Adult Recognitions
The primary mission of a Service Unit is to provide volunteer and troop support and to recognize its volunteers. The Costa de Oro Service Unit has a number of ways it honors its local volunteers: ongoing recognitions provided at the monthly Service Unit meetings, a special gift provided to leaders at the December Service Unit meeting for submitting their troop and personal paperwork on time, and certificates and pins for performing outstanding volunteer support to the Service Unit or to our Girl Scout troops. Below are some of the ways we honor our volunteers.
Girl Scout Membership Pins
Adult Volunteers who are members of Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. should wear either the traditional style or the contemporary style adult membership pin during all Girl Scout events. These pins can be purchased from the Council Shop or from GSUSA. These pins are offered for free by our Service Unit at our Investiture/Rededication Ceremony at the November Service Unit meeting and at our June Volunteer Recognition Dinner (must be present to receive).
Numeral Guards (Year Pins) and Years of Service Pins
Numeral Guards (Year Pins) indicate the total number of years you have been a member of Girl Scouts and include the years you were a Girl Scout as a child. They come in 5-year increments: 5, 10, 15, 20, etc. You may purchase this pin yourself or request one to be presented at our June Volunteer Recognition Dinner.
Years of Service Pins represent the number of years you have served as an adult volunteer to Girl Scouts at the Troop, Service Unit or Council level. They come in 5-year increments: 5, 10, 15, 20, etc. You may purchase this pin yourself or request one to be presented at our June Volunteer Recognition Dinner.
Leader Position Bar
The yellow position bar for being a leader is presented by the Service Unit once you inform the Getting Started Orientation Coordinator that you have completed Volunteer Essentials (found at the Council web site). Once you notify the Coordinator, you will be presented a certificate and your bar at the next Service Unit meeting. The bar can be worn on your insignia tab along with your membership pin and WAAGGS (World Trefoil) pin. See Adult Insignia Placement to see how to wear your insignia.
Service Unit Team Position Bar
The red position bar is presented to an adult volunteer the first time they join the Service Unit Team by holding a Service Unit position. They are presented at Service Unit meetings and at our June Volunteer Dinner.
Outstanding Leader Award, Outstanding Volunteer Award, & Green Angel
These awards have been retired by GSUSA. As long as our Service Unit has these pins, they will be awarded and then retired by the Service Unit.
The Outstanding Leader Award is presented to volunteers who have served as a troop leader for at least one full year and who receive a nomination from their troop families in the form of two nomination letters. The Outstanding Leader Award flyer is e-mailed on March 12 (Girl Scout Birthday) to all troop parents of eligible leaders who have provided a valid e-mail address to Council. The Nomination Letters are due to the Service Unit by April 22 (Leader Day). The pin and certificate can be awarded at a troop meeting or at our June Volunteer Recognition Dinner.
The Outstanding Volunteer Award is presented to those whose contribution as an adult Service Unit Volunteer is deemed outstanding and it is presented at our June Volunteer Recognition Dinner.
The Green Angel is presented to an adult Girl Scout who has made a special contribution to Girl Scouting for three or more years and it is presented at our June Volunteer Recognition Dinner.
President’s Volunteer Service Award
The Costa de Oro Service Unit is an official certifying organization for the national President’s Volunteer Service Award. Any individual (girl or adult) who is a currently registered Girl Scout and has provided volunteer service hours may receive recognition for those hours earned over any 12-month period or over the course of a lifetime. If you are interested in finding out more, please contact ourService Unit's President’s Volunteer Service Award Coordinator.
Council Recognitions
The Costa de Oro Recognitions Committee determines those adult volunteers who have met the basic requirements for Council - provided awards. The committee completes the Nomination packet and submits it to Council for their consideration. Awards are presented at our Volunteer Recognition Dinner in June or at the Council Recognitions Ceremony (if held).
