This booklet contains information that will help Girl Scout volunteers in the communities of Exeter, Kensington, and Newfields get more from their experiences. For a service team like ours to be effective, we need good communication. And, to succeed as Girl Scout volunteers, we need to know where to turn for help. It is for these dual purposes that this booklet was created.

Please read everything over carefully; if you don't find what you need here -- or at least get adequate directions as to where to turn for better explanations -- contact your Service Team.

Compiled by

Neil Savage

Service Team Co-manager

Contents

1 Introduction

Welcome to the world of Girl Scouting! Girl Scouting is a movement that gives all girls a chance to develop their potential, to make friends, and to be a vital part on their community. Based on ethical values, Girl Scouting opens up a world of opportunity for girls, working in partnership with adult volunteers. The sole focus is on meeting the particular needs of girls.

1.1 Program

Girl Scouting is a continuous adventure in learning that offers every girl a broad range of activities to address both her current interests and her future role as a woman. Through activities that stimulate self-discovery, girls are introduced to the excitement in the worlds of science, the arts, the out-of-doors, and people. Girls grow in skill and in self-confidence. They have fun, they make new friends, and through meaningful community service they acquire understanding about themselves and others.

1.2 Girl Expectations

Becoming a Girl Scout is easy; living up to Girl Scouting's ideals is harder. To succeed as a Girl Scout, a girl needs:

• A positive attitude
• Determination to see things through
• Self discipline

Girl Scouting is like a game that has rules for the players to follow. The rules are in the Girl Scout Promise, the Girl Scout Law, the Girl Scout Motto, and the Girl Scout Slogan.

Girl Scout Promise

• On my honor I will try
• To serve to God and my country
• To help people at all times,
• And to live by the Girl Scout Law.

Girl Scout Law

I will do my best to be:

• honest and fair,)
• friendly and helpful,)
• considerate and caring,)
• courageous and strong, and)
• responsible for what I say and do,)

and to:

• respect myself and others,)
• respect authority,)
• use resources wisely,)
• make the world a better place, and)
• be a sister to every Girl Scout.)

Girl Scout Motto

• Be Prepared

Girl Scout Slogan

• Do a good turn daily.

Rewarding Girl Scouting experiences require girl/adult partnerships. This means that when a girl joins a troop, the parents' role is particularly important in successfully carrying out the program.

Parents should incourage their daughters to keep the family informed of troop activities. Information concerning the troop normally goes out at troop meetings and through contacts with troop leaders.

Parents can especially assist in providing a good program for their daughters by serving on the Troop Committee or otherwise assisting the troop leaders. Girls who have gotten the most from their Girl Scouting experience are the ones whose parents also became fully involved.

1.4 Girl Planning

Program planning is one of the more important skills girls learn in Girl Scouting. Ideally, all plans originate with the girls themselves, not with the adults.

In one popular form of troop goverment, a Court of Honor (consisting of the elected officers of the troop) meets to decide what events and activities the troop will participate in, and then selects appropriate individuals to carry out the plans and implement the decisions of the Court. Some experienced troops designate girl "Program Coordinators" or "Event Directors" for each major activity. Whatever infrastructure is adopted, the aim is to let the girls do it themselves whenever feasible.

1.5 Program Levels

When a girl first joins GSUSA, regardless of age level, she is invested in the Girl Scouting movement. This typically happens in a yearly ceremony in which she is presented with her Girl Scout Pin. Thereafter, each year she rededicates herself as a member of GSUSA at the time any new members are invested.

An example of a suitable Investiture/Rededication ceremony that incorporates the three points of the Girl Scout Promise and the ten points of the Girl Scout Law (using 13 candles in holders) is available on request.

1.7 Advancement in Girl Scouting

The type of advancement applicable depends on age-level.

• Daisy Girl Scouts have no advancement, except that of the bridging patch upon graduating to Brownies.
• Brownie Girl Scouts work on Brownie "try its".
• Junior Girl Scouts work on Girl Scout Badges and Signs.
• Cadettes and Senior Girl Scouts work on Interest Projects. The ultimate Cadette rank is the Silver Award; the ultimate Senior Girl Scout rank is the Gold Award, which is equivalent the Boy Scout Eagle Badge.

Most troops hold at least one Court of Awards each year. Families and friends attend these programs to recognize the girl's recent accomplishments.

Generally, a Girl Scout should get all badges of advancement as she earns them, as soon as they are obtained from the Council store. At the Court of Awards, the girl's accomplishment is usually recognized with the (re)presentation of the badge and a completion certificate.

2 Volunteer Steps

The following are the steps to becoming a full-fledged Girl Scout Volunteer:

2.1 Non-leader Positions

1. Fill out a volunteer application and supply three character references.
2. Fill out adult registration form.
3. Receive 1 to 1½-hour Orientation from a service manager.
4. Sign the appointment form for the position sought.

Volunteer is appointed to the position after reference forms have been filled out and returned from the three references named in the volunteer application.

2.2 Troop Leader or Assistant Leader Positions

1. Complete the four steps listed in Section 2.1.
2. Complete Essentials of Leadership (EOL) courses I and II.
   1. Course I covers general information required to run a Girl Scout troop.
   2. Course II covers the age level of the girls you will be working with. It includes advancement, program specifics, and age-level characteristics.
   
   Note that further training is recommended to properly run a troop for any length of time. These two courses are the minimun required to Start leading a troop.

The following are the steps required of all leaders to begin a new troop year:

1. Applications and references on file for a minimum of two leaders.
2. If continuing from last year, the end-of-year summary and financial report completed and submitted to a Service Unit Manager.
3. Registration forms for all troop members (girl and adult) completed, signed, and submitted to the Registrar, along with the troop/group's roster.
4. New leader appointments signed.
   Leader appointment are for one year only; returning and well as new leaders must be (re)appointed by the Service Unit Managers at the start of the Girl Scout year.
5. Troop checkbook signature cards signed by the two adults designated as responsible for troop finances (Treasurer, Co-Leader).

The bulk of the program happens at the troop level---planned by the girls in partnership with the adults of the troop. However, certain events have traditionally involved participation of the majority of troops in Exeter, Kensington, and Newfields. In recent years, the following have been run as community events:

• Late afternoon/early evening rollerskating partly at Happy Wheels in Newington, NH.
• Spring Camporee
• Parent/Daughter Day

Communty events are planned and implemented according to the wishes of the majority of leaders as represented at the monthly Service Team meetings. Table 1 gives a more comprehensive overview of the range of Girl Scout activities throughout the year.

Table 1 The Girl Scout Calendar

Month	Activities
September	Fall registration Parents meetings Year-round planning by troops
October	Start of new Girl Scout year (1st) Campsite reservations for spring outings Juliet Low's Birthday (31st)
November	Investiture/Rededications
December	Troop Cookie Manager training Exeter Christmas Parade
January	Start of cookies sales Start of bridging activies
February	Start of summer program promotions Girl Scout Thinking Day (22nd)
March	Cookies delivered Girl Scout Birthday (12th) Girl Scout Sunday/Sabath Girl Scout Week
April	Girl Scout Leader Appreciation Day (22nd)
May	Annual Council Meeting Spring registration Memorial Day Parade
June	Bridging to next age-level Year-end reports due Campsite reservations for fall outings Resident and day camp summer programs begin

In addition to the events listed in Table 1, Constituency Meetings are held each fall. These meetings are the means by which local Girl Scout adults (age 14 and over) choose delegates to the annual meeting and have the chance to give input to council and national policy-making.

5 Taking the Troop Away from the Meeting Place

The meeting time, dates, and place for each registered troop must be set and communicated to the Service Team. Any troop activites outside of this schedule must have:

1. Explicit permission (in writing) from each participating girl's parent
2. Prior approval of a Service Unit Manager

The Troop Trip Alert form is the proper means to obtain Service Unit Manager approval for a troop trip. Failure to obtain prior approval could jeopardize your Girl Scout insurance coverage (personal liability protection) should an injury occur. Particularly in situations involving vehicular transportation or a trip out of town, the Troop Trip Alert form must be filed at least two weeks prior to the event.

For your protection, as well as the security of the girls, be sure that the Safety-Wise manual has been consulted. This manual contains the applicable National standards that must be followed for each activity that your troop is allowed do (and lists those that are not allowed as GSUSA-sanctioned activites).

In addition, adults responsible for the welfare of the troop are expected to have the following:

• Parental permission slips and medical forms accessible to wherever the girl in question is travelling
• Access to an adequately stocked first aid kit (see the Safety-Wise manual for a list of recommended supplies)
• Access to the current edition of the Crisis Communication sheet
• Someone on the trip who is certified by Swift Water Girl Scout Council or some nationally-recognized emergency preparedness agency as having basic first aid qualifications (a nurse or an EMT with current certification qualifies).
  An exception to this rule would be if the troop were going to the local fire station or a health care facility---in which case the Troop Trip Alert form would so indicate. Participation by Exeter, Kensington, or Newfields troops in the Exeter Christmas parade does not require designation of a troop first-aider, for example, because of the large numbers of fully-equiped emergency units located throughout the parade route.
• A seat belt, worn by each girl occupying a moving motor vehicle.
• Drivers of all motor vehicles insured (see Troop Trip Alert form for details on insurance coverage), currently licensed, and at least 18 years old.

For your troop to take part in a day trip that involves the out-of-doors, you must designate some adult who has taken the Outdoor Fun course.

For your troop to take part in an overnight trip that involves the out-of-doors, you must designate some adult who has taken the Outdoor Living course or equivalent. An application to seek Outdoor Living certification without taking this course is available. However, note that the intent of Swift Water Council outdoor training courses is not necessarily to teach the leaders how to camp but to teach skills for imparting camping know-how to the girls.

Participation in indoor program activities, such as museum or sports facility sleep-overs normally does not require the presence of an adult who has complete a Swift Water Council outdoor training course. This may seem intuitively obvious but yet has been a source of confusion in the past. Most indoor programs do, however, require that each troop designate its own first aider.

Troops that get together for outdoor activities may choose to also pool adults with the required training between them. This must be at the discretion of the adult with the required training; that is, she must agree to apply her qualifications beyond the parent troop (the one in which she is an adult member). With the agreement to "cover" more than one troop comes the obligation to work with the girls outside the parent troop; thus, a person with Outdoor Fun or Outdoor Living qualfications is expected to work with the girls outside the parent troop to prepare them for the outdoor experience---as in instructed during the training course ["Girls, let me show you how it's done in Girl Scouting, and tell you why it's done this way."]

6 Troop Finances

The following is just a brief synopsis of this topic. Be sure to contact the Service Unit Finance Manager concerning any questions about troop finances and bank accounts.

6.1 Registration Money

As of 1 October 1997, GSUSA registration is $7.00 per year. All of this money is transfered to GSUSA. None of it is retained by the troop, the service team, or Swift Water Girl Scout Council.

6.2 Money-earning Projects

All troops should have a budget, which indicates how the troop plans to get the money for the activities that the girls want to spend troop money on. Except for calendar and cookie sales, all money-earning projects require Service Team and Council approval. Approval of a troop money-earning project commits the troop to also sell Girl Scout cookies when the time comes to do so.

Troop money-earning must include a definite exchange of a service or a product for funds received. Raffles or soliciting for donations are not permitted. For a list of approved money-earning projects, contact your Service Unit Manager or Finance Manager.

7 Girl Scout Name Tags

You may notice the plastic tags with the Girl Scout logo and the name of the leader or volunteer. These can be ordered from "Our Store" in batches of ten or more. If you want one of these pins, see a Service Team Member. Typically the opportunity to order your tag through the Service Unit happens at the Service Team meeting in October.

8 Service Team Members and Their Duties

• Service Unit Manager(s)
  • Admistrator of the Service Team
  • Represents the Service Team to the Cluster and Council
  • Represents the Cluster and Council to the volunteers in the Service Team
• Finance Manager
  • Keeps the financial records of the Service Team
  • Oversees the financial accounts of troops within the Service Team
  • Tracks money-earning projects of troops within the Service Team
• Registrar
  • Oversees the spring and fall registration process
  • Processes troop registration forms, forwarding them to council with registration payments.
• Troop Organizer
  • Assists SUMs in organizing sign up (interest indicator) information programs
  • Matches interested girls and adults to suitable troops, depending on current capacity
• Age-Level Consultants
  • Serve as mentors for less-experienced leaders
  • Establish and maintain contact with leaders of troops in specific age-level
• Outdoor Consultant
  • Maintains inventory of Service Team camping equipment
  • Encourages environmental awareness in programs within the Service Team
  • Serves as resource for campout actvities
• Special Events Coordinator
  • Oversees the work of individual event coordinators in planning and implementating service team activities.
  • Serves as a mentor for planners of major troop events
• Publicy Coordinator
  • Monitors troop and service team activities
  • Serves as a mentor for troops doing their own publicity
  • Seeks to foster a positive image of Girl Scouting in the media
  • Publicizes Girl Scout activities at the Service Team level
• Cookie Delivery Manager
  • Provides training for each troop cookie manager
  • Arranges for Service Unit cookie delivery and pickup station on assigned delivery date
  • Checks the accuracy and completeness of troop cookie orders
  • Issues cookie credits to qualifying girls

The running of the Exeter, Kensington, and Newfields Service Team is overseen by Maureen Skelly, Field Director. The Service Unit Managers report to Maureen, who also supervises the activies of the Seawood Cluster, of which our Service Team is a member (along with the Stratham, Hampton/Hampton Falls/Seabrook, Rye, North Hampton, Greenland, and Portsmouth Service Teams).

9 GSUSA-SWGSC Forms and When to Use Them

The following is not an exhaustive list but does describe some of the paperwork more frequently encountered by Exeter, Kensington, and Newfields Girl Scout volunteers.

Form Name.	Used for:	When to fill out:	Where found:
Exigency
Crisis Communication	Handling an emergency	N/A (instructions)	Leader's registration packet
Incident Report	Communicating situation possibly requiring Council attention/intervention	Immediately following incident	Leader's registration packet
Medical History	Supplying vital information in case of medical emergency	After receiving back your copy of girl's registration	Back side of leader's copy of membership application
Insurance Claim	Filing for GSUSA accident or sickness benefits	A.S.A.P, see accompanying brochure for details	Leader's registration packet
Permissions
Troop/Group Trip Alert	Notifying service unit of activity away from regular meeting place	Not less than 14 days before date of planned activity	SWGSC Leader Manual; Service Unit manager [photo-copying permitted]
Parent/Guardian	Getting permission to take girl on any activity away from regular meeting place	Before the girl departs meeting place	Leader's registration packet; Safetywise
Photo Release	Getting parent/guardian permission to use photographs in which girl appears	Beginning of troop year recommended	Leader's registration packet
Cookie Sale	Getting parent/guardian permission for girl to sell Girl Scout cookies	Before girl begins to sell	Troop/Group Cookie Manager's packet
Sponsorship Agreement	Securing a sponsor	Before meeting at sponsor's site	Leader's registration packet
Application for Campsite	Getting permission to use any camp	Preferrably, spring or fall - for the next season's activities	SWGSC service center
Training Course Registration	Signing up for a SWGSC course	On announcement of course offering	Swift Water Current newsletter
Required Reports
Annual Troop/Group Treasury Report	Summarizing history of income, expenses, and plans for any surplus on hand at year end	May-June	Leader's registration packet
Detailed Record of Troop/Group and Annual Report of the Troop/Group Treasurer	Detailed account of funds	After each transaction, but submit only at year's end	Leader's registration packet
Year-end Summary	Reporting year's program activities	May-June	Service Unit manager
Useful Records
Individual Girl's Record	Maintaining history of the Girl Scouting experience of each girl	Within a reasonable time after each milestone	Council service center
Troop Attendence and Dues Record	Tracking attendence and dues payment of each girl	At each meeting	Council service center