Girl Scout volunteers, we love you!
Every day, Girl Scout volunteers make it possible for girls across Middle Tennessee to enjoy and benefit from an adventure-having, skill-building, lead-taking, life-changing good time. Without our volunteers’ commitment to empowering girls, we couldn’t change the world.
Each year at our Honors Day ceremony, we recognize volunteers who have shown extended commitment to the GSMIDTN community. These special Girl Scout Adult Awards come from your nominations, which you can make by clicking the awards below. To learn more about each honor, see the Adult Awards Booklet.
- Appreciation Pin
The Appreciation Pin recognizes an individual’s exemplary service in delivering the Girl Scout Leadership Experience – service which has had a measurable impact on one geographic area and helped the council surpass mission-delivery goals.
Number of Required Endorsements: 2
Who to Consider: Troop leadership team members who serve Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee beyond their own troops; Service unit team members; Service unit or regional trainers; Any registered Girl Scout adult member performing in an area of service beyond their own troop
Criteria: Nominee provides key support at a service unit, regional, or council level in one or more geographical or functional area
Deadline: December 16, 2023
Recognition: Recipients of this pin are honored annually at Girl Scouts Honors Day.GSMIDTN Adult Recognition Award Recipient Form Complete by December 16, 2023
- Green Angel or Green Knight Certificate (first year)
The Green Angel or Green Knight Certificate is presented to registered Girl Scout leaders, co-leaders, Fall Product and/or Cookie Chair Service Team members at the end of their first year of service.
Applications are open year-round, but must be turned in at least two weeks prior to date needed.
- Green Angel or Green Knight Pin (second year)
The Green Angel or Green Knight Pin is presented to registered Girl Scout leaders, co-leaders, Fall Product/Cookie Chair Service Team members at the end of their second year of service.
Applications are open year-round, but must be turned in at least two weeks prior to date needed.
- Green Angel or Green Knight Patch (third year)
The Green Angel or Green Knight Patch is presented to registered Girl Scout leaders, co-leaders, Fall Product/Cookie Chair Service Team members at the end of their third year of service.
Applications are open year-round, but must be turned in at least two weeks prior to date needed.
- Honor Pin
The Honor Pin recognizes an individual’s exemplary service in support of delivering the Girl Scout Leadership Experience – service which has had measurable impact on two or more geographic areas of service and helped reach and surpass mission-delivery goals.
Number of Required Endorsements: 2
Who to Consider: Troop leadership team members who serve Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee beyond their own troops; Service unit leadership team members; Service unit or regional trainers; Any registered Girl Scout adult member performing in an area of service beyond their own troop
Criteria: Nominee provides key support at a service unit, regional, or council level in two or more geographical or functional areas
Deadline: December 16, 2023
Recognition: Recipients of this pin are honored annually at Girl Scouts Honors Day.GSMIDTN Adult Recognition Award Recipient Form Complete by December 16, 2023
- Outstanding Leader Award
The Outstanding Leader Award is given only once to an adult to recognize outstanding troop leadership in the delivery of Girl Scout program to girls, meriting recognition by geographic or service team.
Applications are open year-round, but must be turned in at least two weeks prior to date needed.
- Outstanding Volunteer Award
The Outstanding Volunteer Award is given only once to an adult in a position other than a troop leader for service to a geographic area or program delivery audience that is beyond the expectations of the position.
Applications are open year-round, but must be turned in at least two weeks prior to date needed.
- President’s Award
The President’s Award recognizes the efforts of a service delivery team or committee whose exemplary service in support of delivering the Girl Scout Leadership Experience surpassed team goals and resulted in significant, measurable impact toward reaching the council’s overall goals.
Number of Required Endorsements: 2
Who to Consider: Service unit leadership team members; Service unit or regional trainer teams
Criteria: Team nominees significantly contribute to the council’s mission-delivery goals
Deadline: December 16, 2023
Recognition: Recipients of this pin are honored annually at Girl Scouts Honors Day.GSMIDTN Adult Recognition Award Recipient Form Complete by December 16, 2023
- Rookie of the Year Certificate
The Rookie of the Year Certificate recognizes the time, effort, and dedication put forth by leaders and/or assistant leaders during their first year of service.
Applications are open year-round, but must be turned in at least two weeks prior to date needed.
- Thanks Badge
The Thanks Badge honors an individual whose ongoing commitment, leadership, and service has had an exceptional, measurable impact on meeting mission-delivery goals and priorities benefiting the entire council or Girl Scout Movement.
Number of Required Endorsements: 2
Who to Consider: Any registered Girl Scout adult member holding a significant volunteer role beyond their own troop or service unit
Criteria: Nominee has given service for an extended period of time beyond the required role
Deadline: December 16, 2023
Recognition: Recipients of this pin are honored annually at Girl Scouts Honors Day.GSMIDTN Adult Recognition Award Recipient Form Complete by December 16, 2023
- Thanks Badge II
The Thanks Badge II for Continuing Service recognizes a previous Thanks Badge recipient whose continued outstanding commitment, leadership, and service has had an exceptional, measurable impact on meeting mission-delivery goals and priorities benefiting the entire council or Girl Scout Movement.
Number of Required Endorsements: 2
Who to Consider: Any registered Girl Scout adult member who has already received the Thanks Badge
Criteria: Nominee has already received Thanks Badge and has continued to give service for an extended period of time beyond the required role
Deadline: December 16, 2023
Recognition: Recipients of this pin are honored annually at Girl Scouts Honors Day.GSMIDTN Adult Recognition Award Recipient Form Complete by December 16, 2023
- Trained Volunteer Pin
The Trained Volunteer Pin is a recognition earned by an active registered adult volunteer who has completed the required training courses and at least two meetings or events beyond the troop level.
Please note that your application must be approved and signed by a Service Unit team member before being submitted to GSMIDTN.
- Trained Volunteer Pin Leaves
Trained Volunteer Pin Leaves can be earned as add-ons for the Volunteer Pin when additional enrichment trainings are completed.
Please note that your application must be approved and signed by a Service Unit team member before being submitted to GSMIDTN.
- Volunteer of Excellence Award
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.
Applications are open year-round, but must be turned in at least two weeks prior to date needed.
- Years of Membership Pin
The Years of Membership Pin numerals show the total number of years of registered membership, both as a girl and an adult, in any Girl Scout/Girl Guide organization.
Numeral Guards are attached to the membership pins. Numeral Guards are available in increments of 5 years.
Please note that your application must be approved and signed by a Service Unit team member before being submitted to GSMIDTN. Applications are open year-round, but must be turned in at least two weeks prior to date needed.
- Years of Service Pin
The Years of Service Pin is given to adults in Girl Scouting in recognition of years of service at five-year intervals.
Service Units recognize those individuals receiving 5, 10, 15, etc. year pins.
Please note that your application must be approved and signed by a Service Unit team member before being submitted to GSMIDTN. Applications are open year-round, but must be turned in at least two weeks prior to date needed.
Ways to Say Thank You
Our volunteers are awesome, and girls, families, and other volunteers want to thank them for all they do! Here are some ways to show your appreciation:
- Tell them in person. Make a special effort to say your thanks when you see your volunteer this month. Having it come directly from you will be the sweetest gift!
- Make something for them. Break out your craft supplies to create a scrapbook, paint a picture, or frame a memento of a time you spent with that volunteer. They’ll love having a special gift from you!
- Social media shout-out. Write your own social media post expressing appreciation for your Girl Scout leader. Choose a photo with both of you in it and make sure to tag your leader so they see it!
- Send them a note or email. Be sure your Girl Scout volunteer knows how thankful you are for their hard work by writing a sweet note. If you prefer digital designs, some free tools to use for this are PunchBowl or SmileBox.
- Mail a letter. If virtual thank you cards aren’t your thing, decorate a card for your leader and drop it in the mail. Everybody loves to receive mail, and you can be as creative as you like with this. Write a heartfelt letter or decorate a homemade card.
- Express your gratitude during your next troop meeting. Start the troop meeting by having everyone say a reason why they appreciate your leader. Take turns expressing your appreciation for all their hard work.
- Give them a small token of your appreciation. Whether it’s a gift card for a cup of coffee or their favorite candy bar, they will appreciate that you thought about them!
- Surprise them with recognition volunteer pins for your grade level. These pins are great to welcome and thank volunteers for working with girls or supporting behind the scenes.
- Make a donation in their honor. Girl Scout leaders dedicate so much time and energy into the Girl Scout mission to empower girls and change the world! Help their efforts by donating to Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee.
- Submit their volunteer story to be featured on GSMIDTN. We know that each of our volunteers has a story behind their service, and we’d love to hear it. Email us your volunteer’s story for us to share in an upcoming blog post!