Volunteer Training Opportunities

Get the training you need to work with girls in the outdoors! Regional Training Days are happening in April and May! Registration is now open! Trainings include Out and About (At all four locations) Ready? Set? Go! (At all four locations) Camping Adventures Challenge (Only at Candlewood and Laurel) Advance Outdoor Cooking Workshop (Only at Merrie-Wood and An-Se-Ox) Pick your date & location April 30 Camp Candlewood in New Fairfield Camp Merrie-Wood in Manchester May 7 Camp Laurel in Lebanon Camp An-Se-Ox in Oxford Learn more and register! These trainings fill fast! Important Notes These trainings are designed for leaders and troop volunteers who work with girls. Training is a troop/group expense and may be taken from your troop treasury. Questions? Contact adultdev@gsofct.org.    See other training opportunities!

Wow! I wish I knew a volunteer like that!

Helping Hand Award

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Leading the Way

.. Sometimes we hear your stories but often, they just stay within your troop.  Here is your chance to shout out to the world (or really, our Service Unit) about a job well done.

In preparation for our annual Volunteer Recognition event and to also show our appreciation to volunteers or co-leaders who have stepped up and should be applauded by his/her peers, please consider using the very easy (and very quick) online form for a Service Unit recogntion award.  The online form and award criteria are available at this link below.  I was able to fill out the form and submit 3 recognitions in about 3 minutes, so it really is a simple and easy online form.  Recognitions can only be awarded to registered Adult Girl Scout volunteers.  If you are unsure about which award is best, please email me.  

http://www.gsofct.org/pages/VolunteerRecognitions.php 

If you are averse to online forms, come to Thursday's Service Unit meeting and fill out a paper version!

Adult Rededication/Investiture Ceremony

This is a great way to recognize your new volunteers and "pinning" them as new leaders.

(Submitted by D. Stupak)

ADULT REDEDICATION/INVESTITURE CEREMONY

Co-Manager: We welcome the Girl Scout Leaders of Service Unit ___, who have come today to

rededicate their belief in the Girl Scout Promise and Law and to reflect upon the

meaning of Girl Scouting in their lives.

For our new Girl Scout Leaders we welcome you to your new position of Girl

Scout Leader:

1- We give you the adventure of seeing a girl try something new.

2- The joy of seeing a girl smile at you as she sings around a campfire.

3- The pride in seeing her progress in understanding herself, her troop, her

community, and her world.

4- The friendship of the truest of friends, the heritage and future of a great

Movement, and the gift of a youthful spirit.

Unison: "I am a Girl Scout Leader."

Leader #1: "I have the courage to teach the girls the time-tested foundations of the Girl Scout

Movement and how to stand by their values in a changing world."

Leader #2: "I use activities as a means of helping girls develop good attitudes and worthwhile skills."

Leader #3: "I honor my obligations to exercise leadership."

Leader #4: "I am not afraid to be different."

Unison: "I am a leader of girls."

Leader #5: "I am a Girl Scout Leader."

Leader #6: "I try to teach girls to take responsibility for their actions and make a positive difference

in their world."

Leader #7: "The Promise and Law are commitment for all persons in Girl Scouting to do their best."

Leader #8: "I can help them by my best sincere desire to bring out the talents in every girl."

Leader #9: "Because I know that our real purpose is to help girls develop and grow."

Unison: "I lead the girls by example."

Leader #10: "I am a Girl Scout Leader."

Leader #11: "I try to motivate girls to an appreciation of the world of natural beauty."

Leader #12: " I help girls learn to invest themselves in the welfare of their neighbors."

Leader #13: "Because I know that citizenship is an important foundation element."

Leader #14: "I am a Girl Scout Leader."

Leader #15: "And I can teach that international friendship begins at home."

Leader #16: "I can help girls to gain a good understanding of health and the practice of safety."

Leader #17: "I have the courage to teach the girls the time-tested foundations of the Girl Scout

Movement by which to weigh values in a changing world."

Unison: "I am a Girl Scout Leader."

Unison: "ON MY HONOR, I WILL TRY TO SERVE GOD AND MY COUNTRY. TO

HELP PEOPLE AT ALL TIMES, AND TO LIVE BY THE GIRL SCOUT

LAW."

(At this time give pins to new leaders)

Co-Manager: "As we return to our homes, we accept with humility our opportunity to work for the

youth of our country. We stand firm in our conviction that through our attitudes,

our actions, and our leadership, our communities will be stronger. We promise

to give of ourselves, because we believe in Girl Scouting: we accept its ideals as

our own."

Volunteer Recognition Opportunities

Recognizing our leaders and volunteers is critical to the continued success of your troop. We appreciate the hardwork of our volunteers but sometimes we forget to express that appreciation enough.  Below are several ways you can show your volunteers how much you appreciate their time and talents:

1. Nominate her for a Helping Hand or Leading the Way pin through the Service Unit Recognitions Chair (currently Clio)

2. Make a tradition to hand out Volunteer Years of service pins and Membership Year pins each year during the first October meeting (recognizing 5 year intervals). Nomination paperwork is on www.gsofct.org and is also coordinated through the Service Unit's Recognition Chair.

3. Give little favors and treats with double meaning. There are many examples in the Recognitions handbook found on www.gsofct.org, but here are a few ideas:

A tea bag with a note: you are tea-rrific!

Pack of Extra gun with a tag: thanks for going the extra mile

A sweet smelling sachet that says -you are scent-sational!

4. If you plan a troop Court of Honor to give out earned badges and awards to your girls, be sure to include special recogntions (official and unofficial) for leaders and volunteers.  

5. Get inspiration from the many gifts, charms and collectibles at Daisy Knapsack.  Offer these thank yous on Juliette Gordon Low's birthday, Thinking Day or Volunteer Appreciation Week.

6. Start "a daisy for our own Daisy" tradition. On Juliette Daisy Low's birthday (10/31), have your Girl Scouts present daisies (real or fake) to fellow Girl Scouts and/or volunteers with a statement about how this person is special to her or the troop. This can be incorporated into a GS's Own Ceremony.

7. Ask yor Service Unit Manager to offer any of these awards or Recogntions during the monthly Service Unit meetings.

8. Pay for the volunteer's registration fee as a surprise!

9. Always say thank you at least once every meeting/event to honor their commitment and time.

10. Ask the girls to write thank you cards to the volunteers/leaders.

Please send your comments with other ideas!!!