2026 Volunteer Recognition Luncheon
Saturday, April 18, 2026 | 12:00 - 4:00 PM | Island Chateau
Program Agenda
Welcome
Pledge of Allegiance
Promise & Law
Grace
Greetings
Opening Ceremony
Recognition of New Leaders
Tribute to our Green Angels
Honoring our Administrative
Association Chairs
Service Unit Managers
SU Cookie & Cupboard Managers
Highest Award Coaches
Heritage Committee
Global Action Committee
Camp Trainers
Camp Volunteers
Borough Program Committee
Recognition Committee Members
STEM Champions
Short-Term Volunteers
Troop 6000 Leaders
Girl Scouts for All Troop Leaders
Award Presentations
Closing Message
God Bless America Video / Song
Hanane Dbajat regarding 250 Anniversary of America th
Closing Song - “Lean on Me”
Pledge of Allegiance
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Girl Scout Grace
As we gather for our food, we are surrounded by an abundant sisterhood. We are constantly evolving and changing so lean on me.
God Bless America
By Irving Berlin
God bless America, land that I love. Stand beside her and guide her Through the night with a light from above. From the mountains, to the prairies, To the oceans white with foam.
God bless America, my home sweet home.
God bless America, my home sweet home.
Girl Scout Promise & Law
Promise
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
*Members may substitute for the word God in accordance with their own spiritual beliefs. Law I will do my best to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do, and to respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout.
Special Thank YOUs
A special THANK YOU goes to everyone who participated in making this event a success:
Volunteer Recognition Committee
Rhonda Boston
Frances Koren
Cheryl Vaughan
Frederica Edwards
Elizabeth Atkins
Joyce Brisbane
Johanne Bavuso
Hanane Dbajat
Nan Bauer
Tamika Morales
Staff
Merle France
Donna France
Francina Wearing
Pamela Lloyd
Mirella Vargas
Dian Champhers
Valerie Bell
Florence Buckley
Mary Ann Hellenbrecht
Jessica Ortiz
Denia Cambell and Debbi Foreman, Staff Committee Liaisons
Karen Lundgard
CEO Shari Krull
Gifts & Goody Bags
Frances and Mary K
A Tribute to Our Green Angels
Having left mortal earth, I passed through Heaven's Gate And while anxiously awaiting the outcome of my fate. I walked among the Angels all robed in purest white Whereupon I saw one figure which cast a greenish light. She sat upon a misty cloud, a harp held to her breast In a flowing, blowing gown of green unlike all the rest; I asked what great deed she'd done to earn the special hue That gave her color where others had none, or maybe just a few. She said "On earth I sought no fame, fortune was not my goal, I shunned the power of politics and worked without a toll; I spent my time with children, helping them to grow. For as you reap in life, so must you learn to sow." "You see” ..., she said, "the dividends while growing up I'd share. I returned where many others were too self-involved to care. Girl Scouting was my choice of roads to follow in my quest. For among the girls, I found a love deeper than the rest." "A teacher was I, my work was hard, I had no diploma or pay but where family and institutions failed, I help show them the way. The lessons I taught were obscure and difficult to see for they didn't have names like 'spelling', 'math', or geometry'."
"They were lessons in life delivered through guided experience, And they taught such things as character, spirit, and confidence. Though on earth my life was blessed, it's even more so today, For when I look down, I see my work, as my girls show others the way." "On earth Girl Scouting taught me to leave things better than before And the same applies to that mortal place where life never was a bore. Now having lived by that Girl Scouting rule in every earthly endeavor I have become an Angel in green and shall be a Girl Scout forever."
Honoring Our Administrative Volunteers
Association Chairs -
Association Chairs - Encourages and provides for maximum participation of delegate members in council planning and policy making
Service Unit Managers -
Service Unit Managers - Responsible for the development, extension, and maintenance of girls and adult members, and for ensuring that girls and adult Girl Scouts receive the services and experience they need.
Cupboard Managers -
Cupboard Managers - Serves as host and record keeper of additional cookies distributed to troops for deliveries and in-person sales during Cookie Season.
Highest Awards Coaches -
Highest Awards Coaches - Highest Awards Coaches support Girl Scouts through their Silver and Gold Award process, and it includes training, guidance, and mentorship. There are three areas of responsibility: Reviewer, Trainer, and On-Call Mentor.
Service Unit Cookie Managers -
Service Unit Cookie Managers - Implements
Girl Scout Cookie Program strategies and procedures and provides primary Service Unit support to Troop Cookie Managers.
Heritage Committee -
Heritage Committee - This committee prioritizes Girl Scout traditions, including extensive knowledge of flag ceremonies, uniforms, and songs They elevate traditional events, including Juliette Low’s Birthday, Girl Scout week, and Leader’s Day. They are also able to collect, organize and preserve memorabilia, photos, and books. This committee consists of new and experienced troop leaders that share a common goal of preserving Girl Scout traditions.
Global Action Committee -
Global Action Committee - This committee organizes global education events. In partnership with GSUSA and GSGNY, they help build a strong global presence at the council level and support special Global Girl Scouting Days. This committee consists of experienced troop leaders that have knowledge and understanding of Global Girl Scouting
Camp Trainers -
Camp Trainers - Collaborate with staff to provide instruction to Girl Scouts of Greater New York troop leaders and adult volunteers on outdoor skills, safe campfire activities, outdoor cooking methods, Kaper charts, and safety.
Camp Volunteers -
Camp Volunteers - Ensures that girls are receiving a high-quality program in a safe environment. Through the sharing of best practices and expertise, they are a great resource for leaders and fellow volunteers. Intergenerational experiences are highly encouraged so we can keep old traditions alive and welcome new ones.
Borough Program Committee (One committee per borough) -
Borough Program Committee (One committee per borough) - Experts in the Girl Scout Leadership Experience who organize boroughspecific events aligned with the council’s strategic program goals and expand its reach in the program areas of STEM, Outdoors, Entrepreneurship, and Life Skills.
The Recognition Committee -
The Recognition Committee – The committee’s purpose is to thank GSGNY adult volunteers and our community leaders. They review and recommend approval or denial of applications for formal Volunteer Recognitions. They also play an active role in planning and implementing the Annual Adult Recognition Event.
STEM Champions Committee -
STEM Champions Committee - This committee promotes and expands the efforts of Council’s STEM goals in order to serve and reach more girls and volunteers. Members are subject matter experts in STEM or active participants in GSGNY STEM programs. They will support staff-led STEM programs such as cybersecurity, robotics, and computer science opportunities. They will also serve as mentors and a resource to volunteers leading STEM programs.
Short-Term Volunteers -
Short -Term Volunteers - Support the council and our community by enabling meaningful opportunities for Girl Scouts and families, including through leadership of Affinity Troops, which provide Girl Scout space and time to explore shared topics of interest.
Troop 6000 Leaders -
Troop 6000 Leaders - Troop 6000 is a program created to support Girl Scouts living in temporary housing within the New York City shelter system. All volunteers are trained in social-emotional, trauma-informed care, as well as in delivering the Girl Scout experience, ensuring participants receive the highest quality programming at their sites.
Girl Scouts for All Troop Leaders -
Girl Scouts for All Troop Leaders - Support Girl Scouts with disabilities, learning differences, and accommodation requests. The goal of these troops is to provide an experience where Girl Scouts have access to empowering girl-led programs.
Description of Recognitions
Earned Awards
Learning and Development Pin
Years of Service Pin
Years of Membership Numeral
Borough Level Awards
GSGNY Leader of Excellence Award
GSGNY Outstanding Volunteer Award
Outstanding Service Team Member
Skyline Award
Super Service Certificate
New Leader
Council Level
Essential Women Award
Volunteer of Excellence
Virtual Volunteer of Ex
Impact Award
Appreciation Pin
Honor Pin
Thanks Badge
Thanks Badge II
Greater New York Exec
Description of Recognitions
R c p s
Years of Service Pin
Recognizes years of active volunteer service in any Girl Scout council. Recognizes the total years of service by adults at five-year intervals.
Years of Membership Numeral
Recognizes years of membership in any Girl Scout council. Recognizes the total years of membership by adults, including girl and adult years at five-year intervals.
GSGNY Leader of Excellence
Recognizes a troop co-leader whose performance in working with girls is outstanding and merits recognition
Outstanding Service Team Member
Recognizes a Service Unit Team Member who has demonstrated outstanding service to her geographic service area.
GSGNY Outstanding Volunteer
Recognizes an adult in a leadership position, or position other than leadership (i.e. troop cookie parent), whose service benefits the geographic area beyond the expectations of position.
Skyline Award
Recognizes the contribution of a volunteer who serves at the troop or service unit level.
Super Service Certificate
Recognizes the contributions of an individual or group outside of the Girl Scouts organization.
New Leader
Leaders who joined during the membership year, and completed training for the role are eligible for this pin.
Description of Recognitions
Volunteer of Excellence
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 contributed outstanding service in support of the council’s mission delivery goals
Virtual Volunteer of Excellence
Recognizes an adult registered member whose performance in working with troops, virtually, is outstanding and merits recognition.
Appreciation Pin
Recognizes a volunteer giving exemplary service in support of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience which has had a measurable impact on at least one geographic area of service.
Honor Pin
Recognizes the contribution of a volunteer who serves at the troop or service unit level.
Tha Volu
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.
Thanks Badge II
Previous Thanks Badge recipient who has continued to provide exemplary service in a leadership role, resulting in a measurable impact that benefits the entire council or the entire Girl Scout Movement.
Greater New York Executive Award
zes an adult member who has ly received the Thanks Badge II and continued to contribute in inary ways that benefit the total or the entire Girl Scout movement.
Award
zes an individual or group outside of Scouts organization.
al Women Award
zes any adult volunteer who introduces to Girl Scouting who then starts a d continues as a successful leader for at least one year.
Lean on Me
By Bill Withers
Sometimes in our lives we all hav
We all have sorrow
But if we are wise
We know that there's always tom
Lean on me, when you're not stro
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
'Til I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on
Please swallow your pride
If I have things you need to borrow
For no one can fill those of your needs
That you won't let show
You just call on me brother, when you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem that you'll understand
We all need somebody to lean on
Lean on me, when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
'Til I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on
You just call on me brother, when you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem that you'll understand
We all need somebody to lean on
If there is a load you have to bear
That you can't carry
I'm right up the road
I'll share your load
If you just call me.
