Troop Start-Up 2016-2017 1
Welcome! Thank you! Introductions: Name Age of girls Girl Scout experience Juliette s vision: To build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. 2
Girl Scout Promise and Law 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. 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. Troop Start-Up Guide page 1 3 3
Who we are as GSOFCT GSOFCT is one of 112 councils across the U.S. with 1.9 million girl members GSOFCT is comprised of: More than 100 service units 3,500 troops 32,000 girls 15,000 adults We are all here to support you on your journey with Girl Scouts! Troop Start-Up Guide page 2 4
Training Requirements 5 5
Troop Training Requirements Which do you need to do and which can another adult help with? Basic Leader Training Required within three months of first troop meeting First Aid/CPR/AED for both adult/child Required for activities outside your normal meeting place, activities where there is a potential for injury, or an overnight Out & About Required for field trips of four hours or more Enrichments Ready? Set? Go! Camping Adventures Jump into Journeys 6
Connect with GSOFCT Staff 7 7
GSOFCT Staff Support Team Membership Manager Membership Support Administrative Assistant Recruitment Manager Product Sales Manager GSOFCT Customer Care 1-800-922-2770, ext. 500 Customercare@gsofct.org Troop Start-Up Guide page 4 8
Connect with your service unit 9 9
Service Unit Team Service Unit Manager Service Unit Registrar Service Unit Treasurer Service Unit Recruiter Service Unit Product Sales Manager: Service Unit QSP Manager Service Unit Cookie Manager Troop Start-Up Guide: pages 8-9 10
Service Unit Functions Monthly leader meetings Service unit events Product Sales Program support QSP Program (candy, nuts, and magazines) Girl Scout Cookie Program Connecting with your service unit Troop Start-Up Guide: pages 8-9 11
Service Unit Rally Online site for service unit communications Calendar File sharing Message function Troop Start-Up Guide: pages 10-11 12
Your Role and Responsibilities as a Troop Leader 13 13
Role and Responsibilities as a Troop Leader Troop leaders are the core of the Girl Scout experience Troop leaders are role models for young girls Troop leaders main responsibilities: Guide girls in developing leadership skills Coordinate and organize meetings Engage families in working with girls Serve as the key contact for the troop Manage troop finances Facilitate a safe experience for every girl 14
Getting Your Troop Started 15 15
When and Where to Meet What days and times work best for girls and families? How often will you meet? Is your meeting place safe, clean, secure, and inclusive? Do girls have safe and accessible transportation to meetings? Do you need a Certificate of Insurance (COI)? Troop Start-Up Guide: page 12 16
Registering Your Troop 17 17
Member Registration Online Membership Registration is easy! Individual registration by families; adults create personal credentials for each family member Troop leader takes online training, receives troop credentials, and registers troop members Register members before holding first meeting Two unrelated adult leaders (approved and registered) per troop Troop Start-Up Guide: pages 13-14 18
Building Relationships with Families and Girls 19 19
Forming a Troop Committee Co-leader(s) Assist with trips Manage troop records Drivers, Product Sales Volunteers, Outdoor Trained Adults And more! 20
Your Parent/Guardian Meeting Hold a Parent/Guardian Meeting: Hold meeting in location of troop meetings Complete paperwork-girl Health History, Annual Consent Form, Pick-up Authorization Form Share troop meeting calendar Set expectations yours and theirs Best Practices: Encourage Membership Registration prior to first meeting Use the Girl Scout Promise and Law to establish ground rules for your troop Establish communication plan with your families Enlist your girls families to help with troop activities Troop Start-Up Guide: pages 15-20 21
Getting Ready for Your First Troop Meeting! 22 22
Planning Your First Meeting! Check out First Five Meetings (Daisy, Brownie, Junior troops) gsofct.org > Volunteer tab > Leader s Toolbox Level Basic Guides (all age levels) gsofct.org > Volunteer tab > Leader s Toolbox Girl Scout Badges by Grade Level gsofct.org > Participate tab > Journeys and Girl s Guide > Girl s Guide > National Proficiency Badges Leader2Leader Sharing Circles September 2016 recorded on YouTube- Launching Your Girl Scout Year Youtube.com/GSOFCT > Playlists > Leader2Leader Sharing Circles Troop Meeting Planner Worksheet (optional) Troop Attendance Record Form (optional) Troop Start-Up Guide: pages 21-24 23
Welcome to Girl Scouting! Investiture Ceremony Planning with the girls Uniforms Connect with local Girl Scouts Service Team Members Older girl troops Troop Start-Up Guide: pages 25, 28 24
What Else Do Troops Do? Girl Scout Leadership Experience Girl Scout Journey books Girl s Guide to Girl Scouts Community service projects Attend service unit-sponsored activities Participate in Product Sales programs Attend GSOFCT sponsored programs and so much more! Troop Start-Up Guide: page 30 25
Managing Troop Finances 26 26
Managing Troop Finances Opening a bank account: Service Unit Treasurer Troop Bank Account Documents Troops should be self-supporting Establish troop dues Product Sales Creating a troop budget with the girls Troop/Group Year-End Financial Report Financial Policies: Volunteer Essentials, Chapter 6 Troop Start-Up Guide: pages 33-36 27
Getting Organized 28 28
Organizing Your Paperwork Participant Paperwork Annual Consent Form Health History Pick-up Authorization Permission Slips as needed Paper Membership Registrations Troop Meeting Paperwork Building Use Form Certificate of Insurance (COI) Troop Start-Up Guide: pages 37-39 29
Helpful Hints for the First Year Attend Service Unit Leader Meetings Attend Basic Leader Training within three months of your first troop meeting Attend additional training sessions, as necessary: First Aid/CPR/AED Out and About Jump into Journeys 30
Keeping the Troop Safe 31 31
Being Safety-Wise Volunteer Essentials, Chapter 5 Safety Activity Checkpoints Listing of activities and guidelines for participation Creating a safe space for the girls Inspire open communication with girls and families Respect for, understanding of, and dignity toward all girls and families Creating a sense of belonging and inclusion Maintain good recording practices Safety and well being of all our girl and adult members is our top priority! Troop Start-Up Guide: pages 40-42 32
Appendix Troop Start-Up Guide 33 33
Other Things You Need to Know: Appendix Helpful Tips to Get You Started Girl Scout Year at a Glance Key Resources On Our Website Leader s Toolbox GSOFCT newsletters and e-newsletters Troop Start-Up Guide: pages 43-55 34
Other Things You Need to Know: Appendix (continued) Girl Scouts Policies and Procedures: Volunteer Essentials, Chapter 2 Glossary of Girl Scout Terms Field Trips Parent/Guardian Permission Slip Troop Trip Applications Troop Start-Up Guide: pages 43-55 35
Websites gsofct.org World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts wagggsworld.org Girl Scouts of the USA girlscouts.org Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace juliettegordonlowbirthplace.org 36
Questions? 37
Closing Activities Review training record card Next step: Register for Basic Leader Training Thank you for volunteering! 38
Friendship Circle Stand in a circle Place right arm over left Clasp hands The person to the right of the leader starts a Friendship Squeeze Pass it around the full circle to the right Sing Make New Friends Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver, and the other gold. 39