VOLUNTEER NEWS & DEVELOPMENT
New Volunteer Checklist
The New Volunteer Checklist is a tool to help service teams in orienting new volunteers to Girl Scouting and, more specifically, their service units. No completions or paperwork need to be returned to the GSWCF offices. This checklist is intended to be a helpful reminder of all the things new leaders need to know when they first get started.
Immediate Certification
Starting in September, completion certificates for all Girl Scout
adult learning courses will be issued at the conclusion of the
course (excluding CPR/FA and other certifications such as small
craft safety or archery). You will no longer have to wait to get
your certificate via e-mail or U.S. mail!
New Volunteer Support Conference
Calls Coming Up In September!
If you are a new leader don’t miss this all-new way of learning more
about being a successful Girl Scout leader. Discover how to build a
stronger troop, Connect with the resources available and other
volunteers, and Take Action to become a girl-focused leader and
empower your girls to make a difference in the world.
You can attend these support conference calls in the comfort of your own home! Just dial 1-866-391-4886; pin code: 956345#.
Check out the dates and times and mark your calendar!
September: Getting Started
(see description
below)
Tuesday, Sept. 15, 11 a.m.
Thursday, Sept. 17, 7 p.m.
How to involve parents
Girl Scouts ceremonies/What is an investiture/rededication ceremony?
How to do it? Resources
October:
Tools for Success
Tuesday, Oct. 13, 11 a.m.
Thursday, Oct. 15, 7 p.m.
Juliette Low Birthday Ideas
Resource Center support – totes and patch programs available
Event participation – girl/adult ratio at events
Adult recognitions
November:
Making the World a Better Place
Tuesday, Nov. 10, 11 a.m.
Thursday, Nov. 12, 7 p.m.
Service Project Ideas
Celebrating multi-cultural holidays
Welcoming new girls
December:
An Inspired Season
Tuesday, Dec. 8, 11 a.m.
Thursday, Dec. 10, 7 p.m.
Product sales
Troop travel
Registration
Conference Call of the Month – Getting Started
The volunteer support conference call in September is Getting
Started. This call will feature how to involve
parents/guardians; and Girl Scout ceremonies, including: what is an
investiture/rededication ceremony? How to do it?, and resources.
How to
involve Parents/Guardians:
Leaders can involve parents/guardians by asking them to help with
such things as the Cookie Program, field trip planning, service
projects and assisting with badge work, etc. You may be most
successful when you request help for a specific task and indicate
what the time commitment will be. Here are some ideas:
- Help with Troop projects such as putting on a play, cooking, planning an overnight trip, helping with badge work.
- Fill in for the Girl Scout leader in case of illness or emergency in order to give the leader assistance and maintain consistency.
- Phone parents and committee members to inform them about upcoming trips and details about troop activities. Give feedback to the leader(s).
- Recruit adults with special skills for activities requiring skills the Girl Scout leader may not have. Arrange for additional adult help on troop camping trips. (See Safety-Wise.)
- Manage the Cookie Program by taking responsibility for the sale and collection of money. Training is provided within the service unit.
- Make arrangements for the use of special facilities, field trips, transportation and locations for service projects.
- Become the first-aider for the troop.
Look for a sample letter and check list in the adult guide of the Journey for Daisies.
Girl
Scout Ceremonies:
Ceremonies mark special Girl Scout events throughout the year. They
can celebrate getting your Girl Scout pin at the beginning of the
year; major transitions, such as bridging to another level;
commemorate your accomplishment when you earn awards; or simply make
the end of your group’s meeting special.
You can check-out a ceremonies program tote from the Resource Center, and find all you need to conduct a beautiful ceremony for your troop.
Online
Discussion Board Being Discontinued
In an effort to update our website and make it more viable for our
membership and other visitors, we are going through the site to
determine what is working and what isn't. As such, we have decided
to discontinue the online discussion board area, as well as the
online photo gallery. These changes will take effect Oct. 1.
We encourage you to continue with the Yahoo! groups that you currently subscribe to, and be sure to continue to send photos for consideration for all council-produced materials. Please e-mail photos to the public relations manager and graphic designer for consideration.
Thank you for your understanding!
Upcoming Trainings
Sept. 8
Interviewer Training
Tampa Service Center
Sept. 12
Leadership Essentials (closed)
Traveling Troops (closed)
United Way Building, Ocala
Wilderness/Backpack Training – Part 1
(closed)
Camp Scoutcrest
Sept. 15
Leadership Essentials
St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, Ocala
Interviewer Training
Career Central, Spring Hill
Sept. 19
CPR Certification
(closed)
Family Fundamentals, Lakeland
Sept. 21
Leadership Essentials
St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Ocala
CPR Re-certification
Lakeland Branch Office
Sept. 22
Traveling Troops
St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Ocala
Sept. 26
Archery Facilitator Training
Camp Dorothy Thomas
Leadership Essentials
Traveling Troops
Belleview United Methodist Church, Belleview
CPR Certification
ABC CPR, Ocala
Oct. 3
CPR Certification
Tampa Service Center
Leadership Essentials
Traveling Troops
Ft. McCoy Library, Ft. McCoy
Leadership Essentials (closed)
Traveling Troops (closed)
Event/Encampment Director Training
All Saints Lutheran Church, Lutz
Wilderness Training Part 2A
Shepard Park Youth Building, Zephyrhills
Oct. 5
CPR Re-certification
Tampa Service Center
Oct. 10
Small Craft Safety Certification – Canoe
(closed)
Camp Scoutcrest
Oct. 10 –
11
Kiln Certification (closed)
Camp Wai Lani
Oct. 17
(as seen in Fall Guide)
Organizer Training
Consultant Training
Registrar Training
Service Unit Manager Training
Interviewer Training
Treasurer
Training
All: Family Fundamentals, Lakeland
Oct. 24 -
25
Kiln Certification
Camp Dorothy Thomas
Nov. 7
CPR Certification
Tampa Service Center
Nov. 14 – 15
Wilderness Training Part 2B
Camp Dorothy Thomas