Troop Pathway Orientation

Welcome and thank you for becoming a

Girl Scout Volunteer!

We are very happy that you have chosen to engage in our mission:

Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence and character,

who make the world a better place.

2014 http://gsneny.org/for-volunteers/volunteer-courses/

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Welcome to Girl Scouting! Dear New Troop Volunteer, Thank you for becoming a Troop Pathway volunteer! As a Girl Scout volunteer you will have the opportunity to experience new adventures, develop your knowledge and skills, make life-long friends and most importantly serve as a role model to the girls in our community. This resource will help prepare you to get started with your troop! There are lots of ways that you will be supported in your new role: learning opportunities, web resources, national program resources and most importantly, human resources! Each volunteer plays a major role in serving the girls in our community. We are happy that you have taken on this responsibility and we look forward to working with you. Sincerely,

GSNENY Staff

Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York

New Troop Volunteer Checklist

Submit GSNENY Volunteer Application & Background Check

Complete Interview & Local Troop Pathway Orientation

Take GS101 Online Training

Sign & Turn in Position Description

Receive New Troop Membership Packet from Community Committee Member

Meet with your Troop Leadership Team and Girls!

Make sure all troop members are registered through the online registration system

Open a Troop Bank Account

Begin Meetings and Activities with your Troop!

Revised September 2013

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Table of Contents

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Volunteer Policies & Position Descriptions

Council and Community Connection

Council Resources and Support

Frequently Used Forms

Quick-Start Guide

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Quick-Start Guide

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Quick-Start Guide

Welcome to the great adventure of Girl Scouting! Thanks to volunteers like you, generations of girls have learned to be leaders in their own lives and in the world.

We know you’re busy and need to be efficient with your time. For that reason, this Quick-Start Guide to Volunteer Essentials gives you the nitty-gritty—what you need to know now, as you plan for your first meeting with girls. We encourage you to read through these tips as soon as you can, and then feel free to put down this handbook for now.

The rest of Volunteer Essentials is a reference for you to use only as needed. When you have a question, simply look up the topic in the Table of Contents, and you’ll find your answer. Think of Volunteer Essentials as your encyclopedia to Girl Scout volunteering: it’s here when you need it, but there’s no need to read it all today.

Ready to get started? Then read the following handy tips, and you’ll be on your way!

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We Are Girl Scouts Girl Scouts was founded in 1912 by trailblazer Juliette Gordon Low. We are the largest girl-serving organization in the United States and a member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, a sisterhood of close to 10 million girls and adults in 145 countries.

Our Mission and Vision Girl Scouts builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. We strive to be the premier leadership organization for girls, and experts on their growth and development.

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 Scouts of the USA makes no attempt to define or interpret the word “God” in the Girl Scout Promise. It looks to individual members to establish for themselves the nature of their spiritual beliefs. When making the Girl Scout Promise, individuals may substitute wording appropriate to their own spiritual beliefs for the word “God.” Note: This disclaimer appears in the National Leadership Journey adult guides, but not in the girls’ books. It is included here as a reminder to you, as a volunteer, that it’s your responsibility to be sensitive to the spiritual beliefs of the girls in your group and to make sure that everyone in the group feels comfortable and included in Girl Scouting. Please feel free to share this information with girls’ families.

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.

More than 3 Million Strong We are urban, rural, and suburban. We are in schools, churches, temples, mosques, public housing, foster homes, and detention centers. We are in virtually every zip code and in 90 countries around the world.

2.3 million girls 5 to 18 years of age 16,800 Girl Scouts overseas 888,000 adult volunteers 59 million alumnae 112 councils throughout the United States

At any given time, approximately 10 percent of girls are Girl Scouts, and it’s interesting to know that:

80 percent of women business owners were Girl Scouts. 69 percent of female U.S. Senators were Girl Scouts. 67 percent of female members of the House of Representatives were Girl Scouts. Virtually every female astronaut who has flown in space was a Girl Scout.

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The Girl Scout Leadership Experience We have identified Three Keys to Leadership: girls Discover themselves and their values; Connect with others; and Take Action to make the world a better place. At Girl Scouts, everything centers around the girl: activities are girl-led, which gives girls the opportunity to learn by doing in a cooperative learning environment.

100 Years Young We’re celebrating a century of trailblazing, leadership, fun, and friendship—and we’re just getting started. Connect with Girl Scouts of the USA at www.girlscouts.org, www.facebook.com/GirlScoutsUSA, www.twitter.com/girlscouts, and www.pinterest.com/GSUSA. Your local council also shares event information,

learning opportunities, tips, and advice at www.gsneny.org, https://www.facebook.com/GSNENY and

https://twitter.com/gsneny

ToGetHerThere

What will the next century bring? More of what Girl Scouts is known for, of course! And we’re also rallying the nation around the cause of girls’ leadership.

We know you’ve seen girls back down, opt out, and shy away from leading. You may have seen girls bullied by their peers, pressured by industries that celebrate unattainable beauty, and encouraged not to pursue science and math. You may have even struggled to explain to girls why women are in only 17 percent of seats in the U.S. Congress and 3 percent of the top positions at Fortune 500 companies.

We believe that, together, we can do better for girls, setting in motion a generational change, so that every girl born today blossoms into her full potential, whether that’s running a science lab, running a corporation, or running a household. Together, we can transform the leadership landscape, so that every girl, in every zip code, stands up, stands out, and stands tall. Together, we can get her there.

That’s why we created ToGetHerThere, a cause that partners Girl Scouts with nonprofits and leading corporations under a bold and ambitious banner: achieve gender-balanced leadership—in every industry and every community—in a single generation. Want to learn more? You can find us at www.ToGetHerThere.org, www.facebook.com/ToGetHerThere, and www.twitter.com/togetherthere.

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Who Can Join Girl Scouts-and How?

Girl Scouts is about sharing the fun, friendship, and power of girls and women together. Any girl—from kindergarten through 12th grade—can join Girl Scouts. Girl Scout volunteers are also a diverse group—you may be a college volunteer working on a community-action project, a parent volunteer ready for an outdoor adventure with your daughter’s group, or any responsible adult (female or male, who have passed the necessary screening process) looking to help prime girls for the day when they’ll lead—however and wherever they choose.

What all members share, both girls and adults, are the Girl Scout Promise and Law. Each member also agrees to follow safety guidelines and pay the annual membership dues of $15. (Adults have the option to purchase a lifetime membership for $375).

Girls at Every Grade Level After girls join, they team up in the following grade levels:

Girl Scout Daisy (grades K–1) Girl Scout Brownie (grades 2–3) Girl Scout Junior (grades 4–5) Girl Scout Cadette (grades 6–8) Girl Scout Senior (grades 9–10) Girl Scout Ambassador (grades 11–12)

Flexible Ways to Participate Across the country, the Girl Scout community is hard at work on a whole new approach to make sure that everyone can participate in Girl Scouting in the ways they want to. As a volunteer, you can choose from flexible ways to participate that can be tailored to fit your schedule and lifestyle. You can also volunteer behind the scenes, in your council office, instead of volunteering directly with girls.

Girls can choose any one, all, or some of the options—camp, events, series, troop, travel, and virtual*— within a single membership year. (*Note that virtual is still in development.) As a volunteer, you, too, have the option of partnering with girls throughout a membership year or committing to an opportunity for only a few weeks or months. Based on independent research and extensive surveys with thousands of council staff members from around the country, we have a good sense of which options will interest girls, based on their grade levels. These are reflected in the chart on the right.

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Girl Scouts’ Organizational Structure

Girl Scouts is the world’s largest organization of and for girls, currently encompassing 2.3 million girl members and nearly one million volunteers! Three core structures support all these members: the national headquarters, your council, and your support team.

National Organization and Worldwide Sisterhood The national office of Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA), located in New York City, employs roughly 300 employees. GSUSA is a member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS). (Visit GSUSA online, where you’ll find a wealth of resources for both girls and volunteers.)

Global Girl Scouting ensures that girls have increased awareness about the world, cross-cultural learning opportunities, and education on relevant global issues that may inspire them to take action to make the world a better place. Visit Global Girl Scouting online for additional information.

Since 1925, USA Girl Scouts Overseas (USAGSO), a division of Global Girl Scouting, has helped ease the transition for American families relocating overseas by offering the familiar traditions and exciting opportunities of Girl Scouting to girls abroad. USAGSO now serves thousands of American girls living overseas, as well as girls attending American or international schools. Through Global Girl Scouting, members participate in World Thinking Day on February 22, visit the four WAGGGS world centers (see the “For Travel Volunteers” appendix), participate in international travel, promote global friendship and understanding by supporting the Juliette Low World Friendship Fund, and take action on global issues.

Your Council Girl Scout councils are chartered by the national office to attract and retain members in a geographic area, provide ways for girls to participate in Girl Scouting, create an environment that reflects Girl Scout values and ideals, manage volunteers’ experience with Girl Scouting, and keep girls and volunteers as safe as possible. The national office provides support materials to all councils to ensure that the Girl Scout experience is nationally consistent.

Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York (GSNENY) has a membership of approximately 10,000 girls and 5,000 adult volunteers. Our council serves 15 counties including: Albany, Clinton, Columbia, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Hamilton, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Warren, and Washington.

GSNENY offers girls hundreds of educational and fun programs that help to develop their leadership skills. We also offer programs to our adult membership to further develop their skills and knowledge, which also benefit the girls.

Your Support Team A team of volunteers and staff provides you with local support, learning opportunities, and advice. As a volunteer, you will have the most contact with your Girl Scout support team, which may be called a service unit or another name. Never hesitate to contact them, because your support team will guide and assist you in all things Girl Scouting. If you have questions about the Girl Scout program, working with girls, resources in the National Program Portfolio (National Leadership Journeys and The Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting), or selling Girl Scout cookies and other products, go to your team for answers and ongoing support.

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Getting Started with the National Leadership Program through Journeys

The Girl Scout program is based on the Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE), in which girls Discover themselves, Connect with others, and Take Action to make the world a better place—all within the safety of an all-girl environment where girls take the lead, learn by doing, and learn cooperatively.

At the core of the GSLE are National Leadership Journeys, fun and challenging experiences grouped around a theme and spread over a series of sessions. Each Journey has all the important components of the GSLE sewn right in. So, to guide girls on a great Journey, all you need is enthusiasm and a sense of adventure. Before you dive in, try these six simple tips:

Check out the Journey maps at www.girlscouts.org/program/journeys/maps. These maps show you how all the fun and meaningful traditions of Girl Scouting fit right into any National Leadership Journey. There, you can also find information about the topics that each Journey covers, which you can share with girls. And you’ll find even more fun traditions to complement your Journey in The Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting, a resource for each grade level of Girl Scouting.

Choose a Journey. Because Girl Scouting is girl-led, it’s important to give girls the chance to pick the Journey they want to do. Talk to them about what each Journey for their grade level is about and let them choose one.

Get to know the Journey. Pick up a girls’ book and an adult guide. Read the girls’ book for the pleasure of it, just to get an overview of the Journey’s theme and content.

Review the sample session plans in the adult guide. These sample session plans give you ideas about bringing the Journey to life with girls while leaving plenty of room for creativity and customization.

Invite girls (and their parents/guardians) to use their imaginations to make the Journey come to life in ways that excite them. Remember that you and the girls don’t have to do everything exactly as laid out in the sample sessions.

Step back and watch how the girls, with your knowledge, support, and guidance, have enormous fun and a rewarding experience. Celebrate with them as they earn their National Leadership Journey awards—and perhaps some Girl Scout badges, too!

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Planning in a Girl-Led Environment

To start planning your time with girls, visit www.girlscouts.org/MyCalendar. There, you’ll consider the following questions and begin to map out your Girl Scout year:

How many times each month will you meet? When do you plan to break for holidays?

How many weeks do you need to allocate for the Girl Scout Cookie Program?

Will you have time in your schedule for guest speakers and other visitors?

If you’ve worked with this group before, what are their preferences: badge work? field trips? other activities? For specific ideas on how to incorporate badges, trips, and other Girl Scout traditions into a Journey, check out the online Journey maps for the grade level of the girls you’re partnering with.

If your group will be meeting for less than a year (such as at a resident camp or during a series), you’ll be able to adjust the calendar to suit your needs. In the same way, if you’re planning a multi-year event (such as a travel excursion), add one or two more years to the framework.

After you’ve drafted a loose framework, ask the girls what they think. Or, create the online calendar together! Remember that you want girls to lead, but younger girls will need more guidance, while older girls will require much less. Seniors and Ambassadors may not even want you to draft a calendar in advance, so if they balk at what you’ve done, let them take the reins. (Journeys for older girls include planning pages specifically designed to help them customize their Journey.) Daisies and Brownies, on the other hand, may enjoy your calendar and just fill in a few ideas here and there, which will clue you in to their interests.

As your group starts its Journey, get a discussion (or debate!) going on the Journey’s theme and what it means to the girls. Probe to find out what they’re most interested in accomplishing during their time together, and then help them connect those interests to their Journey.

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Meeting with Girls for the First Time

When you first get together with girls (and this meeting may also include parents/guardians, or you may decide to hold a separate meeting for the adults), you’ll want to get to know the girls, and give them a chance to get to know one another.

Icebreaker games that let girls share simple details about themselves are a great way to start off your first gathering. Journeys often start with such an icebreaker, so if you’re digging into a Journey right away, you’ll be all set. You can also check your council’s resources or search the Internet for “icebreakers for kids” to find more ideas.

If you already know which Journey the girls want to do, you’ll find it useful to accomplish some of the following during this meeting. (Note that all these points are detailed in the adult guide for each Journey, too). If your girls haven’t chosen a Journey yet, you can spend time during the first meeting talking about the themes of the three Journeys that are available for their grade level and find out which one the group would like to do. You can then discuss these points in the next meeting, if you run out of time.

1. Introduce the Journey, its theme, and its ties to leadership. Each Journey’s adult guide gives you ideas for talking with girls and their parents/guardians about the Journey’s theme and the Three Keys to Leadership.

2. Find out what interests the group (and be sure to include the other adult volunteers), so that you and the girls can begin to customize the Journey. Do the girls want to dig deeper into a particular aspect of the Journey? Without promising anything (yet!), ask the girls to talk about what they’re passionate about, what they’ve always wanted to do, and how they would spend their time if money and other barriers were no object. Build off the ideas shared, but be sure to include opinions from all the girls. Ask direct questions of those who seem to be holding back or are unsure about answering, so everyone is included.

3. Get the girls talking about how they want to schedule their time together. Use the planning pages from their Journey (referring to your draft calendar only as needed, so that the girls lead). Consider questions like these:

o Can girls organize and plan a field trip or longer travel opportunity that will allow them to learn more about a particular Journey topic or theme?

o Is there an event that meshes with this topic or area of interest? o Can the girls locate and communicate with an expert in the field via email or social media? o Can they invite a guest speaker to answer questions or demonstrate particular skills? o Which badges can the group choose to work on that will deepen their skills in this particular area? o If they are Juniors or older, are they interested in pursuing their Girl Scout Bronze, Silver, or Gold

Awards? o Do they have ideas for activities that will involve younger or older girls?

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Using Safety Activity Checkpoints

When preparing for any activity with girls, start by reading the Girl Scout Safety Activity Checkpoints for that particular activity. You can find these on your council’s website; your council may also provide them in some additional electronic or printed form.

Each Safety Activity Checkpoint offers you information on where to do this activity, how to include girls with disabilities, where to find both basic and specialized gear required for the activity, how to prepare yourselves for the activity, what specific steps to follow on the day of the activity, and so on.

In addition to reading these checkpoints yourself, you can email or print them for co-volunteers, parents/guardians, and the girls themselves. The checkpoints are formatted as checklists, so that you, your co-volunteers, and the girls can check off each step that has been accomplished.

In keeping with the three processes of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, be sure that:

All activities are girl-led. Take into account the age and abilities of the girls. Older girls can take the bulk of the responsibility for carefully planning and executing activities, while younger girls will require more of your guidance but should still be deeply involved in making decisions about their activities.

Girls have the chance to learn cooperatively. Have girls teach each other new skills they may need for the activities, rather than hearing all that from you.

Girls learn by doing. If research or special equipment is needed, they’ll learn better by doing that research themselves than by having you do the legwork and report back to them. Even Daisies can do basic research and give reports or do show-and-tell for each other. Ambassadors may need you only for moral support as they research, teach each other, and plan every detail of their excursions.

If Safety Activity Checkpoints do not exist for an activity you and the girls are interested in, check with your council before making any definite plans with the girls. A few activities are allowed only with written council pre-approval and only for girls 12 and over, while some are off-limits completely:

Caution: You must get written pre-approval from your council for girls ages 12 and older who will operate motorized vehicles, such as go-carts and personal watercraft; use firearms; take trips on waterways that are highly changeable or uncontrollable; experience simulated skydiving and zero-gravity rooms; or fly in noncommercial aircraft, such as small private planes, helicopters, sailplanes, untethered hot air balloons, and blimps.

Warning: The following activities are never allowed for any girl: potentially uncontrolled free-falling (bungee jumping, hang gliding, parachuting, parasailing, and trampolining); creating extreme variations of approved activities (such as high-altitude climbing and aerial tricks on bicycles, skis, snowboards, skateboards, water-skis, and wakeboards); hunting; shooting a projectile at another person; riding all-terrain vehicles and motor bikes; and taking watercraft trips in Class V or higher.

An additional note: Girl Scouts welcomes and serves girls and families from a wide spectrum of faiths and cultures. When girls wish to participate in discussions or activities that could be considered sensitive—even for some—put the topic on hold until you have spoken with parents and received guidance from your council. When Girl Scout activities involve sensitive issues, your role is that of a caring adult who can help girls acquire skills and knowledge in a supportive atmosphere, not someone who advocates a particular position. You are required to obtain permission slips signed by the girls’ parents/guardians; see the “Engaging Girls at All Grade Levels” chapter of this handbook for more information.

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Understanding How Many Volunteers You Need Girl Scout groups are large enough to provide a cooperative learning environment and small enough to allow for development of individual girls. It is recommended that group sizes, when possible, are as follows:

Girl Scout Daisies: 5–12 girls

Girl Scout Brownies: 10–20 girls

Girl Scout Juniors: 10–25 girls

Girl Scout Cadettes: 5–25 girls

Girl Scout Seniors: 5–30 girls

Girl Scout Ambassadors: 5–30 girls

Girl Scouts’ adult-to-girl ratios show the minimum number of adults needed to supervise a specific number of girls. (Councils may also establish maximums due to size or cost restrictions.) These supervision ratios were devised to ensure the safety and health of girls—for example, if one adult has to respond to an emergency, a second adult is always on hand for the rest of the girls. It may take you a minute to get used to the layout of this chart, but once you start to use it, you’ll find the chart extremely helpful.

Group Meetings Events, Travel, and Camping

Two unrelated adults (at least one of whom is female) for this number of girls:

Plus one additional adult for each additional number of this many girls:

Two unrelated adults (at least one of whom is female) for this number of girls:

Plus one additional adult for each additional number of this many girls:

Girl Scout Daisies (grades K–1)

12 6 6 4

Girl Scout Brownies (grades 2–3)

20 8 12 6

Girl Scout Juniors (grades 4–5)

25 10 16 8

Girl Scout Cadettes (grades 6–8)

25 12 20 10

Girl Scout Seniors (grades 9–10)

30 15 24 12

Girl Scout Ambassadors (grades 11–12)

30 15 24 12

Here are some examples: If you’re meeting with 17 Daisies, you’ll need three adults, at least two of whom are unrelated (in other words, not your sister, spouse, parent, or child), and at least one of whom is female. If this isn’t making sense to you, follow the chart: you need two adults for 12 Daisies and one more adult for up to six more girls. You have 17, so you need three adults. If, however, you have 17 Cadettes attending a group meeting, you need only two unrelated adults, at least one of which is female (because, on the chart, two adults can manage up to 25 Cadettes).

In addition to the adult-to-girl ratios, please remember that adult volunteers must be at least 18 years old or at the age of majority defined by the state, if it is older than 18.

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Following the Girl Scouts Safety Guidelines

Every adult in Girl Scouting is responsible for the physical and emotional safety of girls, and we all demonstrate that by agreeing to follow these guidelines at all times.

1. Follow the Safety Activity Checkpoints. Instructions for staying safe while participating in activities are detailed in the Safety Activity Checkpoints, available from your council. Read the checkpoints, follow them, and share them with other volunteers, parents, and girls before engaging in activities with girls.

2. Arrange for proper adult supervision of girls. Your group must have at least two unrelated, approved adult volunteers present at all times, plus additional adult volunteers as necessary, depending on the size of the group and the ages and abilities of girls. Adult volunteers must be at least 18 years old (or the age of majority defined by the state, if it is older than 18) and must be screened by your council before volunteering. One lead volunteer in every group must be female.

3. Get parent/guardian permission. When an activity takes place that is outside the normal time and place, advise each parent/guardian of the details of the activity and obtain permission for girls to participate.

4. Report abuse. Sexual advances, improper touching, and sexual activity of any kind with girl members are forbidden. Physical, verbal, and emotional abuse of girls is also forbidden. Follow your council’s guidelines for reporting concerns about abuse or neglect that may be occurring inside or outside of Girl Scouting.

5. Be prepared for emergencies. Work with girls and other adults to establish and practice procedures for emergencies related to weather, fire, lost girls/adults, and site security. Always keep handy a well-stocked first-aid kit, girl health histories, and contact information for girls’ families.

6. Travel safely. When transporting girls to planned Girl Scout field trips and other activities that are outside the normal time and place, every driver must be an approved adult volunteer and have a good driving record, a valid license, and a registered/insured vehicle. Insist that everyone is in a legal seat and wears her seat belt at all times, and adhere to state laws regarding booster seats and requirements for children in rear seats.

7. Ensure safe overnight outings. Prepare girls to be away from home by involving them in planning, so they know what to expect. Avoid having men sleep in the same space as girls and women. During family or parent-daughter overnights, one family unit may sleep in the same sleeping quarters in program areas. When parents are staffing events, daughters should remain in quarters with other girls rather than in staff areas.

8. Role-model the right behavior. Never use illegal drugs. Don’t consume alcohol, smoke, or use foul language in the presence of girls. Do not carry ammunition or firearms in the presence of girls unless given special permission by your council for group marksmanship activities.

9. Create an emotionally safe space. Adults are responsible for making Girl Scouting a place where girls are as safe emotionally as they are physically. Protect the emotional safety of girls by creating a team agreement and coaching girls to honor it. Agreements typically encourage behaviors like respecting a diversity of feelings and opinions; resolving conflicts constructively; and avoiding physical and verbal bullying, clique behavior, and discrimination.

10. Ensure that no girl is treated differently. Girl Scouts welcomes all members, regardless of race, ethnicity, background, disability, family structure, religious beliefs, and socioeconomic status. When scheduling, helping plan, and carrying out activities, carefully consider the needs of all girls involved, including school schedules, family needs, financial constraints, religious holidays, and the accessibility of appropriate transportation and meeting places.

11. Promote online safety. Instruct girls never to put their full names or contact information online, engage in virtual conversation with strangers, or arrange in-person meetings with online contacts. On group websites, publish girls’ first names only and never divulge their contact information. Teach girls the Girl Scout Online Safety Pledge and have them commit to it.

12. Keep girls safe during money-earning activities. Girl Scout cookies and other council-sponsored product sales are an integral part of the program. During Girl Scout product sales, you are responsible for the safety of girls, money, and products. In addition, a wide variety of organizations, causes, and fundraisers may appeal to Girl Scouts to be their labor force. When representing Girl Scouts, girls cannot participate in money-earning activities that represent partisan politics or that are not Girl Scout–approved product sales and efforts.

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Volunteer Policies & Position Descriptions 2

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8 Mountain View Avenue, Albany, NY 12205

518) 489-8110 Fax (518)489-8065 www.gsneny.org

Attn: Volunteer Engagement volunteering@gsneny.org

Volunteer Policies

Introduction

The Council is guided by an elected volunteer Board of Directors in partnership with an employed staff. Volunteers

are vital to the successful accomplishment of Girl Scouting goals and objectives. Volunteer policies and procedures

are established by the Board of Directors to:

Support a safe, high quality program experience for girls.

Use the skills and experience and time of volunteers effectively.

Provide all volunteers with the opportunity for participation, challenge, growth, advancement and

satisfaction.

Create an environment of courtesy, respect and fairness for all members.

Terms

The following terms will assist in understanding the Volunteer Policies and Procedures.

Policy: An established mandatory course of action that can be monitored and enforced. The GSUSA

nationwide organization’s policies are printed in the Leader’s Digest: Blue Book of Basic Documents. Council

policies, such as those contained in this document, are approved by the Board of Directors.

Procedure: A way of work, a customary process or method to put policies into action to accomplish a desired

end. Procedures are established by management and delineate daily operations, for example, how to

register, obtain permissions, conduct product sales, etc.

Policy Influencing Volunteers: Individuals who give input into the policy-making process by communicating

the views of the membership. Policy influencing volunteer positions include, (but are not limited to): elected

delegates, board committee and task group members.

Operational Volunteers: Individuals directly involved with implementing the activities of the Council in order

to serve girls. Operational volunteer positions include, (but are not limited to): Troop/Group

Leader/Advisors, Assistant Leaders, Troop Organizers, Service Unit Managers, designated Service Team

positions, Council Trainers, Service Unit Product Sale Managers, Consultants, and operating committee/action

team members.

Non-discrimination

The Council prohibits discrimination against any volunteer or volunteer applicant because of that person’s race, color,

creed, religion, ancestry, sex, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, marital status or socioeconomic status.

In addition, to ensure full equality of opportunity in all operations and activities of the organization, affirmative action

policies and procedures shall be utilized in the recruitment, selection, training, placement, and recognition of

volunteers. Special emphasis shall be placed on under-represented populations.

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Adult Membership

All volunteers participating in the Girl Scout Movement shall meet GSUSA membership standards, be registered

through the Council as a member of the Girl Scout Movement, and shall agree to abide by the policies and principles

of GSUSA and the Girl Scout Council.

Recruitment

Methods of recruiting volunteers should be consistent with the volunteer expectations of the Council and GSUSA.

Benefits of Volunteer Participation

Benefits to adult volunteers in Girl Scouting include:

A. The opportunity to be a positive role model and to build girls of courage, confidence, and character.

B. Training and other learning opportunities.

C. Developments of transferable skills, such as time management, organization, leadership, volunteer

coordination, and educational program delivery.

D. Supervision, support and performance evaluations.

E. Assistance in conflict resolution and handling difficult situations.

F. A record system for documenting volunteer experience, training and recognition.

G. Regular opportunities for recognition and appreciation.

H. Opportunities for broadening skills through assignment to new volunteer positions involving additional

and/or greater responsibilities.

I. Limited career counseling.

J. Financial assistance if selected to attend occasional special programs and/or training events, including

national functions.

K. Subscriptions to Girl Scout Leader magazine and council publications.

L. Liability insurance and supplementary accident insurance for approved Girl Scout activities as part of Girl

Scout membership.

Obligations and Expectations of Volunteers

Girl Scout volunteers are expected to serve as appropriate role models for girls and for other volunteers. The image of

Girl Scouting as well as the image of the individual can be compromised by any performance or behavior that violates

a law, policy, standard, Girl Scout Law, or customary courtesy and respect.

Behavior expectations for volunteers include, but are not limited to, the items listed below:

A. No use of tobacco in the presence of girls at Girl Scout programs or events.

B. No consumption of alcohol at girl events or while responsible for girls.

C. No possession, sale or use of illegal drugs or misuse of prescribed or over-the-counter drugs.

D. No performance of volunteer duties or driving while under the influence of alcohol or prescription drugs that

impair alertness or judgment.

E. No promotion of religious or political preferences while functioning as a Girl Scout Volunteer (Girl Scouting

believes that these are private matters for girls and their families to address together).

F. No promotion of an individual opinion or philosophy inconsistent with Girl Scout beliefs and principles at Girl

Scout programs, activities or events.

G. No willful or malicious damage to Girl Scout property or reputation.

H. Maintaining confidentiality and privacy and refraining from sharing sensitive information concerning Girl

Scout programs, activities/events, or girl and adult members of Girl Scouts.

I. Communication in an appropriate, respectful, and polite manner that supports healthy personal and

professional relationships.

J. Handling of Girl Scout funds in accordance with Council policies and utilizing of funds only for Girl Scout

purposes.

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K. Following Girl Scout safety and program standards as outlined in Safety Wise.

L. Resolution of adult matters or conflicts away from girls, without involving girls, and with respect for the Girl

Scout Law.

M. Maintaining conduct consistent with the Girl Scout Promise, Law and values.

Application for Operational Volunteer Positions

Each prospective operational volunteer must complete a Volunteer Application Form and identify references. The

application will be reviewed and references may be checked prior to appointment.

Background checks may be conducted as part of the application process. Volunteer applicants will need to provide

the necessary information to be eligible for appointment. Volunteers may be asked to allow additional background

checks during their tenure as volunteers.

Selection for Operational Volunteer Positions

Every adult volunteer is selected on the basis of qualification for membership, ability to perform in the volunteer

position, and willingness and availability to participate in training for the position.

To ensure the job satisfaction of operational volunteers and the effective use of the volunteer human resources

available to the Council, individual skills and aspirations must be accurately and objectively assessed in relation to the

duties and responsibilities of the job to be performed. This assessment will take place through an interview process

after the individual’s application has been approved (see above). A Girl Scout adult responsible for overseeing

volunteers in the position sought will conduct the interview.

The following are to be discussed during the interview process:

A. Girl Scout philosophy, purpose, and membership requirements.

B. The applicant's interests, aspirations, skills, previous experiences, and other background information relevant to

the requirements of the Girl Scout organization and the volunteer position.

C. Description of the position in which the individual is interested: skills needed, specific responsibilities, who will

supervise and provide help, and the approximate amount of time needed to do the job.

D. Council training requirements.

E. Length of appointment (usually one year).

The person conducting the interview will assess whether the applicant's qualifications and potential meet the

requirements of the position being considered. The interviewer may choose to consult confidentially with another

supervisory volunteer or staff member before the decision is made.

The candidate must be notified of the decision in a timely manner, but not necessarily at the conclusion of the

interview.

Placement/Appointment

Every attempt will be made to place volunteers in positions that meet both their needs and the needs of the Council.

In instances where this is not possible, the needs of the Council will take precedence. Individuals not placed in a

position for which they applied may be recommended for other positions or they may request reassignment.

Appointment to a volunteer position (troop leader, trainer, or administrative volunteer, etc.) will be for a term of one

year unless otherwise stated.

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Orientation

Orientation for operational volunteers will take place as soon as possible after the appointment. Each newly

appointed volunteer will be given a copy of the written Position Description defining specific responsibilities,

expectations and accountabilities, and a copy of the Volunteer Policies and Procedures. Each newly appointed

volunteer must complete and sign a Volunteer Agreement for the specific position and term of appointment.

Discussion at the orientation will focus on:

A. The purpose and philosophy of the Girl Scout organization, membership requirements, and Council policies,

standards and guidelines.

B. The responsibilities of the position, including safety and financial accountability.

C. Mandatory training for the position.

D. Resources and support.

Training

Training is offered to help volunteers gain the skills and knowledge necessary to be successful. Training is available on

many levels and is designed to meet the ongoing needs of volunteers as they grow and develop in a position.

All adult volunteers must be willing to participate in training for their specific positions. It shall be the responsibility of

the Council to make training available to every adult volunteer for her/his specific position, to monitor participation in

basic and advanced leadership training, and issue the appropriate recognition to the volunteer.

It will be the volunteer’s responsibility to obtain training in a specified time frame as outlined in the Volunteer Position

Description. Failure to obtain training may result in a volunteer’s activities being limited or the release of the

volunteer from her/his position.

Training for volunteer position must be completed according to position description.

Recognition

The Council believes that recognizing volunteers is a way of showing respect and appreciation for their

accomplishments. Recognitions are tangible reminders of rewarding relationships with Girl Scouting.

The Council provides a recognition plan that is consistent with GSUSA guidelines, Adult Recognitions in Girl Scouting.

Girl Scout and community members are encouraged to publicly recognize the service of volunteers in ways that are

meaningful to the individual and appropriate to the volunteer position. Volunteers are also encouraged to find ways

to recognize their peers on an ongoing basis and consistently conduct meetings and activities in ways that provide

positive reinforcement for the Girl Scout experience.

Uniforms

Although Girl Scouting is a uniformed organization, a uniform is not required for participation in Girl Scouting. The

appearance, however, of volunteers makes an impact on girls’ and adults’ perception of Girl Scouting, and

consequently on the overall impression of Girl Scouting in the community.

Volunteers, members, and helpers at large community or Council events or gatherings, must be visibly identified as

Girl Scouts, especially if serving in some formal, official, or responsible capacity. Volunteers are strongly encouraged

to wear the Girl Scout Membership Pin when attending any Girl Scout function or representing Girl Scouting at

community events.

Volunteer Performance and Appraisal

All volunteers are expected to meet the Council’s standards for volunteer performance, as detailed in the volunteer

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position description. Please see the “Obligations and Expectations for Volunteers” section of this document for a

partial listing of these standards.

Each volunteer will be provided with the opportunity for review and evaluation appropriate to her/his position on an

annual basis. This evaluation may take the form of a written self-evaluation or an interview or face-to-face

conversation with the volunteer’s supervisor.

If the volunteer’s performance does not meet appropriate standards, she/he may: 1) be given a reasonable

opportunity to correct and/or improve performance, 2) be placed in a position that better matches the volunteer’s

abilities, or 3) be released or not reappointed as a volunteer. As long as the individual still meets the membership

criteria, she/he may retain membership in Girl Scouts.

If a performance issue is apparent, a Performance Improvement Process may begin. The volunteer’s supervisor may

follow these steps:

A. The volunteer and the supervisor will meet to discuss the performance issue. The volunteer will be informed

of the action that needs to be taken to improve her/his performance.

B. A written summary outlining the performance issue and expected improvement will be given to the

volunteer.

C. If there is no improvement, the volunteer may be placed on probation. Continued discussion between the

supervisor and the volunteer will be summarized in writing. A reasonable time period in which to resolve the

performance issue will be set. Specific corrective action that the volunteer is expected to take will be

outlined in writing.

D. If the performance issue is not resolved, the Council may take action to release the volunteer from any

further service. Other actions may include: non-reappointment, modification of responsibilities, or moving

to another volunteer position.

Reappointment

The Council has the right to reappoint a volunteer to her/his current position, refer them to another position, or not

appoint or reappoint them to any position at the discretion of management.

Reappointment is based on past performance, plans for development and personal preferences, adherence to Council

and GSUSA policies and standards, support of the Girl Scout purpose, values, and Council goals, as well as positive

relationships with the community, parents, other volunteers and employed staff. There will be mutual acceptance of

position accountabilities, expectations, and time commitments. The opportunity to change positions or take on

additional positions is available.

Any volunteer with unpaid debt to the Council, and any failure to strictly adhere to the established repayment

schedule, will not be reappointed.

Volunteer Position Records

The Council is able to maintain limited position and training records on operational volunteers. Individuals are

encouraged to keep their own records of Girl Scout membership, volunteer positions held, training taken, etc.

Conflict/Dispute Resolution

The conflict resolution process is based on the fundamental values of respect for the individual and fairness. The

policy exists so members of the organization can air their concerns and have avenues to solving them. All volunteers

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may use the conflict resolution procedure. Every volunteer may expect a fair resolution of her or his dispute without

fear of jeopardizing her or his volunteer status, assuming that other volunteer expectations have been met.

Informal counseling by volunteer and staff personnel is the first step in resolving a situation involving a conflict or

dispute. The initiation of the conflict resolution procedure, however, will not restrict the Council from taking

immediate and appropriate action with respect to the volunteer. The procedure is as follows:

Step 1 – If an informal resolution is not possible and a further hearing is desired, the person filing the

complaint must do so in writing, citing the issue. The signed and dated document must be specifically titled

Conflict/Dispute Resolution Request, identify the person and/or specific nature of the concern, and cite the

policy or procedure that has allegedly been misapplied. A copy should be sent to the identified person’s

supervisor. Within ten (10) working days, the supervisor will call a conference of all parties involved in the

dispute and attempt to resolve the conflict. A written summary of the conference will be distributed to all

parties.

Step 2 – If the volunteer is not satisfied with the disposition of the conflict resolution, the Council staff

member or the Council staff member’s supervisor will meet with the volunteer within ten (10) working days

following her or his initial conference.

The purpose of the meeting will be to identify a satisfactory resolution to the conflict.

Step 3 – In the event that the dispute is not resolved in Step 2, the staff member prepares a written report on

the situation, including recommendations, and sends a copy to the CEO, who will work to identify a

satisfactory resolution or move to Step 4.

Step 4 (if determined necessary by the CEO)– The CEO may appoint a dispute/complaint resolution review

team. The review team will be determined with consideration for the specific nature of the conflict. As such,

the team may be comprised of a management representative, an employee not involved in the conflict

resolution process, a Council volunteer selected by the complainant, and, possibly, another party that may

have a particular expertise relevant to the situation. The dispute review team will review the documentation

on file and meet with the individuals involved. The review team may seek additional information, if

necessary, to aid it in making a final decision. The team will provide the CEO with a written report of its

findings and recommendations within ten (10) working days of the review hearing. Copies will also be issued

to the volunteer and immediate supervisor.

If the recommended resolution is not acceptable to the volunteer or any of the supervisors involved, a request to

submit the recommended resolution to the chief CEO for a final and binding decision will be made. The CEO may

exercise the following options:

A. Accept the Dispute Resolution Teams recommended solution.

B. Provide an alternative final and binding decision.

The determination of the CEO shall be the Council’s final decision. It is the responsibility of the CEO to ensure that the

decision is implemented. Depending on the nature of the situation, the CEO may choose to inform the Personnel

Committee of the Board of Directors.

Release and Resignation

Either the Council or the volunteer may initiate a release from a position. Any volunteer may terminate her/his

position (i.e. resignation) upon written notification to the supervisor. Although advance notice is not required, when a

volunteer requests release, a minimum notice of two weeks is preferred.

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Nothing contained in these provisions alters the Council’s right to release a volunteer at its discretion.

The Council may release a volunteer for any reason or no reason at all, notwithstanding this, the following are reasons

for immediate release from a volunteer position:

Restructuring or elimination of volunteer position.

Excessive absence or tardiness from required meetings.

Failure to meet the expectations of volunteer conduct.

Inability, failure, or refusal to carry out the duties of the position; insubordination.

Falsifying records.

Unpaid debt to the Council.

Non-compliance with Council or GSUSA policies.

Performance or conduct not consistent with the principles of Girl Scouting; failure to support the mission,

values, goals of the organization.

Reasonable cause, including but not limited to: malfeasance, inability to work with other people.

Threatening, intimidating, coercing other Council members; malicious gossip or derogatory attacks

concerning anyone associated with the Council.

Willful damage to Council property or the personal property of other Girl Scout members.

Misappropriation of funds.

Endangering the health and/or safety of program participants.

Pending criminal investigations or charges.

Incidents of sexual harassment/misconduct or child abuse.

Council staff will carefully answer questions raised in the community about the situation. Confidential information will

not be disclosed, as confidentiality must be observed to protect the rights of the volunteer.

The Council retains the discretion to release any volunteer at any time. Release from a volunteer position does not

cancel membership with GSUSA unless it is determined that she/he is unable to meet membership requirements.

Sexual and Other Forms of Harassment

The Council is committed to providing an environment that is free from discrimination and disrespectful and offensive

behavior. Disrespectful and offensive behavior, including inappropriate or degrading remarks and conduct, is

unacceptable and has the potential of being perceived as harassment or discrimination. Harassment and

discrimination are prohibited and will not be tolerated by the Council. The Council expressly prohibits any form of

harassment that would violate federal, state or local law.

Disrespectful and offensive behavior includes unwelcome remarks and physical conduct that denigrates or shows

hostility toward an individual’s race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, sex, national origin, disability, age, sexual

orientation, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, or any other legally protected status.

Harassment may be verbal, physical, written or visual. Conduct that may constitute harassment includes, but is not

limited to, sexual or suggestive comments or jokes, sexual propositions, sexist remarks, unwanted staring or leering,

pressure for sexual favors in return for special treatment, or unfavorable treatment or harassment not of a sexual

nature directed toward an individual because of her/his race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, sex, national origin,

disability, age, sexual orientation, marital status, and status with regard to public assistance, or any other legally

protected status. Sexual harassment includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other

verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. See disclaimer on page 12.

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Any volunteer who feels that she/he has been subjected to harassment of any type, whether by another volunteer,

Council staff member, or any agent of the organization, should immediately report the incident to a supervisor or to

the CEO. Any volunteer who witnesses harassment of any type to another volunteer or Girl Member should

immediately report the incident to a supervisor or the CEO. Any supervisor, receiving such a complaint, must report

the matter to the CEO. The CEO, or designee deemed appropriate, will promptly and fairly investigate the complaint

and, depending on the findings, take the appropriate corrective action.

For further information refer to GSUSA publications.

Child Abuse

The Council supports and maintains environments that are free of child abuse and neglect as defined by the Child

Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act.

Child abuse and neglect are unlawful acts, and it is against the Council's policy for any volunteer, male or female, to

physically, sexually, mentally, emotionally, or verbally abuse or neglect any girl member.

The Council will neither condone nor tolerate the following:

Infliction of physically abusive behavior or bodily injury upon girl members.

Physical neglect of girl members, including failure to provide adequate safety measures, care and supervision

in relation to Girl Scout activities.

Emotional maltreatment of girl members, including verbal abuse and/or verbal attacks.

Infliction of sexually abusive behavior upon girl members, including sexual touching.

The Council reserves the right to refuse membership endorsement or reappointment, and to dismiss or to exclude

from affiliation with the Council, any volunteer implementing Girl Scout program who is found guilty of child abuse

and neglect or has been convicted of child abuse and neglect.

In order to protect the welfare of girl members, any volunteer suspected/accused of child abuse or neglect may be

suspended from volunteer appointment pending the results of any investigations.

Report Suspected Child Abuse

The Council requires that any suspicion of child abuse or neglect be reported. Any volunteer who has reason

to believe that a girl member is being sexually or physically abused or neglected must, within 24 hours, report

her/his suspicions to the New York State Office of Children and Family Services Child Abuse and Maltreatment

Reporting Center (800-342-3720) and to a supervising Council staff member.

Motor Vehicles

Any motor vehicle used to transport Girl Scouts must be duly licensed, insured, safety inspected, and operated by a

responsible adult who is over the age of 21, with valid driver’s license. Personal injury protection or medical payment

coverage on privately owned or rented vehicles is recommended. Coverage can be provided by driver's personal

insurance coverage. The Council insurance carrier will make recommendations for levels of coverage that are

generally considered acceptable for Girl Scout activities. The Council does not assume responsibility for insuring a

volunteer’s vehicle or other personal possessions. Privately owned or rented vehicles must be equipped with

seat belts and car seats as appropriate for each person. Laws pertaining to seat belt usage must be obeyed as

per state regulations. All vehicular laws must be obeyed.

Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs

The Council prohibits:

The use of tobacco in the presence of girls at Girl Scout programs or events.

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The consumption of alcohol or other mind-altering substances at girl attended events or while responsible

for girls.

Possession, sale or use of illegal drugs or misuse of prescribed or over-the-counter drugs.

The performance of volunteer duties or driving while under the influence of legal or illegal substances that

impairs alertness or judgment.

Alcoholic beverages are acceptable at events designed primarily for adults; however, if girls are in attendance,

consumption of alcohol is prohibited for those responsible for supervising girls.

Weapons and Hazardous Materials

The Council strictly prohibits volunteers from being in the possession of weapons at any time in any Girl Scout activity.

If weapons are stored in the area of an activity, they must be unloaded and in a locked storage case or cabinet and the

keys must be secured in an inaccessible place. Under this policy, prohibited weapons include all firearms and any form

of weapon or explosive that is deemed unsafe or is restricted by local, state or federal law. Guns and ammunition are

not carried during Girl Scout activities.

Volunteers should be aware of all items that might be dangerous, for example axes, knives, sharp tools, solvents,

pesticides, poisons, etc., and secure them to remove any hazard presented by them.

Crisis Management

Any serious accident or fatality must be reported immediately to the Council CEO to be handled per the Crisis

Communication/Management Plan.

Disclaimer These volunteer policies are compiled for informational purposes only. These policies are not a contract for

participation as a volunteer nor are they intended to create or imply a contract. The Council reserves the right to

change, suspend, or eliminate any or all matters contained herein and all other policies, rules, and procedures at any

time without prior notice. It also retains the sole discretion to interpret the provisions of these policies and to depart

from the provisions if the Board of Directors determines that such action is appropriate.

The current Council volunteer policies supersede the provisions of all other previous handbooks, manuals, policies,

rules and procedures that address the subjects covered herein or are inconsistent with these policies and procedures.

All such previous handbooks, manuals, policies, rules and procedures are expressly revoked.

The Council volunteer policies are consistent with the policies of GSUSA. The Council volunteer policies are reviewed

periodically. Notice of revision(s) will be placed on the Council’s web site, and in the Council newsletter, and will be

communicated through the standard Council volunteer organizational system.

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Overview of Leadership Positions Leader (01):

Primary, main, or principal troop/group adult.

Completes application, background check, interview, sign and turn in Position Description.

Completes required courses: o Troop Pathway Orientation o Girl Scouting 101

Plans activities with girls.

Carries out plans with girls.

Acts as primary responsible adult for troop.

Attends all troop meetings o May rotate in a shared troop structure.

Assistant Leader (02):

Can be one or more assistant leaders.

Completes application, background check, interview, sign and turn in Position Description.

Completes required courses: o Troop Pathway Orientation o Girl Scouting 101

Attends all troop meetings, if necessary. o May rotate in a shared troop structure.

Helps leader during meetings.

Co-Leader (01):

Completes application, background check, interview, sign and turn in Position Description.

Completes required courses: o Troop Pathway Orientation o Girl Scouting 101

Plans activities with girls

Carries out plans with girls

Acts as primary responsible adult for troop, on an equal basis with leader

Attends all troop meetings, if necessary. o May rotate in a shared troop structure.

Troop Committee Member (03):

Can be one or more troop committee members

Registers with 03 position code on the membership form

Completes application, background check, interview, sign and turn in Position Description.

Attends and helps at occasional troop meetings o May rotate in a co-op troop structure.

May do short term, but intensive troop jobs, such as: Troop QSP or Troop Cookie Manager (specialized orientation required) or Troop Treasurer.

Please note:

All troops must have a minimum of five girls (exceptions will be made on a case to case basis,

specifically with Daisy and teen troops)

All troops must have a minimum of two registered, unrelated adults: either two (01) leaders or a

leader (01) and an assistant leader (02) who have completed a volunteer application, interview,

signed position description and Troop Pathway Orientation. Troop leadership is appointed by the

Community Chairperson.

All (01) leaders and (02) Assistant Leaders must have GS 101 training. A leader or assistant leader

must be present at all troop functions; including troop meetings, trips, and activities.

All adults that work with the troop on a regular basis should be registered as (03) Troop Committee

Members. This includes QSP/Be A Reader and Cookie Managers. All (03) Troop Committee

Members must complete an application, sign a Position Description and have a criminal background

check.

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For the Girl Scouting Year: Oct 1 to Sept. 30 (this may be signed before the new Girl Scouting Year begins).

Position Summary: The Troop Leader is responsible for providing informal educational programming utilizing Girl Scouts of USA program materials through progressive learning experiences for girls in a troop. The nature of this position requires the individual to provide direct service to girls.

Term of appointment: The Troop Leader is appointed for a term of 1 year which ends September 30. This position requires a minimum of 4 hours per month.

Volunteer Supervisor: The Troop Leader is accountable to the Community Chair (Service Unit Manager).

Support: The Troop Leader receives support from the Community Chair and other Community Team volunteers, and provides support to the Troop Assistant Leader and other Troop Volunteers. She or he has access to relevant learning opportunities and materials that prepare for and support this role.

Benefits to the Volunteer: gain experience working with children, collaborate in a team setting with adults and girls, cultivate leadership skills, and influence a girl as she becomes a strong independent leader.

Responsibilities:

Accept girls into the troop regardless of race, color, ethnicity, creed, national origin, socioeconomic status or disability.

Act as a positive role model exemplifying the Girl Scout Promise and Law and be sure that all decisions are made with consideration given to the impact on the girls.

Work in partnership with girls in planning and decision-making, developing and delivering program, and evaluating the extent to which program is appropriate for ages and ability.

Keep parents involved and informed about Girl Scout program, including Community, Council and national Girl Scout program offerings by holding at least one parent meeting each year.

Provide opportunities for and encourage parent involvement, including assisting with product sales and other troop activities.

Create and manage a schedule for meeting locations, days and time, and inform parents of the schedule.

Remain informed about and comply with the most current policies, procedures, and guidelines of Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York and Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA).

Attend Community (Service Unit) meetings on a regular basis.

Keep accurate records including troop registration, money-earning activities, trips/outings and financial reports as required and provide documentation when due.

Represent Girl Scouting in the community.

Skills and Qualifications:

Girl focus: Empower girls to lead activities, learn by doing, and cooperate with others on current issues that involve their interests and needs, while having fun.

Foster diversity: Understand, respect, and embrace differences.

Enjoy working with children

Resolve issues/problems in a timely manner

Have strong organizational skills

Have time-management and group management skills

Enjoy multi-tasking and delegation

Additional Requirements: o Become a registered member of GSUSA o Complete required coursework as assigned and provided by GSNENY and GSUSA:

­ Troop Pathway Orientation ­ Girl Scouting 101 ­ Other courses as needed (First Aid/CPR, Outdoor Education courses)

Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York Volunteer Position Description

Title: Troop Leader

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Please read and sign the next page

____________________________________________ ___________________________ Volunteer Signature Date Print Name Troop # Community Chair Signature* Date Print Name Community #

*Please note that this position description is not official until signed by the Volunteer Supervisor.

Please also read and sign below.

PRIVACY OF INDIVIDUAL HEALTH INFORMATION

In 1996 Congress passed the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to address certain health insurance and confidentiality of health information concerns. A set of national standards for the protection of health information was established to be followed by health plans, health care clearinghouses, and health care providers. While Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York, Inc. would not be considered a health care provider under HIPAA any health care information which the Council receives regarding our members should be kept confidential. We recognize that some specific pertinent information - especially that of allergies, certain illnesses and/or health conditions of individual members - can be important to those adults working directly with the girls on a regular basis. For those wishing to request this information from parents, the Council will make available Member Health History forms to be completed by the parent/adult. To maintain confidentiality, information given to you should be shared only on a strict need-to-know basis. The signing of this confidentiality contract is required in order for you to serve as a Girl Scout Volunteer.

HEALTH INFORMATION CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT

I hereby agree to keep confidential, to the extent required by applicable law, rule and/or regulation any individually identifiable health care information coming into my possession or to my attention as a Girl Scout volunteer or other representative.

Volunteer Signature Date

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For the Girl Scouting Year: Oct 1 _____ to Sept. 30 _____ (this may be signed before the new Girl Scouting Year begins)

Position Summary: The Assistant Troop Leader is responsible for assisting in providing informal educational programming utilizing Girl Scouts of USA program materials through progressive learning experiences for girls in a troop. The nature of this position requires the individual to provide direct service to girls.

Term of appointment: The Assistant Troop Leader is appointed for a term of 1 year which ends September 30. This position requires a minimum of 4 hours per month.

Volunteer Supervisor: The Assistant Troop Leader is accountable to the Troop Leader.

Support: The Assistant Troop Leader receives support from the Troop Leader, Community Chair (Service Unit Manager) and other Community Team volunteers, and provides support to other Troop Volunteers. She or he has access to relevant learning opportunities and materials that prepare for and support this role.

Benefits to the Volunteer: gain experience working with children, collaborate in a team setting with adults and girls, cultivate leadership skills, and influence a girl as she becomes a strong independent leader.

Responsibilities:

Accept girls into the troop regardless of race, color, ethnicity, creed, national origin, socioeconomic status or disability.

Act as a positive role model exemplifying the Girl Scout Promise and Law and be sure that all decisions are made with consideration given to the impact on the girls.

Work in partnership with girls in planning and decision-making, developing and delivering program, and evaluating the extent to which program is appropriate for ages and ability.

Assist the Troop Leader in keeping parents involved and informed about the Girl Scout program.

Recruit parents and/or other adults to organize and assist with product sales programs and other troop functions.

Work with Troop Leader to create a schedule for meeting locations, days and time, and inform parents of the procedures for cancelations/postponements.

Remain informed about and comply with the most current policies, procedures, and guidelines of Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York and Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA).

Attend Community (Service Unit) meetings on a regular basis to obtain information, share ideas and participate in the activities of the Community.

Represent Girl Scouting in the community.

Skills and Qualifications:

Girl focus: Empower girls to lead activities, learn by doing, and cooperate with others on current issues that involve their interests and needs, while having fun.

Foster diversity: Understand, respect, and embrace differences.

Enjoy working with children

Resolve issues/problems in a timely manner

Have strong organizational skills

Have time-management and group management skills

Enjoy multi-tasking and delegation

Additional Requirements: o Become a registered member of GSUSA o Complete required coursework as assigned and provided by GSNENY and GSUSA:

­ Troop Pathway Orientation ­ Girl Scouting 101 ­ Other courses as needed (First Aid/CPR, Outdoor Education courses)

Please read and sign the next page

Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York Volunteer Position Description

Title: Assistant Troop Leader

34

___________________________________________ ___________________________ Volunteer Signature Date Print Name Troop # Community Chair Signature* Date Print Name Community #

*Please note that this position description is not official until signed by the Volunteer Supervisor.

Please also read and sign below.

PRIVACY OF INDIVIDUAL HEALTH INFORMATION

In 1996 Congress passed the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to address certain health insurance and confidentiality of health information concerns. A set of national standards for the protection of health information was established to be followed by health plans, health care clearinghouses, and health care providers. While Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York, Inc. would not be considered a health care provider under HIPAA any health care information which the Council receives regarding our members should be kept confidential. We recognize that some specific pertinent information - especially that of allergies, certain illnesses and/or health conditions of individual members - can be important to those adults working directly with the girls on a regular basis. For those wishing to request this information from parents, the Council will make available Member Health History forms to be completed by the parent/adult. To maintain confidentiality, information given to you should be shared only on a strict need-to-know basis. The signing of this confidentiality contract is required in order for you to serve as a Girl Scout Volunteer.

HEALTH INFORMATION CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT I hereby agree to keep confidential, to the extent required by applicable law, rule and/or regulation any individually identifiable health care information coming into my possession or to my attention as a Girl Scout volunteer or other representative.

Volunteer Signature Date

35

For the Girl Scouting Year: Oct 1 _____ to Sept. 30 _____(this may be signed before the new Girl Scouting Year begins) Position Summary: The Troop Committee Member supports the Troop Leader and Assistant Troop Leader in providing the best possible program for the girls. The nature of this position requires the individual to provide direct service to girls. Term of appointment: The Troop Committee Member is appointed for a term of 1 year which ends September 30. Volunteer Supervisor: The Troop Committee Member is accountable to the Troop Leader and Community Chair. Support: The Troop Committee Member receives support from the Troop Leader, Community Chair and other Troop volunteers. She or he has access to relevant learning opportunities and materials that prepare for and support this role. Benefits to the Volunteer: Gain experience working with children, collaborate in a team setting with adults and girls, and influence a girl as she becomes a strong independent leader. Responsibilities:

Attend and participate in troop meetings

Help the leader with planning and implementing troop plans, projects and programs

Act as a positive role model exemplifying the Girl Scout Promise and Law and be sure that all decisions are made with consideration given to the impact on the girls.

Work with the girls in finding the resources needed to carry out their plans and projects

Keep parents involved and informed about Girl Scout program

Remain informed about and comply with the most current policies, procedures, and guidelines of Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York and Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA).

Represent Girl Scouting in the community. Skills and Qualifications:

Girl focus: Empower girls to lead activities, learn by doing, and cooperate with others on current issues that involve their interests and needs, while having fun.

Foster diversity: Understand, respect, and embrace differences.

Enjoy working with children

Resolve issues/problems in a timely manner

Have strong organizational skills

Have time-management and group management skills

Additional Requirements: o Fill out and submit a volunteer application o Become a registered member of GSUSA

Volunteer Signature Date Print Name Troop # Community Chair Signature Date Print Name Community # Please also read and sign the next page

Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York Volunteer Position Description

Title: Troop Committee Member (03)

36

PRIVACY OF INDIVIDUAL HEALTH INFORMATION

In 1996 Congress passed the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to address certain

health insurance and confidentiality of health information concerns. A set of national standards for the protection of health information was established to be followed by health plans, health care

clearinghouses, and health care providers. While Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York, Inc. would not be considered a health care provider under HIPAA any health care information which the Council receives

regarding our members should be kept confidential.

We recognize that some specific pertinent information - especially that of allergies, certain illnesses and/or health conditions of individual members - can be important to those adults working directly with the girls

on a regular basis. For those wishing to request this information from parents, the Council will make available Member Health History forms to be completed by the parent/adult. To maintain confidentiality,

information given to you should be shared only on a strict need-to-know basis. The signing of this confidentiality contract is required in order for you to serve as a Girl Scout Volunteer.

HEALTH INFORMATION CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT

I hereby agree to keep confidential, to the extent required by applicable law, rule and/or regulation any individually identifiable health care information coming into my possession or to my attention as a Girl

Scout volunteer or other representative. ___________________________________________ ___________________________ Volunteer Signature Date

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Council and Community Connections 3

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Council Connection

Council Region Information: GSNENY is divided up into 5 regions: Northern, Central, Southern, Western and Quad Cities (Amsterdam, Albany, Schenectady, and Troy)

My Council Region

Strategic Partnerships Staff Information: Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York has a Strategic Partnerships Department with staff that supports the Volunteer Structure in each Region.

My Regional Manager:

Name

Email

Phone

Office Location

My Strategic Partner(s):

Name

Email

Phone

Office Location

Name

Email

Phone

Office Location

Regional Chair Information: Each Community is assigned to a regional area with a committee of volunteers to support the volunteers in that Community. Each Region is led by a Regional Chair(s).

Regional Chair Name Regional Chair Email Address

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Welcome to Your Girl Scouting Community

My Community Information: A Community is a geographic area usually determined by schools, school districts, or neighborhoods.

Community Number *

Schools Served

Number of Troops in Our Community

Approximate Number of Girls we Serve in Our Community

*Please Note: Communities are also known in Girl Scouts as Service Units.

My Community Chair Information:

Each Community has a Community Chair. The Community Chair is a volunteer from your area that has been appointed by council staff to organize and maintain Girl Scouting within the Community. The Community Chair is also your first point of contact. They are there to assist you with all your Girl Scout needs.

Community Chair Name

Community Chair Address

Community Chair Phone

Community Chair Email

Community Events:

Each Community may schedule program and/or learning opportunities in addition to those offered by GSNENY. For an updated list of community events, please check with your Community.

Community Meetings: Each Community holds regularly scheduled meetings. These meetings are attended by troop leaders/assistant leaders and members of the Community Committee. By attending Community meetings you have the opportunity to meet and talk with other volunteers in the local Community. It is a great time to share ideas and learn about future events. At these meetings the Community Chair and members of the Community Committee will provide you with updates from council.

My Community Meetings:

Community Meeting Location

Our Meeting Schedule (Day of Month & Time)

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Your Community Committee Members Each Community has a Community Committee consisting of volunteers that have been appointed to specific positions to support Girl Scouting. Below is the contact information for the most common volunteer positions for your Community; each Community may have other positions as well. You will find out more about what they do through your community meetings.

My Community Girl Recruiter:

Name

Phone

Email

My Community Troop Organizer:

Name

Phone

Email

My Community Secretary:

Name

Phone

Email

My Community LDM Program Coordinator:

Name

Phone

Email

My Community Encampment Director:

Name

Phone

Email

My Community Cookie Manager:

Name

Phone

Email

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My Community QSP Manager:

Name

Phone

Email

My Community Girl Mentor:

Name

Phone

Email

My Community Adult Recruiter:

Name

Phone

Email

My Community Leadership Experience Coach:

Name

Phone

Email

My Community New Volunteer Mentor:

Name

Phone

Email

My Community Accounting Coordinator:

Name

Phone

Email

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Council Resources and Support

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Council Information

GSNENY operates three local Service Centers and one office. The Albany Service Center also includes a Girl Scout store where you can purchase uniforms, books, patches, badges, and anything else you may need. You can also purchase items using our Mail Order Form and our online store. You can access both on our website at http://www.gsneny.org .

Office hours are 8:30 am – 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday in all locations. During July and August, summer hours are 7:30 am – 5:15 pm Monday through Thursday with all locations closed on Friday and no Saturday store hours.

The Store in the Albany Service Center is open the following hours:

Monday through Wednesday & Fridays from 8:30AM to 4:30PM

Thursdays from 8:30AM to 7:00PM

1st Saturday of Each Month from 10:00AM to 1:00PM

For assistance and most customer service, please call: Toll Free at 1-888-4GSNENY Locally at (518) 489-8110

Albany Service Center 8 Mountain View Avenue, Albany, NY 12205 Phone number: (518) 489-8110 Fax number: (518) 489-8065

Queensbury Service Center 213 Meadowbrook Road, Queensbury, NY 12804 Phone number: (518) 792-0947 Fax number: (518) 792-4310

Plattsburgh Service Center 107 Hammond Lane Suite 1, Plattsburgh, NY 12901 Phone number: (518) 563-1560 Fax number: (518) 563-5003

Halfmoon Office 23 Executive Park Drive, Halfmoon, NY 12065 Phone Number: (518) 348-1413 Fax Number: (518) 348-1475

Property Rentals: GSNENY maintains a number of camp properties that may be used for day and overnight camp as well as troop and community camping events, year-round program opportunities for girls and adult learning opportunities. Property rentals are available through the Front Desk of the Albany Service Center. Visit our website to learn more: http://gsneny.org/camp/.

Hidden Lake Camp Lake George, NY

Camp Is-Sho-Da East Greenbush, NY

Lake Clear Camp Lake Clear, NY

Camp Woodhaven Galway, NY

Camp Meadowbrook Queensbury, NY

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Communication

Website: The council website for information, resources, forms and more! To visit our website, please got to www.gsneny.org. Social Media: Face Book: https://www.facebook.com/GSNENY Twitter: https://twitter.com/gsneny Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/gsneny/ eBiz Online Registration Portal: eBiz Online Registration Portal is GSNENY’s online registration system in partnership with Girl Scouts of the USA.

As an Individual you can:

Register or renew your daughter’s membership.

Update your contact information.

Register your daughter for Council offered programs.

Register yourself for adult learning opportunities. As a Troop Leader (01 position only) you can:

Manage your troop members’ contact information.

Communicate with troop members using email.

Create and print a troop roster.

Register troop members for Council offered programs.

Renew troop membership registrations.

Register new adults and girls to your troop.

In an effort to streamline the membership registration process, we encourage all girl and adult members to register online through our website. All online payments must be made in the form of a debit/credit card. Parents can activate their daughter’s account and process registration transactions online. If a girl is using Cookie Credit or is applying for a Girl Grant a paper registration must be sent into the council office. An appointed 01 Troop Leader (whose volunteer paperwork has already been submitted and approved), will have the ability to process renewals and add new members to their troop through the troop management section of the “Online Registration” clipboard on our website. Newly appointed troop leaders can register themselves online. The girls that will be a part of that new troop can be registered online by their parents. Once all members are registered the new leader can contact the registration office to receive a troop number. For Instruction Videos regarding the online registration portal, please visit: http://ceslearning.girlscouts.org/eBizdemos/index.html For FAQs regarding the online registration portal, please visit: http://gsneny.org/wp-content/uploads/E-Biz-FAQs.pdf

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GS Express: GS Express is GSNENY’s weekly or biweekly newsletter, sent via email. This newsletter includes regional and council information on events, opportunities, new programs, troop highlights & more! This newsletter is distributed through your community. To subscribe, please contact your Community Chair. Volunteer Connection: Volunteer Connection is GSNENY’s monthly newsletter, sent via email. To subscribe, go to www.gsneny.org and find the subscription box at the bottom of the home page.

Volunteer Learning

Volunteer Learning Opportunities: GSNENY also provides support and learning opportunities to all adult volunteers. Our Adult Learning Department offers many opportunities to expand your knowledge of Girl Scouting and learn new skills that you can pass along to the girls. Adult learning opportunities and resources can be found on our website at www.gsneny.org . There are online courses as well as face to face classes; registration for classes is available online. The following learning resources are available to support you as you get started in Girl Scouts:

Girl Scouting 101: Girl Scouts 101 is the new online learning resource from GSUSA. It is required for new leaders and encouraged for new assistant leaders and other interested adults. Returning volunteers may also be interested in completing it, but we will not be requiring returning volunteers to do so. Girl Scout activities may not happen without a trained adult present, and having at least 2 adults in a troop with Girl Scouting 101 or Leadership Essentials ensures that activities can happen if the leader is not able to attend. There is not a face to face version of this course; it is only available online, although we may offer an opportunity as needed for small groups of volunteers to view this together. We will also make an offline version of this available for people with limited access to the internet. The easy-to-use Girl Scouting 101 introduces new volunteers to Girl Scouts’ inspiring national leadership experience, from Journey resources and The Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting to cookie sales, safety guidelines, and much more. Spend about 45–50 minutes learning online—whenever you can fit it into your day.

The ‘Need to Know’:

o Please visit our online registration portal, accessible through the pink button on our website at www.gsneny.org . Go to the Activities tab and search under Learning & Training for Volunteer Training. You’ll see Girl Scouting 101 there. Add it to your cart and check out (it’s free) then you will be emailed a link to Girl Scouting 101. Since the email is auto-generated, you may need to check your spam filter! When you click on the link in the email, it will take you to a page that contains not only

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Girl Scouting 101, but also Volunteering for Series & Events. Only Girl Scouting 101 needs to be completed.

o The password, also listed on the GSNENY website is aboutGS101.

o Be sure to select Northeastern New York from the council drop-down menu.

o Be sure you have an updated Flash player.

Volunteer Essentials: All of the essential information about how we operate. You have the Quick Start Guide in this resource, but the full resource can be found on our web site: http://gsneny.org/for-volunteers/volunteer-resources/ under Course Booklets.

Safety Activity Checkpoints: This online resource offers you information on where to do specific activities, how to include girls with disabilities, where to find both basic and specialized gear required for activities, how to prepare yourselves in advance of the activity, what specific steps to follow on the day of the activity, etc. The full resources can be found on our website: http://gsneny.org/for-volunteers/volunteer-resources/ under Safety Activity Checkpoints.

There are other learning resources you may access to support your volunteer experience. GSNENY offers:

Volunteer Conferences (The Discovery Conference in mid-October, Outdoor Education Day Conference (late April/May) and Lake Clear Adult Conference in late August)

Outdoor Education Classes (required for certain activities)

First Aid and CPR Classes (required for certain activities)

Enrichment Classes

Online Resources More information on available learning resources can be found on website: http://gsneny.org/for-volunteers/volunteer-courses/. Here is a video that was developed by GSUSA that brings to life the three Girl Scout processes we use when working with girls: http://forgirls.girlscouts.org/3-processes-for-girl-scout-volunteers/?ar=girls5_9#/girls5_9/volunteer-guides/3-processes-for-girl-scout-volunteers

Girl Development

Girl Development: GSNENY Girl Development Team offers council-based programs through travel, troop, series, events, camp and virtual pathways. The Girl Development Team can also provide support and

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resources to assist you in your volunteer position. All Council program information can be found on our website at http://gsneny.org/for-girls/programs/ . Our program guide, GS Adventures, is published three times a year and can be found on our website. Resources to Borrow: Many of the service centers are equipped with resources to borrow. Items to borrow many include: books, bridges & flags, sewing machines, lemonade stand, cookie costumes and more for use! In some instances a small rental fee may be required; items not available at all Service Centers. Items should be reserved by calling the Albany Service Center at (518) 489-8110. Cookie Costumes requests must be done through GSNENY’s Product Sales department.

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Pathways

Girl Scouting has transformed over the years and now we are able to offer girls the leadership experiences that fit the needs and desires of each girl. Girl Scouting has transformed over the years and is now able to offer girls leadership experiences that fit the needs and desires of each girl. GSUSA has identified six ways a girl can join and participate in Girl Scouting – these are called Pathways. It is the girls/volunteers choice and they can choose more than one Pathway. There’s bound to be one Pathway (or many) that will fit everyone’s schedule.

Troop Pathway

A girl can join Girl Scouts through the TROOP PATHWAY. The Troop Pathway offers a group of girls the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities throughout the year; girls may join at any time during the troop year. Troops often meet once a week or every other week after school, but meeting times, locations and frequency are really dependent on what works best for the girls and their leaders. As part of a troop you learn how to work as a team and discover that each person has something unique to contribute to every project, goal, activity or outing. Troops coordinate many of their own activities but may also participate in council-wide programs. Girls in troops can also participate in other Girl Scout Pathways in addition to the Troop Pathway.

Travel & Virtual Pathways

A girl can join Girl Scouts through the TRAVEL PATHWAY. This Pathway allows girls to explore their world through regional, national, and international opportunities. As girls grow, program opportunities become increasingly longer and more involved, allowing girls to develop self-reliance, confidence, and global awareness. GSNENY trips connect girls from throughout our council who are interested in a wide variety of themes. Whether a girl is interested in STEM, culture, advocacy, or outdoor adventure, there’s bound to be an opportunity to meet her interests. GSUSA complements our calendar by providing regional and national “Getaways” for teen troops or groups, and national and international Destinations for individual girls interested in connecting with girls from across the country and around the world. Although the VIRTUAL PATHWAY is still in production stages, when it is fully developed by GSUSA, this will be an additional way for a girl to participate in Girl Scouts.

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Events & Series Pathways

A girl can join Girl Scouting through the SERIES & EVENT PATHWAY by participating in programs planned by the council office in partnership with experienced facilitators. A girl can attend one Event or a Series through this Pathway, and can choose to explore aspects of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, Healthy Living, the environment and MORE! A Series might include a weekly program that runs over the course of four weeks or more, a day long program, or might be a two-part program that runs over a weekend. Some Series offerings include – FIRST LEGO® Robotics, aMaze Overnight, GS Engineering Day. An Event is a shorter experience offered within one-day that fulfills a specific theme. Some Events might include – Engine Nation, Dental Health Days, and Ladies Looking Up.

Camp/Outdoor Pathway

A girl can join Girl Scouts through the CAMP-OUTDOOR PATHWAY by choosing to be involved in our year-round outdoor programs (programs are offered regularly at our GSNENY properties or at council-wide outdoor facilities). Programs offered include rock-climbing, geo-caching, outdoor cooking, back-packing, canoe/kayaking, sailing, wilderness camping and MORE! Girls can also attend our day or overnight summer camp programs which are held at our GSNENY camp properties! We offer summer camp programs for all levels of Girl Scouting, including leadership programs for Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors. Girls gain self-confidence, explore their own potential, challenge themselves to try new things, and learn about teamwork in the Camp-Outdoor Pathway.

*As an adult working with girls in the Troop Pathway, please note that girls may register as member of your troop and choose also to participate in other Pathways.

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Journeys

What is a Journey? A key part of the New Girl Scout Leadership Experience is the leadership journey, a coordinated series of activities grouped around a theme. There are 3 leadership journeys for each grade level. What's in the Girl's Book? The girl's book is a unique journey companion that is rich in Girl Scout history, traditions, and values. It offers opportunities to imagine and create through:

Stories, quizzes, games, and amazing facts and discoveries

Open spaces to collect ideas, memories and mementos

Reflections and questions that get girls thinking about their own lives and the world around them

Team-building experiences that foster that special sense of belonging What's in the Adult Books? Adult guides are an integral part of the journeys. It is recommended that adults read through the guide once to get ideas about how they and the girls want to approach the journey. Then, adults can go back and look more closely at the Sample Sessions. The adult guide not only lists Sample Sessions, but trip and team-building ideas, and plenty of tips for getting creative.- -Other activities are available in Girls Guide to Girl Scouting to do along with the journey. The sessions do not have to be done week after week, unless girls design it that way. Camping, badges, council trips, the Cookie Program, etc., can be woven throughout the year. Do you have to read all the stories? Explore Stories! Stories capture the imagination and motivate, and inspire us to put values into action. The journeys engage girls in stories—real and fictional—of girls and women taking action in the world. You and the girls decide how much time to spend on them before going on to create their own adventures. Do you have to complete all the sample sessions? Sample sessions in the journeys suggest several ways to engage girls. They are a guide you do not have to complete those sample sessions they are there for guidance. Many girls and volunteers will quickly find there is more they will want to do! The journey books are filled with tips for you to add more to the experience. Let everyone’s imaginations take hold and extend the journey with ideas from girls. What does it mean to “customize” a journey? To customize a journey means to make it your own. Girl Scout leadership journeys only come to life when girls and their adult volunteers truly make the journey experience their own. This means that girls and volunteers sprinkle in their own interests and talents, and their creativity and imagination, to shape the journey experience. Customizing a journey also means calling upon a range of local experts (individuals and organizations) who can connect to the journey theme being explored and enrich the girls’ experience. Along with the tips and suggestions in the girls’ book and the adult guide on how to customize a journey, the GSUSA resource, It’s Your Journey—Customize

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It! can guide volunteers in bringing the excitement of the journeys to girls in ways that best suits their interests and needs. Where can I find more information and ideas for Journeys?

GSUSA has information on each Journey: http://girlscouts.org/program/journeys/

For Girls website has many ideas and blogs writing by girls: http://forgirls.girlscouts.org/

GSUSA has Journey maps that show field trips, badges, cookies, outdoor and tradition connections for each Journey: http://girlscouts.org/program/journeys/maps.asp

Journey Summaries http://gsneny.org/resources/journeys/

Turnkey Program Resources http://gsneny.org/resources/journeys/

Community Volunteers such as the LDM Events Coordinator, other troop leaders or your Community Chair.

The Strategic Partner for your region or the Troop Pathway and Girl Mentor Supervisor.

The Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting

How does The Girl's Guide to Girl Scouting work? Everyone knows that Girl Scouts have badges. But The Girl's Guide to Girl Scouting has more than just exciting, new badges for every age level. Each guide contains:

A colorful, easy-to-use binder specially designed for girls at each level. The binder comes chock full of essential information and badge activities—plus girls get to customize their own experience by choosing and adding in additional badge sets.

Legacy, Financial Literacy, and Cookie Business badge activities—or, for Girl Scout Daisies, petal and leaf activities. For more information about the National Proficiency badges, check out How The National Girl Scout Program Portfolio Works at http://girlscouts.org/program/girlsguide/pdf/how_national_gs_program_portfolio_works.pdf

A detailed diagram showing where girls place the badges, pins, or awards with pride on their vests or sashes.

Ideas to help girls tie their badges right into their Journeys at http://girlscouts.org/program/journeys/

Vintage illustrations and quotes from Girl Scout history to help girls feel connected to the proud traditions of the past.

An awards log showing girls every award and badge available at their level, as well as the entire badge program at every level, so girls can see how their skills will grow in Girl Scouting.

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Working with Girls at Each Grade Level These resources were developed to assist you with working with the girls in your troop grade level. Included in this resource:

The Leadership Development Model (LDM).

National Leadership Outcomes for Girl Scouts.

National Program Portfolio including both Journey and Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting information.

Bridging to the next level information.

Understanding ____ Age Girls.

Tips for meeting with your troop for the first time.

A sample meeting agenda and much more! This resource can be found on our website at http://gsneny.org/resources. Click on Troop, and scroll down to Grade Level Resources to click on the guide for your grade level.

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Frequently Used Abbreviations, Acronyms and Terms

(ASC) Albany Service Center: The ASC is located at 8 Mountain View Avenue in Albany, New York. The service center has a large meeting room that can be booked for special events. Also located at the ASC is our council’s Girl Scout store where patches, pins, t-shirts, and others items are available for purchase. Badges: There are several types of badges that the girls can earn such as, Legacy Badges, Financial Literacy Badges, Cookie Business badges, make your own and Skill building badges. All the badges, with the exception of the skill building badges, are included in the Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting. Each badge has a set of requirements that the girls must fulfill in order to earn their badge. (CC) Community Committee and Community Chair: The volunteer support system for direct service delivery on the local level and the volunteer who runs it. (GD) Girl Development: The GSNENY department whose purpose is to ensure that all Girl Members receive the Girl Scout Leadership Experience by engaging in discovering themselves, connecting with others and taking action to make the world a better place no matter which Pathway(s) they choose to participate in. (GG2GS) Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting: The handbook where a girl can find robust skill-building badge activities, updated and new awards, information on Girl Scout history and traditions, and — most of all — lots of fun! There is a Girl's Guide for each level of Girl Scouts from Daisies to Ambassadors. There is not an adult’s guide – you can use the girl’s guide right along with the girls! You can read more about this and see information about each guide here: http://gsneny.org/the-girls-guide-to-girl-scouting/ Girl Scout Community: Also known as a Service Unit, this is the local grouping of troops and individually registered (or non-troop) girls who participate in local events, and make their community a better place together. (GS101) Girl Scouting 101: GS101 is the new E-learning resource that introduces new volunteers to Girl Scouts’ inspiring national leadership experience, from Journey resources and The Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting to cookie sales, safety guidelines and much more. (GM) Girl Mentor: Girl Mentors are a volunteer who assists Independently Registered Girls make connections to Council and Community events in her area(s) of interest, so that girls can stay involved in GS for as long as possible. (GSLE) Girl Scout Leadership Experience: The Girl Scout Leadership Experience engages girls in discovering themselves, connecting with others and taking action to make the world a better place. (GSNENY) Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York: a.k.a. “The Council” or “Council.” GSNENY is responsible for ensuring the GSLE is offered to every girl within the council’s jurisdiction. Communities are organized into designated regions (Central, Quad-Cities, Southern, Western and Northern). (GSUSA) Girls Scouts of the USA : GSUSA is our national organization and governing body. GSUSA is the world’s preeminent organization dedicated solely to girls – all girls – where, in an accepting and nurturing environment girls build character and skills for success in the real world. (HM) Halfmoon Administrative Office : HM is the council’s office located at 23 Executive Park Drive, Halfmoon, NY. Highest Awards: “Girl Scouting's highest awards—the Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards—are your chance to make a lasting difference in your community and in the larger world.” For more information on these awards please visit http://gsneny.org/resources/ in the Girls section. Journeys: A key part of the GSLE, it is a coordinated series of activities grouped around a theme. Each journey is tied to the Girl Scouts' 15 national outcomes for girls, as defined in the Girl Scout Leadership Development Model. Girls have three journeys to choose from: It's Your World—Change It!; It's Your Planet—Love It! and It's Your Story—Tell It!

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Journey Partners: Journey Partners are organizations that have agreed to support the mission and values of Girl Scouts and have aligned their programs in partnership with Girl Scouts to the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. A resource list of current Journey Partners are in the GS Adventures (program guide) and available through the Troop Pathway Supervisor. (LDM) Leadership Development Model: Developed by GSUSA to ensure the GSLE is integrated in all Girl Scout activities. This model identifies three “keys” to leadership: Discover, Connect and Take Action; three processes: girl-led, learning by doing and cooperative learning; 15 desired short-term outcomes and ultimately results in achieving Girl Scouts’ mission: Girls lead with courage, confidence and character to make the world a better place. Pathways: Pathways are ways in which girls and volunteers can join or choose to participate in Girl Scouts. They can choose more than one of the six Pathways, which are: Troop, Travel, Series, Events, Camp and Virtual. (PSC) Plattsburgh Service Center: Located 107 Hammond Lane, Suite 1 in Plattsburgh; there is a small meeting room that can be booked for special events. (QSP/BAR) Quality Sales Program/Be a Reader: GSNENY’s fall sales program offering nuts, candy and magazine subscriptions at very family friendly prices. Through this girls develop five life skills: goal setting, decision making, people skills, money management and business ethics. QSP/BAR program helps girls to generate funds for their troop to use throughout the year. Participation in QSP is a pre-requisite for participating in the Cookie Sale Program. (QSC) Queensbury Service Center: Located at 213 Meadowbrook Road in Queensbury. There is a large meeting room that can be booked for special events/meetings. Safety Activity Checkpoints: Safety Activity Checkpoints is an online resource that replaces Safety-Wise (SP) Strategic Partnerships: The department that strives to ensure an excellent Girl Scout Leadership Experience for every girl, by providing outstanding customer service and volunteer resources. The team in every region consists of:

(RM) Regional Manager: Assures a presence of Girl Scouts in their jurisdiction with a focus on growth of community presence. Additionally, s/he sets the standards and defines the opportunities for building community relationships.

(SP) Strategic Partner(s): Assures that the Community/Service Unit structure operates with excellence through a strong, engaged and equipped volunteer base. Also assures that the LDM is successfully implemented and that regional level positions are coordinated and managed.

STEM: STEM refers the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Three Girl Scout Processes: Girl-Led, Learning By Doing and Cooperative Learning are the ways that adults engage girls through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. Turnkey Program Models: A Turnkey is a series outline that focuses on aspects of a particular Journey. The turnkey is set up as an overnight experience where troops can complete most of the journey. Turnkeys require that troops use both the adult and girl books alongside the turnkeys, as they are referenced throughout the resource. Turnkeys are located at http://gsneny.org/resources/journeys/ after the Journey summaries. (VMS) Volunteer Management Systems:- VMS is the GSNENY department that strives to ensure that every volunteer has the ability and support to succeed in their efforts to give direct and indirect service to girls. Volunteer Essentials Resource from GSUSA/GSNENY that contains all the basics on how Girl Scouting works. (WAGGGS) World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts: WAGGGS is comprised of 145 member organizations, including GSUSA. The goal of WAGGGS is to enable girls and young women to develop their fullest potential as responsible citizens of the world. Headquartered at the World Bureau in London, WAGGGS also owns and operates four world centers. Girl Guides/Girl Scouts can visit these program centers Pax Lodge in England, Sangam in India, Our Cabana in Mexico and Our Chalet in Switzerland.

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Frequently Used Forms 5

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How do I use the “Travel Application”?

Troop Travel is an important aspect of Girl Scouting; it allows the girls to utilize the Leadership Development Model and the Girl Scout Processes, as well as gain experiences, memories and the sisterhood that comes from being a Girl Scout. We have developed a Troop Travel Toolkit to help you get started! It can be found here: http://gsneny.org/resources/ Look in the Troop Travel Section.

The Travel Application is very easy to use. It can be found on our website at: http://gsneny.org/wp-content/uploads/Travel-Application_Web.pdf Trips should meet the Leadership Development Model expectations; it is also suggested that it complement

a Journey or the “Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting”.

Trips should follow the guidelines that are outlined in the Safety Activity Checkpoints which can be located

at http://gsneny.org/wp-content/uploads/All_Safety_Activity_Checkpoints_Web.pdf, as well as

Volunteer Essentials.

Adventure Activities are activities that bring people outside their comfort zones and have a certain amount

of risk. Some examples include (but not limited to) things like archery, amusement parks, bike trips, canoe

trips, kayaking, laser tag, horseback riding, snow tubing, water tubing, swimming, skiing, roller skating and

ice skating. These events require that there be a Certificate of Insurance from the destination site on file at

the Albany Service Center. If the troop is planning a trip, please call the Albany Service Center at (518)

489-8110 to see if there already a Certificate of Insurance on file. If there is not a certificate on file, it is

necessary for the troop to ask their management staff to fax a copy of their Certificate of Insurance to the

Albany Service Center at (518) 489-8065. CERTIFICATES OF INSURANCE MUST BE OBTAINED PRIOR TO

APPROVAL OF THE ACTIVITY.

Guidelines for Troop Trips

Always refer to the Safety Activity Checkpoints & Volunteer Essentials for age appropriateness, safety precautions, adult/girl ratio and any other reminders before planning any activity or trips. When preparing for any activity with girls, always begin with the Safety Activity Checkpoints written specifically for that particular activity. Each checkpoint includes the following:

Know where to do the activity.

How to include girls with disabilities.

How to prepare for the activity.

Reminders for the day of the activity.

Links to guide you to the best-known and best-respected Web sites.

Know-How for Girls offers games, mini-lessons, and other fun ways to expand girls’ knowledge.

Jargon helps you and the girls master activity-specific terminology.

If you are going to a facility where you will be engaging in physical activity, you must check with the Council Service Center to verify that we have a certificate of insurance on file. If we do not have a certificate of insurance, you may be required to obtain one before your trip can be approved. Certificate of insurance can

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be mailed to Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York, Inc., 8 Mountain View Avenue, Albany, NY 12205 or faxed to (518) 489-8065. A first aider is not required for local day trips where emergency services are readily available. A first aider is required for all adventure activities, overnight trips and camping.

*Remember to have parents/guardians complete a permission slip verifying the approval of trip.

If your trip/activity is: You need to:

An impromptu trip during a scheduled troop/group meeting

Post a note on the door of the meeting place indicating where you have gone and when you will be back. It is highly suggested that parents and/or guardians complete a permission slip verifying their approval of trip.

A temporary change of meeting date or meeting place

Communicate with the parents and/or guardians of location change prior to the date of change. Also communicate with your Community Chair prior to the date of the change.*

A permanent change of meeting date or meeting place

Communicate with the parents and/or guardians and your Community Chair prior to the date of the change. Also, notify the Council Registrar located at the Albany Service Center. If the new venue requires a Certificate of Insurance on file for GSNENY, contact Grace Mattoon in the Albany Service Center with the name, address, phone and fax information of the venue.*

A local day trip - less than 50 miles from your meeting place and does NOT include an adventure activity

Follow notification preferences set by your Community Chair.*

Day trip over 50 miles from your meeting place - excluding adventure activities

Complete a Travel Application form one month prior to the trip. Form must be submitted to your Community Chair for approval.*

Overnight trip- excluding adventure activities

Complete a Travel Application form one month prior to the trip. Form must be submitted to your Community Chair for approval. Verify first aid certifications and submit copy of certificates with form. If the trip lasts more than 2 nights, please also complete and submit a plan 3P form for required overnight insurance.*

Adventure activities

Complete a Travel Application form two months prior to the trip. Form must be submitted to your Community Chair. Be sure to obtain and submit a certificate of insurance for the facility with your application. Verify first aid certification(s) and submit copy of certificate(s) with form. Also submit certification for any special supervisors required for your activity.*

International trips

Complete a Travel Application form six months prior to the trip. Forms must be submitted to the Council Travel Pathway Supervisor. Additional insurance is required. Please see international insurance forms (Plan 3PI) on GSNENY’s forms page. Additional GSUSA forms must be completed. Go to www.gsusa.org for more information.*

http://www.girlscouts.org/forgirls/travel/global_travel_toolkit/

Camping

A) When traveling to GSNENY properties, utilize the appropriate paperwork for Property Rentals on the GSNENY.org website. An Application to Travel is not needed. *

B) When a Community or Region is planning to camp, a GS Community/Regional Camping Application should be completed.*

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How do I request permission for Group Money Earning Projects?

There may come a time that your troop will choose to earn money in addition to what they earned during the QSP and the Girl Scout Cookie program. Money earning projects must meet the guidelines listed in Volunteer Essentials Chapter 5. Troop money earning projects need to be suited to the ages and abilities of the girls and consistent with the goals and principles of the Girl Scout program. The project must involve the girls providing a service or selling an item that they have made. Some examples of money earning projects that are NOT appropriate are:

Product Demonstration Parties

Raffles

Drawings

Games of Chance

Sale of Commercial Products

Door to Door Solicitation Some examples of money earning projects that ARE appropriate are:

Handmade Craft Sale

Car Wash

Bake Sale

Cooking and Serving a Meal

Coordinating and Hosting a Dance

Gift Wrapping Service

Recycling Cans and Bottles

The number of money earning projects may not exceed the amount of money needed to support the troop’s activities. The girls must play an active role in the choosing and preparation of the money earning project. Income from money earning projects never becomes the property of individual girls or adults. The form, which needs to be submitted to the Community Chair one month prior to the project, can be

located on our website at http://gsneny.org/wp-content/uploads/Group-Money-Earning-Guidelines-and-Form_Fillable_Web.pdf or under Resources, then under the troop category. The projects must meet the following guidelines:

There must be a clear purpose and goal for the money earning project.

Money cannot be raised for another organization, ie: the girls cannot raise money for the Jump Rope for Heart or Salvation Army Bell Ringing nor can they raise money for a child with cancer or for a family whose house burnt down. (This does not mean that girls cannot support organizations as long as they do not solicit money; however they may elect to donate their money earned after they have raised it.)

The troop has participated or will participate in both QSP and Cookie Product Sales and the project cannot interfere/conflict with the timing of QSP or Cookie Sales.

The project needs to have girl involvement in the planning and participation to give the girls the opportunity to learn new skills such as budgeting, goal setting, customer relations, good business practices and public relations. This should fulfill the Leadership Development Model (LDM). The project must also meet the safety standards as in the Safety Activity Checkpoints.

The income from the troop money earning project becomes the property of the troop as a whole, not of individual members.

When planning a series of money earning projects, a new form must be submitted for approval with accurate progress to achieve the goal set by the girls.

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Troop Finance Procedures

Step One: Meet and talk with the girls and families to determine what the girls want to do for the year and what that may cost. Utilize the annual budget worksheet or other format. Use girl and family input regarding who will furnish the Journey books and Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting. What uniforms will the girls use? There is financial assistance in the form of a girl grant for those who need it. Will parents need to pick these up, or will the troop collect funds and buy them collectively, or will they plan a Money Earning Project?

Step Two: Set your troop dues and/or activity fees with Co-Leader or Asst. Leader with input from the girls and parents. Make sure everyone is informed and be sensitive to financial needs of families. Troop dues are monies collected from the girls/families to help fund normal troop meeting expenses and insignia, while activity fees are monies collected from the girls/families to fund troop activities outside normal troop meetings. You may collect these funds weekly, monthly or annually to give options for the families.

Step Three: Open a troop bank account. Girl Scout volunteers have the authority to open a Girl Scout troop or community bank account following the instructions below.

All troop and community bank accounts must provide the following information:

Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York, Inc.

4 digit troop number (or 3 digit community number)

Council Tax ID Number – 14-1438466

Signatures of two adults registered with the troop (or community). The two adults cannot be related.

Verification of 501 (c) (3) non-profit status (can be found on the next page).

Please Note:

The troop and/or community bank account should reflect the home mailing address of one of the designated signers on the account. It should NOT reflect the Council mailing address.

Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York, Inc. has no control over services charges that a bank may attach to a troop or community account. Service charges are the discretion of the bank.

Troop and/or community funds MUST NOT be placed into a personal bank account.

If troop or community leadership changes, the person(s) should go into the bank to be removed from the account and another registered representative must be added.

In addition, any of the following three Corporate Officers will be able to oversee the accounts and request closures:

Lisa A. Austin, CSO, 8 Mountain View Avenue, Albany, NY 12205

Jerry J. Aurelia, CFO, 213 Meadowbrook Road, Queensbury, NY 12804 Monica D. Minor, CMDO, 8 Mountain View Avenue, Albany, NY 12205

If troop or community leadership changes, the person(s) should go into the bank to be removed from the account and another registered representative must be added.

Verification of 501 (C) (3) status can be found on our website: http://gsneny.org/wp-content/uploads/GSNENY-Troop-Bank-Account-Procedures_Web.pdf

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You must then turn in the account information to your Community Chair and Community

Accounting Coordinator.

All Girl Scout troop funds belong to the girls, not individually but collectively. It is expected that there may be a need to fund girls who cannot afford certain troop trips, insignia, etc.

All troop finances should be available to the Community Accounting Coordinator, Regional Accounting Coordinator and to GSNENY Staff at any time.

All troop financial planning should have girl involvement.

Step Four: Track all transactions through the bank account. For ease of maintaining cash flow records tracking should include all income and expenses including, but not limited to: purchases, dues, activity fees cookie and nut costs as well as proceeds.

Step Five: Complete the Financial Report on time and submit to your Community Accounting Coordinator. Using an Annual Statement from your bank account, as well as records and receipts, fill in the information needed to complete the Financial Report. This form and a copy of the Annual Statement is due no later than June 15th.

Step Six: IF YOU DECIDE NOT TO RETURN, or when the troop graduates from High School, or if the troop merges with another troop - YOU MUST COMPLETE A DROPPED TROOP REPORT. This is the final Financial Report for a troop that will no longer be meeting; it must be submitted with the final bank statement. Any remaining funds and supplies MUST be turned over to the Community.

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Quick Reference Guide to Forms

Name of Form Purpose of Form Time Frame Submit form to Link

Travel Application Form (Intent to Travel Form)

To give notice of where and when troops are going on trips, to make sure Certificate of Insurance is on file, and proper requirements are met prior to trip.

International trips must be processed at least six months prior to trip. Adventure activities must be processed at least two months prior to trip.

Community Chairs (If additional insurance is required ie: International Trips or adventure activities or trips longer than 2 nights Community Chairs will forward form to the Travel Pathway Supervisor)

http://gsneny.org/wp-content/uploads/Travel-Application_Web.pdf

Non-Scout Insurance Form (Plan 2)

To ensure non-Girl Scouts are covered under GSNENY Insurance during a Girl Scout event.

Must be processed by GSNENY and sent to the Insurance Company by date of event.

Albany Service Center with Payment (Check made payable to GSNENY). Minimum is $5.

http://gsneny.org/wp-content/uploads/Plan-2-GSNENY-TAG-ALONG-FORM.pdf

Overnight Insurance Form (Plan 3P)

To extend insurance for registered Girl Scouts traveling for more than two nights.

Must be processed by GSNENY and sent to their Insurance Company before date of event.

Albany Service center with Payment (Check made payable to GSNENY). Minimum is $5.

http://gsneny.org/wp-content/uploads/Overnight-Insurance_Fillable_Web.pdf

International Travel Insurance Form (Plan 3PI)

To extend insurance for registered Girl Scouts traveling outside of the USA.

Must be processed by GSNENY and sent to their Insurance Company before date of event.

Albany Service center with Payment (Check made payable to GSNENY). Minimum is $5.

http://gsneny.org/wp-content/uploads/Plan-3PI-GSNENY-TAG-ALONG-FORM_Fillable_Web.pdf

Girl Grant Application

Funds are available for girls who cannot otherwise afford the full price of Girl Scout membership, GSNENY programs, or merchandise.

Submit the form with program deposit (if applicable), allowing at least 4-6 weeks processing for program requests over $50.

Registrars http://gsneny.org/wp-content/uploads/NEW-GIRL-GRANT-Application-3-2013_Fillable.pdf

Troop Camping Application Form

To request permission to use GSNENY properties. To make sure the site chosen is reserved and proper certifications are met.

Must be processed by GSNENY. Reservations can be made up to a year in advance prior to trip based on availability.

Albany Service Center with full payment to fully secure reservation.

http://gsneny.org/wp-content/uploads/GS-Troop-2011-2012-Application_Fillable_Website.pdf

Outdoor Recreation Application Form

To request permission for outdoor activities throughout GSNENY

Must be processed by GSNENY. Submit prior to

The Administrative Assistant at the Albany Service

http://gsneny.org/wp-content/uploads/Outdoor-Recreation-

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properties (ie. Swimming, boating, etc.). To make sure the site/equipment chosen is reserved and proper certifications are met.

date requested for use. Placements will be based on first come first serve.

Center with full payment to fully secure reservation.

Application-2012-2013_Fillable_Web.pdf

Community Encampment Application Form

To make sure the site chosen is reserved, proper certifications are met.

Must be processed by GSNENY. Reservations can be made up to one year from intended date of rental based on availability

The Properties Specialist at the Queensbury Service Center with Payment (10% of total fee must be submitted with application).

http://gsneny.org/wp-content/uploads/CommunityRegional-Camp-2012-2013-Application_Fillable_Web.pdf

Property Day Use Application forms: Hidden Lake

Is-Sho-Da

Lake Clear

Meadowbrook

Woodhaven

To request permission for day use of GSNENY properties. To make sure the site chosen is reserved and proper certifications are met.

Must be processed by GSNENY. Reservations can be made up to one year from intended date of rental. Note: Each property has a separate form. Check each form for range of availability.

The Administrative Assistant at the Albany Service Center with Payment (if applicable).

http://gsneny.org/camp/property-rentals/

Group Money Earning Request Form

To request permission for a Money Earning Project. Note: Check for restrictions on Money Earning Projects with you Community Chair or Strategic Partner Team.

One month prior to project.

Troops- Submit to Community Chair Community (Service Unit)- Submit to SP Regional Manager

http://gsneny.org/wp-content/uploads/Group-Money-Earning-Guidelines-and-Form_Fillable_Web.pdf

Troop Finance Report Form

To report all monies that pass through the troop and Community (Service Unit) throughout the year.

By June 15th Troops- Submit to Community Accounting Coordinator Note: Bank statement must also be submitted!

http://gsneny.org/wp-content/uploads/TroopFinanceReport_Fillable_Web.pdf