GSEMA volunteers and Girl Scouts at an appreciation event

Volunteer Appreciation

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

Years of Girl Scout membership numeral guard pins in 5-year increments

Local community recognitions determined by service unit community leadership volunteers

National and Council Volunteer Recognitions

Congratulations to the 2023 Volunteer Recognition Honorees! We will celebrate this year’s honorees at the annual Volunteer Recognition Celebration on June 4.

Stay tuned this summer for a new, simplified nomination process for national and council volunteer recognitions.

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.

Service Unit Recognitions

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.

For any Girl Scout volunteer: Volunteer of Excellence

Who is eligible:

A volunteer who has 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 has contributed outstanding service in support of the council’s mission delivery to girl and adult members is eligible for the GSUSA Volunteer of Excellence Award.

Criteria:

Is a registered and active Girl Scout adult member
Completes appropriate training and/or demonstrated competence for the position
Performs beyond expectations for their volunteer position by supporting the council’s mission-delivery goals in any of the following areas: membership, community development, supporting volunteers, marketing & public relations, fund development, communications, program delivery, or governance

Nomination, approval, and award process:

Requires one recommendation submitted directly to the service unit, the format of which may vary by community.
Review and approval are determined by the service unit, and may include a local committee to manage the process (deadlines, approval of nominations, and presentation of pins).
The service unit purchases awards at the council shop and presents them to the volunteer.
GSEMA requests that service units provide the awardees’ names to record the achievement in their membership records by emailing customercare@gsema.org.

For new troop leadership volunteers: Green & Growing Award

Who is eligible:

Troop leaders and assistant troop leaders who have been in their roles for less than two years.

Criteria:

Has been a troop volunteer for less than two years
Completes the GSEMA new troop leader learning plan: New Leader Orientation and age-level Essentials in gsLearn
Has participated in at least one service unit or council event or program
Keeps troop(s) open to new members
Shows commitment to growing and sustaining the troop’s membership by participating in spring membership renewal and extended year membership registration
Engages girls in the Girl Scout Cookie Program
Implements the Girl Scout Leadership Experience within troop programming, including working toward and earning badges

Nomination, approval, and award process:

Requires one recommendation submitted directly to the service unit, the format of which may vary by community.
Review and approval are determined by the service unit, and may include a local committee to manage the process (deadlines, approval of nominations, and presentation of pins).
The service unit purchases awards at the council shop and presents them to the volunteer.
GSEMA requests that service units provide the awardees’ names to record the achievement in their membership records by emailing customercare@gsema.org.

For your community: Make New Friends Award Certificate

Who is eligible:

Individuals, groups, organizations, or businesses that support Girl Scouts in the local community.

Criteria:

Non-Girl Scouts who assist local Girl Scout troops or service units in any of the following ways:
- Offers free meeting space
- Provide in-kind donations for events and activities
- Helps to further Girl Scouting in the community

Nomination, approval, and award process:

No nomination or approval process necessary
Service units and troops give certificates at their discretion which can be purchased at the council shop or downloaded and printed locally

Make New Friends Award Certificate