Required Leader Training

Each co-leader is required to take the following online trainings before holding a troop meeting:

• 281 Virginia Skyline New Leader Learning Path - Part 1

• 281 Virginia Skyline New Leader Learning Path - Part 2

• 281 GS 102 Finance Training

First Aid/CPR

Each troop is required to have at least one currently certified First Aider at every meeting and on any outing or trip. Some Medical professionals qualify as Level 2, see Volunteer Essentials for a list. American Red Cross and American Heart Association are usually good for two years. See Volunteer Essentials for a list of acceptable certifying organizations.

In the Charlottesville/Albemarle area, the Charlottesville/Albemarle Volunteer Rescue Squad often works with us to hold low-cost first aid and CPR training. Please contact them via the form at https://rescue1.org/cpr-classes/ or email cpr@rescue1.org.

Rallyhood

The Charlottessville/Albemarle Service Unit primarily uses Rallyhood to push notifications via email to leaders and parents. There are various "rallies" you can join based on your role and type of troop you have. First and foremost, be sure to join our Service Unit Rally, which provides information on local events, important announcements and more. Also join the GSVSC Member Connection Rally for council-wide announcements and opportunities.

Charlottesville/Albemarle Service Unit Facebook Page

Our service unit also has a private Facebook group where leaders and parents (and older girls) can share information and pictures and stories of our troops' great accomplishments! You can request to join at: www.facebook.com/groups/148866095300013.

GSVSC Council Facebook Page

The Girl Scouts of Virginia Skyline Facebook page shares lots of great council-wide information. You can follow them at: www.facebook.com/GSVSC.

GSVSC Member Connection E-Newsletter

The council releases an email newsletter twice monthly, and it often contains great resources and event information. Sign up to receive updates via email at www.gsvsc.org/en/our-council/news.html 

RECRUITING girls

Our Service Unit Recruiter or the council might have a list of girls just waiting for a troop to form, check with them first. GSVSC provides sample editable flyers for you to customize. You can send an invitation to girls in the grade if your school allows birthday party invitation distribution. With prior approval, our Recruiting team can flyer a city or county public school.

PARENT MEETING. Holding a successful parent meeting is an important step to starting a fun, active troop. Below are resources and forms you might find helpful. Feel free to customize the parent letter. Older girl troops can use the Daisy Parent Meeting plan as a starting point and adjust the activities to be more challenging for their girls.

PLEASE NOTE THESE SAMPLE PARENT LETTERS HAVE NOT BEEN UPDATED TO LATEST DUES OR UNIFORM COSTS

Daisy Parent Info Sheet (sample info letter and signup sheets) Use SignUp Genius for signups and let the website send your reminders for you!

Brownie Parent Info Sheet (sample info letter and signup sheets)

Junior Parent Info Sheet (sample info letter and signup sheets)

Daisy Parent's Letter, another handout example from Jennifer with lower initial dues

Daisy Intake Form, another way to collect info from Lisa. You could also make this a google form and collect electronically!

Starting Info Letter, another sample letter for parents from Lisa with a slightly different format

Where to get forms for the parent meeting?

Girl Registrations and Scholarship Forms - email info@gsvsc.org

Adult Registrations and Scholarship Forms - email info@gsvsc.org

How Can I Help Your Troop Forms for parents (in Troop Notebook)

Health History form 2072 http://www.gsvsc.org/forms/

Parent Permission Slip form 2134 http://www.gsvsc.org/forms/

Volunteer Application form online (for Co-Leader, Assistant Leader, Cookie Parent, Driver, Chaperon, First Aider, Treasurer, all parents that work with girls)

Intake Form, modify version attached for Daisies

Parent Letter, modify one of above versions

How do you keep track of all the forms having been turned in? Feel free to use the GS Form Collection tracking sheet created to help keep you organized, attached as excel file and pdf.

MONEY - Who pays for everything? How much should you collect? What does a year cost? The only funds a girl scout troop receives is what it collects from parents and profits from Candy/Nut sale (October) and Cookie Sale (January/February). You can ask for donations from businesses that you have a personal relationship with (refer to Volunteer Essentials), just make sure to send cash donations over $100 to GSVSC for return to your troop. 

Costs can be broken down into GSUSA/GSVSC membership, uniforms/badges, and troop dues. The troop dues would cover craft supplies, first aid kit, leader books, leader first aid training. In your first year, I recommend collecting money for any outings or focus on fun, free activities. Subsequent year outings could be paid for by cookie sale profits. Details on expenses for Daisy, Brownie, and Junior Troops are below, PLEASE CONFIRM UNIFORM COSTS AS THEY DO CHANGE. If your parents are not able to pay the approximate $95, you should collect some funds and sell Candy/Nuts to earn more money or you could opt to use a tshirt as your troop uniform and not buy the uniform components or badges to save money. GSVSC does provide need-based scholarships for the $32 GSUSA/GSVSC registration fee and if need justifies the basic uniform (tunic or sash) and a girl journey book. They do not cover insignia or earned badges; sometimes other parents in the troop are willing to contribute more to cover these costs.

FIRST FIVE MEETING SUGGESTIONS

Your first five meetings will involve:

    Getting parents involved

    Paperwork completed and money/scholarship forms collected

    Getting to know the girls and build a sense of team/sisterhood including Troop Rules

    Selecting a Journey for Brownie to Senior girls

    Exploring/Understanding the Girl Scout Promise and Girl Scout Law

    Having girls make decisions, plan, create decorations, and practice for the Investiture Ceremony

    Holding an Investiture Ceremony

Your First 6 Troop Meetings

Here's a new troop resource from GSVSC --- a step-by-step guide for the first six meetings of your Girl Scout Troop:

Daisy Troop First Six Meetings

Brownie Troop First Six Meetings

Junior Troop First Six Meetings

Planning Sheet for upcoming meetings - helps plan for months

Worksheet to Plan Meeting - create an agenda for one meeting

Daisy First Five Meetings plan

Brownie First Five Meetings plan

Some other helpful websites that have been recommended by other leaders!

http://troopleadermom.blogspot.com/

Each month during the school year, the Charlottesville/Albemarle service unit holds leader meetings from 7:00-8:00 pm on the second Wednesday of each month at Walker Upper Elementary cafeteria and also via Zoom. If you intend to attend the meeting by Zoom, registration is required. See the calendar of service unit meetings and the links to register for Zoom meetings on the Events page.