Girl Scouts of Western Ohio recognizes its volunteers as its most valuable asset. The purpose of recognition is to facilitate, acknowledge, credit or celebrate the achievements of volunteers. Awards are available to recognize an individual’s contributions to Girl Scouts both from Girl Scouts of the USA and Girl Scouts of Western Ohio.
Although each region has its own formal recognition nominations committee and process, all regions follow the Girl Scouts of the USA adult recognition awards procedures. It is also encouraged that each service unit implements a form of volunteer recognition, ensuring that leaders, service team volunteers and administrative volunteers are appropriately thanked for their contribution to the organization.
Volunteer Appreciation Week
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 long-standing National Girl Scout Leaders’ Day (April 22), but expands the definition of volunteers beyond troop leaders, to include all the volunteers who work in so many ways on behalf of girls in Girl Scouting.
Girl Scouts also celebrates Volunteers Make a Difference Week, in conjunction with Make a Difference Day, which is the weekend we set our clocks back in the fall.
Volunteer Evaluation
Volunteers have the opportunity to evaluate their performance through self-assessment tools and/or discussions with their manager/support volunteers and staff. The paid staff will provide coaching, tools, and resources as support for volunteer assessment. Service unit managers will ensure reappointment of qualified Girl Scout Leaders in part through discussion and self-evaluation by the Girl Scout Leader. Utilizing these various support methods is also considered part of the agreement for volunteer appointment/re-appointment. The decision to re-appoint is based on this assessment, volunteer interest, and a joint assessment of suitability for the position in the future.
The council reserves the right to decline to reappoint a volunteer if in the judgment of the director of regional services the volunteer is not suitable for the position
Getting Feedback on a Job Well Done
Serving as a Girl Scout volunteer affords you exceptional opportunities, both in the skills you’ll gain and in the difference you’ll make in the lives of girls. Everyone involved with Girl Scouts wants to ensure that you’re effectively mentoring girls to become world-changing leaders, and your council staff helps you do that by measuring outcomes, evaluating your performance, continuing to give you opportunities to build new skills, and recognizing you for the tremendous work you do.
We want you to have such an incredible time working with girls that you want to stay in Girl Scouting! So, after you complete your current role, your council staff will go through a reappointment process, in which you’ll talk 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. During this process, council staff will also (of course!) want to lavish you with praise, rewards, recognition, and thanks for all the hard work you do!