America (GSUSA) and is intended to be educational material solely to be used by Girl Scout volunteers and council staff. Reproduction, distribution, compiling, or creating derivative works of any portion of the Material or any use other than noncommercial uses as permitted by copyright law is prohibited, unless explicit, prior authorization by GSUSA in writing was granted. GSUSA reserves its exclusive right in its sole discretion to alter, limit, or discontinue the Material at any time without notice.
