girl scouts arizona cactus-pine council · girl scouts arizona cactus-pine council 2014-2015 ... a....
TRANSCRIPT
WELCOME
You’ve agreed to take on a Girl Scout Troop! Congratulations and thank you. The
development of strong, skilled girls is worth your time and effort, and you will develop a
closeness with your own daughter(s) as you guide your troop over the years. This may well
be one of the most rewarding adventures of your life!
The most important thing is to remember that you are not alone. The parents in your troop
want to develop that closeness with their daughters too, so give them the chance by having
them help. There are lots of things to do with a troop so use this resource and then no one
person is burdened.
This Manual is meant to be a guide. We hope to provide you with a local, ever evolving,
resource that will answer some of your questions. Also, the GSUSA (National Girl Scout
organization) and the GSACPC (Girl Scout Arizona Cactus Pine Council) have a huge amount
of information on their web sites. We hope to get you to resources easily and right away so
you don’t feel so overwhelmed. The GSUSA and Council materials are very helpful and
thorough so be sure to access them as you progress.
Thank You,
The Cholla Neighborhood Girl Scouts Service team
MAKE NEW FRIENDS
Make new friends
But keep the old.
One is Silver
But the other’s Gold.
A circle’s round
It has no end.
That’s how long
I want to be your friend.
A fire burns bright,
it warms the heart.
We've been friends,
from the very start.
You have one hand,
I have the other.
Put them together,
We have each other.
Silver is precious,
Gold is too.
I am precious,
and so are you.
You help me,
and I'll help you
and together
we will see it through.
The sky is blue,
The Earth is green,
I can help
to keep it clean.
Across the land,
Across the sea,
Friends forever
We will always be.
GIRL SCOUT 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.
GIRL SCOUT 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
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Table of Contents
I. TERMINOLOGY ................................................................................................................................ 1
II. GIRL SCOUT STRUCTURE ......................................................................................................... 8
III. CHOLLA NEIGHBORHOOD ....................................................................................................... 9
IV. YOUR TROOP .............................................................................................................................. 11
A. Establish a Troop ........................................................................................................................ 11
B. Choose a meeting place .............................................................................................................. 11
C. Choose a meeting time ............................................................................................................... 11
D. Choose a frequency .................................................................................................................... 11
E. Examples ....................................................................................................................................... 12
F. Go through Getting Started training ..................................................................................... 12
G. More Training .............................................................................................................................. 12
V. FIRST STEPS .................................................................................................................................. 13
VI. UNIFORMS .................................................................................................................................. 15
VII. BOOKS, BADGES & PATCHES ................................................................................................ 16
VIII. MONEY EARNING PROJECTS ........................................................................................... 17
IX. TRADITIONS AND CEREMONIES ....................................................................................... 18
A. Investiture / Pinning .................................................................................................................. 18
B. Rededication................................................................................................................................. 20
C. Bridging ......................................................................................................................................... 21
D. Flag ................................................................................................................................................. 22
E. Friendship Circle ......................................................................................................................... 22
F. SWAPS .......................................................................................................................................... 22
X. TRAVEL ............................................................................................................................................. 23
A. Traveling with girls ..................................................................................................................... 23
B. Travel progression checklist .................................................................................................... 24
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C. Seeking council permission ....................................................................................................... 24
D. Involving chaperones .................................................................................................................. 24
E. Transporting girls ....................................................................................................................... 25
F. Staying safe during the trip .................................................................................................... 25
XI. CAMPING...................................................................................................................................... 27
A. Progressive Camping ................................................................................................................... 27
B. Troop Camp Certification .......................................................................................................... 27
C. First Aid ........................................................................................................................................ 27
D. Permission (Also see Sec. X, Travel) ...................................................................................... 27
E. Locations ....................................................................................................................................... 27
XII. SAFETY ..................................................................................................................................... 29
A. Manual ............................................................................................................................................ 29
B. Safety Checkpoints .................................................................................................................... 29
C. First Aid/CPR ............................................................................................................................... 29
D. Troop Camp Certification .......................................................................................................... 29
XIII. RECOGNITIONS .................................................................................................................... 30
A. Girl Recognitions ......................................................................................................................... 30
B. Adult Recognitions ...................................................................................................................... 30
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I. TERMINOLOGY
01 - Leader- A member of the leadership team generally responsible for
coordinating the troop and its members. The individual roles within a troop are
determined by the troop’s leadership team, but only the 01 can register girls and
enroll the troop in council activities.
02 – Co-Leader - A member of the leadership team. The individual
responsibilities are determined within the leadership team. The co-leaders are
equal in leadership to the leader, they have the same strength of voice and
decision, implementation and attendance in the troop. These are registered
volunteers taking an active role in the troop.
03 - Troop Committee Member/Signer - Refers to troop volunteers that have
a voice, but choose not to take a leadership role. Signers are on the troop bank
account but not leading the troop. However, they can travel with the troop, lead
a badge or activity from time to time, etc. Two unrelated troop 01 or 02’s need
to be present at all meetings and activities whenever the troop assembles.
11 – Service Team Member - Please check out the Service Team portion of the
Neighborhood website to see who is currently serving in these roles.
19 – Delegate – Volunteers that go to the annual Council Meeting to be the
representatives and voice for decisions within the council on behalf of our
Neighborhood. (See also, Annual Meeting).
Annual Meeting - A meeting held by the council once a year where program is
discussed, council wide networking is available, guest speakers present, a financial
report is given and delegates vote on any items the council presents. (See Council
and Delegate)
Badges - These are a patch that goes on the front of the uniform (vest/sash).
Each badge has a specific placement uniform to all Girl Scouts in the council.
Badges are always EARNED which differs them from Fun Patches. Each badge
has a specific set of requirements that can be found in either the Girl Guide or a
supplement to the Girl Guide. (See Girl Guide) Badges are not earned until ALL
requirements have been accomplished. Not to be confused with fun patches (see
Fun Patch).
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Cookie Mom/Dad - The cookie volunteer in your troop in charge of all things
cookie.
Cookie Club - An online option for Girl Scouts and their parent geared to help
girls sell more cookies.
Cookie Manager - Neighborhood Volunteer to Coordinate everything leading up
to, during and wrapping up cookie season. Please check out the Service Team
portion of the Neighborhood website to see who is currently serving in this role.
Cookie Season - The time when Girl Scouts, whether in troops or as IGM’s, focus
on the sale of Girl Scout Cookies. Generally January-March.
Council - The geographical area that troops and neighborhoods reside in. The
Council is a large area, and ours is the Arizona Cactus-Pine Council, covering most
of Arizona and the entire Navajo Nation.
Council Shop - A GS store run by the Council where you can purchase all of your
GS needs. This is where you can get fun patches, badges, manuals, books,
uniforms, t-shirts, gifts and more. This is in downtown Phoenix at 3806 North 3rd
Street, Suite 200, Phoenix, AZ 85012, 602-452-7137, or online at
http://shop.girlscoutsaz.org/store/
Ebudde - Online website used to implement the cookie program. This website is
used on a national, council, neighborhood and troop level. This is where you order
initial cookies, where you can find amounts due, cookies your troop is responsible
for, a cookie calendar, communications, booth information and sign-up, and just
about everything else cookie. The Neighborhood Cookie Manager and the Cookie
Team run it, and they are who you would go to for all things Cookie.
Encampment - An annual neighborhood-wide campout planned by the Girls and
facilitated by the Service Team. Any planned encampment will be outlined for all
who desire to attend within specified ages for the encampment. Girls must have
completed their progressive camping to the appropriate level in order to attend.
Event Coordinator - Volunteer in charge of overseeing the planning and
implementation of neighborhood events. Please check out the Service Team
portion of the Neighborhood website to see who is currently serving in this role.
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Fall Product Manager - Volunteer in charge of all things Fall Product. She is
your Go-To gal for all questions and implementation for Fall Product Season.
Please check out the Service Team portion of the Neighborhood website to see
who is currently serving in this role.
Fall Product - The first of 2 fundraisers for troops during the year. This usually
takes place in September. This is a more lucrative fundraiser per item than
cookies, but not as well known. This fundraiser is highly encouraged. :-)
Finance Consultant - Neighborhood volunteer to whom you will turn in yearly
financials, and can assist with their preparation, if needed. Please check out the
Service Team portion of the Neighborhood website to see who is currently
serving in this role. Contact your MSE regarding information on bank accounts.
Financials - A yearly, mandatory financial report of your troop turned in to the
Neighborhood Finance Consultant and kept on file. Retain all receipts and a ledger
to make this process easier. This is due by May 31st to Council EACH year, so it
is due to the Neighborhood Finance Consultant at the April Leader Meeting so
there is time to review for accuracy prior to submission to Council. The
Neighborhood Finance Consultant has a copy of the form or it can be found in the
forms section at www.girlscoutsaz.org. If you need help understanding or filling
out financials, please contact the Neighborhood Finance Consultant to walk you
through it.
Fun Patch - Fun patches are patches that signify an activity, but have no earning
requirement other than participation. Fun patches ALWAYS go on the back of
the uniform and have no specific placement other than on the back. Do not
confuse with Badges. (See Badges)
Girl Guide Book (Manual) - A binder-style Book that can be purchased through
the council shop or online. There is a separate Girl Guide for each level (Daisy
through Senior Girl Scout). The Girl Guide is a plethora of information, including
traditions, badges, awards, guidelines, history and so much more. These are very
handy, and each troop should have at least one copy to make a smooth program.
This can be purchased by the leaders, by the girls, or with troop funds. Council
suggests each girl have their own, but if not financially possible or practical, there
should be one available within the troop for reference. Additional badge sets can
be purchased to add to the Manual. These are associated with the three
Journeys per level.
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Girl Scout Law - A law that should be memorized and recited at all meetings. All
Girl Scout programming is geared to instill these values into Scouts and prepare
them to be leaders.
Girl Scout Promise - A memorized promise that girls recite to live the law. Should
be recited at all meetings.
GORP - Good Ol’ Fashioned Raisins and Peanuts (aka trail mix). This is a fun, old
term referring to trail mix. It does not have to include Raisins or Nuts, and is fun
to make for an activity at a meeting.
IGM - Independent Girl Member. Also called Juliette’s and named in honor of
the GS founder, Juliette Gordon Low. An IGM is a registered Girl Scout that is
not affiliated with any troop. They have different rules in certain areas to follow
(think financial) but for the most part, are Scouts without a troop.
Investiture - A ceremony in which a Girl Scout dedicates their life to living the
Girl Scout Law and Promise. Once a girl has completed an Investiture Ceremony,
they should annually complete a Rededication Ceremony dedicated to the same
values.
Journey - The GS curriculum. There are 3 core areas and a version for each
level. There are specific requirements and lessons for each level and each
journey. The council offers training and supplemental activities. If you need help,
contact a member of the Service Team. Journey leader books and girl workbooks
can be purchased at the council shop. Our Neighborhood Librarian also has
Journey leader and girl books if you would like to check them out to see which
one your troop would prefer. Girl Scouts that would like to earn their Bronze,
Silver and Gold Awards must complete a Journey as the first step. (See the
Manual for additional information). Additionally, Badge Kits can be purchased to
increase involvement in the three core areas
Juliette – See IGM, and may also refer to Juliette Gordon Lowe the founder of
Girl Scouts.
Leader Meetings - Recommended meetings for ALL leaders and co-leaders. Each
troop should be represented by a minimum of one registered adult from their
troop. This is a place to have fun, ask questions, receive information, meet and
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network with other leaders and reinvent your troops program. Cholla
Neighborhood holds monthly meetings. See the website for a schedule.
Member Levels - The age/grade-specific group a girl fits into. Levels are:
Daisy (K-1st Grade)
Brownie (2nd-3rd Grade)
Junior (4th-5th Grade)
Cadette (6th-8th Grade)
Senior (9th-10th Grade)
Ambassador (11th-12th Grade)
IGM (all grade levels)
Adult Member (Post Graduation or 18 and over) All registered adults are
Adult Members
Lifetime Member (18 and over) An adult member who has paid the fee for
lifetime membership and does not have to pay any member registration
fees again.
MSE - Member Service Executive, this person is a Council employee that is an
advocate, a go-between and a voice for all people in her designated area.
Neighborhood - A specified group/area of troops. We reside in the Cholla
Neighborhood (655), which covers part of Chandler. See also, Service Unit.
Neighborhood Facilitator/Manager - Volunteer in charge of managing and
facilitating the Neighborhood. This is the person that you go to if you need
guidance not appropriate for the mentors. This person also oversees all Service
Team and leader meeting functions. Facilitator works in conjunction with MSE to
help leaders have the most effective and smooth process possible. Any volunteer
that steps into the manager position is available to all leaders and co-leaders as
a sounding board, a friend and advocate. Please check out the Service Team
portion of the Neighborhood website to see who is currently serving in this role.
Nut-E – The online application used by leaders and troop product managers to
order and track Fall Product Sales period.
PAG/Program-At-A-Glance - Complete list of council run and sponsored
activities with registration information. Found at
http://www.girlscoutsaz.org/program-at-a-glance
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Recruitment Facilitator/Site Coordinator - Neighborhood volunteer/team that
places all new girls looking for a troop. This is the person/team that you would go
to if you would like to enlarge your troop. Please check out the Service Team
portion of the Neighborhood website to see who is currently serving in this role.
Rededication – see Investiture. It’s the same ceremony only with a girl or adult
that has already been through Investiture and they re-dedicate themselves to
keeping the Promise and the Law.
Registrar - Volunteer in charge of helping troops new and returning to register.
This is the person that you would go to with help and questions regarding
registration, as well as getting the proper paperwork. Please check out the
Service Team portion of the Neighborhood website to see who is currently
serving in this role.
Safety Checkpoints and Guidelines - If there is an activity, there are guidelines.
This can be downloaded from online. Please know all safety requirements for all
activities you participate in, including ratios of girls to adults, men/girl
interactions, certifications, authorizations and safety knowhow.
Service Unit- A large grouping of troops designated by the Council. Each Service
Unit has a specific name, number and MSE. Ours is the Cholla Neighborhood.
Two neighboring units also in Chandler are the Purple Sage and Ocotillo
Neighborhoods.
Situpons - An item that girls can make to sit on when sitting on the ground to
keep themselves clean.
SWAPS - Special Whachamacallits Affectionately Pinned Somewhere. SWAPS
are a fun GS tradition dating back to the earliest GS days. These are items that
the scouts make and then hand out to new friends to pin on to a bag, hat or item
to show that they matter. They are fun to make and fun to get. When making
SWAPS, try to think of something, small, lightweight and signifying your group or
activity. For ideas, you can Google “SWAPS” or talk to an experienced leader.
Tagalongs - Non-registered people that Tag Along on activities. The cookie was
named for this term, not the other way around. Lol. Tagalongs are not allowed at
activities covered by our GS insurance unless specifically dictated on an activity
by activity basis. Tagalongs most often take the form of siblings and unregistered
adults.
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TCC1/TCC2 - Troop Camp Certification Level 1 and 2 (separate certifications).
These are required trainings provided through the council if you plan to
participate in any outdoor activities, camping, outdoor cooking, knife skills and
much more. If you do not have it, make sure at least one registered adult in your
troop gets it! If you do not know if it is required for an activity, please ask your
Service Team. There’s even a TCC 3 if you’re up for it!
Thinking Day - A worldwide WAGGGS (World Assoc. of Girl Guides and Girl
Scouts) celebration where girls from all over the world have large, local
gatherings to focus on the world we live in. This is a fun and eye-opening
experience for girls of every age. This occurs in or near February of each year.
Usually Cholla Neighborhood and our Council hold separate events to celebrate
World Thinking Day.
Troop Trip Form - A required form for all activities that are more than 250
miles away from your meeting place, any campout (even a backyard one), or any
overnight activity. Troop Trip Forms can be downloaded from the forms section
of www.girlscoutsaz.org or obtained from the MSE. It be filled out completely
and turned into the MSE 6 weeks prior to the activity.
WAGGGS - Worldwide Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. Girl Scouts of
America are affiliated with this global girl program. Not all girl programs are part
of WAGGGS. The ribbon on your uniform has a pin signifying your affiliation with
WAGGGS. See http://usa.wagggsworld.org/en/home for more information.
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II. GIRL SCOUT STRUCTURE
a. The girl
b. Your troop
c. Cholla Neighborhood (also called a Service Area)
i. Approximately 9 schools located in Chandler
ii. Approximately 500 girls
iii. See section III for additional information
d. Girl Scout Arizona Cactus-Pine Council (GSACPC)
i. MSE – Rebecca Smith [email protected]
1. Is our first contact with Council if we have questions or needs.
2. Attends most (if not all) of our monthly Leader Meetings
ii. Council Store – 3806 North 3rd Street, Suite 200, Phoenix, AZ
85012; 602-452-7137; 800-352-6133; [email protected]; not a
valid URL Open Tuesday through Saturday but check the website to
make sure because of odd closures:
http://shop.girlscoutsaz.org/store/ not a valid URL
iii. Council Offices: 119 East Coronado Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85004;
602-452-7000
1. Council help e-mail addresses:
a. General – [email protected]
b. Web Support – [email protected]
c. Registration Help – follow this link and fill out the
online form
e. Girl Scouts of the USA
i. Website is: www.girlscouts.org
f. World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, also called WAGGGS
i. Website is: www.wagggs.org
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III. CHOLLA NEIGHBORHOOD GIRL SCOUTS
A. The best support for leaders comes from the leaders and volunteers in our
Cholla Neighborhood (a/k/a Service Unit) and from our MSE (Member
Services Executive)
B. Monthly meetings for all leaders, co-leaders and anyone interested (like
parents, volunteers, etc.)
C. Website: www.chollags.org
D. Service Team serves as a bridge between Council and the neighborhood
troops with Members that assist with any help you may need including, but
not limited to:
i. Registration
ii. New Troops
iii. Fall Product Sale
iv. Cookie Sale
v. Craft Ideas (at the meeting)
vi. Training
vii. Troop Events
E. Great resource for local events for your troop, for example:
i. G.E.A.R. day at ASU
ii. Lock-in with the Phoenix Mercury
F. Opportunities to serve other than with your troop (there are patches
available for many of these events)
i. Thin Mint Sprint
ii. Susan G Komen 4-day Walk
iii. Inchworm of Service
iv. Girls Love Mail
v. Adopt-A-Park
vi. Birthday Boxes
vii. Crafts & Games with Residents
viii. Operation Stocking Stuffer
ix. Food Drives
x. Free Rice
xi. Feed My Starving Children
xii. Packages from Home
G. Plans the following annual events (not limited to this list):
i. Back to School Pool Party
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ii. Leader Investiture
iii. Fall Encampment
iv. Chandler Parade of Lights
v. International Thinking Day
vi. Leader/Daughter Events – (i.e. Bowling, etc.)
vii. Happy Birthday Juliette (for Daisies and Brownies
H. Size
i. 500 girls
ii. Approx. 12 schools
1. Elementary
a. Basha
b. Conley
c. CTA – Independence
d. Fulton
e. Hancock
f. Jacobson
g. Risen Savior
h. Tarwater
i. Tri-City Christian Academy
2. Junior High
a. Bogle
3. High School
a. Hamilton
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IV. YOUR TROOP
A. Establish a Troop
You need a minimum of the following:
i. 1 Leader (01)
ii. 1 Co-Leader (02)
iii. 5 girls
iv. Other than the above, you’re going to want parent involvement. The
parents (meaning grandparents, aunts, uncles, older siblings, etc.) can
participate as:
1. Additional Co-Leader (02)
2. Troop Fall Product Manager or helper (03)
3. Financial Coordinator (manages trips to the bank, writes
checks, etc.) (03)
4. Cookie Sale Manager or helper (03)
5. Meeting helper (03)
6. Camping Leader (03)
7. And whatever it is your troop needs.
B. Choose a meeting place
i. Try the school - most Chandler schools will allow you to meet on
campus for free (or near free) as long as you are off the premises by
4:30pm. If your school turns you down, try another one nearby as
they may have space available. If you need to meet at night,
churches are commonly available as long as someone in the group is a
member. You can even meet in your home or the home of one of the
troop members.
ii. Contact our Service Unit Recruiter for additional resources
C. Choose a meeting time
iii. If at a school, try right after school (there’s no charge if you meet
right after school)
iv. If most parents work, try an evening meeting after dinner
v. If weekdays are too hard or full, try weekends
vi. Pick a day that works for the most
1. You will never be able to please everyone
2. Consider trying one day and then review at mid- or end- of
year for a possible change.
D. Choose a frequency
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i. The frequency should match the interest level of the girls, the
leader’s and co-leaders’ schedules
E. Examples
i. Daisy – 1 day every other week for about 1 hour.
ii. Brownie/Junior – 1 day every other week for 1 ½ hours
iii. Cadette/Senior/Ambassador – Twice a month for 1 ½ to 2 hours or
once a month for 3-4 hours– be flexible this is when their social,
school, and other extra-curricular activities begin to really grow
F. Go through Getting Started training
This is a requirement and you will find it really helpful. Cholla Neighborhood
offers this training frequently in groups both large and small, and
individually, as needed. Please contact the Welcome Specialist on the
Service Unit Team. Also, check online for Getting Started
G. More Training
Take the opportunity to peruse the Council website and look for training
opportunities. If you attend in person, you’ll meet other leaders and be able
to develop a network. If you just want the info, there’s lots of training
available as webinars or online training.
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V. FIRST STEPS
A. Agree to be a troop leader – it’s not as hard or time consuming as you might
think! You will not regret it, we promise!
B. Find at least 5 girls interested in forming a troop
C. Find a parent willing to serve as co-leader
D. Get everyone registered! The fee is $15 per person. It is recommended
that you have at least one parent per girl register as well. This fee covers
the person for the membership year (Sept. 1 through August 31) and
provides secondary insurance for them while they are participating in any
Girl Scout (troop, neighborhood, council) event or activity. The individual’s
insurance is always primary.
E. Get your background checks completed.
F. Open your bank account
i. All accounts are with Wells Fargo
ii. Work with the Registrar to get this done.
iii. You’ll need 3 troop signers
1. You
2. Co-Leader
3. Registered volunteer in your troop, the Neighborhood Finance
Consultant or Registrar can be your third signer – see the
Cholla website for contact links)
G. Have a Parents Meeting and discuss the following:
i. Meeting place
ii. Meeting day
iii. Meeting time
iv. Meeting frequency
v. Dues – for first year troops, you can ask for a small initial dues
payment – this can be weekly, monthly, by school quarter or semester,
etc.) The girls can also earn their dues by selling Fall Product and GS
Cookies.
vi. Uniforms – decide which one and how they will be purchased.
vii. Your expectations of the parents. Consider a Parent Agreement for
them to sign with your expectations.
viii. Get volunteers for all of your positions – remind parents that this is
not a “drop off” organization – unless that is what you want, but you’ll
end up with all the work
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ix. Decide the best method of contact – phone calls, emails, troop
website, etc. You can get a free website at www.weebly.com, and
many other places. Make sure it’s your parents that are accessing it
and not the girls – there are age-based restrictions for internet
access related to Girl Scouts
H. Schedule your first troop meeting
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VI. UNIFORMS
A. The GS Store has the uniform.
B. Parents can also order them online or find most pieces at Sports Chalet,
2650 East Germann Rd., Chandler, AZ 85249, 480-899-9881
C. At the GS Store link you can find a chart by age level that shows the
placement of the required uniform items
D. Uniforms are a vest or sash
E. Required items on a uniform are:
i. US Flag
ii. Council emblem
iii. Troop Numbers
iv. Ribbon Tab
v. WAGGGS Pin
vi. GS, Daisy or Brownie Pin (depending on level)
F. Badges and Patches
i. Badges go on the front – these are the ones they earn
ii. Patches for fun activities go on the back
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VII. BOOKS, BADGES & PATCHES
A. Manuals - There is a manual for each age level called The Girls Guide to Girl
Scouting – these run about $17 each. The girls can each purchase their own
if they want to use it as a keepsake, they can share the book, or you can
purchase one for the troop. It is recommended that at least the troop have
a manual. It’s a great tool for teaching and reference. Many of the age
specific activities are listed only in this manual though they may be
referenced elsewhere.
B. Badge Kits – these are a set of five additional badges that the girls can earn
associated with each Journey. They are different from the Legacy Badges
contained in the Manual. If you are interested in doing these, they work well
into the Journey as little side activities to supplement the Journey process
and can stand alone as Badges to earn outside of the Journey.
C. Journeys – There are three Journeys for each age level. This is how the girls
progress through scouting and earn other awards. There is training online at
the www.girlscoutsaz.org website under Volunteer Learning Center, some are
available as webinars and online as well as classroom training.
D. Badges & Patches
i. Badges are earned when a requisite number of requirements are
completed. These go on the FRONT of the vest, sash or apron.
ii. Patches, also called “fun patches”, are given for participation in fun
activities and events the troop attends. They are included in most Girl
Scout organized events and leaders can purchase them for any special
troop event or activity and sometimes the event provides a patch. Fun
Patches go on the back of the vest. (Receiving the patch – most leaders
require attendance by the girl to receive the patch, but it’s up to you.)
Girls can also add patches to the back when they travel with their
family like to museums, national parks, etc.
iii. For placement, think MULLET – business up front, party in the back!
iv. Places to buy bulk orders of patches
1. Girl Scout Store (also check other councils and the National
website)
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VIII. MONEY EARNING PROJECTS
A. As a reminder, the money earned by Girl Scouts belongs to the troop and not
to each girl individually.
B. There are certain requirements if your troop would like to undertake a money
earning project.
i. First, you must already be participating in the Council Fall Product OR
Cookie Sales.
ii. Second, you must complete the following forms located in the Council
Forms Library:
2. Application for Money Earning Project (MS-24) and
3. Budget for Events & Money Earning Projects (PS-05).
iii. These forms should be turned into the Neighborhood Finance
Consultant at least twelve weeks prior to the money earning project.
iv. Once you have approval to conduct the project and it is complete, you
need to document the results on the bottom of the MS-24 form and
return it to the Neighborhood Finance Consultant.
C. Money earning projects should not compete with Council product sales.
Additionally, troops are not allowed to sell other company’s products. Here
are some examples of money earning projects:
i. Garage sale
ii. Troop events (badge workshops, SWAP workshops, etc.)
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IX. TRADITIONS AND CEREMONIES
A. Investiture / Pinning
Investiture and Pinning are done when a new troop is started for all new Girl
Scouts. It is also done when a girl new to scouting is added to a troop. The
examples provided under sections a. and b. of this chapter can be used for
pinning, investiture and re-investiture and can be modified to suit your troop.
Have girls do more than one part if needed, or share parts if you have lots of
girls. Have leaders and parents take parts if this is what your troop wants.
This ceremony can be a simple or as complex as you choose. NOTE: It is a
tradition to pin the Girl Scout Pin on upside down until the girl does a good
deed.
Building the Girl Scout Pin (Traditional Pin) These are just ideas, searching
the web can help you locate many, many more.
As each girl says her part, lighting a candle can be symbolic of the three parts
of the Promise and the ten parts of the Law.
Girl 1: Our pin is symbolic of our fundamental beliefs. Beliefs which have not
changed since our beginning, although methods change with the times. Beliefs
which help each girl attain the highest development of which she is capable.
This pin is in the shape of a trefoil, meaning three-fold, and reminds us of the
three parts of the Girl Scout Promise.
All: “On my honor, I will try: To serve God and my country...”
Girl 2: We learn to find God in nature, to recognize spiritual values as more
important than material ones, to seek the beautiful, and to see God in other
people. Girl Scouts learn devotion to and seek pride in their country.
All: “On my honor, I will try: to help people at all times...”
Girl 3: In her consideration for others, a Girl Scout learns to give generous,
selfless service. She comes to realize that service to others is an expression
of dedication to people.
All: “On my honor, I will try: to live by the Girl Scout Law.”
Girl 4: The Girl Scout Law is a guide for daily living - stated simply enough for
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a young girl to apply to her own life, profound enough to serve as a measuring
post for adults. Think about the people you admire; what makes you admire
them? Friendliness, dependability, enthusiasm to serve. These are the
qualities that the Girl Scout Law helps us attain.
Girl 5: Tying together all parts of the Promise and serving as its foundation is
the fact that we pledge on our honor to try. When we are discouraged, when
we have made mistakes, our Promise reminds us that the best we can do is to
keep on trying with a sincere effort. We do more than believe in our Promise,
we try to live by it. Our pin is symbolic of our Promise, and we are here to
explain the parts of our pin tonight.
Girl 6: The eagle is a bird of great endurance and strength. It is used on the
Great Seal of the United States to represent power and strength. We wear
it on our pin because we are chartered by the Congress of the United States.
Girl 7: The Shield represents protection. In the design of the Great Shield of
the United States, it rests only on the eagle to show that we are a self-
sufficient government. One of our aims in Girl Scouting is to become self-
reliant citizens.
Girl 8: In the right talon of the eagle is an olive branch representing peace.
To show that we are a peace loving nation, the eagle’s head faces the olive
branch. Girl Scouting is similarly a peace- time movement.
Girl 9: However, the arrows show preparedness to fight for our ideals. As Girl
Scouts, we prepare ourselves to cope with every situation and emergency.
Girl 10: On the scroll are the words “E Pluribus Unum,” meaning ‘one from
many.’ There are many states but one nation. In the United States we have
three million in Girl Scouting. Each one is an individual personality, each one
has her own place, but we are working in one organization toward one goal
according to the ideals that we have in common.
Girl 11: The G.S. on the pin stands for Girl Scout. It means many different
things to many different people. All of us have to decide what it means to us
– new friends we have made, things we have learned, understandings about
people we have gained, experiences we could have not have had except as a
Girl Scout. The list is almost as endless as the number of people in the
organization.
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Girl 12: There is a destiny that makes us sisters. None goes her way alone. All
that we send into the lives of others Comes back into our own life.
Girl 13: Three candles lighted here represent the three parts of the Girl
Scout Promise. Ten candles lighted here represent the ten parts of the Girl
Scout Law. All rise and join us in singing “Girl Scouts Together” (or other
appropriate song, if you like.)
B. Rededication
This ceremony is done each year to remind the girls that about the Promise
and Law, what they hope to achieve together, etc. Here’s a sample of a Candle
Lighting Ceremony:
Scene: A table, with 13-candle board/log on it; flanked by American and
GSUSA flag.
1st Speaker: "Tonight we are here in to invest those who have joined Girl
Scouts for the first time this year. We are also here to rededicate each
member, new and old, to the Girl Scout Promise and Law. You should all
understand that these are the ideals by which Girls Scouts try to live, and
through which we, as leaders, help girls to gain worthy citizenship." [a large
candle is lit, house lights are dimmed].
2nd Speaker: "Before you, you see a golden flame The flame symbolizes a Girl
Scout's honor, which must never be dimmed. When a Girl Scout makes a
promise, she is placing her honor, the brightest thing in her life, before her
fellow Girl Scouts, her leaders, her parents, and her friends. Girls should
understand that giving the Girl Scout Promise on one's honor is a serious thing.
"
3rd Speaker: "From this golden flame we light the flame of duty to God and
country. "[light first small candle and say:]
ON MY HONOR I WILL TRY: to serve God and my country
4th Speaker: "We light the flame of duty to people." [light second small
candle and say:]
ON MY HONOR I WILL TRY: to help people at all times
5th Speaker: "We light the flame of duty to self." [light third small candle
and say;]
ON MY HONOR I WILL TRY: to live by the Girl Scout Law
6th Speaker: "We now bring to light the flames of the Girl Scout Law, which
make bright and clear the trail that leads from girlhood to womanhood. Let us
all stand and repeat together the Girl Scout Law."
Pause until all stand; then each of the 10 remaining candles is lit one at a time as the ten parts of the law are said.
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7th Speaker: "These burning candles represent the points of the law and
promise and how they brighten the life of the Girl Scout who observes them.
When through practice they become a part of our daily lives, they also
brighten the lives of all whom we come in contact."
8th Speaker: "We can too easily forget that the Girl Scout Promise is a
serious pledge. We must guard against repeating the Promise and the Law in a
parrot-like manner, as though the words were meaningless. "
[Ceremony continues with house lights turned on. Each member present (who wishes to) is invited to say a few words about what being a Girl Scouting has meant to her.] [Song, such as "On My Honor", is sung, if you choose.] 9th Speaker: "Sisters, we are fortunate to be members of the greatest
organization of women and girls: the World Association of Girls Scouts and
Girl Guides. It is a privilege to wear the emblems of Girl Scouting. The whole
world admires and respects us."
[Participants stand while leader gives a rededication or investiture, etc to each one] Closing: "With our ceremony ended, we now put out these candles. But we do
so with the certain knowledge that we carry the flame of Girl Scouting
eternally with us, in our hearts."
Both of the ceremonies above were borrowed from the Green Oaks Council
website. They have a page with tons of ceremonies.
C. Bridging
When a Girl Scout is leaving one level and moving up to another level, she is
offered the opportunity to bridge up to the next level. This is not a
requirement but it is a chance for girls and their families to share in the joys
of moving forward with Girl Scouts. Our Cholla Neighborhood plans an annual
Bridging Ceremony that all eligible troops are invited to participate. There
are requirements for participation in bridging whether you choose to do the
neighborhood ceremony or one of your own. These are found in the manual
for the level you are leaving but generally they include:
i. Attend a meeting with a troop at the level you will be advancing to;
ii. Host a meeting for girls younger than you – even Daisies can do this by
inviting pre-school girls or visiting with a daycare center to talk about
Daisies, how much fun they have, and even share an activity they enjoy
doing in Daisies;
iii. Help prepare for and plan the Bridging Ceremony.
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iv. When attending the Neighborhood Bridging, the following
requirements are needed:
4. Troop to participate in the Committee meetings – including girls,
etc.
5. Participate in the event to make it successful
6. Everyone stays for the entire event
7. Clean-up is everyone’s responsibility
D. Flag
i. See the Girl Scout website for the most current version of the official
ceremony and preparation ideas and instructions.
E. Friendship Circle
Everyone stands in a circle side by side. Right arms are crossed over left and
hands are grasped. The person assigned begins by using their right hand to
squeeze the hand of the person to their left, then that person squeezes the
hand of the person to their left, and so on until the squeeze makes its way
back to the starting person. Then, everyone – while still holding hands – turns
to their right at the same time until everyone is facing outward. There are
more complicated versions, but this is easiest for the young girls to
understand.
F. SWAPS
Special Whachamacallits Affectionately Pinned Somewhere. SWAPS are a
fun GS tradition dating back to the earliest GS days. These are items that
the Girl Scouts make and then hand out at activities and event involving
other Girl Scouts to new friends to pin on to a bag, hat or item to show
that they matter. They are fun to make and fun to get. When making
SWAPS, try to think of something, small, lightweight and signifying your
group or activity. For ideas, you can google “SWAPS” or talk to an
experienced leader.
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X. TRAVEL
A. Traveling with girls
i. Short trips to points of interest in the neighborhood (Daisies and
older): A walk to the nearby garden or a short ride by car or public
transportation to the firehouse or courthouse is a great first step for
Daisies.
ii. Day trip (Brownies and older): An all-day visit to a point of historical
or natural interest (bringing their own lunch) or a day-long trip to a
nearby city (stopping at a restaurant for a meal)- younger girls can
select locations and do much of the trip planning.
iii. Overnight trips (Brownies and older): One (or possibly two) nights away
to a state or national park, historic city, or nearby city for sightseeing,
staying in a hotel, motel, or campground. These short trips are just long
enough to whet their appetites, but not so long as to generate
homesickness.
iv. Extended overnight trips (Juniors and older): Three or four nights
camping or staying in a hotel, motel, or hostel within the girls’ home
region (for example, New England, the Upper Midwest, the Southeast,
the Pacific Northwest, and so on). Planning a trip to a large museum-
and many offer unique opportunities for girls to actually spend the
night on museum grounds- makes for an exciting experience for girls.
v. National trips (Cadettes and older): Travel anywhere in the country,
often lasting a week or more. Try to steer clear of trips girls might
take with their families and consider those that offer some
educational component- this often means no Disney and no cruises, but
can incorporate some incredible cities, historic sites, and museums
around the country.
vi. International trips (Cadettes and older): Travel around the world,
often requiring one or two years of preparation; when girls show an
interest in traveling abroad, contact your council to get permission to
plan the trip and download the Global Travel Toolkit. Visiting one of the
four World Centers is a great place to start, but also consider traveling
with worldwide service organizations. Recently, girls have traveled to
rural Costa Rica to volunteer at an elementary school, to Mexico to
volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, and to India to witness the
devastation of poverty in urban slums.
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B. Travel progression checklist
i. If your troop is thinking about travel, consider first whether the girls
are mature enough to handle the trip. In determining a group’s
readiness for travel, assess the group’s:
1. Ability to be away from their parents and their home
2. Ability to adapt to unfamiliar surroundings and situations
3. Ability to make decisions well and easily
4. Previous cross-cultural experiences
5. Ability to get along with each other and handle challenges
6. Ability to work well as a team
7. Skills and interests
8. Language skills (where applicable)
C. Seeking council permission
i. Before most trips, you and the girls will need to obtain council
permission, although your council may not require this information for
trips of one day with no overnight stay.
ii. The General Permission Slip (MS-28) which is on the reverse side of
the Girl Health History Form is used for all general types of activities,
excluding those with more risk or are sensitive in nature.
iii. Use the Specific Event Permission Slip (MS-41b) when:
1. Activities are high risk
2. Activities are more than 250 miles away from the regular
meeting place (one way)
3. Activities involve a sensitive topic
iv. Council approval is required for any overnight event. Submit a troop
trip application (MS-50a) to your MSE
D. Involving chaperones
i. To determine how many volunteer chaperones the girls will need with
them on the trip, see the adult-to-girl ratios. As you look for
chaperones, be sure to look for ones who are committed to:
1. Being a positive role model
2. Respecting all girls and adults, equally, with no preferential
treatment
3. Creating a safe space for girls
4. Prioritizing the safety of all girls
5. Supporting and reinforcing a group agreement
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6. Handling pressure and stress by modeling flexibility and a sense
of humor
7. Creating an experience for and with girls
8. Getting fit (appropriate to the troop)
9. Please note that all chaperones must have completed their
volunteer application and background check, and must be a
registered member
10. It is also important to have the person read the Chaperone
Guidelines sign a Chaperone Agreement so that s/he knows what
is permitted and what is expected during the activity
E. Transporting girls
i. For planned Girl Scout field trips and other activities- outside the
normal time and place- in which a group will be transported in private
vehicles:
1. Every driver must be a registered and approved adult volunteer,
have a good driving record, a valid license, and a
registered/insured vehicle
2. Due to liability insurance reasons, drivers in GSACPC must be 21
years old
3. If a group is traveling in one vehicle, there must be at least two
unrelated, approved adult volunteers in the vehicle, one of whom
is female, and the girl-volunteer ratios in Volunteer Essentials
must be followed.
4. If a group is traveling in more than one vehicle, each vehicle
must have at least two unrelated, approved adult volunteers, one
of whom is female, and the girl-volunteer ratios in Volunteer
Essentials must be followed. Care should be taken so that a
single car (with a single adult driver) is not separated from the
group for an extended length of time.
F. Staying safe during the trip
i. Be sure to discuss the following items with the girls and their parents
before you leave on any trip (you may also want to put this information
in writing and have the girls sign it):
1. Who her buddy is- and how the buddy system works (this is
learned in TCC 1 and 2)
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2. What to do if she is separated from the group, whether by
accident of because of a crime
3. What to do if she loses something significant: money, passport,
luggage
4. What to do in the event of a crime
5. How to report a crime
6. What to do if emergency help is needed
7. How to perform basic first-aid procedures
8. How to deal with a large crowd (if applicable)
9. What behaviors you expect- and what consequences exist for
not living up to those behaviors
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XI. CAMPING
A. Progressive Camping
There are steps to being prepared for camping. The basics are as follows:
i. Indoor overnight – basically a one-night sleep over at a leader’s house.
Remember to use Safety Checkpoint precautions.
ii. Back yard campout – use tents, etc. just like camping in the
wilderness but it’s in someone’s backyard.
iii. Wilderness camping – 1 night first, then try 2.
This allows the girls to become ready to leave their parents and stay away
overnight. The worst thing is to get to some really great campground in say
Prescott and find out that you have 2 girls that can’t be away from their
parents overnight. You can either (1) cancel the trip and take them home, or
(2) have 2 sets of parents drive up to your campsite to pick them up in the
middle of the night.
B. Troop Camp Certification
i. At least 1 leader needs to be Troop Camp Certified to Level 2 before
you can take your kiddo’s camping outdoors to work on Progressive
Camping (except for the sleepover step – unless they will be cooking
outdoors).
ii. It is recommended that at least 1 other registered adult be certified
to at least Level 1.
C. First Aid
i. When camping, you need to have a First Aid Certified registered
adult that is different from the person who should have the TCC
Certification required for the event.
ii. So, 1 person TCC Certified and camping “Leader” and 1 person for
First Aid.
iii. It is recommended that all leaders be First Aid Certified which
includes CPR. Check the Council website for classes.
D. Permission (Also see Sec. X, Travel)
i. Use the permission to travel form for everything except the
sleepover. The form is on the www.chollags.org website.
E. Locations
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i. You can camp at any campground or any location where you have
permission from the property owner so long as you have taken all of
your Girl Scouts through Progressive Camping (see above)
ii. Try the County and State Park Systems for locations as well.
iii. GSACP Council Sites are:
1. Camp Shadow Rim Ranch, Payson (pond and archery)
2. Camp Maripai, Prescott (horses except for Winter)
3. Camp Willow Springs, Prescott (challenge courses)
4. Camp Sombrero, Phoenix (currently undergoing fabulous
renovations)
5. Camp Stephens, Kingman (very rustic)
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XII. SAFETY
A. Manual
i. You will be provided with safety and training at the Getting Started
training.
ii. The basic Checkpoint provides the adult-to-girl ratios needed for
safety based on the age of your Girl Scouts and the activity. (see
Section B, below)
B. Safety Checkpoints
i. At the Council website there are multiple checkpoint forms for every
specific type of activity in which you will engage your girls. They
contain detailed information about what you need to do before, during
and after to assure the safety of the girls
C. First Aid/CPR
i. Every troop needs at least 1 registered adult that is Certified in
First Aid and CPR
ii. The class must be Girl Scout approved (see the Council website for
locations or check with your MSE)
iii. Follow this link to the Council First Aid/CPR page for additional
information and training opportunities
iv. Watch your Council emails for opportunities to obtain your
certification for First Aid and CPR
D. Troop Camp Certification
i. If you plan on taking your Girl Scouts camping, then at least one
member of your troop leadership team needs to be Troop Camp
Certified.
1. Level I – indoor or cabin sleeping, cooking, dining and activities
2. Level II – outdoor sleeping, cooking, dining and activities
ii. The training is offered by Council throughout the year
1. TCC Level I can be done as an online course with a test
2. TCC Level II can be done in the valley and takes all day
3. TCC Levels I & II can be done in a weekend program done at
one of the Camps
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XIII. RECOGNITIONS
A. Girl Recognitions
In addition to the badges and patches, the girls have the opportunity to earn
additional awards and recognitions
i. Bronze Award – the highest award a Junior Girl Scout can earn.
Information is in the Junior Manual
ii. Silver Award – the highest award a Cadette Girl Scout can earn.
Information is in the Cadette Manual
iii. Gold Award – the highest award a Senior/Ambassador Girl Scout can
earn. Information is in both the Senior and Ambassador Manuals
iv. Summit – each level from Junior through Ambassador has a Summit
Award (see the appropriate level Manual for more details) which is
obtained when the Girl Scout earns all of the Journeys before
completing that level.
v. My Promise, My Faith – is an annual faith-based award presented to
the Girl Scout generally by her religious leader or at the annual
celebration sponsored by the GSACP Council. Additional information
can be found in the age-level Manual and here.
vi. Other awards include:
1. Service to Girl Scouting
2. Torch Award
3. And more… See the Girl’s Manual for additional awards
B. Adult Recognitions
i. Girl Scout leaders and volunteers put in many, many hours in support
of the girls in their troop, in our neighborhood and Girl Scouts, in
general. Our Neighborhood puts on an annual event to thank our
leaders, co-leaders, and other volunteers. Recognitions are also given
at the Council and national level
ii. Annual recognition forms are due to the Council and National
Recognitions Coordinator in February every year. Local awards are
due in April.
iii. The awards are as follows:
1. Appreciation Pin – Council Level
2. Honor Pin – Council Level
3. Thanks Badge – National Level
4. Thanks Badge II – National Level
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5. Neighborhood Volunteer of Excellence – Neighborhood Level
6. Pearl Award
iv. Check out the Cholla website to see our recognition recipients and
access the forms.
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XIV. FINANCIAL HELP
A. Opening the Bank Account
B. Recruit a Financially Responsible Parent
i. This is critical unless you want to spend some of your spare time doing
the troop accounting. You are responsible for it and must turn in the
paperwork, but sometimes the listing of transactions is best left to
someone else you trust. See Section V – First Steps.
C. Tracking Your Income and Expenditures
D. Annual Reporting
i. Annual Financial Reports are due to Council each year by May 31st. This
means that they are to be turned into the Neighborhood Finance
Consultant at the April Leader Meeting to allow sufficient time for
review before they are submitted to Council.
ii. You may use forms MS-23 for the report and MS-32 for the detailed
record, or any other forms that contain similar information. Detailed
instructions can be found at www.chollags.org, Leader Info,
Forms. You can find an excel version of the forms in a file named
Troop Management. Below are a few tips, and please contact the
Neighborhood Financial Consultant with any questions or concerns.
1. You must start with last year's balance, and at the point in time
you left off last year.
2. New troops will start with a zero balance, and the month they
first took in money.
3. Be sure to include your Juliette Low Friendship fund as an in/out
for same amount if you attended International Festival and
made a cash donation.
4. Try to deposit all your cookie money in March since you should
be reporting all cookie net income on your report.
5. Fall product and Cookie income should be netted! For example,
if your troop sold 100 boxes of cookies, you would report $75
on your cookie line, not $400 of income and $325 of expense.
6. Ending balance should match your March bank statement. If
you have outstanding checks and want to show those expenses
on your report, you need to provide a listing to reconcile your
bank balance to your report balance.
E. Event Reporting
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i. If you are going to host an event for Cholla Neighborhood, you need
to complete the following forms and turn them in to our MSE:
1. Budget Planning
2. Flyer Checklist
3. Reimbursement Form
ii. For reimbursement, please turn in receipts to the Neighborhood
Financial Consultant
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XV. HELPFUL HINTS
A. The Bucket or tote – purchase (or use one from your stash) a plastic storage
tub with a well-fitting lid. Mark this for Girl Scouts and place it on your
front porch. Use this for placing items that parents need to pick up or drop
off. This keeps your doorbell from being rung at 6 am on Sunday morning!
The only absolute rule is NO MONEY in the bucket. Many of our Service
Team people use the buckets for Fall Product, Cookies, event registrations,
etc. and they are quite handy.
B. Even if you are in the process of forming and registering your troop, you can
likely attend neighborhood events. Ask the specific event coordinator.
C. Remember that when Girl Scouts earn money through Cookie and Fall
Product Sales, and through troop money earning events, that money belongs
to the troop. Girls are rewarded for their efforts through the receipt of
incentives and through attendance at whatever activity they are earning
money for. It is important to keep up with payments from parents as they
are financially responsible for any product they take and sell.
D. When giving the petals to new Daisies, have parents purchase the petal
packs for each girl and give the packet to the Troop Leader. Put the girl’s
name on the packet and give out a petal as it is earned. Don’t give the
parents the packet as we want to ensure only what is earned is reflected on
the Daisy vest/apron.
E. If one of your girls loses a petal, visit the Council Shop. They may be able to
replace it for free.
F. There are tons of cute little crafts at www.makingfriends.com. These go up
through Junior-aged girls. They have cute SWAPS kits too.
G. Another good site is www.orientaltrading.com. They usually sell them in 12
kits/pkg.
H. SAS Fabrics at 1700 E. Apache Blvd., Tempe has some awesome crafts and
are really affordable!
I. Solicit donations for anything and everything you need for your troop. See
if retailers will give you a discount when you buy troop supplies, ask for gift
cards from the grocery store, ask the local bakery if you can have their
leftover cookies tonight for tomorrow’s meeting, etc.
J. The Council or Neighborhood organizes events and it is often okay for your
troop to attend without you. You can either specify that each girl must
attend with a parent, or coordinate with registered and background-checked
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parents to take the troop. Share the Program At a Glance that you will
receive via email from the GSACP Council with your families so they can
decide to attend events without you if they choose.
K. Parade of Lights is chaos with kindergarteners. Parade of Lights is
recommended for all troops. It is definitely up to you, your co-leaders, and
your parents to decide when your girls are ready for this. Some leaders have
found that 1st year Daisies have difficulty, but others have had no issue.
Watch your girls and see how they do. See Safety Checkpoints for girl/adult
ratio.
L. Get your girls’ parents involved from the beginning. Teach them that they
are an essential part of the troop, and that you are not a babysitter.
M. Do not let fundraising discourage your girls or their parents. While it is
important for girls to sell cookies to raise money, some families may decide
not to participate and that is okay. No one should opt out of Girl Scouts
because they feel pressure to sell. However, what is not earned with cookie
sales will need to be made up with parent funding, or a decision to avoid
cost-prohibitive activities. Set clear selling goals and deadlines so parents
know what to expect.
N. Council has a FaceBook forum for leaders only: GSACPC Leaders. Post your
questions there for quick responses from other leaders. Cholla has one too!
O. Many leaders forget what it was like to be new and not know the acronyms,
events, people, etc. Asking questions and letting them know what you need is
the only way you will learn.
P. Do not be discouraged by other’s experiences in the past. For example, if
another parent tells you that there’s no way your school will let you meet
there, ask the school anyway. Things may have changed; you may try the
same thing with a different result.
Q. If you do not like the way something is being done in the Neighborhood or
Council, offer to help. Most activities are performed by volunteers that are
doing the best they can, and would appreciate your initiative.
R. Intel employees that volunteer more than 20 hours/year with your troop can
submit their hours to the Intel Foundation for a donation to your troop.
Intel will pay $10 per hour of service by an employee or retiree.
S. Several local businesses offer tours or Girl Scout activities. Check out the
list of known opportunities at http://www.chollags.org/leader-info.html.
Email [email protected] to add things you’ve found too!
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T. Daisies can be harder for volunteers than other levels. As the girls progress
to Brownies and beyond, they will take responsibility for their troop
meetings and activities. If you can make it through Daisies, you can do
anything.
U. Your Service Team wants you to join! We want new people, new opinions, new
ideas and your help with whatever you can do, even if you do not feel
comfortable taking a formal position. This is a great way to learn more
about Girl Scouts as an organization, develop relationships with other
leaders, and shape the way the Girl Scouting experience is delivered to our
area.
V. Attendance at Leader Meetings is highly encouraged. The Service Team
endeavors to have topics of relevance so that you can have monthly mini-
training opportunities and, best of all, other Leaders and volunteers to talk
to. Our MSE is always in attendance. If you ever have a topic you would like
to discuss at a Leader Meeting let anyone on the Service Team know. (see,
www.chollags.org).