Welcome Back! We’re going to kick off the New Year learning about the Thanks Badge and Thanks Badge II – which are the highest awards volunteers can earn! The Thanks Badges recognizes volunteer service which has had an impact on the entire council or entire Girl Scout movement. The Thanks Badge II is the highest award given to an individual volunteer. Only previous Thanks Badge recipients can earn the Thanks Badge II.

Who should you consider for the Thanks badges? Volunteers who are actively giving service impacting the entire council or the Girl Scout movement as a whole. An example of a Thanks Badge candidate is Angie. As an Outdoor Skills Council Trainer, Angie has provided leaders the tools and resources they need to succeed in their troops and at camp.

As a Council and National Delegate, she provides girl and adult voice to all governance matters. She is a visible and well-known Girl Scout in her community as well as throughout GSWNY. She was recently awarded the Women of Distinction award for her success in impacting girls’ lives. Once Angie is awarded the Thanks Badge, she might be nominated again in a few years for continuing her service to the Girl Scout movement with a nomination her for the Thanks Badge II. For example, Angie has continued her delegate work and facilitating Outdoor Skills Training, but now she has also stepped up to be a Gold Award mentor too.   

To nominate someone for the Thanks badges, fill out the Survey Monkey form, or download and complete a paper form, located on the Adult Recognition page of our website. The deadline to apply is February 1. Two peer references will be needed to endorse this nominations. Council acknowledges Awardees in print and at Annual Recognition Event the pins. It is important to acknowledge the recipient of this prestigious award at Service Unit meeting or Service Unit awards ceremony.Please remember, nominations for the Thanks Badge(s), Honor Pin, Appreciation Pin, and President’s Award are all due to council by February 1. For more information about all GSWNY adult awards, please read our Adult Awards and Recognitions Quick Guide or check out our Adult Recognition web page. Email us at volunteer@gswny.org if you have questions or need any support completing nominations. Thank you for all that you do!