Co-Op Troop Leadership - Working together: A guide for adult volunteers working together toward troop leadership
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Working together:
Co-Op Troop Leadership
A guide for adult volunteers working
together toward troop leadership
GirlScoutsRV.orgTable of Contents
Girl Scout Program Fundamentals 3
Definition of Leadership Terms 4
Guidelines for Organizing a Co-Op Troop 5
Steps to Organizing a Co-Op Troop 6
Sample Discussion Questions 7
Suggested Roles for the Troop 8
Co-Op Troop Models 9
Advantages of Co-Op Troops 12
Opportunities and Challenges 13
Teaming Tips for Leadership 14
Appendix
Troop Leader/Co-Leader Position Descriptions 16
Troop Worksheet Calendar 18
Examples of Troop Meeting Log 19
Service Unit Team Roster Form 21
Getting Started 22
Sample Family Giving Appeal 23
1Dear Volunteer:
Thank you for volunteering to participate in and support the leadership team of your Girl Scout
troop! Adult support is vital to the experience girls have in their troop setting. This booklet is
designed to help adults support their troop by providing several suggestions to meet the needs of
the girls, as well as other adults involved.
What is a co-op troop? The term co-op is used when the leadership team for a Girl Scout troop
consists of a large group of adults. Adults create their own cooperative (co-op) leadership
structure to meet their needs and the needs of their girls. The traditional troop model consists of
two unrelated adults serving as troop leaders. The term troop committee is used to describe the
group of supporting adults who are not leaders. This guide provides suggestions, examples, and
tools for a successful co-op leadership experience.
Girl Scouts—what did you do today? When a girl is asked why she joined the Girl Scouts, often
the answer is to have fun. Girl Scouting is, indeed, a place to have fun but as adults (volunteer
leaders, parents, and community members), we want more than just fun for our girls. We want to
know that what our girls are doing while scouting makes a difference. We also want to know that
girls will gain the developmental skills needed to discover themselves, connect with others, and
take action to make the world a better place. Girl Scouting combines activities that are fun and
interesting while finding positive ways to help girls maneuver through life’s pressures and
conflicts.
How do I use this resource? This co-op troop manual will help groups of adults learn and
develop their own type of leadership. Inside there is information about planning your troop,
training requirements, leadership roles and responsibilities, and much more. Your co-op troop
leadership team should use this resource, as well as materials found in the Appendix, to assist
you throughout the year. The River Valleys website—www.girlscoutsrv.org—also includes useful
information, forms, and other materials for troops, leaders, and adults.
2Girl Scout Program Fundamentals
The Girl Scout Mission
Girl Scouts help build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place.
Girl Scout Promise and Law
The foundation of Girl Scouting is the Girl Scout Promise and Law, which originated in 1912 when the Girl
Scouts began. The wording has been revised slightly, but the underlying meaning and goals are the same.
Girl Scout Promise Girl Scout Law
On my honor, I will try: I will do my best to be
To serve God* and my country, honest and fair,
To help people at all times, friendly and helpful,
And to live by the Girl Scout Law. considerate and caring,
courageous and strong, and
*Persons reciting the Promise may substitute for the responsible for what I say and do,
word God in accordance with their spiritual beliefs. and to
respect myself and others,
respect authority,
use resources wisely,
make the world a better place, and
be a sister to every Girl Scout.
The Girl Scout Leadership Experience and Program Essentials
Program Essentials is the core plan that girls and leaders use to implement the Girl Scout
Leadership Experience in River Valleys. The National Program Portfolio, developed by Girl Scouts
of USA has two parts, the National Leadership Journeys and the all new Girls Guide to Girl
Scouting. These pieces are the foundation of Program Essentials. The program experience
involves activities that are girl-led, incorporate learning by doing, and encourage cooperative
learning opportunities. It meets the changing needs and interests of girls, and actively prepares
them to be the next generation of women leaders. The Girl Scout Leadership Experience is based
on three leadership keys:
Discover—girls understand themselves and their values and use their knowledge and skills
to explore the world.
Connect—girls care about, inspire, and partner with others locally and globally.
Take Action—girls act to make the world a better place.
This information is covered more thoroughly in adult learning opportunities at
http://www.girlscoutsrv.org/volunteer/training/, among other places. We strongly urge you to
attend these training sessions to help the girls in your troop have a positive Girl Scout experience.
Thanks again for volunteering your time!
3Definition of Leadership Terms
The following definitions for leadership terms are used in Girl Scouting. You can refer to these terms
when determining positions, roles, and responsibilities within your co-op troop leadership team.
The Leader (L) The Assistant Leader (AL)
• Primary, main, or principal • Can be one or more assistant leaders
troop/group adult • Registers with 02 position code on the
• Registers with 01 position code on the River Valleys’ membership form
River Valleys’ membership form • Completes required trainings
• Completes required trainings • Attends all troop meetings, if necessary
• Plans activities with girls (may rotate in a co-op troop structure)
• Carries out plans with girls • Helps leader during meetings
• Acts as primary responsible adult for • Could complete outdoor or First Aid
troop training to support troop
• Attends all troop meetings (may rotate in
a co-op troop structure)
• Can also be a coordinator (see page 10)
The Co-Leader (CL) The Troop Committee Member (TC)
• Registers with 01 position code on the • Can be one or more troop committee
River Valleys’ membership form members
• Completes required trainings • Registers with 03 position code on the
• Plans activities with girls River Valleys’ membership form
• Carries out plans with girls • Attends and helps at occasional troop
meetings (may rotate in a co-op troop
• Acts as primary responsible adult for
structure)
troop, on an equal basis with leader
• May do short term, but intensive, troop
• Attends all troop meetings, if necessary
jobs, such as cookie program manager
(may rotate in a co-op troop structure)
(specialized training required) or troop
• Can also be a coordinator (see page 10) treasurer
• Could complete outdoor or First Aid • Could complete outdoor or First Aid
trainings to support troop training to support troop
4Guidelines for Organizing a Co-Op Troop
Before you decide how to organize your co-op troop leadership team, consider our Girl Scout guidelines
for leadership and programs. Girl Scout programming includes experiences and activities that meet the
needs of the girls, is based on the Girl Scout Promise and Law, and enables girls to grow and develop. The
following guidelines should be used to supplement Girl Scout program standards and volunteer policies.
The Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys’ policies and standards can be found in
Volunteer Essentials on River Valleys’ website.
1. There must be at least two registered, unrelated adults with the girls every time the troop
meets. Volunteers need to be carefully recruited and placed in their positions with a clear
understanding of all expectations.
2. Adult volunteers must complete an online background check and the Girl Scouts of USA
(GSUSA) Volunteer Orientation—www.girlscoutsrg.org/training.
3. At least one adult at each meeting must be a trained leader (complete GSUSA Volunteer
Orientation and Leadership Essentials—see the Troop Leader/Co-Leader position description in
Appendix for more details). All adults working directly with the girls in planning and conducting
the troop programs are required to be trained leaders. At least one leader from the co-op troop
leadership team needs to attend a Fast Start meeting for new leaders, but does not need to be
present at all of the troop meetings. The Getting Started for New Leaders document, on page 22, is
a helpful tool to make sure all necessary steps to becoming a Girl Scout volunteer are completed.
Refer to Volunteer Essentials, or www.girlscoutsrv.org, for more training information.
4. Girl Scout programming encourages girls to make their own decisions and help plan their troop’s
agenda. You need to organize and commit to girl-led activities rather than depending on adult-
generated programs. This is the first step in developing girls’ leadership skills.
5. At least one leader/adult needs to attend monthly service unit leader meetings. The information
from the meetings is then shared with other adults working with the troop. These meetings
provide relevant information for leaders, girls, and families about Girl Scout events, training, and
other opportunities.
6. As you organize your co-op troop leadership team, consider how to include all girls in your area
who want to be Girl Scouts. Leaders need to plan for adding more girls to their troops, while staying
within the appropriate girl/adult ratios established in Volunteer Essentials: Chapter Four, Safety-
Wise. Chapter Four of Volunteer Essentials is produced by GSUSA and outlines necessary safety
requirements and standards for Girl Scouting. Each troop receives a copy in their troop welcome
kit. This document includes general safety information, as well as individual activity checkpoints
for volunteers. Your leadership team needs to provide different ways for adults to support your
troop. Not every adult can participate in a leadership role and membership should not be denied
on that basis. Leaders can offer behind-the-scenes opportunities for these adults at a level of
involvement that works for them.
7. It is important for the troop to have consistent rules, safety practices, and ways of working
together even if different adults are with the troop each meeting. A consistent format for the
meeting will help maintain the girls’ comfort level while they adjust to changing leadership.
5Steps to Organizing Co-Op Troops
All adults who will be involved in the co-op troop leadership team should meet, prior to working
with the girls, to organize troop responsibilities and discuss how the leadership team will work
together throughout the year.
Note: Before holding the first co-op troop leadership meeting, each interested adult should read
this booklet carefully.
At the first co-op troop leadership team meeting, review and complete the following information.
Share individual strengths, hobbies, education, skills, interests, and work schedules.
Ask what each adult wants for their girls in this troop and what they want for herself/himself.
(See page 7 for a list of suggested discussion questions)
Discuss the definitions and examples of shared group or cooperative leadership presented
in this booklet. Would each of them work well in your group? What other factors do you need
to consider? (See pages 8-11)
Identify your group’s leadership roles (i.e. who will be a coordinator and how will you
communicate).
Create a plan to cover necessary adult functions. Refer to the troop leader position
description to review all responsibilities. (See Appendix)
Decide on the day, time, frequency and meeting location of troop meetings. Create a
tentative year calendar of troop meetings and scheduled activities, taking into
consideration events the service unit has already planned. Pencil in as much information as
possible, including service-unit and council events. (See page 18 for a suggested form)
Create a list of names, addresses, e-mail addresses, home, work and cell phone numbers,
and other relevant information for all adults on the co-op troop leadership team. Your co-op
troop leadership team might also consider connecting through Facebook, text, or other
social media.
6Sample Adult Interest
Discussion Questions
It is helpful for each adult to think about these questions before coming to their first co-op troop
leadership team meeting.
1. What do you want out of Girl Scouting for your girl? For yourself? For all girls?
2. What hobbies, abilities, or interests can you share with your troop?
3. What training, education, or skills do you have that might be helpful in the management of your
troop?
4. What time constraints, work schedules, or other commitments might interfere with your ability to
lead this troop?
5. What is your working style? Do you prefer to work alone or as a team? Do you like phone work,
paperwork, active games, etc.? (Different work styles can be challenging in a co-op troop
leadership team, so identifying your style is important.)
6. What times work best for your troop to meet?
Sample Troop Management Questions
1. How will decisions be made?
2. How and when will you communicate with each other? With other families/adults?
3. What times are you unavailable?
4. How will you handle last-minute changes?
5. How will you handle behavior issues?
6. How will you handle emergencies?
7. How will you handle troop money?
8. How will you handle registration and other paperwork?
9. How will you work with your own girls if they are in the troop?
7Suggested Co-Op Troop Adult Positions
(In addition to leadership)
Coordinator: Organizes planning meetings for adults and girls, attends service unit leaders’
meetings, receives council office mailings, communicates information, prepares copies of the
schedule, makes sure the troop kit or box of supplies changes hands at the right time, handles
Program Essentials chart, keeps the meeting records up to date, etc. Completes troop meeting
notes and minutes (see Other Helpful Suggestions at bottom of page).
Communications Coordinator: Prepares paperwork—newsletter to parents and other adults,
membership registrations, rosters, troop calendar. Helps girls write the newsletter and keep a
troop scrapbook. Creates and/or maintains the troop website (if applicable), and makes phone
calls/sends e-mails to families when needed (communication could be through Facebook, text,
or the troop website).
Financial Coordinator (Treasurer): Becomes familiar with council financial policies and
procedures, opens troop bank account, keeps signatures current, tracks financial records, helps
girls plan, budget and file financial records, and prepares annual financial report with May bank
statements and returns it to the service unit manager or treasurer by June 15.
Family Giving Chair: Assists service unit annual giving coordinator to implement the Family
Giving Campaign for River Valleys. This person is responsible for coordinating the campaign on
the troop level and communicating to everyone the importance of participating. (See Sample
Family Giving Appeal in the Appendix, page 23)
Product Program Manager: Attends product program training and handles everything
connected to the cookie sale, fall product sale, and any other troop money earning activities (i.e.
cookie booths). Communicates with the treasurer, coordinator, and other troop adults, as
necessary.
Program Coordinator: Records earned recognitions, arranges field trips, secures guests to visit
with the troop, takes care of permission slips, and handles any details connected with the
planned program. A program coordinator could be the person who plans the activities with the
girls for the group leaders to facilitate.
Transportation Coordinator: Manages all transportation for the girls and keeps a list of
volunteers who can drive to activities, when necessary.
Paperwork Coordinator: Keeps track of miscellaneous paperwork for the troop (field trip
permission slips, healthy history forms, etc.).
Other Helpful Suggestions: To keep communication open, start a notebook of meeting notes or
minutes. Use either a form that can be filled in or an empty notebook with space for all meeting
plans and reports. Notes regarding group management or individual behavior problems are also
helpful. Be sure to note only what will be helpful to the person leading the next meeting. (See
pages 19-20 for examples.)
8Co-Op Troop Models
(Refer to page 4 for leadership terms)
The following are examples of how co-op troops have worked. Your co-op troop may choose to
model your leadership style after one of these samples, or you may create a different model.
MODEL # 1
This Girl Scout Junior troop has 14 girls and 14 active
adults. The adults are organized into four teams, or
work groups, of three or four people each. Each team
provides leadership for two months at a time.
Each leadership team has a primary adult who
functions as the leader during the time her/his team
is in charge. The coordinator of each team decides
who will be responsible for what tasks with their two
or three co-assistant leaders.
The co-op troop leadership team that will be next in MODEL #2
charge in the rotation attends a planning meeting
with the current team during the last two weeks of This Girl Scout Brownie troop has 11 girls and nine active
the two-month time span. They also attend adults. They have one primary adult who functions as
(separately or together) at least one troop meeting leader, and six assistant leaders.
during that time, so they can meet the girls and the
The six assistant leaders rotate being helpers on an
girls can meet them.
established schedule. The other two adults are
This particular troop does a good job of making sure committee members who share the troop product
that girl planning takes place. They also divided the 14 program manager responsibilities.
girls into teams of three or four. Each girl team
Even though this troop has just one coordinator, it is a
functions as an executive planning team or steering
co-op troop because all or most of the other adults are
committee, working and planning with the adult
involved.
team.
On field trips, overnights, and other extra program
The adults are careful to see that the girls’ steering
occasions, the coordinator recruits one or more of the
committee does not include the girls of the adult
assistant leaders to help.
team, thinking that it will be good for the girls to work
separately. All other adults are asked to attend a meeting every two
or three months to set up the schedule and to discuss
current troop issues.
The leader plans program with the girls.
9MODEL #3
This Girl Scout Daisy troop has nine girls and nine
active adults. The adults are organized into three
leadership teams of three adults each. One adult is
the leader for her/his group. The other two adults are
troop committee members who are not involved in
any planning. They simply show up for meetings to
help the leader with the planned activities.
The three adults who are leaders meet as needed to
plan programs and decide how to involve the girls in MODEL #4
simple decision making. Each team takes a month of
This Girl Scout Brownie troop has eight girls and eight
meetings at a time. The adults also plan an all-troop,
adults who are involved. The adults divided themselves
all-family get-together at the end of each three-
into four teams of leader and assistant leader. They
month rotation. Investiture, bridging, and other troop
trade off every month, and the upcoming team attends
celebrations take place at these family gatherings.
one troop meeting before their turn to try to keep a
continuity of program and group management.
All adults and girls participate in a Saturday potluck and
planning session at the beginning of the year where
they plan half the year’s programs. They schedule
another planning day to put the rest of the year
together and discuss summer outings. They will
probably reshuffle the team to take advantage of
outdoor skills and interests of a couple of the adults.
10MODEL #5
This Girl Scout Brownie troop has 10 girls and nine
involved adults who plan to each take a month of
troop meetings. Each adult is an assistant for the
preceding month’s leader, so there are always two
adults with the girls. Each adult’s commitment is two
months—one month as assistant leader and the next
month as leader.
This system provides continuity of group
management, rules, and programs with girl planning.
Each assistant works with the girls to plan the next
month’s program when she/he will be the leader.
MODEL #6
This Girl Scout Junior troop has 12 girls and 10
L1, L2 involved adults. All the adults are co-leaders and
L9, L1 they have paired off into leadership teams of two.
L2, L3
The girls are divided into two patrols who take turns
planning with the adults what they will do next in
L8, L9 terms of Journey activities, badges, field trips, and
L3, L4 service projects.
Each leadership team works for a month at a time.
L7, L8 When they first started, they visited the previous
L4, L5 team’s troop meeting for continuity of program and
management. Toward the end of the year, they no
L6, L7 longer needed to do this because they became
L5, L6 practiced at working together and with the girls.
Two of the adults are outdoor enthusiasts and takes
care of planning outdoor programs with the girls.
11Advantages of a Co-Op Troop
There are many advantages to Girl Scout troops organizing a co-op leadership team that will help
you stay flexible in ways that benefit all girls and adults involved.
• Busy adults can be Girl Scout leaders with less time commitment
• Diverse group of caring and interested adults broadens the girls’ experience
• Working as a team to plan activities builds good adult relationships
• Girls learn about teamwork by watching it work for their troop
• Personality conflicts can be minimized when more adults get involved in leadership
• Adults see their girls working well with others
• Adults develop relationships with other girls and get to know their girl’s friends
• Volunteers work in areas that make them most comfortable—either directly with girls or in a
supportive role
• Fewer problems pop up between leaders and their girls
• Many adults available to step in and help when one has problems
• Less adult burn-out
• Girls have more input with volunteers when it’s their turn to plan a meeting
12Suggestions for Successful Co-Op Troop Management
There are many things to consider when organizing your co-op troop. Below are a few tips to help
make this process easy and successful. Consider these suggestions during your co-op troop
planning and revisit them throughout the year to make sure your troop is on track.
• Communicate with your troop by designating a communications coordinator, creating a
troop newsletter, e-mailing families, and providing a notebook for all meeting minutes.
• Be sure to communicate the purpose of Girl Scouts to the co-op troop leadership team. Adult
volunteers need to be aware of service unit, River Valleys’, and all troop updates. Service Unit
leader meetings are a good way to receive the most up-to-date information about local
events and council happenings. Our girls are very important and deserve informed,
knowledgeable, and qualified leaders so that they can have the best possible
experience.
• Training helps leaders do their job, is a vital resource, and will make their Girl Scout experience
more enjoyable. Training also gives adults a solid information base to build upon. (See adult
development training sessions at http://www.girlscoutsrv.org/volunteer/training/)
• All leaders are faced with the same time-crunch dilemma. Brainstorm solutions with your
leadership group and be creative—Girl Scouting is flexible.
• Adults do not have the same group management and leadership skills. However, girls can
learn from these differences and will do well with a diverse group of adults leading their troop.
• Including girls in the planning process is essential to Girl Scouting and helps build
courage, confidence, and character. Using a Kaper chart will help with the girl/adult
responsibilities at each meeting and encourage more girl-led activities. Consider having
leaders and girls work together when it is their month to plan.
• The workload is seldom equal. If everyone does her/his assigned responsibilities, you can
accomplish your goal. Consider breaking up the workload at the beginning of the year and
adjusting duties as necessary. Flexibility is key.
• Teamwork can be difficult at times but the end result of your hard work makes Girl Scouts
an excellent experience for the girls.
• Quiet girls sometimes get lost during leadership changes. Make sure this doesn’t happen by
using meeting notes, phone calls, and regular leadership meetings to track individual girls and
make adjustments. Consider partnering up with girls who struggle with this for each meeting.
13Teaming Tips for Co-Op Leadership
In order to provide the best Girl Scout experience, your co-op troop leadership team needs to
provide consistent information and opportunities for the girls. When everyone is on the same
page—and working under the same assumptions—the leadership team will be able to focus on the
girls. Below are a few teaming tips to consider.
Everyone needs to …
1. Know and agree on the purpose, mission, goals, policies, and standards of Girl Scouting.
2. Know the who, what, where, why, when, and how of your troop’s organization and what
resources are available to accomplish their assigned responsibilities.
3. Know their role as part of the adult leadership team.
4. Know which decisions any one person should make, and which decisions need discussion
by the leadership team as a whole.
5. Learn and agree how to handle conflict appropriately and consistently, while modeling
these methods for the girls.
6. Keep communication open, and agree to respect differences and accept diverse work
styles.
7. Agree to seek help, when needed, from the rest of the leadership team to keep things
working well. You may need to review and adjust your co-op structure to make this
happen.
8. Be very careful about giving negative feedback to members of the leadership team and to
the girls. Positive reinforcement brings results. Take your responsibility as a role model
seriously, and remember that the girls will do what you do more than what you say.
9. Discuss expectations for group- and individual-behavior management so it is consistent
and there are no surprises about discipline of the girls. It is often helpful if you do not work
with your own girl.
10. Be aware of everyone else’s style and their personal approach to change and planning.
11. Plan evaluation meetings to assess progress, successes, and challenges.
Remember to celebrate success often. Girl Scouting should be fun for the adults, as well as
the girls.
14Appendix
1516
17
Co-Op Troop Worksheet Calendar
(Sample for Models 1, 2 and 4)
Use this chart to help you schedule the day, time, and frequency of troop meetings. You can also
use this chart to schedule who will be responsible for each week, and what activities your co-op
troop will focus on.
Month Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5
Example: Sue Allen-L Sue Allen-L Sue Allen-L Sue Allen-L Sue Allen-L
Robin-AL1 Paul-AL2 Erin-AL3 Maria-AL4 Lori-AL5
September
October
November
December
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
18Troop Meeting Log (Example 1)
DATE___________________________
ADULTS LEADING THIS MEETING:
_____________________________________PHONE_______________________E-MAIL____________________________
_____________________________________PHONE_______________________E-MAIL____________________________
_____________________________________PHONE_______________________E-MAIL____________________________
Outline of Meeting and Notes
Pre-activity:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Opening:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Business:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Planning:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Main activity:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Games and songs:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Materials used:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Closing:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Notable success:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Difficulties encountered and action taken:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Notes about girls:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Plans and materials needed for next meeting:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
19Troop Meeting Log (Example 2)
Laying out a troop meeting
Grade level __________________
Meeting goal __________________
Meeting length __________________
Time Step Description Supplies Who will lead
Start-up/Arrival
Opening
Business
Activity/Activities
Snack/Treat
Clean-up
Closing
20Service Unit Team Roster
Support Personnel Name Contact Information
Membership Specialist Phone:
(Council staff member) E-mail:
Co-Leader Phone:
E-mail:
Service Unit Manager Phone:
E-mail:
Phone:
Service Unit Organizer/Recruiter
E-mail:
Phone:
Service Unit Fast-Start Coach
E-mail:
Phone:
Service Unit Registrar
E-mail:
Service Unit Resource Phone:
Coordinator E-mail:
Service Unit Annual Giving Phone:
Coordinator E-mail:
Service Unit Product Program Phone:
Manager E-mail:
Service Unit Centennial Take Phone:
Action Project Coordinator E-mail:
Phone:
Service Unit Event Coordinator
E-mail:
Phone:
Service Unit Treasurer
E-mail:
Troop Fall Product Program Phone:
Manager E-mail:
Phone:
Troop Cookie Manager
E-mail:
Phone:
Troop First Aider
E-mail:
Phone:
Family Giving Troop Chair
E-mail:
2122
Sample Family Giving Appeal
Family Giving
Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to
build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. River Valleys serves
45,000 girls each year.
Many families provide support to our organization through participation as a troop leader, an involved
parent/guardian, Girl Scout Cookie Program Activity coach, and in numerous other ways. Thank you! River
Valleys could not achieve all of our service to girls without this needed assistance.
River Valleys also asks families to invest in their girl’s future and in the organization by making a
financial donation. The Family Giving Campaign is an opportunity for families of currently
registered girls to make a financial contribution to Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River
Valleys. Specifically, Family Giving dollars help to fund programs, volunteer resources, equipment
purchases, camp repairs, financial assistance to girls, and volunteer training.
Did you know that on average it costs more than $333 a year to support the educational leadership
programs and activities for one girl in our River Valleys council? The entire $12 membership fee goes
directly to Girl Scouts of the USA. Troop funds are used for troop events and activities. River Valleys
provides approximately $490,000 in financial assistance for girls and offers more than 1,100 council
sponsored programs and events. Donations go towards materials to enrich troops and service units, to
help maintain facilities, and to train over 17,000 volunteer adults.
Family Giving is just one of the fundraising initiatives implemented by River Valleys’ fund development
department to support the council. Other initiatives include gifts to the annual fund—from alumnae,
community members, board of directors, and council staff, grants from corporations and foundations,
funding from local United Ways, in-kind gifts, and planned giving. A healthy organization must diversify its
revenue sources rather than rely on one source of income. In addition, United Ways and many other
donors want to know that an organization’s membership also gives to the organization.
How can my family support the Family Giving Campaign?
Every donation counts.
You can give support in the following ways:
-Participate in your service unit’s event or activity to aid Family Giving.
-Donate online at www.girlscoutsrv.org or send in a donation with the Family Giving envelopes provided to
you.
-Check to see if you can double your gift through employer matching programs.
-Be aware of the “real” cost of what it takes to support a girl in our council.
-Be an advocate for Girl Scouts and the Family Giving efforts.
Thank you! If you have questions or want to become more involved, please call Stephanie Klenk, annual
giving officer, at 651-379-4773 or at stephanie.klenk@girlscoutsrv.org.
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