Last month we learned how the Appreciation Pin which celebrates a volunteer who has given outstanding service to their own Service Unit. This month we will focus on the Honor Pin. The Honor Pin recognizes volunteer service which has a measurable impact on two or more service units or geographic areas. In the month of November as we celebrate Thanksgiving, please think about who you can give thanks to in your Service Unit!

Who should be considered for the Honor Pin? A volunteer in your Service Unit who has made a great impact in more than one Service Unit. For example, Tina has been instrumental in supporting archery training throughout council and is the coordinator of a large Cookie Mega Drop that serve the entire counties. Tina doesn’t only work to help the girls and leaders in her own Service Unit, she helps out everyone around her! It definitely sounds like Tina deserves the Honor Pin! If you know someone who truly “bleeds green” – nominate them for this award!

To earn the Honor Pin, a volunteer must nominate the awardee, and the nomination must be approved by the GSWNY Adult Recognition Committee. One peer reference is needed to endorse this nomination. Nominate an awardee by filling out the Survey Monkey form, or downloading and completing a paper nomination form located on the Adult Recognition page of our website. Please note the deadline to submit nominations for this award is February 1. Council will acknowledge Awardees in print and at Annual Recognition Event with the pin. Remember to acknowledge the recipient at Service Unit meeting, awards ceremony, or other Service Unit function.

Creating a strong system of adult recognitions is the key to robust, meaningful volunteer appreciation. Giving a combination of awards like the Honor Pin, Appreciation Pin, and Years of Service or Tenure will ensure a wide array of volunteers are appreciated for the level of service they have given. Check out our volunteer appreciation bullseye to learn more!

For more information about the Honor Pin, and all other GSWNY adult awards, please read our Adult Awards and Recognitions Quick Guide or check out our Adult Recognition web page. You can always reach out to a member of the Volunteer Experience team for more information by emailing us at volunteer@gswny.org. Thank you for all that you do!

We are kicking off the 2021 Membership Year with a focus on The Appreciation Pin! This award recognizes a volunteer that has shown a measurable impact, giving outstanding service delivery to one service unit or geographic area.

Who should be considered for the Appreciation Pin? Great question! Nominate a volunteer in your Service Unit who has gone above and beyond at the Service Unit level. For example, Beth is a new Service Unit Manager who already plans the annual SUCO, and has been a true go-getter. She has increased Girl Scouts’ visibility in the community through recruitment and dynamic programs. She has built a sense of Girl Scout community by increased parent engagement and volunteer involvement in Service Unit meetings. Beth definitely deserves an Appreciation Pin!

To earn the Appreciation Pin, a volunteer must nominate the awardee, and the nomination must be approved by the GSWNY Adult Recognition Committee. One peer reference is needed to endorse this nomination. Nominate an awardee by filling out the Survey Monkey form, or downloading and completing a paper nomination form located on the Adult Recognition page of our website. The deadline to apply is February 1 – so mark your calendars! Council acknowledges Awardees in print and at Annual Recognition Event with the pin. Acknowledge the award recipient at SU meeting, awards ceremony, or SU function.

The driving factors that lead people to volunteer their time include the fact organization (GSWNY) is a part of their family’s values and traditions; people volunteer to socialize with existing friends, and develop new connection; and people step up to volunteer as a response to a specific concern or they see need in their community. The greatest gift a person can give you is their time. The least we can do is formally recognize our volunteers for their hard work and dedication. The Appreciation Pin is a great way to thank volunteers who have made significant improvements within your Service unit.

For more information about this award and all other GSWNY adult awards, please read our Adult Awards and Recognitions Quick Guide or check out our Adult Recognition web page. You can always reach out to a member of the Volunteer Experience team for more information! Email us at volunteer@gswny.org. Thank you for all that you do!

Every month this year we will be highlighting the different adult awards that Girl Scout volunteers can earn. To start things off we are going to focus on Years of Service and Tenure pins in September. These are an easy first step to recognizing volunteers. Tenure and Years of Service pins are given to recognize volunteers for the time they have been registered Girl Scout members, given in 5-year increments.

• Tenure pins are given for the total years a person has a Girl Scout, including youth and adult years.
• Years of Service pins recognize the number of years a person has been a Girl Scout volunteer.

Did you know GSWNY will gives out FREE pins for 15 years for Tenure, and 10 Years of Service? You just have to submit and complete the form for each award!

The nomination process for Years of Service and Tenure pins is easy as pie! You can request a pin for yourself or for a fellow volunteer in your Service Unit through our easy Survey Monkey form. You can also mail or email in a pin request by downloading a paper form, located on the Adult Recognition page of our website. Council acknowledges Awardees with more than 20 Years of Service and/or Tenure in print and with numeral guard at the Annual Recognition Event. All others years of commitment should be recognized within the Service Unit.

The greatest gift a person can give you is their time. The least we can do is formally thank one another and recognize each volunteer’s hard work and dedication. The Years of Service and Tenure Pins do just that – thank people for the time they have given to the Girl Scouts. Giving Years of Service and Tenure pins is a great way to kick off the Girl Scout year during a rededication or investiture ceremony.

Why is recognizing volunteers so important? Volunteers need to feel appreciated and know that they are having an impact on the community in which they serve. The result is volunteer retention! When volunteers feel appreciated and important, they are more likely to feel connected to the program and continue their involvement. There are several reasons to recognize and celebrate those involved in service: to highlight their achievements, to educate and inspire others, and simply to have fun!

For more information about the Years of Service and Tenure pins, and all other GSWNY adult awards, please read our Adult Awards and Recognitions Quick Guide or check out our Adult Recognition web page. You can always reach out to a member of the Volunteer Experience team for more information! Connect with us at volunteer@gswny.org. Thank you for all that you do! We’re looking forward to a great Girl Scout year!