My Service Area’s Goals Girl Goal: _________ Girl Actual: __________ Adult Goal: ________ Adult Actual: ________ Friends Goal: ______ Friends Actual: ______ Account Balance: ___________________

Looking for guidance on how Girl Scouts can step up in times of crisis? Check out Girl Scouts and Disaster

Recovery at www.girlscouts.org.

September 2017 Volunteer Meeting Agenda

Delegate Nominees- Each Service Area/District should nominate between 1 and 3 volunteers to be put on a ballot for selection by area volunteers. The voted in delegates will serve as representatives for the area at the council annual meeting in January 2018. Please turn in your SA/District nominee(s) for delegate by September 30th using this form: http://bit.ly/2grRKL3 Registration Deadlines soon for two SUPER FUN volunteer events this Fall:

• Into the Woods Volunteer Getaway: Fri Sept 22 - Sun Sept 24 at lovely Camp Martha Johnston in Macon. Register by September 12th!

• LEAP Volunteer Conference: Fri Oct 20 - Sun Oct 22 at beautiful Camp Low on Rose Dhu Island is going to be

a volunteer training event to make you want to "leap" over tall buildings! Register by October 9th! New Program Content was rolled out from GSUSA this summer! Brand New badges and Journeys! Check out www.gshg.org or the FAQ sheet attached to find out details. Fall Product Sale begins October 1st and ends October 31st. Fall Product Training dates are: Thursday September 7 @10:30 am in house Saturday Sept 9 @10:30 Online only Thursday Sept 14 @6:30 Online only September 18th @6:30 Online and in house The Product Sales Calendar is attached. Cookie sale will begin on December 18th this year! Register 75% of girls in the Service Area or District (based on Membership Roster as of March 31, 2017) by October 1, 2017 and qualify for one of the five criteria for the SA/District cookie bonus.

2018 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards- Now through November 7, middle and high school students who volunteer can apply for 2018 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. The program honors students in grades 5-12 who make meaningful contributions to their communities through volunteer service. Top honorees earn cash prizes and all-expense-paid trips to Washington, D.C. for four days of national recognition events. Learn more or apply at http://spirit.prudential.com.

Volunteer Systems, the new registration system, has launched- and it’s going to make registration a breeze. Check out this Webinar online to learn more! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2txAcQw434 Volunteer Toolkit online! Check out the new Volunteer Toolkit under the Volunteer Resources tab on www.gshg.org! The VTK (Volunteer Toolkit) is for Daisy, Brownie and Junior leaders- and it's going to make your life a whole lot easier! Troop leaders must be registered for the 2018 year to access the Toolkit.

Register by Sept 30 to get this fun patch!

Stay Informed! Sign up for Samoa News and 5 on Friday emails by going to http://bit.ly/2sUnFJf

Fall is for Camping!! Fall is the perfect time to discover the outdoors and camping with your Girl Scouts. Mild weather, beautiful fall leaves, long evenings… just waiting for a campfire and some s’mores. Join us on one of these council troop camping opportunities - one (or more) of them is just right for YOUR girls! Earn some badges and enjoy autumn in Georgia. You don’t have to be Outdoor Skills trained to participate –trained GSHG staff and volunteers will be there to help you. Meals, program and activities included.

When What Where How Much Oct 6th -8th Co-Ed Camporee Knox Scout Reservation, Lincolnton $40/girl, $20/adult Oct 15th-17th Fall Folklore Weekend AH Stephens State Park, Crawfordville $60/girl, $30/adult Nov 4th-5th Harry Potter Troop Camp Reed Bingham State Park, Adel $50/girl, $25/adult Nov 17th-19th Girls Who Give a Hoot Camp Low, Savannah $60/girl, $30 adult

More info and registration info at www.gshg.org! For more information on any of these opportunities or if you’d like to volunteer to help us put on our wonderful fall weekends, please contact your local GSHG Program Manager or Betsy Connell, Program Director at bconnell@gshg.org or 478-365-4817. Planning an overnight or a trip? Be sure to review overnight and trip procedures and turn in a Troop Group Trip/Activity application to your local Program Manager within the requested time. Is your troop going to be an All Star troop this year? See attached ALL STAR guidelines to make your year 100%! Troop/Group Monthly Report and the Service Area/District Monthly Report help us to know and share the awesome things you are doing with girls in your area! Here is the link to the Troop/Group report: http://gshg.wufoo.com/forms/troopgroup-monthly-report/ Here is the link to the Service Area/District report: https://gshg.wufoo.com/forms/service-areadistrict-monthly-report/ Detailed Cash Record Report is now due November 1st (not October 1st), include copies of receipts for all expenses as well as the October bank statement.

Volunteer Development Opportunities (attached) For a FULL listing of adult training opportunities, details, and registration forms go to www.gshg.org- Event Tab or Training Calendar. If you have training needs or requests please send to Rosanne Kelly, Director of Volunteer Development rkelly@gshg.org ( Interim Volunteer Development Manager for Albany, Augusta & Savannah) or to Keli Berkman, Volunteer Development Manager, kberkman@gshg.org (Athens/Gainesville, Columbus, & Macon).

We are in need of more Volunteer Facilitators to deliver courses and workshops- if you are interested please contact Keli Berkman or Rosanne Kelly.

Facilitating Adult Learning Course - Saturday, November 4, 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at the Lizella office recommended for new facilitators or experienced facilitators as a refresh, or anyone thinking about facilitating adult courses. Covers how adults learn, effective training methods, engaging the learner, needs assessment, and the evaluation process.

Career Opportunity – Volunteer Development Manager to manage the Augusta, Savannah, and Albany areas – if interested please go to www.gshg.org – Our Council – Employment to apply Adult Recognitions 2018– it is not too early to be thinking about recognizing our hard-working and deserving volunteers with Adult Recognitions. The information to nominate adults for awards will be on the GSHG website in October. We need volunteers to serve on the Adult Recognitions Review Committees – no experience necessary, just be a current registered member and bring your enthusiasm! If interested please contact Rosanne Kelly, Director of Volunteer Development.

Don’t forget to thank your hard working volunteers all year long with some simple thank you’s! Please share this agenda and attachments with troop parents You can find this month’s agenda and supporting docs on our website too!

½

½

Informal Adult Recognitions

Recognition—do it often and make it meaningful. Get creative! Informal recognitions are day-

to-day ways to say “thank you” to volunteers. These sincere expressions of appreciation are

based on specific contributions and are given in a timely manner. Informal recognition is

powerful and effective, because volunteers feel valued by a personal touch.

Informal Ways to Recognize Volunteers

Girl Scout tokens — check the Girl Scout catalogue or visit our Girl Scout Shop,

( discontinued or clearance items)

Celebrate Leader Appreciation Day on April 22

Certificates

Personal handwritten note cards

Scrapbook

Telephone call

Electronic greeting cards

Flowers

Framed photo or picture collage

Themed recognition (hearts, shamrocks, stars, angels)

Fun awards (wishbone, funny bone, backbone, hats, gems and rocks, hand, puzzle piece)

One minute praise to say thanks

Troop Committee Thank You Gift Ideas

First Aider — small travel first aid kit

Troop Camper — whistle

Treasurer — coin purse

Fall Product Manager — nut dish

Cookie Sale Manager — cookie jar or cookie cutters

Record Keeper — pen and pencil set

Refreshment Coordinator — coffee mug

Transportation Coordinator — key chain or set of maps

Service Unit/Area Recognition Ideas

Celebrate with an Investiture and Rededication Ceremony or other Girl Scout traditions

Public acknowledgement in your local newspaper

Service Unit/Area honor rolls for example, leaders with 12 girls or more, leaders

returning for a second year, leaders who are creative in having girls plan and implement

activities, or volunteer learning stars who have completed recommended adult learning

sessions within six months.

Volunteer thank you kits – i.e. – lip balm, hand cream, bookmark, candy etc.

Online Resources

1. Free e-cards for every occasion at Americangreetings.com

2. E-cards at BlueMountain.com

3. E-cards and greeting cards at hallmark.com

4. Virtual Flowers at iflowers.com

Girl Scouts love to make new friends!To celebrate, Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia is offering a

“Make New Friends” patch. Any registered Girl Scout who recruits a non-Girl Scout friend to register will receive the

treasure chest patch. For each girl recruited after receiving the treasure chest patch, girls will receive a +1 diamond patch. Fill out the form below and send it to your local

council office to receive your patch.

Date: Troop#:

Girl Scout’s Name:

New Member’s Name:

County/Service Unit:

Please Choose: Treasure Chest +1 Diamond

Make New Friends Patch

Released on 6.22.17

Revised 8/1/17

1

Frequently Asked Questions

New Program Content from Girl Scouts of the USA

In mid-July 2017, GSUSA is rolling out new Journeys and badges.

JOURNEYS

These new Journeys are adding on to the choices that girls and volunteers already have. Every Journey (whether new or old) is topic-specific, includes hands-on activities, and incorporates Discover, Connect and a Take Action project. Depending upon the content, some Journeys are shorter and some are longer, but they have been made simpler to use and easier to deliver. There will be no physical books for the new Journeys. PLEASE NOTE: The three original Journeys are NOT going away.

As of July 2017, there will be seven Journeys available for volunteers to choose from. They are:

It’s Your World—Change It!

It’s Your Planet—Love It!

It’s Your Story—Tell It!

Outdoor

Think Like an Engineer

Think Like a Programmer

Think Like a Citizen Scientist It’s Your World—Change It!:

Available for purchase in council stores (adult guide and girl book) for Daisy–Ambassador

On the VTK for Daisies only as part of a 15 meeting Year Plan It’s Your Planet—Love It:

Available for purchase in council stores (adult guide and girl book) for Daisy–Ambassador

On the VTK for Daisy, Brownie, and Junior as part of a 15 meeting Year Plan It’s Your Story—Tell It!:

Available for purchase in council stores (adult guide and girl book) for Daisy–Ambassador

On the VTK for Daisy, Brownie, and Junior as part of a 15 meeting Year Plan Outdoor:

Released on 6.22.17

Revised 8/1/17

2

Available on VTK for Daisies as seven sessions in total, which includes two Outdoor badges plus three Take Action meetings and is part of a 15 meeting Year Plan.

Available on the VTK for Brownie and Junior as nine sessions in total, which includes three Outdoor badges plus three Take Action meetings and is part of a 15 meeting Year Plan.

Available for Multi-level for DBJ.

Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador will be available for Back to Troop as PDFs on the VTK. Think Like an Engineer:

Available on the VTK only for Daisy, Brownie, Junior, and Multi-level. The Journey is six sessions in total, including three Take Action meetings, and is part of a 15 meeting Year Plan. There is no girl book.

Think Like a Programmer:

Available on the VTK only for Daisy, Brownie, Junior, and Multi-level. The Journey is six sessions in total, including three Take Action meetings, and is part of a 15 meeting Year Plan. There is no girl book.

Think Like a Citizen Scientist:

Available on the VTK only for Daisy, Brownie, Junior, and Multi-level. The Journey is six sessions in total, including three Take Action meetings, and is part of a 15 meeting Year Plan. There is no girl book.

BADGES For Back to Troop, we will have the following badges:

Daisy Outdoor Art Maker badge: available on the VTK. Also available for purchase as a digital download or hard copy booklet online in the Girl Scout store. Booklets are also available for purchase in council stores.

Daisy Good Neighbor badge: available on the VTK. Also available for purchase as a digital download or hard copy booklet online in the Girl Scout store. Booklets are also available for purchase in council stores.

Girls’ Choice Troop Camping badges for Daisy–Ambassador: available on the VTK. Also available for purchase as a digital download or hard copy booklet online in the Girl Scout store. Booklets are also available for purchase in council stores.

Robotics: Three progressive badges for each level for Daisy–Junior, available on the VTK. Also available for purchase as a digital download or hard copy booklet online in the Girl Scout store. Booklets are also available for purchase in council stores.

Released on 6.22.17

Revised 8/1/17

3

Mechanical Engineering (GoldieBlox): Three progressive badges for each level for Daisy and Brownie available on the VTK only. Not available for purchase.

GENERAL Will the Girl Scout National Proficiency Badges list be updated? The pullout list of the Girl Scout National Proficiency Badges that is in The Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting will be updated by Back to Troop and will be available to download from the Girl Scout store. Has there been an updated badge placement chart for the vests/sashes? The Girl Scout Merchandising team is working on the updated diagrams now; they expect to have them ready by the end of August, in time for Back to Troop. What is the policy for girls doing badges outside of their age level? Badges are carefully designed to be developmentally appropriate for girls, and to provide them with appropriate progression and things to look forward to. Therefore, we hope girls will stick to earning the badges for their level, master those skills, and be excited about getting to do new badges as they grow in Girl Scouting. Will Daisies still earn their petals? Yes! These are all additions. Nothing is going away. Will these new Daisy badges be “official” badges, meaning they go on the front of the uniform? They are official. How will Juliettes and individually registered girls get this information? Individually registered girls will be able to purchase badge booklets from their council shops and add them to The Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting. The adults who support them, and council administrative volunteers, will be able to get PDFs of the program materials and leader’s aids from their councils in late August. By August 25th, all of the new content will be available to councils on the Brand Center as PDFs. Do the new Journey awards physically fit together like the old Journey awards into one big badge? No, they are not in that format. Will all of the three-piece Journey awards go away? No, they will remain for the three original Journeys. That has not changed. Why do all the Take Action awards look the same?

Released on 6.22.17

Revised 8/1/17

4

By creating one design for each grade level, people will be able to see at a glance how many Take Action projects a girl did as she progressed through Girl Scouts. Would a girl earn multiple Take Action awards? One for each Journey they do? Yes.

Will girls be able to earn the LIA award when working with younger girls on the new STEM

and Outdoor Journeys?

Yes.

How will the new Journeys impact the Summit Award and its prerequisites? Girls will still earn the Summit Award once they have completed ANY three Journeys for their grade level, including the new Journeys.

Released on 6.22.17

Revised 8/1/17

5

Designs of all Awards and Badges by Level

Released on 6.22.17

Revised 8/1/17

6

Released on 6.22.17

Revised 8/1/17

7

Released on 6.22.17

Revised 8/1/17

8

VOLUNTEER TOOLKIT

What is the Volunteer Toolkit?

The Volunteer Toolkit (or VTK) was designed to support K–5 troop leaders in planning and delivering a troop meeting to girls. The intent was to consolidate resources into one digital tool to save troop leaders time and assist them with Year Plans, meeting agendas, and troop management.

Why don’t administrative volunteers, including council trainers, have access to the VTK?

The VTK was designed to support K–5 troop leaders in planning and delivering a troop meeting to girls. VTK access is granted at the troop level because it is intended for troop leaders.

When will administrative volunteers, including council trainers, have access to the VTK?

Access for additional audiences is something we’re considering for the future. We recognize that administrative volunteers (trainers, service unit managers, troop mentors, event directors) need additional information in order to support troop leaders. In the meantime, councils have a VTK demo site that they can share.

When will parents of individually registered girls have access to the VTK?

Access for additional audiences is something we’re considering for the future. In the meantime, councils will have PDF resources of the new program content to support parents of individually registered girls.

Can VTK users view program content for grade levels besides their own? Older girls need to see younger girl content, especially for LIA.

VTK users can access all program content on the VTK for all levels. Go to “Meeting Plan,” click “Replace this Meeting,” and you’ll be prompted for search categories, including grade level.

How will the new CSA content coming out in July be available on the VTK?

New CSA Content coming out in July 2017 will be displayed as PDFs on the Resources tab.

When will Year Plans and meeting plans for CSA be available on the VTK?

We’re in the process of identifying the best way to support volunteers and girls at the CSA levels. In the meantime, all CSA troop leaders have access to the VTK. They can still use the troop management features as well as the Resources tab. They can also use the Finance tab if it has been activated by their local council.

Will there be a calendar option in the VTK for older girl leaders to populate themselves?

All volunteers, including CSA, can add a custom activity to the Year Plan. It is shown in a list view rather than a calendar view.

Released on 6.22.17

Revised 8/1/17

9

Where can I find VTK tutorials or guides?

There are tutorial videos in the Resources section of VTK. We are looking to update these resources in the coming year.

Is VTK available for Multi-level troops?

Yes—this enhancement went live in Fall 2016.

I’m having trouble using VTK; I’m receiving error messages.

We suggest contacting your council for support.

When will the VTK launch at my council?

Please contact your council for details.

When will the Finance tab be activated, and when will councils be able to view the reports?

Each council makes a local decision about when to activate the Finance tab. The Finance tab is a way for troop leaders to submit their end-of-year financial report to their council. Parents have a “read only” view of this data. Councils receive individual troop reports, as well as an aggregated report of all troops in their council.

How do I access the VTK?

If your council moved to the new web platform, you’ll find the link on your council web page. Look for “MyGS Sign In” in the upper right—click on that and select “Volunteer Toolkit.”

Why can’t I view my Year Plan for the upcoming membership year? Example: My troop bridged from Brownie to Junior and now I want to view/add the Junior Year Plan options.

Year Plan change over in the VTK is around July 1, depending on where in the week the date falls. At that time, Year Plans for 2016–2017 will be archived and the 2017–2018 Year Plans will become available. Archived plans can still be viewed by troop leaders; they cannot be edited, however.

Is there training for the VTK?

Aside from the video tutorial videos, there is no formal training for the VTK. We encourage councils/service units to use the VTK demo site to share VTK functionality with troop leaders at volunteer events and service unit meetings. There are also VTK promotional flyers for councils to share with volunteers and parents.

Can co-leaders of the same troop access the VTK?

Yes! VTK access is granted at the troop level, so all troop leaders/co-leaders have access to the same account. Because this is at the troop level, any edits/changes made by one leader will apply to and be visible by all the other leaders—so coordination between leaders is important.

If I have a Multi-level troop, can all leaders view the VTK?

Released on 6.22.17

Revised 8/1/17

10

Yes. VTK defaults to the program level identified at the time of registration; it’s based on the troop number. If one large troop is working in patrols at the grade level with just one troop number, one VTK account is to be shared amongst all troop leaders.

Will a Journey leader guide be printed for the new program content, or do they have to use VTK?

There are no printed leader guides for the new Journeys being released in July 2017. Volunteer resources in support of the new Journeys are available via the VTK.

Are volunteers able to upload their own resources to VTK?

No, Volunteers can’t upload their own resources to VTK. However, they can add a custom activity to the Year Plan. For example, if there is a field trip to the fire station or they’re attending a council event, these items can be added to the troop Year Plan. Troop leaders can also edit and customize an existing meeting plan as needed. For example, if they wanted to add something or adjust the time needed for various agenda items, they are able to do that.

How do I find a list of what is available in VTK? I don’t always know what things are called.

Go to the “Resources” tab and click on “Meeting Overview” to see an alphabetized list.

Are there plans to make VTK an app?

There are no immediate plans, but we hear this is a need. In the meantime, VTK is designed to be mobile responsive so it can be viewed easily on a smartphone or tablet.

How will administrative volunteers who are planning service unit events or day camps access the new program?

Program PDFs are being shared with council teams in order to support staff and volunteers with program planning.

Did you say a Multi-level option is coming to VTK?

Multi-level access in VTK has been active since Fall 2016. What’s new in July is Multi-level curriculum for K–5. The new Multi-level Journeys include activities that can be adjusted up or down for grade level to streamline the prep and planning for a K–5 Multi-level troop.

Can you mix Journey and Badge Year plans? Can Year Plans be customized? Can I add/remove options or rearrange content?

Yes—there are a couple of options! The troop leader can create a custom Year Plan and add whichever meeting plans (badges/Journeys) they wish. The troop leader could also select a Year Plan, such as the badge plan, and swap in/out different badges from the Meeting Plan library. They can also add Journey meeting plans as well.

Will the new Multi-level Year Plans include meeting lessons where both age levels can do the lesson together, or do the two age groups needs to be led separately?

Released on 6.22.17

Revised 8/1/17

11

The new Multi-level content is designed to be done together, adjusting the difficulty of activities based on the grade level of the girls.

Is the VTK available to all councils?

By the end of the summer, the majority of councils will be live on the VTK. Please check with your council for details.

VTK doesn’t seem to work on Firefox. Do I need to use a certain browser?

VTK works best on Chrome, but it should work on all browsers.

When will the VTK be updated with the new program content?

Mid-July. We’ll communicate a VTK release date once we finish testing.

Can VTK be used for someone who leads 3 different troops?

Yes! The troop leader can toggle between troop accounts.

Will the VTK be available for Multi-level past K–5?

All Multi-level troop leaders can access the VTK, but the new Multi-level content is for K–5.

Can Multi-level leaders build a Year Plan with the “old” Journeys/badges?

Yes! The leader will need to add meeting plans per grade level that she has. (Daisy + Brownie, for example.) The new Multi-level content is the only integrated Multi-level curriculum we have at the present. However, leaders are welcome to leverage the existing materials and create their own Year Plan.

VTK only had two of the three Journeys available. When will it have all three of the original journeys?

The third Journey is being added for Daisies now. We’ll consider adding it for Brownie/Junior next year.

STEM

Why is there no new STEM program for older girls?

We started with younger girls because that is our largest membership. However, we are committed to offering new program to older girls—we know how important it is!

When will the older girl STEM Journeys be available?

The Engineering Journeys, as well as robotics badges, will be delivered to councils and VTK in mid-summer 2018.

How do the recently announced cybersecurity badges fit into the new program?

Released on 6.22.17

Revised 8/1/17

12

The cybersecurity badges will fall under the Computer Science focus area. They will be rolled out in stages. DBJ badges will be available in Summer 2018, while CSA badges will be available in summer 2019.

Are the Journey and Take Action awards separately awarded?

The Take Action project is a key element of completing a Journey. Although volunteers can give the girls the STEM-specific award after the third meeting IF THEY WISH, the Journey has not been completed until the Take Action project is done.

Can you give more details about the GoldieBlox kits?

First, please note that we have changed the name from Engineering badges to Mechanical Engineering badges. We did this because of feedback from administrative volunteers and council staff members on our program rollout webinars.

Mechanical Engineering Badges (GoldieBlox)

Girls do need a kit in order to complete the badge requirements.

There are two kits, one for Daisies and the other for Brownies.

The Daisy kit is called Making Things Move. The Brownie kit is called Making Things Zoom.

The kits include the parts for the badge activities. They do NOT include the physical badges that girls will put on their uniform.

Each kit can be used by 12 girls and can be used again and again.

Each kit contains all the parts to do all three badges. So, for example, a Brownie troop of 12 girls would need one kit. With that one kit, they would be able to do the activities to earn all 3 badges. Same thing for Daisies.

The kits will be sold online in the Girl Scout Store and will cost $99.

They will not be sold in council shops at this time.

The kits will be in the Girl Scout Merchandising warehouse on 8/30.

Here are the names of the kits and badges:

Brownie Making Things Zoom Kit

Fling Flyer Design Challenge

Leap Bot Design Challenge

Race Car Design Challenge Daisy Making Things Move Kit

Board Game Design Challenge

Roller Coaster Design Challenge

Released on 6.22.17

Revised 8/1/17

13

Model Car Design Challenge

Are robotics kits available on the website?

No. And, in fact, kits are not required!

The robotics badges were designed to be “unplugged.” That means that girls do not need a kit to earn the badges; they can do the badge requirements with common household objects. (Of course, if you have robotics kits, you can certainly use them!)

How about including more traditional sciences?

We are focused right now on building out the current STEM areas (engineering, computer science, outdoor STEM) for all six grade levels. We will add different science focus areas in the future.

What about the older girls who are not interested in STEM?

Our girls join Girl Scouting with a huge variety of interests! Girls who want to earn Journey

awards but are not interested in STEM can do the new Outdoor Journey, or they still have our

award-winning classic Journeys from which to choose.

Are the STEM Journeys being written for older girls? Rather than hold off on release of the new badges and Journeys until all six levels were complete, we opted to roll the new content out in segments. So, next we will be developing new badges and an Engineering Journey for CSA, aiming for a release in time for the 2018 membership year, next summer. Can we volunteer to test the version for the older girls? When we test our new badges and Journeys, we reach out to councils and always look for a good geographic, economic and cultural mix for those pilots. Councils then reach out to troops in their jurisdiction. If you’re interested, let your council know.

OUTDOOR

Will existing badges now be part of the new Outdoor Journey? Each Outdoor Journey is be comprised of existing badges to build outdoor skills, the new Troop Camping badge, and a new Take Action award for all six grade levels. Are the Outdoor badges and Take Action awards separately awarded? Girls earn the Outdoor badges and get a badge for each one. Then they complete a Take Action project and earn the Take Action award. To make this a true Journey experience, we encourage girls to earn the Outdoor badges in the suggested sequence and do them in close succession. This will allow girls to build on their skills as they complete each badge, all of which will prepare them to develop and successfully complete their Take Action project.

Released on 6.22.17

Revised 8/1/17

14

Is there anything new for CSA girls other than the new camping badges?

Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors will also have new Outdoor Journeys, so new ways to earn

their Silver and Gold Awards.

What about the older girls who are not interested in the Outdoors?

Our girls join Girl Scouting with a huge variety of interests! Girls who want to earn Journey

awards but are not interested in the Outdoors can do the new STEM Journey, or they still have

our award-winning classic Journeys from which to choose.

Will girls be able to earn the Journey badges as stand-alone badges without having to work on a Take Action project? Yes, girls may complete the Outdoor badges alone. However, they will not complete the Outdoor Journey without creating and completing a Take Action project.

Reasons to Attend Service Area Meetings 1. You’ll have the opportunity to network with other volunteers! Take an hour or two to leave the house, meet your fellow Girl Scout volunteers, and most importantly, make new friends. Once you find another troop that can go on a field trip with you, help you with a badge activity or bridging ceremony, or discover a sister troop at your school, you’ll be glad you left your house. We all need to meet other strong individuals who share a common bond and there’s no better place to do that than at your service area meetings!

2. You can lend a hand and put your skills to good use. The service area team is always looking to add new members – passionate volunteers with great ideas who want to contribute to the success of the service area for the benefit of the girls. Attending these meetings will give you an idea of how you can offer your expertise to the team. Maybe you’re a tech wizard who can help keep your service area connected via Facebook, social media apps, or email newsletters. Or perhaps you’re a savvy businesswoman with a huge net of local connections who can offer a space for meetings or an opportunity for girls to meet influential community members. Think about your skills and what you can bring to the team, and then get involved!

3. You can learn (or teach) something new. Service area meetings are interactive, giving veteran troop leaders the opportunity to pass along ideas and teach Girl Scout traditions, like songs, craft ideas, ceremonies, and skills. Was your latest camping trip a huge success? Tell your story and share your best practices! Did you work on a badge that was super fun and the girls got a lot out of it? Share it – or have your girls come and talk about it. Leaders of all experience levels are always looking for new ideas to bring back to their troops to keep things fun and fresh!

4. You can get your troop involved in volunteer or money-earning activities. Service area meetings are a great place for your troop (especially an older girl troop) to practice ceremonies they’ve been learning. You can open the meeting with the Girl Scout Promise and Law and a flag ceremony and close the meeting with a fun game and the friendship squeeze. Service area meetings also sometimes need child care and, if you have older girls who are First Aid certified, this would be a great opportunity for them to give back to the service area team. They could even charge a nominal fee and raise money for a trip or outing!

5. You’ll stay updated with what’s happening at the Service Area, Council, and National level. From announcements involving upcoming events and workshops to tips for fall product sales or Girl Scout Cookie sales, a lot of information is shared at service area meetings. These meetings will ensure you know everything that’s going on – that way you’ll be able to help your troop stay active in the community, participate in local events, and discover new opportunities to grow! With members spread across 19 different counties from Gilroy to the Oregon border, our council covers a huge chunk of Northern California, but with the help of our service areas, our volunteers and leaders can receive the special attention they deserve. So the next time you’re debating on whether or not to go to your next service area meeting, just do it, because these dedicated volunteers are here for you – to help you and your girls have the best experience possible.

Detailed Cash Record of Troop/Group/SU Troop/Group# SU Name Report period: From To

Submitted twice a year. Complete and submit by November 1st along with October’s Bank Statement and April 1st along with copy of March’s Bank Statements.

Use a separate sheet for each account.

Name of Bank: Account #:

Phone #: Address:

Names on the Account : 1.

2.

The Detailed Cash Record is kept by the Troop/Group/SU treasurer and is a detailed account of all the cash/checks received or paid out of the Troop/Group/SU treasury. This includes such items as dues, registration fees, purchase of equipment and supplies, food/beverage costs, council product sales income and payment (fall product and cookie), trip/activity fees, money earning activities and donations. All monies must be deposited into checking account. Troop/Group/SU retains all receipts and are available on request. See Volunteer Essentials Chapter 5 “Managing Group Finances” for GSHG Policy & Procedures.

Check/Debit Transaction

number

Date Paid to / Received from

(with detailed description of transaction or items purchased and you may use more than one line

to explain)

Income Expenses Balance Amount (cash on hand

and in bank account)

Balance from previous report period: XXXXX XXXXX

Signature of Troop/Group/SU Treasurer:

Date:

Date approved by Troop/Group/SU:

All Troop/Group/SU accounts must be opened at designated, approved bank by Bank Authorization from Membership Representative. All accounts must have a least 2 and up to 4 unrelated signers on the account. One signee holds check book/debit card and another signee receives bank statement.

This Detailed Cash Record, or a copy of it, is to be transferred from one Troop/Group/SU leader/coordinator to another as the leadership of the Troop/Group/SU changes, or from one Troop/Group/SU treasurer to another as the office changes.

Keep the original form with the Troop/Group/SU records along with all receipts. Give one copy to your SUM or Service Unit Treasurer and one to your Membership Representative.

(4/2011) Detailed Cash Record of Troop/Group/SU

Check/Debit Transaction

number

Date Paid to / Received from

(with detailed description of transaction or items purchased and you may use more than one line

to explain)

Income Expenses Balance Amount (cash on hand

and in bank account)

Balance from previous page: XXXXX XXXXX