Recognize Your Leaders
Is there a Girl Scout volunteer who has made a difference in your community or your child's life? Now is the time to show them you appreciate their presence! There are many ways to honor a Leader or a volunteer in a Troop, Service Unit, or Area. You can nominate her or him for a national award, or a council award such as the Outstanding Leader Award. Or you might want to thank your favorite Leader or volunteer with a special recognition of your own. If Leader Appreciation Day, April 22, is close at hand, it would be a perfect chance for you to say thank you and show this Leader she or he has made a difference in the lives of girls. But remember that you don’t have to wait until April 22 to show your appreciation!
The Outstanding Leader Award recognizes troop leaders, assistant troop leaders, co-leaders, and leaders of other groups of girls. Work which is outstanding and exceeds the expectations of the job is recognized. To obtain a form for nominating someone for an Outstanding Leader Award (or Microsoft Word version), you can click on the link for the award or contact your service center staff, area chair, or Julie Moorman (at the council office in Louisville, 502-636-0900 ext. 267 or 1-888-771-5170). Two letters of endorsement from girls or families must be attached to the application.
National awards follow a nomination process. Visit the Guide for Recognition of Adult Volunteers and browse the different awards carefully to find one that suits the leader or volunteer you want to honor. To obtain a recognition request form (#501) (or Microsoft Word version) or for more information about council awards, contact your service center staff, area chair, or Julie Moorman.
Let’s face it, without great leaders and volunteers, Girl Scouts would not be the wonderful place that it is! These individuals open new gateways of experience for girls, experiences they may not get anywhere else. Leaders and volunteers help girls make new friends, learn new skills, and gain confidence in their own abilities. Girl Scout volunteers and leaders make a true difference in your community. Please don’t forget to thank them for all the hard work!
Below are some additional ideas that you can do to show that special volunteer you care:
- Plan a surprise party (perhaps a potluck dinner or a tea party) and invite friends
- Create a photo collage of girls in the troop
- Plant a tree in the Leader’s honor
- Tie green ribbons on the trees in the Leader’s yard
- Design a special thank you card with your daughter's troop to give to the Leader
- Write a poem