2025 GSEM Adult Recognition Handbook

Adult Recognition Handbook

Table of Contents

Adult Recognition...............................................................................................................................3

Levels of Adult Recognition...............................................................................................................4

Nomination Process............................................................................................................................5

Submission Process............................................................................................................................7

Selection Process................................................................................................................................9

Adult Recognition..............................................................................................................................10 Neighborhood-Level Recognitions...................................................................................... 10 District-Level Recognitions....................................................................................................11 Council-Level Recognitions...................................................................................................12

Glossary..........................................................................................................................15

Nomination Examples......................................................................................................................19

2024 Council Awardees...................................................................................................................29

Guidelines and procedures set forth in this handbook are in accordance with the Adult Recognition Plan approved by the Board of Directors on November 18, 1984.

This handbook supersedes all previous guidelines.

All necessary forms and reference information required to nominate candidates for any Adult Recognition are conveniently located in the Adult Recognition section of our website.

Council-level recognition nominations must be submitted no later than February 28, 2025.

PLEASE NOTE: Both new and previously used designs in recognition insignia are valid and can appropriately be displayed on Girl Scout uniforms.

Publication revised January 2025.

Adult Recognition Handbook 2

Adult Recognition

Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri places a high value on recognizing the adults who make a difference in girls’ lives. Awards and earned recognitions provide a means to acknowledge individuals, troops, neighborhoods, districts and community members, in or out of Girl Scouts, for their unique service. This handbook contains all the information necessary to nominate a special person and highlight their accomplishments, including recognition descriptions and criteria, a detailed outline of the nomination process for each level of recognition, and helpful links to online forms and resources. The Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri Adult Recognition Program reflects: • Quality of accomplishment as the primary determining factor in recognizing contributions • Impact on girls as the leading measure of quality • Acknowledgment of many kinds of contributions (time, talent and treasure) • Support of the Girl Scout mission through policies and procedures outlined in Volunteer Essentials • Understanding and practice of inclusive behavior Recognition reinforces high expectations and encourages continued growth and development. Awards encourage a commitment to greater levels of involvement and support, helping girls develop skills, values and ideals to reach their fullest potential through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE). The Girl Scout Leadership Experience is the core of Girl Scout program and encompasses everything from the Promise and Law to our activities, badges, and Highest Awards. When girls participate in Girl Scouts, these combined components (variety of activities, supportive relationships, three processes) lead to five important benefits or outcomes: a strong sense of self, positive values, challenge seeking, healthy relationships, and community problem solving. In short, the GSLE is what girls do, who they do it with, how they do it, and what they gain as Girl Scouts. What is Recognition?

Five Girl Scout outcomes =

Three Girl Scout processes

Variety of activities

Supportive relationships

+

+

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Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri

Levels of Adult Recognition

Neighborhood-Level Recognitions Neighborhoods may recognize outstanding registered members or non-members with a variety of awards. Nominations for these recognitions are submitted, selected and celebrated at the Neighborhood level. District-Level Recognitions Districts have three award options to recognize registered members and non-members whose exemplary service benefited one or more neighborhoods or the entire district. Nominations for these recognitions are submitted, selected and celebrated at the District level. Council-Level Recognitions Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri provides many opportunities to recognize exceptional individuals or groups whose leadership or service had a measurable impact at the council- or Movement-wide level. Nominations for these recognitions are submitted, selected and celebrated at the Council level.

16

15

17

District

NH 1

18

Neighborhoods

NH 2

Council

NH 3

9

4

5

14

3

8

7

12

2

6

1

13

10

11

Adult Recognition Handbook 4

Nomination Process

Adult Recognition Nomination Process

Who Can Nominate Someone for Recognition? In general, anyone can nominate an individual or group for recognition unless otherwise indicated. Some recognitions may require coordination with others to complete the nomination process, so please understand the nomination requirements before you begin. How Do I Know Who to Recognize? Below are suggested methods to determine who to recognize for their contributions to Girl Scouts. • List all the people who helped you the past membership year in Girl Scouts. These could be fellow members, or individuals or groups outside of Girl Scouts. • List any adult who absolutely wowed you with their contributions. Did they benefit your troop, the troops in your school, the whole neighborhood or district, multiple neighborhoods or districts, the entire council, or the Girl Scout Movement? • Write next to each name what kind of recognition would be most meaningful and applicable for the individual or group. Would it be fun for them to receive recognition in front of a crowd? Would they appreciate recognition in private? Would a special thank you from yourself or your troop be best? • Highlight the individuals or groups who went above and beyond. Should they receive a neighborhood, district, or council recognition? How Do I Know Which Adult Recognition Is Appropriate? There are many ways to recognize worthy adults in our council. As a nominator , you are responsible for determining which types of recognition are best for your potential candidates. The following are suggested approaches for matching a candidate to a recognition: • Consider the outstanding service or leadership a candidate provided, who it benefited, and how great an impact it made when determining which adult recognition would be most appropriate. • Ask yourself the following questions: Congratulations! You now have list of potential candidates for recognition. Time to move on to the next step.

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Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri

• Did the candidate’s contribution primarily benefit my troop? A certificate of appreciation or a heartfelt token of thanks from your troop may be exactly what is needed. • Did the candidate’s contribution benefit multiple troops, a school district, or an entire neighborhood? There are several neighborhood-level recognitions that might be suitable (pg. 10). • Did the candidate’s contribution impact multiple neighborhoods or an entire district? There are three district-level recognitions to choose from (pg. 11). • Did the candidate’s contribution benefit multiple districts, the entire council, or Girl Scouts as a whole? Look for a council-level recognition that would match the type of service or leadership provided (pg. 12). • Is the candidate an amazing troop leader? Check out the Outstanding Troop Leader Award (neighborhood level). If the amazing leader is also new to Girl Scouts, the Pearl Award (council level) could be an option. • Has the candidate’s contribution been impactful over time? Recognitions with the words “sustained” or “lasting” in the description might be the best fit. • Is the candidate outside of Girl Scouts? The Award of Merit Certificate (neighborhood level), Spark Award , Gold Trefoil Award , or Diversity Hall of Fame (council level) are all appropriate to honor individuals or groups outside of Girl Scouts. • Determine what recognitions the candidate has already received by searching the Past Awardee Database. This step is very important, as many recognitions may only be awarded to a candidate once. Still having trouble choosing the right adult recognition? Reach out to your Neighborhood Manager, District Manager, or Community Engagement Manager for assistance. Contact the Answer Center at 314.400.4600 or answercenter@girlscoutsem.org if you are unsure regarding your neighborhood or district leadership.

If you have decided that a neighborhood-, district-, or council-level recognition is in order, your next step as a nominator is to submit your candidate for award consideration.

Adult Recognition Handbook 6

Submission Process

Adult Recognition Submission Process

Submit a Neighborhood- and District-Level Recognition Nomination The nomination process for neighborhood- and district-level recognitions are managed by each neighborhood or district. Please contact your Neighborhood Manager or District Manager for details on the award nomination process for your area. Submit a Council-Level Special Service Award Nomination (Self-Nominated) Candidates for the council-level Special Service Award, recognizing 15 or more years of service (in 5-year increments), should complete the Special Service Award Application, found as an online form in the Adult Recognition section of our website. This is the only council-level recognition for which a candidate may self-nominate (via the online application form). Please note, years registered as a girl member do not count toward service as an adult volunteer, nor do years as an adult member without actively participating in Girl Scouts (for instance those who maintain annual membership without holding an active volunteer role). Volunteer members may not receive missed Special Service Awards retroactively. Submit a Council-Level Recognition Nomination Council-level recognition nominations are submitted via an online nomination form on the Adult Recognition section of our website. See pg. 12 for council-level recognitions. While a nominator may nominate multiple candidates for awards, only one candidate (individual or group) may be submitted per online form. Each district is encouraged to submit at least one nomination for each council-level recognition. Every council-level recognition requires at least one additional recommendation beyond the testimonial supplied by the nominator. For this purpose, each council-level recognition has its own recommendation form tailored to each award’s specific criteria. These recommendation forms make it easier for those nominating or providing additional recommendations for a candidate to give detailed accounts of a candidate’s outstanding leadership or service. Candidates for the neighborhood-level Five- or Ten-Year Service Certificate should contact their Neighborhood Manager for details on how to receive this recognition.

Examples of high-quality recommendations for each council-level recognition can be found on pgs. 19-28.

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Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri

In addition to being located in the Adult Recognition section of our website, recommendation forms may also be accessed via the following links:

Spark Award Diversity Hall of Fame Volunteer of Excellence Award

President’s Award Pearl Award AntRabbit Award for Camping Service Excellence Thanks Badge Thanks Badge II

Gold Laurel Award Gold Trefoil Award

Council-Level Recognition Submission Process: • Download the fillable recommendation form (PDF) specific to the award in question, either from this handbook or the Adult Recognition section of our website, within the expanded “Council-Level Recognitions” drop down menu. • Choose individuals to complete the required number of additional recommendation forms for the award, and ensure they also have blank copies of the award-specific recommendation form. • Complete the recommendation form as the nominator (see examples on pgs. 19-28). Typing the recommendation within the PDF form is strongly encouraged for best electronic submission; handwritten recommendation forms are NOT accepted. • When all recommendation forms are complete (nominator plus additional recommendations), come back to the Adult Recognition section of our website, expand the “Council-Level Recognitions” drop down menu, and select the “Begin Nomination” link to open the online nomination form. To make this step more convenient, have the following information on hand: • Candidate’s contact information, including email address, street address, and phone number • Candidate’s current role(s) and any previous role(s) within Girl Scouts (if applicable) • Candidate’s district and neighborhood (if applicable) • Names of individuals submitting additional recommendation forms for the candidate • Upload completed recommendation forms (nominator’s recommendation and any additional recommendations) when prompted to do so in the online nomination form. A minimum of one recommendation form is required to be uploaded for nomination submission to occur. • If additional completed recommendation forms are not available to upload at the time of nomination (excluding the required recommendation form from the nominator), they should be submitted by email to Adult Education at adulteducation@girlscoutsem.org . • Once the online nomination form is submitted, you will receive an email confirming your nomination. • Note that any progress in the online nomination form will not be saved if the form is closed before submission. Please have all necessary information and completed recommendation forms ready so that the nomination may be submitted in one sitting.

Adult Recognition Handbook 8

Selection Process

Neighborhood- and District-Level Recognitions The selection process for neighborhood- and district-level recognitions is managed by each neighborhood or district. Please contact your Neighborhood Manager or District Manager for details on the award selection process for your area. Council-Level Recognitions Council-level recognition awardees are chosen by the Awards Selection Committee, once all nomination materials for each candidate have been received by council. This committee includes five volunteers from different council regions, along with a small number of council leadership staff to assist with administration. The Awards Selection Committee uses rubrics for each award to score candidates based on information provided in the submitted recommendation forms, and confirms that candidates meet all award eligibility criteria. If rubric scores warrant, the committee may recognize multiple candidates for a single award. Award recipients are notified of their forthcoming recognitions after all award selections are made. Awardees should plan to attend the Adult Recognition Ceremony in the spring to receive their awards and be recognized by the Board of Directors and their Girl Scout peers. Nominators will also be notified of the Award Committee’s decision.

Adult Recognition Handbook 9

Neighborhood-Level Recognitions

NOMINATION FORMAT AND SUBMISSION

REQUIRED AWARD DOCUMENTATION

AWARD PRESENTED BY

RECOGNITION

RECOGNIZES

FORM OF AWARD

A troop leader or assistant leader who has served in their role for one year and completed New Troop Leader Training

Email or established form from Neighborhood or Service Unit team to Neighborhood Manager or designate Email or established form from Neighborhood or Service Unit team to Neighborhood Manager or designate Email or established form from Neighborhood or Service Unit team to Neighborhood Manager or designate

Neighborhood Manager or designate

First-Year Leader Certificate

N/A

Certificate

Five- or Ten-Year Service Certificate

A volunteer serving the organization for the number of years indicated

Neighborhood Manager or designate

N/A

Certificate

A registered member or non-member who contributed outstanding service and dedication to the Neighborhood

Award of Merit Certificate

Any individual or group

N/A

Certificate

Prior to purchasing pins, Neighborhood Manager completes the Neighborhood Pin Approval Form for verification. Submit to Adult Education for eligibility online. Prior to purchasing pins, Neighborhood Manager completes the Neighborhood Pin Approval Form for verification. Submit to Adult Education for eligibility online. Prior to purchasing pins, Neighborhood Manager completes the Neighborhood Pin Approval Form for verification. Submit to Adult Education for eligibility online.

Email or established form from Neighborhood or Service Unit team to Neighborhood Manager or designate

A registered member who provided outstanding service within the Neighborhood

Neighborhood Manager or designate

Daisy Award

Any registered member serving in a capacity other than or in addition to troop leader or assistant leader who provided sustained service exceeding expectations and benefiting an entire Neighborhood

Email or established form from Neighborhood or Service Unit team to Neighborhood Manager or designate

Neighborhood Manager or designate

Promise Award

A troop leader or assistant leader who demonstrated exceptional service in working with girls in the Neighborhood (nominated by troop member)

Email or established form from Neighborhood or Service Unit team to Neighborhood Manager or designate

Outstanding Troop Leader Award

Neighborhood Manager or designate

Cost for awards borne by the neighborhood.

Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri 10

District-Level Recognitions

NOMINATION FORMAT AND SUBMISSION

REQUIRED AWARD DOCUMENTATION

AWARD PRESENTED BY FORM OF AWARD

RECOGNITION

RECOGNIZES

Prior to purchasing pins, District Manager completes the District Pin Approval Form for verification. Submit to Adult Education for eligibility online. Prior to purchasing pins, District Manager completes the District Pin Approval Form for verification. Submit to Adult Education for eligibility online. Prior to purchasing pins, District Manager completes the District Pin Approval Form for verification. Submit to Adult Education for eligibility online.

A registered member serving in a volunteer capacity other than or in addition to troop leader or assistant leader whose service exceeded expectations A registered member’s exemplary service in support of delivering the Girl Scout Leadership Experience (see pg. 17) with impact on one geographic area of service within a district A registered member’s exemplary service in support of delivering the Girl Scout Leadership Experience which has had measurable impact on two or more geographic areas of service within a district

Email or established form from District or Service Unit team to District Manager or designate

Outstanding Volunteer Award

District Manager or designate

Email or established form from District or Service Unit team to District Manager or designate

Appreciation Award

District Manager or designate

Email or established form from District or Service Unit team to District Manager or designate

Honor Award

District Manager or designate

Cost for awards borne by the district.

11 Adult Recognition Handbook

Council-Level Recognitions

NOMINATION FORMAT AND SUBMISSION

AWARD PRESENTED BY

RECOGNITION

RECOGNIZES

FORM OF AWARD

A registered member with a minimum of 15 years of service as an adult member, given at 5-year intervals, self-nominated. To include the 2023-24 year A member or non-member who served in a short-term, non-traditional volunteer role and contributed outstanding service to support a program, event or the mission of Girl Scouts A volunteer who contributed outstanding service partnering directly with girls to implement the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, or who contributed outstanding service in support of the council’s mission delivery goals to girl and adult members

Special Service Award

Special Service Award online application

Board Committee Chair or designate

6” engraved silver tray

An individual or committee/ team chair receives a personalized, engraved crystal trophy, 5” ht. Members of the committee/team receive a personalized certificate

Completed online nomination form and recommendation form from nominator plus one additional recommendation form

Board Committee Chair or designate

Spark Award

Completed online nomination form and recommendation form from nominator plus one additional recommendation form

Volunteer of Excellence Award

Board Committee Chair or designate

An individual or group receives a 7” x 9” personalized walnut plaque. Additional members of a committee/team receive a personalized certificate

Completed online nomination form and recommendation form from nominator plus one additional recommendation form

An adult non-member whose superior contribution created pronounced council-wide impact

Gold Trefoil Award

Board Committee Chair or designate

Cost for awards borne by Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri.

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NOMINATION FORMAT AND SUBMISSION

RECOGNITION

RECOGNIZES

PRESENTED BY FORM OF AWARD

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. To include the 2023-24 year A registered member who is new to Girl Scouts and made an immediate impact on the organization through service in a district or neighborhood within their first two years of service A registered member, non member, group, agency, institution or organization that made outstanding contributions with respect to diversity, equity and inclusion in Girl Scouts A registered member who made a superior contribution of outstanding, unusual and lasting service in support of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience

Service team/committee chair receives a 5” x 7” personalized walnut plaque. Additional committee/team members receive a personalized certificate

Completed online nomination form and recommendation form from nominator plus two additional recommendation forms

President’s Award

Board Committee Chair or designate

Completed online nomination form and recommendation form from nominator plus two additional recommendation forms Completed online nomination form and recommendation form from nominator plus two additional recommendation forms

Pearl Award

Board Committee Chair or designate

Mother of pearl shell pendant

Individual, group, agency, institution or organization receives a personalized plaque and acknowledgment on plaque in the Girl Scout Service Center

Diversity Hall of Fame

Board Committee Chair or designate

Completed online nomination form and recommendation form from nominator plus three additional recommendation forms

Gold Laurel Award

Board Committee Chair or designate

A 15-year+ camp volunteer whose exemplary service and leadership made a lasting and measurable impact on the council’s camping program

Completed online nomination form and recommendation form from nominator plus three additional recommendation forms

AntRabbit Award for Camping Excellence

Board Committee Chair or designate

Cost for awards borne by Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri.

Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri 13

NOMINATION FORMAT AND SUBMISSION

RECOGNITION

RECOGNIZES

PRESENTED BY FORM OF AWARD

A registered member whose ongoing commitment, leadership and service had an exceptional, measurable impact on meeting the mission-delivery goals and priorities of the council or the entire Girl Scout organization The continuing service of a registered member who has already received the Thanks Badge and who continued to provide exemplary service in a leadership role, resulting in a measurable impact that benefited the council or entire Girl Scout organization

Completed online nomination form and recommendation form from nominator plus three additional recommendation form

Board Committee Chair or designate

Thanks Badge

Completed online nomination form and recommendation form from nominator plus four additional recommendation forms

Board Committee Chair or designate

Thanks Badge II

Cost for awards borne by Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri.

14 Adult Recognition Handbook

Glossary of Terms

Adult Recognition Ceremony : The ceremony, held each spring, where awardees are recognized by the GSEM Board of Directors and their Girl Scout peers for their outstanding achievements. District- and neighborhood-level recognitions are awarded separately at times and places chosen by each district and neighborhood. Awards Selection Committee : The committee that selects awardees for council-specific recognitions (pg. 12). It includes five volunteers from different council regions, along with a small number of council leadership staff to assist with administration. The committee determines candidate eligibility, evaluates candidates on the merits of the recommendation forms received, and scores candidates using award-specific rubrics. In contrast, the selection process for district- and neighborhood-level recognitions is managed by each district or neighborhood, and therefore may vary between areas. District : One of 18 geographical regions (pg. 4) that combine to form Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri. Each district is led by a volunteer service team comprised of a District Manager and other district leadership roles, and oversees one or more neighborhoods. ( see also , Neighborhood ) District Manager : A volunteer leadership role that oversees the operations of one of the 18 districts within our council. A District Manager completes the District Pin Approval Form to inform council who is to receive district-level pins, and purchases those pins after council approval. ( see also , District or District Pin Approval Form ) District Pin Approval Form : Online form for District Managers, found on the GSEM website, to inform council of candidates for district-level recognition pins. Once the form is received by council, candidates will be checked for award eligibility. After council approval, District Managers will be able to purchase pins for awardees from the GSEM Shop. ( see also , District Manager ) Candidate : An individual, group, or organization nominated for a recognition or award.

Exceptional : Someone or something that has a particular quality, usually a good quality, to an unusually high degree.

Exemplary : Commendable excellence that serves as a model for others or as an example worth imitating.

Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri 15

Geographic Area : Often synonymous with neighborhoods or districts, the term geographic area may also be associated with other locations, such as school districts, towns/cities, or regions that cover multiple districts. Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE) : Simply, what Girl Scouts do and how they do it. At its base, it consists of three keys (Discover, Connect, Take Action) and three processes (Girl led, Learning-by-Doing, Cooperative Learning). All Girl Scout programs, Badges, and activities incorporate the GSLE (pg. 3).

Girl Scout Mission : Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.

Impact : The effect or influence that a person, group, or action has upon another.

Impact Report : The annual publication for GSEM members, donors, and community supporters that highlights the council’s accomplishments during the previous year.

Inclusion : The act of allowing many different types of people to participate fairly and equally.

Leadership : Qualities and behaviors that inspire, motivate, influence, and guide others towards a common goal or shared success, often by taking initiative, setting a positive example, making informed decisions, taking responsibility, and fostering collaboration within a group. Lifetime Member : An adult who holds a Girl Scout Lifetime Membership, which affords certain membership benefits and does not need to be renewed annually. However, any Lifetime Member who serves in a volunteer role must renew that role annually to be considered an active volunteer. ( see also , Role , Volunteer , or Special Service Award )

Measurable : Something that can be measured or quantified in a demonstrable way.

Membership Year : Runs from October 1 to September 30 each year.

Movement : Refers to the Girl Scout Movement, or the driving force for Girl Scouting in our region, nation, and across the globe.

Neighborhood : A smaller subunit within a district. Each neighborhood is led by a volunteer service team comprised of a Neighborhood Manager (pg. 4) and other neighborhood leadership roles. ( see also , District ) Neighborhood Manager : A volunteer leadership role that oversees the operations of a single neighborhood within a district. A Neighborhood Manager completes the Neighborhood Pin Approval Form to inform council who is to receive neighborhood-level pins, and purchases those pins after council approval. ( see also , Neighborhood or Neighborhood Pin Approval Form )

Adult Recognition Handbook 16

Neighborhood Pin Approval Form : Online form for Neighborhood Managers, found on the GSEM website, to inform council of candidates for neighborhood-level recognition pins. Once the form is received by council, candidates will be checked for award eligibility. After council approval, Neighborhood Managers will be able to purchase pins for awardees from the GSEM Shop. ( see also , Neighborhood Manager ) Nomination Form : Online form on the GSEM website that initiates the nomination of a candidate for council-level recognition (pg. 12). It is submitted by the nominator along with their completed recommendation form plus a number of supporting recommendation forms. ( see also , Nominator or Recommendation Form ) Nominator : An individual who nominates a candidate for recognition (pg. 9). A nominator is responsible for: 1) ensuring the award is a good fit for the candidate, 2) ensuring the candidate meets the award’s eligibility requirements, 3) checking the Past Awardee Database to see if the candidate has already received that award, 4) coordinating completion of the required number of additional recommendation forms for council-level recognitions, and 5) completing the nomination, either via the online form for council-level recognitions or according to the award nomination guidelines for their district or neighborhood. ( see also , Nomination Form , Recommendation Form , Past-Awardee Database , Neighborhood Pin Approval Form , or District Pin Approval Form )

Non-Member : Any individual or group who does not hold a current GSEM membership or Lifetime Membership. ( see also , Registered Member )

Non-Traditional Volunteer Role : A role that is often short-term and centered around a specific program or event. ( see also , Role )

Outstanding : Marked by eminence or distinction; rises above and excels.

Past-Awardee Database : A collection of all known past recipients of council-level recognitions, district pins, and neighborhood pins. The database may be found on the GSEM website, and is searchable by recipient name, district, neighborhood, award name, and award year. Recommendation Form : An online form available to download from this handbook (pg. 8) and the GSEM website that is required for all council-level recognitions. Recommendation forms are specific to each council-level recognition, and are used in lieu of more formal “recommendation letters” to help describe a candidate’s merits and contributions in detail in respect to the award criteria. Both an award nominator and any individuals asked to provide additional testimonies in support of a candidate are required to complete recommendation forms. The number of additional recommendation forms required beyond the nominator varies by award. ( see also , Nominator or Nomination Form ) Registered Member : An individual who holds a GSEM membership for the current membership year or Lifetime Membership. Registered members are often background checked and hold a volunteer role. ( see also , Volunteer )

Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri 17

Role : A specific position or purpose played in our organization. Roles may be at the troop, neighborhood, district, council, community, or national level. Not all roles are considered volunteer roles in our council (for example, staff or board members are not volunteer roles). (see also , Volunteer ) Rubric : A guide listing specific criteria for grading or scoring. The Awards Selection Committee uses rubrics tailored to each award to score candidates for council-level recognitions. ( see also , Awards Selection Committee ) Service : The act of providing tangible or intangible help, benefit, or other positive contribution to the Girl Scout Mission or Movement by an individual or group. ( see also , Girl Scout Mission or Movement ) Service-Delivery Team : A collection of volunteers in leadership roles who perform a specific function or service. While this most often refers to district or neighborhood service teams, it may also describe groups whose roles function collectively, such as Cookie Cupboard Managers or Camp Supervisors. ( see also , Role , Volunteer , District , or Neighborhood )

Significant : To a degree that is important, meaningful, or profound.

Special Service Award : A self-nominated council-level award (pgs. 7, 12) that recognizes active volunteer service at 15 years, and in five-year increments thereafter. A volunteer should complete the Special Service Award Application on the GSEM website to self-nominate. Only years of active service in an adult volunteer role may be counted toward this award. Volunteers may not receive missed Special Service Awards retroactively. ( see also , Role or Volunteer )

Superior : Surpassing in quality or merit.

Sustained : Lasting or continued for an extended period without interruption.

Volunteer : A registered adult member who has passed a background check and serves in a defined volunteer role. ( see also , Registered Member or Role )

Volunteer Essentials : A resource, located on the GSEM website, that contains the policies and procedures for our council.

Adult Recognition Handbook 18

Nomination Examples

Spark Award

Award Description: The Spark Award recognizes a member or non-member who served in a short-term, non-traditional volunteer role and contributed outstanding service to support a program, event or mission of Girl Scouts.

Submission Example:

John Helpful went above and beyond the call of duty as a Girl Scout volunteer this year. In May, the Apple Hill Elementary first grade Daisy troops held an event for the Daisy Animal Observer Badge. John, an entomologist with a daughter in one of the troops, volunteered his time during a workday to bring bees to the event and teach the girls about pollination. With little direction, he put on a wonderful presentation. Given the success of this event, District 19 put on an event for the entire district for Daisies to earn the Daisy Animal Observer Badge. John again offered his time, free of charge, to present two more sessions of his pollination talk, even with his daughter not present at the event. He again brought a colony of bees and used flowers and a whiteboard to teach the girls about pollination, bee colonies, how the environment affects bee populations, and what we can do as Girl Scouts to “Save the Bees.” This district event date was already a busy Saturday for him, with his children’s sporting events happening at the same time. He squeezed in two awesome presentations for us between traveling to and from games. And when the event was over, John asked how he could help again at future “Save the Bees” events. As a district, we are grateful to John Helpful for his efforts to bring an educational new topic to Girl Scouting.

Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri 19

Volunteer of Excellence Award

Award Description: The Volunteer of Excellence Award recognizes a volunteer who contributed outstanding service partnering directly with girls to implement the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, or who contributed outstanding service in support of the council’s mission delivery goals to girl and adult members.

Submission Example:

I am a troop leader and assistant director for summer overnight camp at Camp Dragonfly. At the start of overnight camp, my primary lakefront staff person was called away because of an emergency and was unavailable for the rest of the summer. This left me the daunting task of either finding an immediate replacement or canceling canoeing activities all summer. When I posted on Facebook that I needed assistance covering this camp activity, Tracy Tagalong, a semi-retired Council Trainer still certified in Small Craft Safety, volunteered to run canoeing at the lake for the last couple days of the current camp session so that the campers already there wouldn’t be disappointed. Even though I was prepared to not offer canoeing for the next few camp sessions while I searched for a more permanent replacement, Tracy wanted to make sure the campers received a full Girl Scout camp experience, so she continued to volunteer at the lakefront every day, all day, for another two weeks until I was able to find a replacement. She taught the campers how to work together in a canoe so that they could safely explore the lake and develop their confidence. In doing so, Tracy taught them lessons beyond just paddling a canoe, which is what the Girl Scout Leadership Experience is all about.

Her dedication to our organization and desire to provide Girl Scouts an unforgettable hands-on experience at camp is why Tracy Tagalong is truly a Volunteer of Excellence!

Adult Recognition Handbook 20

Gold Trefoil Award

Award Description: The Gold Trefoil Award recognizes an adult non-member whose superior contribution created pronounced council-wide impact.

Submission Example:

The St. Louis County Municipal Police and Fire Academy is the training center for all police officers and firefighters in the St. Louis County area. The Academy serves over 43 fire service agencies and has trained thousands of police officers and firefighters since opening. The Academy has also been the venue of Camp Fury STL, a specialized camp for Girl Scouts ages 14-18, for the past seven years. Since 2017, the Academy provided not only the space to run the camp free of charge, but also provided access to equipment, including the Virtra (a multi-million-dollar piece of equipment for training on accuracy of shooting), harnesses, ropes, fake guns, handcuffs, belts, protective equipment, fire helmets, and any apparatus needed to make the program successful. Within the venue, Camp Fury STL was given access to the track, fitness center, classrooms, training tower, conference rooms, kitchen and dining space, and the recently-updated obstacle course. The Academy also provided over 55 female first responders, in a wide array of fields and positions, as volunteer instructors to teach the campers skills such as defensive tactics, rappelling, aerial climbs, search and rescue, handcuffing, and more. The support shown by the Academy to Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri through Camp Fury STL is immeasurable, and we know it makes an impact on our Girl Scouts and on the first responder community. In total, Camp Fury STL has graduated 148 campers from this program, with at least 6 becoming firefighters and/or paramedics and one becoming a police officer. This level of commitment to a single Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri program is deserving of the Gold Trefoil Award.

Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri 21

President’s Award

Award Description: The President’s Award recognizes 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. To include the 2023-24 year.

Submission Example:

The D19N1 Service Team, led by first-time Neighborhood Manager, Alex Thinmint, is deserving of the President’s Award this year. With the difficulties of recruiting Girl Scouts when most schools were still virtual, the Service Team really thought outside the box to help maintain our neighborhood’s recruitment goals. For example, they offered the option of drive-thru recruitment events for schools that were starting out the year virtually. They also had Troop Organizers lean heavily into school districts’ message and flyer platforms so that the word got out about Girl Scouts, even when they could not be face-to-face with parents and kids. Because of their fantastic ideas, our neighborhood surpassed its recruitment goals this membership year. D19N1 meetings started the year virtually, and Alex did everything he could to make volunteers feel engaged, such as providing breakout sessions in Zoom to discuss topics, and asking all volunteers to keep their cameras on. These virtual meetings had good attendance, and continued to do so once they resumed in person. The Service Team set the tone during a difficult time, which helped the neighborhood volunteers feel a sense of community that lasted throughout the year. When finally allowed, the Service Team took no time at all to sponsor fun events to get Girl Scouts interacting with each other again. They hosted an archery and canoeing event at camp and an all-ages outdoor karaoke event at a local park that were both well-attended, yet still implemented safely. They also helped troops who had lost their old venues during the pandemic find new places to hold troop meetings. The D19N1 Service Team kept the neighborhood running smoothly, managing to meet their recruitment goals for the year and keep all Service Team roles filled for the entire year. They were even able to get every troop in the neighborhood to submit their equipment shed fees on time for the first time ever. Thanks to Alex Thinmint and the outstanding Service Team he led, D19N1 met its goals, maintained its sense of community, and supported the Girl Scout Leadership Experience by hosting quality neighborhood programs and helping troops find space for their activities.

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Pearl Award

Award Description: The Pearl Award recognizes a registered member who is new to Girl Scouts and made an immediate impact on the organization through service in a district or neighborhood within their first two years of service.

Submission Example:

Olivia Samoa is an amazing young leader who has really made an impact on our neighborhood and on Girl Scouts. She is currently the Troop Leader, Troop Treats & Reads Manager, and Troop Cookie Manager for two troops. She goes to great lengths to keep her troops afloat, as they are associated with a Catholic school that provides no support and does not allow them to use or recruit at the school. Because of her perseverance in the face of obstacles, I (as Neighborhood Manager) asked Olivia to be the Troop Organizer for all the Catholic schools in our neighborhood, which she agreed to do and has done an outstanding job. Olivia’s troops have grown through word-of mouth over the past year, even from nearby Catholic schools. Potential volunteers have sought out her advice on how to start new troops in a Catholic school environment. In her short time as a Troop Leader and Troop Organizer, Olivia has become a resource in our area, all while continuing to give her troops the fun and experiences they deserve. Olivia Samoa is a tremendous Troop Leader (and leader in general), and because she has done so much good for our neighborhood in so little time, she should be honored with the Pearl Award.

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Diversity Hall of Fame

Award Description: The Diversity Hall of Fame recognizes a registered member, non-member, group, agency, institution or organization that made outstanding contributions with respect to diversity, equity and inclusion in Girl Scouts.

Submission Example:

Missouri, and especially St. Louis, boasts a tremendous variety of cultures from around the world. Divya Dosido, COO of the International Society of Missouri (ISM), knows first-hand how difficult it can be to balance the feeling of belonging to a new nation with the desire to retain one’s culture. Through her position, she actively works to increase cross-cultural understanding and promote inclusiveness. This led her to initiate a partnership between ISM and Girl Scout of Eastern Missouri to help our council reach more youth by expanding council programming and communication materials to incorporate more languages and cultures. Divya became an assistant leader for her child’s elementary school troop three years ago, and noticed how difficult was for some international students in the troop to receive a rich Girl Scout experience when their, or their caregivers’, English skills created communication challenges. She also felt that the troop could do more to promote cultural understanding and help everyone feel seen and included. She also noticed that international students tended to shy away from Girl Scouts at recruitment events. Divya personally participated the ISM/GSEM working group that determined which languages and cultures would be the focus of translation efforts for recruitment materials and council sourced program materials. She led the efforts to teach volunteer and staff recruiters how to use a translation app to help communicate with international families at schools and other Girl Scout recruitment events. Because of Divya’s motivation and love of Girl Scouts, GSEM was able to create culturally sensitive printed materials in four languages relevant to our council, and increased the recruitment of both youth and adults with international backgrounds by 18 percent. The International Society of Missouri and Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri have created a beneficial partnership that fosters cross-cultural understanding and highlights the diverse communities across our council, thanks to the efforts of Divya Dosido.

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Gold Laurel Award

Award Description: The Gold Laurel Award recognizes a registered member who made a superior contribution of outstanding, unusual and lasting service in support of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience.

Submission Example:

Emily Trefoil is a dedicated Girl Scout volunteer, serving as a troop leader, Troop Organizer, and Neighborhood Manager in District 19 over the past seven years. Last year, she told the District Service Team that our rural area needed a Girl Scout Day Camp. She said that other area youth organizations ran very successful summer day camps, and she wanted Girl Scouts to also be represented as a summertime option for kids so that Girl Scouts could stay relevant in our area. There are no other Girl Scout Day Camps within 75 miles of our community. Emily took the lead on this project, gathering a committee and working with Council to create Pebble Springs Day Camp. She advertised this new day camp in area schools and churches. She also volunteered to be the Day Camp Director, since no one else was stepping up, and trained all of the Camp Aides and Unit Leaders. I don’t know how Emily found the time to do it all! In addition, Emily made sure all the fantastic activities that her day camp committee imagined for the girls to do followed the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. Campers were given choices in their activities as often as was practical, and everyone got their hands dirty trying new things. She did not just sit back and let others run the day camp units—she pitched in herself and ran the Brownie unit, which was the biggest unit at Pebble Springs. In doing this, she personally delivered the Girl Scout Leadership Experience to those Brownies. During its first year, Pebble Springs had over 50 attendees across five units, which was a marvelous outcome considering how sparsely populated our area is. Our district will definitely be hosting this day camp again next year, and hopefully for many years after. I believe that the success of Pebble Springs comes down to the hard work Emily put in from start to finish. Because of this, Emily Trefoil deserves the Gold Laurel Award.

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