2022 Volunteer Essentials When this book was completed (June 2021), GSWO was still following COVID-19 guidelines for safe interactions in Girl Scout activities. Please check the website for the most current protocols regarding COVID-19. Table of Contents Chapter 1: Welcome to Girl Scouts Chapter 5: Product Program 42-47 4 - 22 of Western Ohio The Girl Scout Cookie Program and 42-47 Girl Scout Centers 5 Fall Product Program 6 We are Girl Scouts Chapter 6: Finances 48-57 Girl Scouts Organizational Structure 7-8 Who Should Manage Funds 48 The Service Unit Support Positions 9 Establishing an Account 48 Volunteer Placement 10 Record Keeping 49 Criminal Background Check 11 Finance Reports and Earning Troop Funds 49-50 Volunteer Learning & Support 12-13 Managing Money with Girls 50-53 Volunteer Appreciation 14 Solicitation, Contributions, General Volunteer Personnel Policies 54 15-19 Donations and Grants and Procedures Gold Award Money Earning 54-55 Democratic Process 19-20 Leadership Changes and 55 Council Finances 21-22 Disbanding Troops Chapter 2: The Foundational Girl Scout Service Unit Bank Accounts 56 22-29 Program Financial Assistance 56-57 Who can join Girl Scouts? 22 Chapter 7: Safety 58-74 Girl Scout Leadership Experience 23-25 Knowing Your Responsibilities 58-59 Badges, Journeys, Patches and Emblems 25 How Many Volunteers Do You Need? 59 Traditions & Ceremonies 26-27 Safely Approaching Activities 60-61 Highest Awards 27 Girl Scout Activity Insurance 62 Travel and Destinations 28 Transporting Girls 63-65 Outdoor Adventure 28-29 Troop Trips and Travel Safety 65-70 Chapter 3: Engaging Girls and Families 29-37 Online Safety 70 Understanding Healthy Development 29-32 Reporting Abuse 71-73 in Girls Health and Wellness 73-74 Creating a Safe Space for Girls 33-35 Communicating with Caregivers 35-37 Chapter 4: Troop Management 38-42 Your Role as a Girl Scout Volunteer 38 Planning Your First Meeting 38-39 Creating an Atmosphere of Acceptance 40-41 and Inclusion Troop Management and Resources 41-42 3 Chapter 1: Welcome to Girl Scouts of Western Ohio A big THANK YOU for saying yes to Girl Scouting. Welcome to a great adventure in changing girls’ lives and in changing yours. Are you ready for unlimited fun and adventure? Are you ready to laugh, make new friends, and build leaders? Girl Scouting will challenge you, encourage you, and at times you’ll wonder, “What did I get myself into?” We know you’re busy, and we are excited that you are helping girls find their wow and dream big. Volunteer Essentials is your reference for all things Girl Scouts. Think of this as your encyclopedia to Girl Scout volunteering. When you have a question, start with Volunteer Essentials. The answer is closer than you think! Girl Scouts of Western Ohio (GSWO) Council Chair: Victoria Nilles • Council CEO: Roni Luckenbill Council Facts • Serves more than 36,000 girls (2019) in our council • Made up of 96 service units geography • The primary method of delivery for the Girl Scout program • More than 11,000 adult volunteers (2019) is the troop. • Covers a 13,559 square mile area • Many girls participate in Girl Scouts through Girl Scout • Serves a 32-county area in western Ohio and southeastern troops, series, Girl Scout events, camp, and travel Indiana destinations. Council Communication Information Council Website: gswo.org Council General Email Contact: [email protected] or Facebook: facebook.com/GSWOH Volunteer Support on Rallyhood: gswo.org/rallyhood Instagram: @girlscoutswoh Twitter: @girlscoutswoh Blog: gswoblog.org Emailing Girl Scouts of Western Ohio General questions and requests should be directed to [email protected]. All emails directed to this site will receive a response within 24 business hours. You can email council paid staff by using the person’s first and last name (no spaces), then the @ symbol and gswo.org. For example, if a person wanted to send an email message to Roni Luckenbill, the address would be [email protected]. For a list of staff and their email addresses visit gswo.org, click the “Our Council” tab, and then click “Contact Us.” Contacting the Girl Scout Centers Federal Tax Identification Number Phone: 888.350.5090 or Email: [email protected] The council’s Federal Tax Identification Girl Scouts of Western Ohio’s Customer Care business hours are 8:30 Number is 31-0679091. It is required when a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Monday - Friday. Evening hours will be expanded during Girl Scout service units, troops/groups, and key peak times (Girl Scout Product Program, Early Bird, Summer Camp volunteers: registration, etc.). Additional evening hours will be communicated through • Open a bank account the council website, Facebook and via email. • Request exemption from taxes on The Customer Care team responds to all emails within 24 business hours. goods and services for use by Girl Send emails to: [email protected]. Scouts in the delivery of the program. • Are asked to provide evidence of our Volunteer Support on Rallyhood not-for-profit, tax exempt status. Meet other Girl Scout volunteers from across western Ohio and Please provide the Sales and Use Tax southeastern Indiana on Rallyhood, our all-in-one communication and Blanket Certificate Form, found on the collaboration platform! Get fast answers and feedback from council staff council website, to the vendor to request tax and other volunteers! gswo.org/rallyhood. exemption. For additional resources and up to date information please visit our council website at gswo.org. 4 Girl Scout Centers Cincinnati Girl Scout Center Dayton Girl Scout Center Lima Girl Scout Center Toledo Girl Scout Center (Administrative Center) 450 Shoup Mill Rd. 1870 West Robb Ave 460 W. Dussel Drive, Suite A, 4930 Cornell Rd. Dayton, Ohio 45415 Lima, Ohio 45805 Maumee, Ohio 43537 Cincinnati, Ohio 45242 T: 888.350.5090 F: 513.489.1417 T: 888.350.5090 F: 513.489.1417 T: 888.350.5090 F: 513.489.1417 T: 888.350.5090 F: 513.489.1417 Council Shops Emergency Phone Number Making a Payment to Girl Scouts of Western Ohio maintains The below number is for emergency use only. Girl Scouts 3 council shops at these Girl Scout Use this number after-hours and on weekends, If you are sending money to centers: Cincinnati, Dayton, and Toledo. to report a serious accident or emergency to a Girl Scouts of Western Ohio Each shop sells Girl Scout uniforms, council representative. If emergency services are through the US Mail, please equipment, badges, patches, pins, needed (911), always call them first, before calling use the following address: and other official Girl Scout insignia the council emergency number. If you have an as well as casual clothing, music, issue while on camp property, please contact the Girl Scouts of Western Ohio and accessories for both girls and camp ranger (number located at site). 4930 Cornell Rd. volunteers. A rotating stock of new Cincinnati OH, 45242 items is available throughout the year. Councilwide 513.619.1398 Each Girl Scout shop maintains an inventory of the most popular Girl Scout catalog items. We can special order any Michigan items in the current Girl Scout catalog at any time. If you are unable to visit one of the shops Lucas Fulton A in person, the e-commerce shop located Williams Ottawa at girlscoutshop.com/WESTERN-OHIO- COUNCIL is open 24 hours a day, 7 days Defiance Henry Wood a week! The online shop showcases all 1 the current items, plus clearance and sale merchandise for great bargains! Ordering Paulding is fast, easy, and secure. Orders will Putnam generally be processed and mailed within Hancock two working days of receipt; however, Van Wert please allow up to two weeks during peak B 2 SERVICE CENTERS periods, typically spring and fall months. Allen A Shipping charges will be applied to all Hardin Toledo orders except those in the Lima area Mercer Auglaize B Lima (troop numbers beginning with 2, and/ or are part of service units 107 and 132). C Dayton Logan Girl Scout Resource Centers Shelby D Cincinnati Resource centers are located in each Darke of the regional offices and contain 3 Champaign Girl Scout books, kits or flags that 4 Miami CAMPS are available to check out in one week 1 Clark Camp Libbey intervals. For more information or C to check out items, visit gswo.org/ 2 Camp Woodhaven resourcecenters. Camp resource Preble Montgomery 3 centers coming soon! Greene Little House 4 Shop Hours 5 Camp Rolling Hills Indiana Warren 5 Cincinnati, Dayton and Toledo: Closed Butler Clinton Camp Stonybrook 6 on Mondays, Tues-Thurs: 10:00 a.m.- 7 6 Camp Whip Poor Will 6:00 p.m., Fri: 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. D (closed from 1:30-2:00 p.m. for lunch). Hamilton 7 Dearborn Camp Butterworth Check website for any changes to store hours. Clermont Payment Ohio Brown Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Kentucky Discover, cash, check, or cookie dough are accepted for payment. Mail/phone/ email credit card orders must be a minimum of $5. The online shop accepts credit cards and debit cards. 5 We Are Girl Scouts Girl Scouts is the premier leadership organization for girls and an expert on their growth and development. We are the largest girl-serving organization in the United States and the largest member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, a sisterhood of close to 10 million girls and adults in 150 countries. Our extraordinary journey began more than 100 years ago when trailblazer Juliette Gordon “Daisy” Low organized the very first Girl Scout troop in Savannah, Georgia, in 1912. Girl Scout Law: I will do my best to be honest and fair, Our Mission friendly and helpful, Girl Scout Promise Girl Scouts builds girls of considerate and caring, On my honor, I will try: courage, confidence, courageous and strong, To serve God* and my country, and character, who make the and responsible for what I say and do, To help people at all times, world a better place.