Girl Scout Service Centers - Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta

Knowing How Much You’re Appreciated
Whatever your volunteer position, your
hard work means the world to girls, to
GSGATL sta�, and to Girl Scouts of the
USA. Girls could never experience all
the bene�ts of Girl Scouting without
you, so thank you, from the bottom of
our hearts.
Just as you’ll receive support
throughout your volunteering
experience, when you reach the end
of the term you signed up for, you’ll
talk with your support team about the
positive parts of your experience, as
well as the challenges you faced, and
discuss whether you want to return in
this position or try something new. The
end of your troop year, camp season,
overseas trip, or series/event session
doesn’t have to be the end of your time
with Girl Scouting!
If you’re ready for more opportunities to work with girls, be sure to let your support team know how you’d like to be a part of girls’
lives in the future—whether in the same position or in other, �exible ways. Are you ready to organize a series or event, take a trip,
work with girls at camp, work with a troop of girls as a year-long volunteer, or share your skills at GSGATL’s o�ce, working behind the
scenes? The possibilities are endless and can be tailored to �t your skills and interests.
Great adult volunteer leadership makes Girl Scouting possible. GSGATL believes every volunteer should be recognized for his or her
contributions to building girls of courage, con�dence and character, who make the world a better place.
GSGATL’s volunteer recognition program is designed to o�er formal and informal recognition. Formal recognition is for signi�cant
service and for completing the relevant requirements which can be found in the Volunteer Recognition Handbook and on GSGATL’s
website. The Rookie of the Year, Outstanding Leader, Outstanding Volunteer, Super Star, Special Supporter, Extra Mile, Daisy Award,
Golden Daisy Award, D.O.G.S. (Dads of Girl Scouting), Pioneer Award, Lighthouse Award, Fantastic Family Award, Helen Foster Award,
Appreciation Pin, Honor Pin, Trefoil Award, Thanks Badge and Thanks Badge II are the awards available.
GSGATL’s Recognition Committee, composed of �ve to seven GSGATL volunteers, reviews and makes recommendations to the Board
of Directors for the highest awards and President’s Awards each year. GSGATL also provides numeral guards service award pins for
adult members with 20 or more years of Girl Scout membership. Volunteers receiving Board-approved awards and recognition for 20
or more years of membership are recognized annually at a GSGATL-sponsored event.
Girl Scout leaders are also eligible to earn the Leadership Development Pin once they have completed all of the training required,
attended two or more community or GSGATL events and recruited a trained �rst-aider. This pin is presented at a service unit meeting
once the leader or assistant leader has completed one program year of troop leadership.
GSGATL encourages service unit directors and service unit teams to recognize volunteer accomplishments at each service unit
meeting and within the community.
There are many examples of informal recognitions on GSGATL’s website at gsgatl.org. Each service unit is encouraged to appoint a
service unit recognition chair to promote and support the volunteer recognition process.
Volunteer Appreciation Weeks
Volunteer Appreciation Week—the third week in April—is set aside especially for you. Girl Scouts pay
tribute to the volunteers who help girls make the world a better place. The week centers on the longstanding
National Girl Scout Leaders’ Day (April 22), but expands the de�nition of volunteers beyond troop
leaders to include all the volunteers who work on behalf of girls in Girl Scouting.
In addition, Girl Scouts also celebrates Volunteers Make a Di�erence Week, in conjunction with Make a
Di�erence Day, which is the weekend in autumn that we set our clocks back.
Volunteer Essentials
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