Acknowledgement and Receipt of Volunteer:

Please read the position description, then complete the form below. A copy of your submission will be emailed to you. 

TITLE: Troop Leader (REQUIRED POSITION)

Girl Scout Troops must have a minimum of two (2) registered and approved, non-related, adult volunteers in the role of Troop Leader to be in compliance with GSSEF Volunteer Policies & Procedures and Volunteer Essentials provided by GSUSA.

PURPOSE: Troop Leaders advise and cheer on the members of their troop, ensuring each member understands and can carry out their responsibilities within the troop. They encourage Girl Scouts to build their skills and ethics.

TERM OF APPOINTMENT: Appointed for a one-year renewable term.

TIME COMMITMENT: 10-12 hours/month, including meeting planning, leading meetings, and attending programs and events with the troop. An additional 12-36 hours or more during the annual Girl Scout Cookie Sale.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Register girls and adults annually with GSUSA.
• Understand and coach the three keys to leadership that are the basis of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience: discover, connect, and take action.
• Organize fun, interactive, girl-led activities that address relevant issues, foster a sense of worth related to others, and contribute to the community while matching girls' interests and needs.
• Oversee with honesty, integrity, and careful record keeping, the funds that girls raise, including submission of the annual Troop Finance Report.
• Maintain and make regularly available to parents and families troop financial records, attendance, and girls’ achievements.
• Attend council and service unit meetings or send a representative.
• Acknowledge the girl’s accomplishments through positive reinforcement and recognition.
• Engage parents and families in troop activities and in troop committee positions; maintain regular information and guidance through a variety of tools, including email, phone calls, newsletters, social media, and other methods you may choose.
• Remain informed about and comply with the most current policies, procedures, and guidelines of Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida and Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA).
• Promote and support troop participation in annual membership renewal activities.
• Communicate regularly and positively with Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida staff.
• Read role-specific e-communications (do not unsubscribe from council e-newsletters).
• Demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as deliberate promotion of a welcoming environment to all people.

CORE COMPETENCIES:

• Be guided in all actions by the Girl Scout Mission, Promise, and Law.
• Girl focus: Empower girls to lead activities, learn by doing, and cooperate with others on current issues that involve their interests and needs, while having fun.
• Personal integrity: Demonstrate dependability, honesty, and credibility.
• Adaptability: Adjust, modify own behavior, and remain flexible and tolerant in response to changing situations and environments.
• Oral communication: Express ideas and facts clearly and accurately.
• Foster diversity: Understand, respect, and embrace differences.

SETTING: 

Volunteers in this position will commonly meet and participate with their troop in community settings, including schools, parks, recreation centers, places of worship, and other family/community-centric events. Some meetings and events can take place virtually (e.g., Zoom, GoToMeeting, etc.) on a regularly scheduled date, time, and venue. Specific meeting and event types include:

• Troop Meetings: Regularly scheduled meetings of the troop to learn new skills, work on badges, and engage in community service projects. Troops often meet two times per month.
• Council-Sponsored Programs: GSSEF offers a variety of programs and events to make the Girl Scout Leadership Experience accessible to girls and troops throughout the jurisdiction. A complete listing of offerings is included on our website.
• Service Unit Meetings: Monthly meeting with troop leaders and the service unit leadership team. Meetings include networking, training, and program planning for locally sponsored programs and events.
• Recruitment Events: Community-based events hosted by the council and service units to promote membership and participation of new members. Troop Leaders and members of the troop are asked to participate in local events to welcome new members to the organization. 

SCHEDULE:

The schedule for this position includes regularly scheduled weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly troop meetings as determined by the troop.

Volunteers should also expect various intermittent communication, via text, email, and phone, from troop parents, troop committee members, other volunteers, and/or GSSEF staff that will require a timely response to questions, concerns, or updates regarding a wide range of troop and service unit activities. Volunteers are encouraged to develop a regular schedule to designate time for responding to such communication and needs.

Occasionally, volunteers will be asked to respond to an unplanned need because urgent issues involving emergencies, accidents, and conflict should be shared in real-time.

TRAINING:

Troop Leader training is available both online and in-person. Volunteers in this position are required to complete all courses identified as “mandatory” in the Troop Modules – Basics and Grade Levels Learning Path accessible in gsLearn.

Troop Leaders should review all troop-related training modules available in gsLearn to ensure familiarity with GSSEF policies and procedures, guiding the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, and other expectations of the position.

SCREENING & REQUIREMENTS:

• Currently registered adult member of Girl Scouts of the USA; Currently affiliated and in good standing with GSSEF
• Complete and pass a background check
• Complete Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida’s volunteer onboarding process
• Complete position-specific required training
• Review and sign the troop leader position agreement

gsLEARN ONLINE LEARNING MODULES:

gsLearn Troop Modules – Basics and Grade Levels
(must be completed within 60-days of appointment)

• Volunteer Essentials ***Mandatory
• Troop Essentials ***Mandatory

• GSUSA Your First Time as a Troop Leader
• GSUSA Girl Scout Levels and Your Role as a Troop Leader
• GSUSA Successful Leader Learning Series
• GSUSA Troop Leader Expectations
• GSUSA Troop Leader Support
• GSUSA Troop Meetings 101
• GSUSA Creating Your Inclusive Troop
• GSUSA Forming a Troop Committee
• GSUSA Foundation 3: Well-Being and Development
• GSUSA Foundation 4: Understanding Troop Operations
• GSUSA Managing My Troops from My Account
• GSUSA Virtual Startup Troop Training
• GSUSA Zoom for Girl Scouts
• GSUSA Daisy Grade Level Essentials
• GSUSA Brownie Grade Level Essentials

gsLearn Troop Modules – Troop Finance

• GSUSA Generating Troop Funds
• GSUSA Volunteer Toolkit - Troop Finance View

gsLearn Troop Modules – Troop Product Sale Training

• GSUSA Brownie Cookie Decision Maker
• GSUSA Brownie My Cookie Customers
• GSUSA Cadette Cookie Innovator
• GSUSA Ambassador Cookie Influencer
• GSUSA Ambassador My Cookie Business Resume