Getting Started Chapter Overview • Identify areas you might be able to host your troop meeting
• Engage adults in troop committee positions
• Discover ways to connect with troop volunteers and communicate between parents/caregivers
Getting Started with Your Co-Leader Here are some key things to keep in mind when planning the year with your co-leader. • Meet up to chat and get to know each other. Share individual strengths, hobbies, education, skills, interests, and work schedules. • Make sure both troop leaders have completed their Troop Start-up Training on gsLearn. • Review the Volunteer Toolkit together- make sure you both have access and decide who will edit or update which parts. • Divide tasks evenly between both troop leaders. Make sure tasks are specific. Working together is better. – How will you initially communicate with families? Email, text, social media group, etc. – Who will handle the troop finances/troop bank account?
– Who will handle paperwork? (Registrations, medical forms, permission slips, etc.) – Who will lead meetings? • Determine if your troop will collect dues. Have a discussion with families about dues at the parent/ caregiver meeting. • Figure out logistics of what support you need from parents/caregiver. Delegating these tasks up front will help keep troop leaders from getting overwhelmed. – Can someone share a special skill? – Other support to think about: managing Product Program, purchasing supplies, snack, setting up outings, etc.
– How will you work with your own Girl Scout?
Setting Troop Expectations with volunteers • Decide on the day, time, frequency, and meeting location for troop meetings.
• Establish troop rules with the girls at their first troop meeting.
• Create a tentative year calendar of meetings • Learn and agree how to handle conflict and scheduled activities, taking into consideration appropriately and consistently, while events the service unit has already planned. Pencil modeling the Girl Scout Promise and Law. in as much information as possible, including service unit and council events. Use this calendar • All families face some time-constraints, keep communication open and work together at your parent/caregiver meeting to discuss with to problem solve. families what they would like to do during the year. • Schedule your parent/caregiver meeting.
• Remember, Girl Scouts is flexible, you don't have to stick to a rigid schedule.
• Discuss expectations for group and individual behavior management so it is consistent and positive behavior reinforcement is utilized. It is often helpful if leaders swap responsibility for each other’s daughter while at Girl Scouts.
• Identify your troops leadership roles (i.e... who will be a coordinator and how will you communicate-See dividing responsibilities).
New Troop Startup Guide | Page 22