Download the award descriptions.
Celebrate the volunteer in your life.
Volunteers are the heart of our organization. Each and every day they make Girl Scouting possible for nearly 20,000 youth members across GSEMA. We say thank you a few ways:
- Annual formal national and council recognitions which are reviewed by our Volunteer Recognition Committee and approved by our Board of Directors. Volunteer Recognition Nominations open in January.
- Local community recognitions determined by service unit community leadership volunteers
- Years of Girl Scout membership numeral guard pins in 5-year increments
Congratulations to the 2024 Volunteer Recognition Honorees! We celebrated this year’s honorees at the annual Volunteer and Donor Recognition Celebration on May 19.
About National and Council Volunteer Recognitions
GSUSA and GSEMA recognition awards are awarded based on an individual or group’s exemplary service in support of delivery of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience through nominations that are reviewed by our Volunteer Recognition Committee and approved by the Board of Directors.
All active, approved Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts volunteers may be eligible for one of the following recognitions if they have exceeded the expectations of their position and impacted Girl Scout’s mission in one or more of the following categories:
- Membership growth and/or retention
- Program development and/or delivery
- Cookies or Fall Product Program participation or sales
- Philanthropy and fund development (e.g., personal giving, fundraising events)
- Governance (e.g., policies, strategy)
- Diversity, equity, inclusion, and racial justice
GSUSA Volunteer Recognitions (national)
Appreciation Pin 
Appreciation Pin
Recognizes an individual’s exemplary
service in support of delivering the Girl Scout Leadership Experience,
but for this pin the impact is within one geographic area of service.
Scope of Service: One service unit/community
GSEMA Nomination forms required? Yes, two forms must be submitted (view).
Impact to Girl Scout Leadership Experience Goals
In any
one or more of the following categories:
- Membership growth and/or retention
- Program development and/or delivery
- Cookies or Fall Product Program participation or sales
- Governance (e.g., policies, strategy)
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Philanthropy and fund development
Honor Pin
Honor Pin
Recognizes an individual’s exemplary service in
support of delivering the Girl Scout Leadership Experience; this
support has had a measurable impact on two or more geographic areas of
service to reach and surpass the mission-delivery goals of the council.
Scope of Service: Two or more service units/communities.
GSEMA Nomination forms required? Yes, two forms must be submitted (view).
Impact to Girl Scout Leadership Experience Goals
In any
one or more of the following categories:
- Membership growth and/or retention
- Program development and/or delivery
- Cookies or Fall Product Program participation or sales
- Governance (e.g., policies, strategy)
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Philanthropy and fund development
Thanks Badge
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.
Scope of Service: Council-wide or nationwide.
GSEMA Nomination forms required? Yes, two forms must be submitted (view).
Impact to Girl Scout Leadership Experience Goals
In any
one or more of the following categories:
- Membership growth and/or retention
- Program development and/or delivery
- Cookies or Fall Product Program participation or sales
- Governance (e.g., policies, strategy)
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Philanthropy and fund development
Thanks Badge II
Thanks Badge II
Honor a
previous Thanks Badge award recipient who has continued to provide
exemplary service in a leadership role which resulted in a
measurable impact benefitting the entire Girl Scout Movement.
Scope of Service: Nationwide
GSEMA Nomination forms required? Yes, four forms must be submitted (view).
Impact to Girl Scout Leadership
Experience Goals
In any one or more of the following categories:
- Membership growth and/or retention
- Program development and/or delivery
- Cookies or Fall Product Program participation or sales
- Governance (e.g., policies, strategy)
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Philanthropy and fund development
President's Award
GSEMA Volunteer Recognitions (council)
Helen Storrow Heritage Award
Lifetime of Service Award
Lifetime of Service Award
Volunteers who have championed
the mission of Girl Scouting through long-term commitment and
exemplary work at the troop, service unit or council level for fifteen
or more years.
Scope of Service: One service unit to nationwide
GSEMA Nomination forms required? Yes, two forms must be submitted (view).
Impact to Girl Scout Leadership Experience Goals
In any
one or more of the following categories:
- Membership growth and/or retention
- Program development and/or delivery
- Cookies or Fall Product Program participation or sales
- Governance (e.g., policies, strategy)
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Philanthropy and fund development
Red Rose Award
Red Rose Award
A volunteer who actively demonstrates
exemplary commitment to the Girl Scout values of diversity, equity and
inclusion in support of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience.
Scope of Service: One or more service units/ communities
GSEMA Nomination forms required? Yes, two forms must be submitted (view).
Impact to Girl Scout Leadership Experience Goals
Focused
impact on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Sustained Service Pin
Sustained Service Pin
Volunteers actively giving valuable
service to GSEMA for 5+ or 10+ consecutive years since receiving a
prior recognition (e.g., Appreciation Pin or Honor Pin).
Scope of Service: Based on prior award received.
GSEMA Nomination forms required? Yes, two forms must be submitted (view).
Impact to Girl Scout Leadership Experience Goals
In any
one or more of the following categories:
- Membership growth and/or retention
- Program development and/or delivery
- Cookies or Fall Product Program participation or sales
- Governance (e.g., policies, strategy)
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Philanthropy and fund development
Service Unit Recognitions (local)
Service unit recognitions are approved and presented at the local community level. These recognitions are managed, paid for, and presented by service units at an event of their choosing, which may include town-wide bridging ceremonies, year-end leader appreciation dinners, or investiture and rededication ceremonies.
Green & Growing Award (for new troop leadership volunteers)
Make New Friends Award Certificate (for your community)
Volunteer of Excellence (for any Girl Scout volunteer)
Years of Membership Numeral Guard Pins
Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts is dedicated to honoring our long-term volunteers and members by providing their numeral guard pins representing more than 20 years of membership. Members celebrating their anniversary year of 20, 25, 30, 35, etc. should complete Years of Membership Pin Request Form to let us know they are due (or overdue) for a pin. We invite all those receiving membership numeral guard pins to join GSEMA staff and volunteers at our annual celebration event or request that a pin be mailed to them.
Volunteer and Donor Recognition Honorees
This year’s honorees were celebrated at the annual Volunteer and Donor Recognition Celebration on May 19.
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