Service Unit Volunteer Recognition Pin Order Form

Service Unit Volunteer Recognition Pin Order Form

If your service unit team would like to recognize volunteers at the local level with formal awards, we have Volunteer of Excellence, GSNEO Outstanding Leader, and GSNEO Rising Leader Award pins available. All service units qualify for 1 of each for FREE, and 2 of each for FREE if there are over 100 volunteers in the service unit (additional pins can be purchased for a fee).

Pins may only be requested once per Girl Scout Membership year (Oct 1-Sept 30).

Certificate(s) will be mailed/available for pick up along with the pins.

Pins will be available for pickup and/or mailed within 2 weeks of submitting form. As of November 2025 the Rising Leader Award pins have not yet been ordered so please allow more processing time for that award.

Please contact GSNEO Customer Care at customercare@gsneo.org with any questions. 

Volunteer of Excellence

1 per service unit for free, 2 per service unit for free if there are over 100 volunteers. Purchase additional pins for $9.00 each.

Introduced in 2013, the Volunteer of Excellence award recognizes those volunteers who have contributed outstanding service while partnering directly with girls in any pathway to implement the Girl Scout Leadership Experience through use of the national program portfolio, or who have contributed outstanding service in support of the council’s mission delivery to girl and adult members.

Criteria:

Focus of Service	Benefits the troop, service unit, or other group, in a capacity other than Troop Leader or Troop Admin. If a person serves in additional non-Leader/Admin roles, they are eligible. Endorsement should focus on these additional roles.
Impact of Service	Significant service above and beyond the expectations of the position(s) held. Volunteers who have contributed outstanding service while partnering directly wih girls in any pathway to implement the Girl Scout Leadership Experience using the National Program Portfolio, or in support of Council’s mission delivery to youth and adult members.
Length of Service	No length of service requirement.
Examples of Possible Candidates	Troop committee members, such as a Troop Product Manager – CP or Troop Treasurer. A troop leader who has already received Outstanding Leader, but also serves with distinction in another troop role, like Troop Product Manager – FPP or Troop Product Manager – CP. A volunteer who received an Appreciation Pin, then took on a Service Unit Committee role for addtional years.
Endorsements Required	1
Approval Required	The SU Team for the candidate. This award is not issued via the GSNEO Volunteer Recognition Committee.
Presentation	By the Service Unit and presented at a local SU event, candidate can count towards Honors Grant recipient.
General Requirements	The Awardee must have a current Girl Scout membership and approved background check. The nominee has successfully completed a term of service and all requirements (including training) for the position. The Awardee must not owe any debt to GSNEO. If the Awardee is responsible for any bank account(s) for GSNEO, those accounts must be in good standing with an up-to-date finance report on file. OR The candidate’s performance has been beyond the expectations of the position, has supported the council’s mission delivery goals in one or more of the following areas: Membership development, Community cultivation, Volunteer Relations, Girl Experience Programming, Governance, Fund Development, or Council Support Services (i.e. Customer Service, Product Sales, IT, etc.). The candidate actively recognizes, understands, and practices the value of inclusive behavior.

GSNEO Outstanding Leader

1 per service unit for free, 2 per service unit for free if there are over 100 volunteers. Purchase additional pins for $3.00 each.

The Outstanding Leader Pin, originally developed by GSUSA in 1987 and adapted by GSNEO in 2020, is given to a primary troop volunteer (Troop Leader, Admin, or Program Guide) at the service unit level. It recognizes leadership skills that include good communication and membership development.

Criteria:

Focus of Service	Troop Leader or Troop Admin volunteer roles
Impact of Service	Demonstrated outstanding achievements in the following areas: Implementing a girl-led program appropriate to Girl Scout level. Communication with troop(s), family, service unit, and council. Membership development (meeting or exceeding troop size agreed upon by the leader and the service unit team) in accordance with the service unit's membership goals.
Length of Service	No length of service requirement.
Examples of Possible Candidates	Troop Leader Trop Admin
Endorsements Required	1
Approval Required	The SU Team for the candidate. This award is not issued via the GSNEO Volunteer Recognition Committee.
Presentation	By the Service Unit and presented at a local SU event, candidate can count towards Honors Grant recipient.
General Requirements	The Awardee must have a current Girl Scout membership and approved background check. The nominee has successfully completed a term of service and all requirements (including training) for the position. The Awardee must not owe any debt to GSNEO. If the Awardee is responsible for any bank account(s) for GSNEO, those accounts must be in good standing with an up-to-date finance report on file.

SUD Name (if not person ordering)

GSNEO Rising Leader Awards

1 per service unit for free, 2 per service unit for free if there are over 100 volunteers. Purchase additional pins for $3.00 each.

This pin is a special way to say thanks to the newest Volunteers to Girl Scouts. This can be awarded to Volunteers who have completed their first year in troop leadership and is issued by the local Service Unit Team.

If the Service Unit does not have a team, the Volunteer Support and Services staff of GSNEO can issue these pins for eligible volunteers.

A required nomination must be filed for the pin to be issued by GSNEO.

Criteria:

Focus of Service	Local troop or service unit
Impact of Service	Troop or SU
Length of Service	At least one completed year of active service. Can be awarded in the second active year of service, and candidate must be committed to a third year of service.
Examples of Possible Candidates	Any adult volunteer in troop leader who is active within the service unit. Definition of service to the SU is left up to the SU team. Completed and executed a bridging event, community service project, campout, etc Focused on continuing to progress through the troop experience.
Approval Required	Approval of nomination and endorsement is handled at the SU level by the SU team or by GSNEO staff if no unit team is in place.
Presentation	Service Unit Presentation or GSNEO
General Requirements	The Awardee must have a current Girl Scout membership and approved background check. The nominee has successfully completed a term of service and all requirements (including training) for the position. The Awardee must not owe any debt to GSNEO. If the Awardee is responsible for any bank account(s) for GSNEO, those accounts must be in good standing with an up-to-date finance report on file. The Awardee has completed all the training required for their role. Candidate must be active within the local service unit if a unit team is in place.

Name of person ordering*

Email*

example@example.com

SU #*

SU Name

Do you have approval from the SUD?

YesNo

Community Support Coordinator Name

Preferred delivery method*

Address (ONLY IF SELECTED "MAILED")

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState

Zip Code

Please list the name of each Volunteer of Excellence Recipient. GSNEO will confirm current membership before sending pin(s).*

Do not list your GSNEO Outstanding Leader candidate(s) in this box.

Number of additional GSNEO Outstanding Leader Pins - $3.00 each

Please list the name of each Outstanding Leader Recipient. GSNEO will confirm current membership before sending pin(s).

Do not list your Volunteer of Excellence candidate(s) in this box.

Please list the name of each Rising Leader Award. GSNEO will confirm current membership before sending pin(s).

Do not list your New Leader Award candidate(s) in this box.

Service Unit Volunteer Recognition Pins

Excellence Pins$ Free

1 per service unit, 2 per service unit if >100 volunteers. If your unit has fewer than 100 volunteers and you order a second pin in this field it will delay your processing. Please order additional pins in the field labelled "Additional Excellence Pins."

Quantity

Additional Excellence Pins$9.00

Quantity

GSNEO Outstanding Leader Pins$ Free

1 per service unit, 2 per service unit if >100 volunteers. If your unit has fewer than 100 volunteers and you order a second pin in this field it will delay your processing. Please order additional pins in the field labelled "Additional GSNEO Outstanding Leader Pins."

Quantity

Additional GSNEO Outstanding Leader Pins$3.00

Quantity

GSNEO Rising Leader Awards$ Free

1 per service unit, 2 per service unit if >100 volunteers. If your unit has fewer than 100 volunteers and you order a second pin in this field it will delay your processing. Please order additional pins in the field labelled "Additional GSNEO New Leader Awards."

Quantity

Additional GSNEO Rising Leader Awards$3.00

Quantity

Total $0.00

Please use your service unit credit card to complete payment below. If a nominee is not a current member, GSNEO will not send the pin(s) nor will the unit be charged for that indivdual's pin(s).

If GSNEO has questions about your order an email will be sent to you. Please reply within 5 business days or your order may be cancelled.

Pay with Credit Card