CELEBRATE!
Troop and Service Unit Recognitions
for Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont
2017-2018
Girl Scouting builds girls
of courage, confidence and character, who make the world
a better place.
31 College Place, Building C
Asheville, NC 28801 / Gastonia Service Center
156 S. South Street, Suite 201
Gastonia, NC 28052
Hickory Service Center
208 Union Square NW, Suite 101
Hickory, NC 28601 / Triad Service Center
8818 W. Market Street
Colfax, NC 27235
800.672.2148
Troop and Service Unit Recognitions
for Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont
Table of Contents
Thanking Girl Scout Volunteers ...... / 3How to Recognize Volunteers ...... / 4
Levels of Recognition ...... / 5
Types of Troop & Service Unit Awards ...... / 5
Awards at a Glance ...... / 6
Frequently Asked Questions ...... / 7
Adult Recognitions on Uniforms ...... / 8
Award Descriptions ...... / 9
Tips for Submitting Great Award Nominations ...... / 13
The Approval Process ...... / 14
Guidelines for Letter of Endorsement ...... / 15
Suggested Outline for Letter of Endorsement ...... / 16
Volunteer of Excellence Award Nomination Form ...... / 17
Membership Numeral Guard / Years of Service Award Request ...... / 19
Growing Green Award ...... / 20
A Leader for All Seasons Award ...... / 21
Shining Volunteer Award ...... / 23
Outstanding Troop and Troop of Excellence Award ...... / 25
Outstanding Troop Award Check List...... / 26
Troop of Excellence Award Check List ...... / 27
Reminders:
- Please consult your Service Unit Adult Recognitions Specialist or Volunteer Experience Manager/Membership Manager for assistance in the nomination process.
- Nomination forms may be completed by hand or in electronic format. (Visit for forms.)
- Nominations must be submitted with all required letters of endorsement attached.
- The Council Recognitions Committee will not accept nominations from a family member or member of the nominee’s household. Only ONE letter of endorsement will be accepted from a family member or member of the nominee’s household and the letters of endorsement must be written by someone other than the nominator.
- Nomination packets may be submitted by hand to your Volunteer Experience Manager/Membership Manager, regular mail, or electronically emailed to
“Volunteers are special people with a highly developed sense of responsibility. While pessimists and optimists argue whether a glass is half-empty or half-full, the volunteer sees a glass of water and starts looking for someone who might be thirsty.”
~Unknown
Thanking Girl Scout Volunteers
Saying thank you and showing appreciation is appropriate at any time of the year, wherever it is suitable to an individual or group that has contributed in any aspect of our organization. Any individual or group that has helped in making the Girl Scout experience good for girls is someone that is appreciated and should be thanked. The award nomination forms in this booklet are intended for formal recognition purposes. They are specifically for those adults who have volunteered at specific levels or for a specific project. Not all volunteers should be thanked with this type of recognition every year, but they should receive some type of recognition based on what they have proved or done. A simple “thank you” to someone that helped in the Girl Scout experience for girls can continue to build great partnerships and continue to strengthen the Girl Scout relationship.
Who should be recognized? Any adult who gives service to the girls or the Girl Scout organization including:
- Troop Leadership team
- Troop committee members
- Supportive and involved parents
- Group or Event coordinators
- Sponsors
- Service team members
- Special service adults
- Civic leaders
- Community organizations
- Members of the council’s board of directors
When should volunteers be recognized? Although we immediately think of annual meetings and board-approved recognition, there are many other appropriate times to keep in mind.
- Immediately after the service is rendered
- Juliette Low's Birthday, October 31
- World Thinking Day, February 22
- Girl Scout Birthday, March 12
- Leader's Day, April 22
- National Volunteer Week, April
- Bridging ceremonies
- Troop Courts of Awards
- Service unit meetings
- Service unit recognition events
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How to Recognize Volunteers
Below is ideas how to recognize adult volunteers who give outstanding service to Girl Scouting.
A few ideas include:
- Donation to the council in honor of the volunteer
- Present a framed photograph of the troop
- Make up a song in honor of the adult
- Create a scrapbook showing the adult's help with the troop
- Organize a party for the volunteers
- Make a thanks banner to place in the volunteer's yard
- Invite volunteer to a troop pot-luck or activity
- Write a complimentary letter to a supervisor, family or parent
- Develop a troop award to honor your volunteers
- Make a personalized sweatshirt, T-shirt, etc.
- Arrange community newspaper coverage of the volunteer's service
- Give them a "good deed” (rake their yard, wash their car, plant flowers, clean windows, etc.)
- Arrange phone calls from dignitaries to thank them
- Plant a tree in their honor
- Give fresh flower bouquets
- Send troop-baked goods or craft items
- Create a community display honoring Girl Scout volunteers
- Send an audio tape of the girls saying thank you
- Hold a special ceremony to invest the adult as a member of the troop
- Give a gift certificate
- Present an opening or closing ceremony at your sponsor's meeting
- Free babysitting from older girls
- Send girl-made thank you cards
- Present a Girl Scout gift or certificate from the council's shop
- Send birthday or holiday greetings made by the girls
- Hold a Court of Awards for your volunteers
- Plan a surprise party
- Write letters to the editor of the local newspaper about the volunteer's service
- Dedicate a song on the radio to the volunteer
- Thank the volunteer's family for sharing
- Involve religious or community leaders in recognizing the volunteers
Levels of Recognition
The ultimate responsibility for the Girl Scout movement rests with volunteers. Recognizing and expressing our thanks to them is one of the most important things we do. Saying thank you and showing appreciation is appropriate at any time of the year, any individual or group that has helped in making the Girl Scout experience good for girls is someone that is appreciated and should be thanked.
There are many ways to show our appreciation—from giving them a warm thank you to nominating an individual for a national award. Volunteers are enthusiastic only as long as they derive satisfaction from what they are doing. Part of this satisfaction can come from the recognition they receive for a job well done.
Troop Recognition – As the troop leadership team, it is important to remember and recognize the parents and others in the community who help make Girl Scouting a positive experience for girls. A small handmade gift,purchased gift or certificate of appreciation is alwaysgreatly appreciated by anyone.
Service Unit Recognition – It is important that service team personnel take the time to remember the troop leaders and other volunteers who have helped to make Girl Scouting successful in their communities. Many service units may hold special recognition opportunities for the members of their area. They may create special awards or hold a special ceremony or dinner for the volunteers of their area and so on.
Many service units appoint someone in their service unit or on their service team to coordinate recognition opportunities for their service unit. Often the Service Unit Recognitions Specialistwill:
- Coordinate a special leader recognition event or gift, especially around Leader/Volunteer Appreciation Day.
- Coordinate the nomination process for National and Council awards for the volunteers of their service unit.
- Keep the service team informed of special opportunities or experiences.
Council and National Recognition – The council has the responsibility to recognize all volunteers for the contributions they make to the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. A yearly event is planned to honor the recipients of the National and council board-approved awards. The awards for this event are based on National and council criteria and the nomination process is led and approved by volunteers. Please refer to the Board-Approved Awards found in the Board-Approved Adult Recognition Booklet on the council website, which includes the President’s Award, Appreciation Award, Honor Award, Thanks Badge Award, and Thanks Badge II Award.
Types of Troop & Service Unit Recognitions:
EARNED:National/GSUSA and Council/GSCP2P / NOMINATED:
National/GSUSA and Council/GSCP2P
- Membership Numeral Guard (GSUSA)
- Growing Green (GSCP2P)
- Years of Service Award (GSUSA)
- Volunteer of Excellence (GSUSA)
- Leader for All Seasons (GSCP2P)
- Outstanding Troop (GSCP2P)
- Troop of Excellence (GSCP2P)
- Shining Volunteer (GSCP2P)
AWARDS AT A GLANCE
Deadline Date / Presented at / Area Benefited by Service / Items Needed / Approved by**RECOGNITIONS AWARDED AT THE TROOP LEVEL
Leader for All Seasons / Sept 30 / Set by Troop/SU / Troop / Award Application / SURS & CRC
Outstanding Troop Award
NEW / May 15 / Set by Troop/SU / Troop/SU / Award Application / Troop & VEM/MM
Troop of Excellence Award
NEW / May 15 / Set by Troop/SU / Troop/SU / Award Application / Troop & VEM/MM
Shining Volunteer Award / 8 weeks prior to presentation / Set by Troop/SU / Troop / Award Application / Troop & CRC
RECOGNITIONS AWARDED AT THE SERVICE UNIT LEVEL
Membership Numeral Guard for 5 & 10years / Set by SU / SU Event / Troop/SU/Council / Request Form / SURS
Years of Service Award for 5 & 10years / Set by SU / SU Event / Troop/SU/Council / Request Form / SURS
Growing Green Award / Sept 30 / SU Event / Troop/SU/Council / Nomination form & One Endorsement / CRC
Volunteer of Excellence Award / 8 weeks prior to presentation / SU Event / Troop/SU/Council / Nomination Form & Two Endorsements / CRC
RECOGNITIONS AWARDED AT THE COUNCIL LEVEL
Membership Numeral Guard for 15, 20, 25, … / February 1 / Council Event / Troop/SU/Council / Request Form / CRC
Years of Service Award for 15, 20, 25, … / February 1 / Council Event / Troop/SU/Council / Request Form / CRC
President’s Award / February 1 / Council Event / SU Team / Award Application / ARTF
Appreciation Award / February 1 / Council Event / One or more SUs / Nomination Form & Two Endorsements / ARTF
Honor Award / February 1 / Council Event / Two or more SUs / Nomination Form & Three Endorsements / ARTF
Thanks Badge Award / February 1 / Council Event / Total Council or entire GS movement / Nomination Form & Four Endorsements / ARTF
Thanks Badge II Award / February 1 / Council Event / Thanks Badge recipient, total council or entire GS movement / Nomination Form & Four Endorsements / ARTF
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**SURS – ServiceUnit Recognitions Specialist
Service Team
**CRC – CouncilRecognitions Committee
**VEM/MM– Volunteer Experience Manager and or
Membership Manager
**ARTF – Adult Recognitions Task Force
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Frequently Asked Questions
About Troop and Service Unit Recognitions
What are troop awards?
Troop awards are those which the troop leader has obtained her/his Leadership License and has completed requirements with her/his troop members as set forth in the award application or to recognize significant support from other adult volunteers within the troop.
What are service unit awards?
Service unit awards are those formal awards designed by Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) or Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont (GSCP2P) to be used to recognize exemplary volunteer service that goes beyond what is expected in a volunteer role.
When should adult volunteer awards be used?
An effective recognition program is made up of informal and formal recognition. Informal adult volunteer awards recognition is intended to be used to honor or recognize annual service or good performance. Formal awards are to recognize exemplary service- not to recognize longevity. Nominate someone for a formal award when they have completed a project or year of service where they have made significant measurable contributions.
What is the difference between an earned award and a nominated award?
An earned award is recognition that an individual has completed the requirements to receive that award. The recipient completes their own application and submits it to service unit recognition specialists. Earned awards include the Membership Numeral Guard, Years of Service Award, and Leader for All Seasons, and Shining Volunteer Award. Under the Troop and Service Unit Awards umbrella, a nominated award includes the Growing Green Award (GSCP2P) and Volunteer of Excellence Award (GSUSA). The nominated awards also include the board-approved President’s Award, Appreciation Award, Honor Award, Thanks Badge Award and Thanks Badge II Award. Recipients of these awards have provided service beyond that expected of their position. A volunteer is nominated by her/his peers and at least one recognitions group must approve the nomination.
Who can apply for an EARNED Girl Scout award?
All registered Girl Scout volunteers may request and submit the appropriate application for each award if they have completed the requirements of that award. All registered Girl Scout volunteers may apply for the Membership Numeral Guard and Years of Service Award in 5-year increments.
Who can be nominated for a Girl Scout award?
Any registered adult member of Girl Scouts may be nominated for an award. In addition, nominees must be in good standing currently as well as during the time of service and follow all policies and procedures of the council. Nominees also must have completed the required learning for the position or have equivalent experience.
Who can nominate a volunteer for an award?
Any adult can nominate a registered adult Girl Scout volunteer for an award.
How are award pins and/or certificates distributed?
All awards will be distributed at a local event established by each service unit or another venue as determined by the nominator and/or award recipient. Council-level (board-approved) recognitions will be distributed at the adult recognition event held after the annual council meeting in the spring.
I should be receiving my 20 Years of Service pin this year. Do I need to do anything?
Annually, we e-mail an inquiry to our membership asking for those who qualify for 15+ years of service (and 15+ years of membership). Those who reply by February 1st are recognized at the council adult recognitions event in the spring.
How can I make sure the award is a surprise to the recipient?
Just inform the council recognitions committee if you want the award to remain secret to the nominee/recipient. Generally, all higher awards are treated this way. You may also mark on the nomination form to keep it secret from the nominee.
Can higher awards only be earned once during someone’s Girl Scout volunteer career?
Yes. One shift GSUSA is trying to make in the area of recognition is that volunteers receive these specific high awards for the contribution that they made (exemplary service) and NOT as a way to recognize the longevity of their service. As a movement, we have a large number of volunteers who continue to contribute for decades, which can lead to many outstanding contributions. The Adult Recognitions Task Forceand council recognitions committee will review each nomination very carefully to ensure that it effectively demonstrates that the applicant met the award criteria specific to the nomination. If you are not sure whether a formal award is appropriate ask yourself if you want to acknowledge the individual because they work hard, have a great attitude and/or have been volunteering a long time OR if you want to recognize specific contributions the individual made that resulted in measureable impact. If you answered that, you want to acknowledge hard work then an informal recognition is appropriate. If you answered that, you want to acknowledge specific measurable contributions then a formal award nomination would be appropriate.
Adult Recognitions on Uniforms
Adult uniforms are not required, but they are encouraged. The official uniform for adults is navy blue worn with a scarf and membership pins for women and a tie for men. Uniforms are easily seen in the Girls Guide to Girl Scouting for each grade level as well as GSUSA’s website at may purchase uniform pieces through each of the GSCP2P council shops.
Other hints:
- Check the current Girl Scout catalog for correct placement of pins, insignia, and recognitions on your uniform.
- Only Girl Scout insignia and recognitions (including GSCP2P awards) should be wore on an official Girl Scout uniform.
- The only insignia worn on the left chest or shoulder should be the GSUSA Membership pin, the World Trefoil pin, and, for adults, a position pin. Membership numerals are worn as a guard on the (wearer’s) right of the membership pin and may be worn in the same position on the green insignia tab.
- Adult council awards are wore on the right chest or shoulder of the adult uniforms.
- If an adult has received more than one special recognition (e.g., Appreciation Award pin), the last one received is generally the one worn on the uniform.
- Adults should not wear girl recognitions (badges, leadership awards, interest projects, etc.). Adults can wear unofficial participation patches for events and activities, such as Good Turn for Goodwill Clothing Drive or day camp, on regular clothes but not on an official uniform.
Girl Scouts of the USA Awards
Please pay close attention to due dates for nominations.
- Nominations are approved by the Service Unit Recognitions Team and confirmed by the Volunteer Experience Manager/Membership Service Manager
- Nominations are due to the service unit eight weeks before desired presentation and to the Volunteer Experience Manager/MembershipManager at least four weeks before desired presentation date.
- Nominee may not self-nominate or submit his/her own letter of endorsement.
- The Council Recognitions Committee will not accept nominations from a family member or member of the nominee’s household. Only ONE letter of endorsement will be accepted from a family member or member of the nominee’s household.
- Award nomination and letters of endorsement must be submitted in a single packet to the Volunteer Experience Manager/Membership Manager. .