Awards Given by the Council

The following awards are for service on the regional or Council level, and are presented at the Council’s Annual Adult Recognition Dinner.

Nomination procedure: 
Anyone wishing to nominate a volunteer for the Appreciation, Honor, Thanks, Thanks 2, or Outstanding Community Service to Girl Scouts Award  may submit a Nomination Form to the Council’s recognitions task group by February 15.  Letters of endorsement from additional individuals must be included for the nomination to be complete.

Appreciation Pin

Recognizes an adult who has delivered outstanding service to at least one geographic area, Service Unit, or program delivery audience. 

Form of recognition: 
The Appreciation Pin is a gold tone pin with the Girl Scout logo.  It is presented at the Council Annual Recognition Dinner.

Criteria for selection:

• The candidate is a registered Girl Scout adult volunteer or staff member.
• The candidate has provided outstanding service to at least one Service Unit or program delivery audience within the Council’s jurisdiction in a way that furthers the Council’s goals.
• The service goes beyond the expectations for the position held.

Possible candidates might include, but are not limited to the following:
An adult who works directly with girls so well that the result is an increase in the retention rate.
A Service Unit Manager whose management of the area or team results in an increase in membership ratio in all groups and a stable retention pattern over several years.
A Service Unit or Council Product Sales Manager, who has efficiently promoted, managed and reported on at least two product sales.
A Day Damp Director whose effective management results in an increase in participation by girls and adults over a period of time.

There is no limit on the number given per year.

Honor Pin

Recognizes an adult member who has delivered outstanding service to two or more Service Units or program delivery audiences.

Form of recognition: 
The Honor Pin is a green enamel pin with a golden trefoil design circled by a laurel wreath. 

Criteria for selection:

• The candidate is a registered Girl Scout adult volunteer or staff member.
• The candidate has provided outstanding service to two or more Service Units or program delivery audiences within the Council’s jurisdiction in a way that furthers the Council’s goals.
• The service goes beyond the expectations for the position held.

Possible candidates might include, but are not limited to the following:
An individual who manages consistently successful program events for the Council.
An individual who introduces Girl Scouting to the wider community through significant community action or community organization team strategy.
An Area Association Chair who has motivated volunteers resulting in broad delegate involvement in the Council’s democratic process.
An administrative volunteer whose service has covered several years and several task groups or committees resulting in positive changes in the management of the Council.

A maximum of eight awards may be given per year.

Thanks Badge

Recognizes an adult member whose performance is truly outstanding and benefits the total Council.

Form of recognition: 
The Thanks Badge is a gold-filled enamel disc that can be used as a pin or worn on a ribbon or chain. 

Criteria for selection:

• The candidate is a registered Girl Scout adult volunteer or staff member.
• The candidate has provided outstanding service to at least one Service Unit or program delivery audience within the Council’s jurisdiction in a way that furthers the Council’s goals.
• The service is so significantly beyond expectations that no other award is appropriate.

Possible candidates might include, but are not limited to the following:
An individual who initiates and successfully manages the extension of Girl Scouting to underserved populations within the Council’s jurisdiction, such as ethnic groups previously underserved, girls with disabilities, etc.
An individual who contributes significantly to the total Girl Scout organization in the delivery of Girl Scout program on an operational level.
An individual who, over a period of time, supervises a Council-wide encampment or wider opportunity resulting in membership retention and continuous delivery of Girl Scout program.
A volunteer trainer whose contribution to curriculum development and delivery results in a significant increase in training effectiveness and participation Council-wide.

Four Thanks Badges may be awarded per year.     

Thanks Badge II

Recognizes an adult member who has already received a Thanks Badge and who continues to contribute in extraordinary ways that benefit the total Council or the entire Girl Scout movement.

Form of recognition: 
The Thanks Badge II is similar to the Thanks Badge and has a blue band inside a gold band.  It has a red stone in the center.  The recipient should wear only the Thanks Badge or the Thanks Badge II at one time.

Criteria for selection:

• The candidate is a registered Girl Scout adult volunteer or staff member.
• The candidate has received the Thanks Badge.
• The candidate’s sphere of influence has increased since receipt of the Thanks Badge.
• Building on years of service, the candidate has used her/his skills and talents to continue to widen the scope of her/his influence and to move into another field of endeavor.

Possible candidates might include, but are not limited to the following:
A program consultant who, after developing math and science activities for girls Council-wide, serves as director for a math and science event with nation-wide participation.
The chair of a strategic planning task group whose leadership inspires a pluralistic, visionary plan.
An administrative volunteer who initiates a volunteer support system that successfully retains members in the Council and which has been replicated in other councils.

Two Thanks Badge II may be awarded per year.

Outstanding Community Service to Girl Scouts

This award is the highest given by the Council to non-Girl Scout groups, businesses or individuals who have contributed service to the Council.

Form of recognition:
The award is a wood plaque with gold engraving on a black background.  It should be presented at the Council Annual Recognition Dinner, with publicity throughout the Council and community. 

Criteria for selection:

• Service performed by a non-Girl Scout group or individual that is outstanding and beyond that which is expected from the community, with Council-wide effect.

Potential candidates for the Outstanding Community Service to Girl Scouts Award might include but are not limited to:
A foundation that has given a large donation.
A company that allows its insurance department to supervise the Council’s insurance portfolio.
A firm that has given far more service to the Council than it charges.
An individual who has given money, property, or time to the Council.
Organizations providing extensive media coverage to Girl Scout activities and events.

There is no limit to the number of Outstanding Community Service to Girl Scouts Awards that may be given each year.