Adult Awards & Recognitions

2015

Purpose of Adult Recognitions

The purpose of recognitions in Girl Scouting is to facilitate, acknowledge, credit, and celebrate the

achievements of volunteers. Recognition accents the spirit of volunteerism which results in renewed

motivation, commitment, and retention.

Adult Awards & Recognitions

Recognitions

• Appreciation Pin• recognizes an individual’s exemplary service; measurable impact on

one geographic area of service • Honor Pin• also recognizes an individual’s exemplary service but for this pin the

impact is within two or more geographic areas of service• Registration coordinator for two or more service unit• Day camp director• Community level volunteer

Appreciation Pin

Honor Pin

Recognitions

• Thanks Badge• honors an individual for outstanding service and measurable impact

on the entire council or the entire Girl Scout Movement.• Thanks Badge II• honors a previous Thanks Badge award recipient who has continued

to provide exemplary service in a leadership roleThanks Badge Thanks Badge II

Awards

• Volunteer of Excellence• recognizes volunteers who have contributed

outstanding service through the use of the National Program Portfolio

• Years of Volunteer Service Pin• recognizes an adult member registered with

Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. for her/his years of active volunteer service at five-year intervals (5, 10, 15, etc.).

Awards

• Community Award• Recognize an organization, business or

individual who has supported Girl Scouting

Selection Process

Step By Step

Council Board of Directors

Council Adult Recognitions Selection Committee

Volunteer Services

Nominations

Nominations

• 3 Steps• Complete nomination form• Nomination forms can be found on Council website- gsccc.org/adults/recognitions and

awards• Recruit additional people to write the required letters of endorsement• Turn in the entire nomination package on or before the established

deadlines• Deadlines• November 30• Thanks Badge, Thanks Badge II, Honor Pin, Appreciation Pin, and Years of Volunteer

Excellence(20+ years) Request forms• February 28• Volunteers of Excellence and Community Award

Qualification Statement

• Describe how the nominee has delivered outstanding service within the council’s jurisdiction

• Be specific about the impact she/he has made through this service

• Details are important!

Endorsement Letters

• Must be completed by people other than the nominator. The nominator cannot write a letter for the person he/she has nominated.

• Endorsement letters are only required for the recognition pins and badges

• Appreciation Pin- 2 letters• Honor Pin- 3 letters• Thanks & Thanks II Badge- 4 letters

Endorsement Letters

Things to Remember• The endorsement letter is the key to recognition approval.• Choose individuals who have firsthand knowledge of nominee’s

accomplishments• Make sure to request letters back well before deadlines• Train/mentor volunteers recruited to write letters• Stress the importance of writing each letter to match the criteria you

have given them

Writing Qualification Statements/Endorsement LettersDo…• Type your nomination form if

possible or legibly print with ballpoint pen with black or blue ink

• Tell us all you can• Include personal insights or

anecdotes• Tell how you feel the person

has shown growth in her/his contribution to Girl Scouting

• Be results oriented.

Don’t…• Be vague• Write about the many

positions the candidate holds unless you have personal experience working with the candidate

• Make assumptions about the responsibilities involved with service unit level positions.

• Just look at the job description and repeat the list of responsibilities.

Remember, details are important!

Questions?