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Volunteer Recognitions

Every day, Girl Scout volunteers make it possible for girls across northeast Ohio to enjoy and benefit from an adventure-having, skill-building, lead-taking, life-changing good time. Without our volunteers’ commitment to being champions of girl ambition we couldn’t and wouldn’t be the largest girls’ leadership organization in the world. But we are. Thanks to them. And we love them for it.

Formal council level awards are presented each year at the GSNEO Volunteer Recognition Event. Nominations and endorsements are accepted year-round; and each year there is a cut-off date of December 1 for the annual ceremony in April.

2023 Volunteer Recognition Awardees

Nomination Process

Step 1: Check the historical record to see what awards the person has previously received, if any. Each of the formal awards can only be received once*.  Tip: use "Ctrl+F" to quickly search by last name.

Step 2: Consult the decision tree below to determine the appropriate recognition.

Step 3: Click on the nomination link in the award section you wish to nominate the volunteer for.

Step 4: Recruit your fellow volunteers, parents/caregivers, and girls to submit endorsement forms. Each award has a minimum number of endorsement forms to be eligible for consideration by the Volunteer Recognition Committee. 

*The GSNEO Award CAN be earned multiple times, if receiving as part of multiple committees/groups, or as both an individual and part of a committee/group

Volunteer Recognition Page Decision Tree FINAL

Tip: If an individual has never been recognized, the Appreciation Pin is a good place to start. Remember - to qualify for formal awards a volunteer's impact needs to extend to the full service unit or beyond.

If you know a volunteer whose work goes above and beyond at a troop level the Outstanding Leader or Volunteer of Excellence award may be appropriate, which is available through the service unit.

National and Council Recognitions

Appreciation Pin

Appreciation Pin

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 geographic area of service, helps accomplish and surpass the mission-delivery goals of the area.

Requires: 1 nomination; 2 endorsement forms

Honor Pin

Honor Pin

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 geographic areas of service, allowing the council to reach and surpass its mission-delivery goals.

Requires: 1 nomination; 3 endorsement forms

Thanks Badge

Thanks Badge

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.

Requires: 1 nomination; 4 endorsement forms

Thanks Badge II

Thanks Badge II

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.

Requires: 1 nomination; 4 endorsement forms; previously earned the Thanks Badge

GSNEO Award
gsneo-award_200x219

The Girl Scouts of North East Ohio Award recognizes any individual or group whose outstanding service to a Council-wide assignment, committee, or whose service and dedication impacts the success and development of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience for Girl Scouts of North East Ohio.

 This award is appropriate for individuals or groups who have impacted council as a whole, and does not have the prerequisite of receiving other awards first.

Requires: 1 nomination; 3 endorsement forms

Forever Green

Forever Green

This award may be presented to Volunteers who are nominated after receiving the Thanks Badge, and Thanks Badge II.

Requires: 1 nomination; 4 endorsement forms; previously earned Thanks Badge, Thanks Badge II and continues to provide exemplary service

   

Service Unit - Level Awards

President's Awards

President's Award

The President's Award recognizes the efforts of a complete service unit team whose exemplary service in support of delivering the Girl Scout Leadership Experience surpasses team goals and results in significant measurable impact toward reaching the council's overall goals during a membership year, October 1 - September 30. President's Awards are presented the following January during the Service Unit Team Mid-Year Meeting. Nomination form must be submitted to GSNEO by December 1st for consideration. 

President's Award Online Form

Service Unit Awards

Volunteer of Excellence

Introduced in 2013, the Volunteer of Excellence award recognizes those volunteers who have contributed outstanding service while partnering directly with girls in any pathway 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.

Outstanding Leader

The Outstanding Leader Pin, originally developed by GSUSA in 1987 and adapted by GSNEO in 2020, is given to a primary troop volunteer (Troop Leader, Admin, or Program Guide) at the service unit level. It recognizes leadership skills that include good communication and membership development. 

To recognize leaders on a local level, we offer the “Volunteer of Excellence” and “Outstanding Leader” pins which are made available to service units to distribute locally.

 Service Unit Directors can find more information and order these awards here.