GSEM Volunteer Essentials

If you’re ready for more opportunities, be sure to let your council support team know how you’d like to be a part of girls’ lives in the future—whether in the same position or in other, flexible ways. Are you ready to organize a series or event? Take a trip? Work with girls at camp? Work with a troop of girls as a yearlong volunteer? Share your skills at a council office, working behind the scenes? The possibilities are endless and can be tailored to fit your skills and interests. Volunteer Roles Any adult working directly with girls in any capacity, including helping at troop meetings, driving on field trips, handling troop funds or attending a cookie booth, must be approved, background checked and registered as a troop volunteer. Because volunteers serve in a variety of roles, with varying levels of interaction with and responsibility for girls, Eastern Missouri has created different categories of volunteers, with different requirements for participation. Traditional volunteers can participate in any Girl Scout activity, be responsible for funds and be responsible for the children of other adults. These volunteers must be a registered adult member, follow and uphold all GSUSA and Eastern Missouri policies, standards and procedures, be committed to speak and act in a manner consistent with the Girl Scout Mission, Promise and Law and successfully complete a background check. Episodic volunteers include temporary advisors or consultants, are those who participate in specific Girl Scout activities and may have restrictions placed on their participation (e.g., cannot handle money). These volunteers can only be responsible for the children of other adults while under the direction of a traditional volunteer or staff person. They may or may not register as a member of GSUSA and pay membership dues and are usually not required to complete a background check. Council reserves the right to require a background check from episodic volunteers at its discretion.

Troop Leadership Roles

Troop Leader

Troop leaders are the primary leader of girls. They plan and guide regularly scheduled troop meetings, organize activities outside of the regular meeting place and oversee troop administrative duties.

Troop Assistant Leader Troop assistant leaders assist the troop leaders by supporting troop activities or by handling specific tasks as needed. Troop Support Volunteer Troop volunteers include any registered adult who helps

a troop regularly and/or has regular contact with the girls and may intentionally or unintentionally be left alone with girls, will transport girls other than their own or will handle troop funds (including supervising Girl Scout Cookie booths). When a troop participates in a Council Product Program, like Treats & Reads or Cookie Program, it is recommended that one registered, background checked and approved adult, other than the leader, manage Product Program sales for the troop. These roles entail attending training,

Troop Treats & Reads Manager and Troop Cookie Manager