WELCOME GIRL SCOUT LEADER!
Always remember: the Service Unit Team of the North Central Service Unit is here to assist you. But, you must come to us for assistance!
Council has provided a glossary to help you learn some of the terms that are commonly used in Girl Scouting.
REGISTRATION
Each Girl Scout year, adult volunteers (leaders, service unit team members, etc.) must register and pay the $15.00 registration fee.
Leaders may register online or via the paper registration form attached below.
BACKGROUND CLEARANCE
Any adult volunteer who interacts regularly with scouts must submit to a background clearance check. Information regarding the background clearance process may be found here.
TRAINING
Leader Training in GSEP is a three-step process. Completion of all three steps is required for all Leaders (01s) and Co-Leaders (02s) and must be completed within three months of your volunteer placement. The three mandatory training steps are as follows:
Step 1: GS 101
Pre-requisites: None
ONLINE
This online introduction to the Girl Scout program. It is only offered online at http://training.girlscouts.org (There is no password required, but you will be prompted to submit your contact information prior to entry. Please make sure that you select Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania as your Council).
Step 2: Volunteer Essentials
Pre-requisites: None
ONLINE
This workshop introduces new volunteers to their roles and responsibilities as Troop Leaders. This training also is available only online, but it is provided through GSEP. Leaders must register for this online training course through Council's Online Registration System.
Step 3: Grade Level Essentials
Pre-requisites: Step 1 and Step 2
This learning opportunity will build on core leadership knowledge you gained in the first two steps of Leadership Training by introducing you to aspects of the grade level with which you have chosen to work.
TROOP REGISTRATION TIPS
1. Instruct parents to complete a Girl Registration Form for their scout every year, even if the scout is registering online. Maintain these forms in your troop file along with the scout's medical history form.
2. The Photo Release Authorization is included on the Girl Registration Form. Be sure to inform your parents that photos of their scouts will be made public unless they request otherwise.
3. If you are paying your registration fees via troop check, make sure that the troop number appears somewhere on the check.
4. If you are submitting paper registration forms, be sure to complete and include the Membership Registration Summary attached below.
5. Remember -- we are North Central Service Unit 527.
6. Don't forget to re-register yourself as the troop leader or other applicable adult volunteer, either via paper registration form or online:
• 01 = Leader
• 02 = Assistant Leader
• 03 = Support Volunteer (troop registrar, cookie chair, etc.)
• 11 = Service Unit Team Member
7. Even Lifetime Members must register every year, to inform Council that you are still active.
8. If there are any contributions to the Family Partnership campaign, they should be included on the Girl Registration Form.
Please review the GSEP Guidelines for Managing Troop Finances attached below.
**Girl Scout Troop funds do NOT belong to the troop leader or Girl Scout parents. A Girl Scout troop's money is the property of the troop, not its members.**
Each Girl Scout troop must have a bank account that is separate and apart from the personal accounts of the troop leader or members.
ACH -- AUTOMATED CLEARING HOUSE
ACH enables GSEP to access troop funds electronically, thus eliminating the necessity of troop deposits in GSEP accounts.
Troop participation is ACH is mandatory. Therefore, all troop leaders must submit the following financial documents to the Service Unit Product Sales Manager immediately:
1. Troop Bank Account Information Form
2. ACH Troop Authorization Form
These Troop Bank Account Forms are attached below.
TROOP FINANCIAL REPORT
At the end of each Girl Scout year, each troop leader must complete and submit a Troop Financial Report to the Service Unit Manager or Treasurer, including:
1. the most recent troop bank account statement, and
2. an accounting of all troop income and expenses.
Submission of the Troop Financial Report is mandatory each year.
TROOP MONEY EARNING ACTIVITIES
GSEP hosts two fundraisers during the Girl Scout year: QSP/Nuts About Reading fall campaign, and the winter Girl Scout Cookie Sale.
Troops are permitted to hold additional fundraisers throughout the year. However, in order to do so:
1. Troops must participate in both the QSP/Be a Reader Campaign and the Cookie Sale, and
2. Troops may not hold the additional fundraisers at the same time as the QSP/Be a Reader Campaign and the Cookie Sale.
Troops who wish to participate in additional fundraising activities must submit a Troop/Group Earning Request Form attached below to the Service Unit Manager or Treasurer.
GSUSA also has rules regarding troop fundraising.