Adult Recognitions

Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England partners with over 2,000 trained, dedicated, and wonderful adult volunteers who share their time and talent to make Girl Scouts the success it is. Everyone at GSSNE deeply appreciates the work volunteers, families, and community partners do to support Girl Scouts and we thank them for their selfless acts of service. GSSNE offers a variety of ways to recognize and honor those who have made a positive impact in Girl Scouts. See below for ways to celebrate those you know who have made a Girl Scout difference. Your endorsement helps reinforce the sense of belonging and value we all feel for them.

Ongoing Adult Recognitions

Volunteer of the Month: GSSNE’s Volunteer of the Month Recognition highlights wonderful Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England volunteers and the great work they do throughout the Girl Scout year.

Girl Scouts exists because of the dedicated and hardworking volunteers who deliver the program to children throughout our communities. In celebration of their extraordinary impact, GSSNE recognizes one outstanding volunteer every month as the Volunteer of the Month. Pulled from a pool of nominations, the volunteer is interviewed and featured in an article posted on our website and social media, their photo is displayed at GSSNE headquarters, and they have use of the dedicated Volunteer of the Month parking spot at GSSNE in Warwick. Nominations may be submitted by anyone who has worked with or is familiar with that volunteer and the service they’ve performed. This is NOT a self-nominating recognition.

To nominate someone, please complete the Volunteer of the Month nomination form. Nominations are accepted any time of year and there is no deadline.
Girl Scout Shout-Out: Surprise a fellow Girl Scout volunteer with our online "Girl Scout Shout-Out" program (formerly "Encore! GSSNE's Peer Appreciation Program")! Send a High Five, Fist Bump, or Pat on the Back to cheer on your peers and recognize a job well done. Submit your form to show your appreciation!

Annual Adult Recognitions

Recognizing our adult volunteers is an important annual tradition that allows council staff and volunteers to nominate those in the GSSNE community who make extraordinary contributions to Girl Scouts. This year’s nomination period will run from October 1 through December 31, 2022. Nomination packages will be reviewed by the Adult Recognition Committee and awards will be presented at a council ceremony on April 1, 2023 or at the recipient’s year-end service unit celebration. Below you will find the nomination form, past award recipients, and descriptions of each award. If you have any questions about the Adult Recognition process, please contact us!

Nomination Forms
Nomination Letter
Endorsement Letter
Milestones of Membership
Years of Volunteer Service

Past Adult Recognition Recipients: Curious who has received an Adult Recognition before? Check out all the GSSNE Adult Recognition Recipients History through 2022.

Please join us in congratulating the 2022 Adult Recognition recipients:

Special Supporters:
Scooter & Cynthia LaPrise, Emma Acres, Exter, RI
Gina & Loren Thurn, Our Kids Farm, Exeter, RI

Milestones of Membership
20 years: Bonnie-Marie Tate, Cranston, RI

Years of Service
15 years: Laurie Boone, North Attleboro, MA
Kristin Scribner, Lincoln, RI
5 years: Amanda Auble, Coventry, RI
Kristina Schrag, Providence, RI

Rising Star
Erin Edmonds, East Greenwich, RI

Volunteer of Excellence
Charesse Blood, Wrentham, MA
Christine Jasset, Plainville, MA
Denise Lee, Somerset, MA
Theresa Raymond, Pawtucket, RI
Justine Santos, Middletown, RI
Andrea Stevens, West Greenwich, RI

Kit Hammett Award
Kara Richardson, Exeter, RI
Kate Tompkins, Lincoln, RI

GSSNE Special Supporter Award: GSSNE's Special Supporter Award

Awarded to honor a group or individual who has shown outstanding support to Girl Scouts in a GSSNE community. The candidate need not be a registered member of GSSNE

Length of Service and Nominations:

Candidate need not be a registered GSSNE member.
Length of Service: Any length through 9/30/2021
1 Nomination, no endorsements required

View full nomination criteria for GSSNE Special Supporter Award
GSSNE Rising Star: GSSNE Rising Star Award

Recognizes a first- or second-year volunteer who hit the ground running and made an immediate and significant impact on Girl Scouts.

Candidate is a first-time volunteer for GSSNE and is a registered GSSNE member in good standing.

Length of Service: 6-14 months through 9/30/21

1 nomination, 2 endorsements

Full award description for GSSNE Rising Star Award
New! GSSNE Guiding Star Award: GSSNE Guiding Star Award

Recognizes a GSSNE volunteer whose outstanding performance mentoring another volunteer and their troop/group merits recognition.

Candidate is a registered GSSNE member in good standing.

Length of Service: 1-year minimum through 9/30/21

1 nomination, 2 endorsements

Full award description for GSSNE Guiding Star Award
GSUSA Appreciation Pin: GSUSA Appreciation Pin

Recognizes a volunteer for outstanding service in support of the GSLE to one service unit or geographic area and helps reach and surpass the mission-delivery goals of the area.

Candidate is a registered GSSNE member in good standing.

Length of Service: 1-year minimum through 9/30/2021

1 nomination, 2 endorsements

Full award description for GSUSA Appreciation Pin
GSUSA Volunteer of Excellence Award: GSUSA Volunteer of Excellence

Recognizes volunteers who have performed beyond expectations for the position to 1) deliver the Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE) directly to girls in any pathway using the National Program Portfolio OR 2) provided significant and impactful support of the council’s mission delivery goals in one or more of the following functional areas: Membership Development/Community Cultivation, Volunteer Relations and Support, Program, Leadership / Governance, Fund Development, or Council Support Service (such as IT, Customer Service, Product Programs).

Candidate is a registered GSSNE member in good standing.

Length of Service: 1-year minimum through 9/30/21

1 nomination, 2 endorsements

Full award description for GSUSA Volunteer of Excellence
GSSNE Kit Hammett Award: GSSNE Kit Hammett Award

Recognizes a volunteer who has held two or more positions with GSSNE for two or more years exceeding the expectations held, benefits one or more service units within council jurisdiction, and contributes to council goals and objectives.

Candidate is a registered GSSNE member in good standing.

Length of Service: 2-year minimum through 9/30/21

1 nomination, 2 endorsements

Full award description for GSSNE Kit Hammett Award
GSUSA Honor Pin: GSUSA Honor Pin

Recognizes a volunteer’s significant contributions to meeting one or more council goals in membership growth and retention, fund development, or increased community visibility in two or more geographic areas within council jurisdiction and supports the delivery of the Girl Scout Leadership experience (GSLE).

Candidate is a registered GSSNE member in good standing.

Length of Service: 3-year minimum through 9/30/21

1 nomination, 3 endorsements

Requirement: Previously received the Appreciation Pin

Full award description for GSUSA Honor Pin
New! GSSNE Heritage Award: GSSNE’s Heritage Award

Recognizes the work done by a GSSNE volunteer to promote the history of Girl Scouts through artifact preservation, restoration, sharing and/or presenting the history of the council and/or the entire Girl Scout movement.

Candidate is a registered GSSNE member in good standing.

Length of Service: 5-year minimum through 9/30/21

1 nomination, 3 endorsements

Full award description for GSSNE’s Heritage Award
GSSNE Mira Hoffman Award: GSSNE Mira Hoffman Award

Recognizes an unwavering commitment to the Girl Scout movement with a focus on the outdoor experience. The recipient has made outstanding contributions to the council’s work and consistently displays the finest spirit of Girl Scouting.

Candidate is a registered GSSNE member in good standing.

Length of Service: 10-year minimum through 9/30/21

1 nomination, 2 endorsements

Full award description for GSSNE Mira Hoffman Award
GSUSA Thanks Badge: GSUSA Thanks Badge

Recognizes a volunteer whose ongoing commitment, leadership, and service have had an exceptional measurable impact on meeting the mission-delivery goals and priorities of the entire council or the entire Girl Scout movement.

Candidate is a registered GSSNE member in good standing.

Length of Service: 5-year minimum through 9/30/21

1 nomination, 4 endorsements

Full award description for GSUSA Thanks Badge
GSUSA Thanks Badge II: GSUSA Thanks Badge II

Recognizes a volunteer who has previously received the Thanks Badge and has continued to contribute to the same high level for an extended period of time, or has increased their sphere of influence, or has used their skills to move into other fields of endeavor.

Candidate is a registered GSSNE member in good standing.

Length of Service: 8-year minimum through 9/30/21

1 nomination, 4 endorsements

Full award description for GSUSA Thanks Badge II
GSUSA Milestones of Membership: GSUSA Milestones of Membership

This pin recognizes the total number of girl and adult membership years; presented in 5-year increments.

Membership years of 50 or more will be recognized at council’s annual recognition event. Membership below 50 years should be purchased by and recognized at the service unit level.

Candidate is a registered GSSNE member in good standing.

Length of Service: 5-year minimum through 9/30/21

Nomination may be submitted by the candidate or a colleague and qualification will be determined by the GSSNE Adult Recognition Committee.

Full award description for GSUSA Milestones of Membership
GSUSA Years of Service Pin: GSUSA Years of Volunteer Service Pin

This pin recognizes an adult volunteer for their years of active volunteer service to GSSNE; presented in 5-year increments.

Candidate is a registered GSSNE member in good standing.

Length of Service: 5-year minimum through 9/30/21

Nomination may be submitted by the candidate, or a colleague and qualification will be determined by the GSSNE Adult Recognition Committee.

Full award description for GSUSA Years of Volunteer Service Pin