Adult Awards FAQ

When Should Adult Awards Be Used?

Formal awards are to recognize exemplary service and significant contributions. Informal recognition, is best for honoring or recognizing annual service, good performance and longevity.

Who Can Nominate a Volunteer for Awards?

All Girl Scout volunteers, River Valleys’ staff, girl members and/or their families can submit a nomination.

Note to service units: It is helpful if you designate a contact person in your service unit and instruct volunteers and families to include that person’s name on the nomination application under the “designated contact person” field.

How Are Awards Distributed?

The Appreciation Pin, Honor Pin and Thanks Badges are given at River Valleys’ annual meeting. The nominator and/or recipients may also choose to present the awards at a local event.

All other awards are presented locally. Adults eligible to receive Membership Numerals and Years of Service pins have the option to receive the awards at a River Valleys’ spring alumnae event, at local events or via mail.

When Are Nominations Due?

River Valleys awards review committee reviews nominations for the Appreciation Pin, Honor Pin, and Thanks badges twice per year. Submit nominations by January 31 for service completed in the previous program year (October 1 – September 30) for year-end review and by June 30 for mid-year review.

Nominations for all other adult awards are dependent on the date of local recognition events:

• April event: Due March 15
• May event: Due April 15
• June event: Due May 15

Can Awards Only Be Earned Once?

No; River Valleys reviews each nomination carefully, and awards may be given more than once if the volunteer meets the specific award criteria.

Awards are based on exemplary volunteer service, not longevity. To recognize hard work or longevity of service, informal recognition is more appropriate than a formal award.

Do Any Awards Honor Service in the Current Program Year?

Nominations received by June 30 can be for service completed in the current program year. Since River Valleys’ awards committee reviews nominations twice per year, nominations received after July 1 will not be reviewed until the following January.

Do I Need to Do Anything to Receive my Years of Service Pin?

River Valleys provides 20+ year pins to volunteers based on their membership information. In the spring, you will be invited to attend a spring alumnae event to receive your pin, or you may choose to receive it locally or via mail. Send any questions to awards@girlscoutsrv.org.

Volunteers who would like 5-15 year pins may purchase them from their local Girl Scouts shop or Girl Scouts USA.

Where Can I Find Nomination Forms?

Find nomination forms, endorsement questionnaires and specific award information on our Saying Thanks page.

What Is New About Nominations and Endorsements?

River Valleys now provides a fillable PDF endorsement questionnaire specific to each award. It provides a question and answer format designed to help nominators and endorsers best describe the volunteers’ service.

What Help Is Available?

Contact our volunteer awards staff at or 800-845-0787 with questions or to discuss which award is most appropriate for a volunteer.

The adult award and recognition committee members are also able to provide service units and recognition coordinators with a tutorial on adult volunteer awards. Contact our volunteer awards staff to arrange a visit or call.

Find nomination forms, endorsement questionnaires and additional resources on our Saying Thanks page.