Volunteer Essentials

When girls are marketing online, remind them to always use a troop email address (such as troop457@ yahoo.com), an adult’s personal email address or a blind address. In addition, be sure to discuss with girls the need to treat customer email addresses from current and past years—as well as phone numbers, Facebook accounts and mail addresses—with respect; they are private and must be kept so. Using Social Networks A girl or troop of girls over the age of 13 may work in partnership with an adult, using the adult’s social networking site (such as Facebook and Twitter), to promote Girl Scout Cookies, candy, nuts and magazine subscriptions online. Social networking sites are fun, fast ways to get out an urgent message, such as “It’s Girl Scout Cookie time!” Posting or tweeting such a message will get the attention of friends and family. Before girls use social networks as a marketing tool, keep the following in mind: • Girls must have parental permission to use social networks • Girls must meet age limits set by the provider, which is 13 and above in most cases, as per the United States Child Online Privacy and Protection Act and the Child Online Protection Act • Always have a parent’s or guardian’s permission when using pictures of girls (Media Permission is included on the Annual Permission Form) • Any use of online video sharing sites (such as YouTube), when the video is representing Girl Scouts or Girl Scout products, must follow specific requirements for that site, as well as Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri guidelines. Girl Scout photo release forms must also be signed by parents/guardians and any adult’s picture Insurance Certificates of Insurance (COI) A Certificate of Insurance is a form that identifies how much insurance coverage the holder possesses. GSEM is obligated to ensure, to the extent reasonably possible, that any external entities, such as vendors, program providers/collaborators, organizations, companies, sites or facilities used are safe. One measure of safety is evidence of adequate insurance coverage. When planning something on behalf of GSEM, such as a troop meeting or district/neighborhood event, you should obtain a COI from any involved external entities. A COI is required from all external entities used on behalf of GSEM, including non-residential troop meeting places. However, you do not need to request a COI for sites and facilities owned by GSEM or external entities who have already provided GSEM evidence of acceptable insurance coverage. You can find a database of these external entities at girlscoutsem.org > Volunteer > Volunteer Resources > Insurance. If you have any questions regarding COIs or whether a COI is needed, please contact your Volunteer Support Coordinator. Insurance, Contracts, Releases of Liability and Hold Harmless

If an external entity requires the signing of a Hold Harmless Agreement, please provide an unsigned copy to your Volunteer Support Coordinator for review by the appropriate Council staff.

Safety-Wise 69