| TOP TEN PIECES OF ADVICE FROM A SEASONED LEADER 10. There is not just one way of doing things. Your way is just great. You don't need to be a great outdoorswoman or a life- long Girl Scout to be an effective Girl Scout Leader. (But if you know somebody like that, don't forget to use their expertise to help you along the way !) 9. Being a Girl Scout Leader is not a competitive sport. If you hear of something neat that another troop is doing, the appropriate response is not to feel inferior. It is to think of all the great things your troop is doing, too, and to file that great idea away because maybe you'd like to borrow it for your troop. 8. Network. One part of the Girl Scout Law is to use resources wisely. Don't re-invent the wheel! Talk to other leaders, as well as people involved in other youth organizations and get ideas. Don't hesitate to call team members for advice. 7. Work together, and maybe even plan some joint activities with other troops. Invite some girls from older troops to come help you, especially troops that are getting ready to bridge to the next level. 6. Remember that all those Girl Scout rules and regulations are there to help and protect you, not to be punitive or restrictive. Those rules, along with a little common sense, will keep you out of hot water. 5. Get the girls to be as self-sufficient as possible. Don't do something for them that they could do themselves. Don't automatically jump in and fix everything right away. Ultimately, this will be better for them and better for you. This is an investment you'll make in the earlier years. Some day, you'll sit in a lawn chair while they serve you. I promise. 4. Take the training courses that are offered to you. It's hard to commit to yet another night out, but you'll get some great ideas and meet some really nifty people. In the long run, it'll be a time saver. 3. Attend Leader meetings. Same reasoning as the last one. 2. Delegate. Let the other parents in the troop know that everyone should have a part in the troop. There are lots of jobs to be done, large and small, and to fit every time schedule. Make it clear that you are not baby-sitting. 1. Have fun! Being a Girl Scout Leader is one of the best things you'll ever do for yourself, your daughter, and all of those other girls in the troop. It's not brain surgery or rocket science, but it's just as worthwhile and important. |
| ORGANIZATIONAL TIPS Staying Organized - My first year as a leader, I had paperwork all over my house & craft supplies on every table. When meeting day came I rushed around the house trying to find everything I needed. This isn't very helpful and actually very stressful. Over time you realize that organization is a key element. I will share some idea's I have found helpful to me. Girl Folder's - Each girl in the troop has a green folder. This folder serves mainly for a means of communication. I produce a monthly newsletter, which goes into the folder. The parents may leave notes for me & permission slips are taken home and brought back this way. When they first received it they decorated it with stickers. The center prongs hold song sheets of the girls’ favorite songs. Monthly Newsletter - The first meeting of each month the girls take home a newsletter. It contains any information needed about field trips, permission slip deadlines, badges we are working on, product sale information, and just for fun a girls & adult's section where we take submissions for stories, poems and the like. The meeting they are passed out I also read them aloud so the girls are aware of what we are doing. Binders - *One binder contains all information from council. We receive a Fall Start Up Packet that has punched holes. Each is separated and any updates council sends goes in the pocket. *I have another binder I call "The Big Green Book" that contains all information I collect. It so happens the binder is green There is a section for Songs, Games, Ceremonies, Camping, Swaps, Crafts and anything else I print up. These are mostly resources from the internet. * I have a red binder that stays with Safety Wise. It contains the registration papers, permission slips, troop roster, emergency procedures, and when going on a trip the troop itinerary. This is always with the troop. * Another binder contains training information. I keep any handout received at training inside, blank paper for notes, and my record of what training's I have received. Folders - I also delegate some responsibilities to co-leaders and parents in which they also receive a folder, these jobs are noted as such. The contents are as follows: * Treasurer: Attendance Record, Due's Record, Bank Statements, Receipts, Finance Record and blank paper. * Service Projects Parent: A printout of service project idea's along with contact information and blank paper. * Special Projects Parent: Holiday Idea's and blank paper. This mom helps with any holidays and field trips. * Girl/Adult Records: It contains all Individual Girl Records so that I always know where to find them when they have completed a badge. I also keep adult training records inside. A new idea I am trying is badge cards. I used card stock and printed up badge cards very similar to the ones that come in the patch book that is sold. As the girls earn badge's I put their name, the year, the badge earned and where it goes. Then I staple the badge to the card. This will make it easier when Court of Awards comes. * Flyers/Permission Slips: This folder contains anything I need to send home to girls on one side and the other side has items girls have turned in to me. * Meeting: This folder contains anything I need for the meeting, printout sheets for an activity, my meeting plan typed, kaper chart. Crafts - I have two boxes of craft supplies at home that I store in a cupboard. What makes things easy however is making up bags for the girls ahead of time. I buy Glad type bags or 4x5 ones at the craft store. Each bag is made up of the supplies that each girl would need. If there is a supply they must all share that is just placed on the table. I also make up bulk pack baggies for swaps. The girls choose what swaps they want to do and I make up bags of 10 for them. Everything they would need to make the swap is included, except the glue of coarse. |
| How do I get parents involved? Parents do not get involved for numerous reasons. Maybe because they are too busy and don't have the time, because they are shy and feel intimidated or maybe because they are just the type of person that doesn't get involved until they are asked. Whatever the reason may be there are things that you can do as a leader to try to get them involved. * Invite the parents to attend troop ceremonies and special events; the more they attend the more comfortable they will feel. * Get to know your parents on a personal level. The more your learn about them, the more you will be able to see what their strengths and interests are. Then talk to them about their strengths and interests and see if you can incorporate them somewhere in the troop and ask them to help. If it's something they enjoy doing or something they're good at, they will be more likely to say yes. * Maybe time is their issue and they just can't fit it in. See if they are willing to do something that they could do at their convenience, such as paperwork for field trips. As leaders, we all know that we never have enough time for everything but somehow we manage to squeeze most of it in and some parents do think we have all the time in the world and that is why we became leaders. A way to get their attention is to keep track of the time you spend on Girl Scouts for one year, The next year, at the beginning of the year, show the parents how much time you put in as a leader and then ask them if they could spare a couple hours a month to help out. A few hours a month seems like nothing compared to what leaders do! There are those who just don't get it until they see it in front of them. * Most Important of all - Remember to Ask! |
| Leader Tips |
| Websites Scouter Network Scouting Links |
| Consider creating a press release to get your troop in the newspaper! 4 Methods to creating your own press release: 1) Take your own photos and do your own write-up, then mail it. 2) Email your own write-up. 3) Fax your own write-up or basic informatoin 4) Call your contact with informatioin and arrange for a photographer and/or a reporter. Some pointers to increase successful submissions: 1) Take clear, sharp black and white or color photos. The fewer the people in the photo the better. Close-ups are best. 2) Make sure all girls have signed a press release form from parents. The newspaper wants the names of the people featured in your photograph. 3) Label all photos with people in them. You will not get your photos back, unless you make a trip to the office to get them. 4) Choose an interesting or unusual topic. 5) When writing a press release be sure to answer the who, what, where, when, why, and how questions. Your name and volunteer position are needed also. 6) Each school district is assigned a particular contact person at the paper, and each contact person covers quite a few districts. They are busy. Try for off times and avoid the holiday season. 7) After you know your contact person, call them a couple of weeks in advance to arrange for a photographer to come. For a start, here's the contact information for the local paper, the Progress/Reporter Newspapers: Address: 922 Warren Ave, Downers Grove IL 60515 Hours: Mon- Fri, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm Phone: 630-969-0885 Fax: 630-969-0228 |
| Resource binders are now available in "the cabinet" at the church. Please feel to stop by and leaf through them at any time. If you could like to take one home, please inform the Service Unit Director you are checking the binder out. Binders currently available include: Events Trips Resources and Ceremonies |
| Need a Program Aide to help out with Nature, Drama, Songs,or Dances? Contact your Membership Consultant for more information on including an older girl as a Program Aide for your troop's activities! |
| Brownie Cadette/Senior Cookies Council Forms Crafts Daisy Events Fall Product Field Trips Games Junior Patches Scrapbook Service Projects Songs, Poems & Graces Workshops |
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| Troop Forms Field Trip Register Meeting Agenda |
| Check out our new forms section to the left! These are forms that other leaders use to help them. If you have a form that you would like to share with other leaders, please send it to the e-mail address above and we post it on the website. |