BECOMING A LEADER
Council Policies and Procedures
National Policies and Guidelines
Review & Questions
Receive the Volunteer Interest Packet from a School or Neighborhood Organizer.
Send completed Leader Application Form to Neighborhood Chair in the provided pre-addressed envelope.
When the Neighborhood Chair has received your completed application and references, she/he will determine if a phone interview is necessary. Your application will then be sent on to the Council Office for a background check.
When the background check is completed, the Neighborhood Chair will make the final decision on approval.
You will be notified as soon as all these steps have been completed!
To help you find success as a Leader and to make sure you have a firm understanding of the Girl Scout program, our council requires 2 trainings for New Leaders, in addition to this Orientation:
New Leader Basics
Program Age Level (Daisy, Brownie, Junior...)
Other trainings are recommended during your time as a Girl Scout Leader. They include:
First Aid/CPR
Go Outdoors!
Basic Outdoor Skills
Other educational opportunities to enhance your leadership skills.
Note: Upon completion of a certain number of trainings, you are eligible to receive your Leadership Development Pin!
Your Girl Scout Troop is one of approximately 60 troops that are part of the Aloha Aikane/13-1 Neighborhood. Our Neighborhood is part of Girl Scouts - Columbia River Council. Our council is one of over 300 that are part of the National organization, Girl Scouts of the USA. Note: Girl Scouts of the USA is a member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS).
Our Neighborhood offers a variety of fun and educational events! It takes help from everyone in the Neighborhood to insure that these events take place!
Each Troop in our Neighborhood pays yearly dues to the Neighborhood. These dues pay for mailings (3x yearly Parent Newsletter), photocopies, website, some supplies and other needed items. The dues for this year are $10, payable starting at the first Leader Meeting in September. Neighborhood Dues must be paid to take part in Neighborhood events.
Our Neighborhood has an extensive website available to help you locate information and resources. Take our website's New Leader Tour for an overview of what the site has to offer!
All Girl Scout Neighborhoods have a Service Team that helps the Neighborhood operate. The volunteer team is responsible for many things including; Neighborhood finances, events, leader training and resources, Troop formation, disseminating council information, and conflict resolution. The Service Team is always open to, and encouraging of, leader and parent input, support and involvement.
Monthly Neighborhood Meetings are held for all troop leaders to receive information about or from GSUSA, Council and Neighborhood program activities. We require at least one adult representative from your troop to attend each meeting. This may be one or both leaders or a parent from your troop.
Meetings are held the third Thursday of each month at Murray Hills Christian Church 15050 SW Weir Rd, Beaverton from 6:30–7:30pm. Helpful workshops run from 6:30 to 7:00. Business begins at 7:00 with the goal of being done by 7:30. After the meeting there will be time for networking.
Neighborhood YahooGroup
Our Neighborhood communication tool. We require each troop to have at least one person subscribed this group. For girl safety, our group is unlisted and restricted to 13-1 Leaders/Volunteers. For more information about the group and how to join, follow this link.
New Leader Mentor
You are encouraged to request a Leader Mentor, an experienced Leader who makes herself available to answer questions a new Leader might have.
Program Consultants
Our Neighborhood has Program Consultants for each Program Age Level (Daisy, Brownie...). Feel free to ask them any question you might have about your age level. They are a wonderful resource!
Leader Meetings, Leader Meeting Workshops & Leader Lobby Web Page
Be sure to take advantage of these resources designed to help you! Don't forget the Age Level Help pages on the website!
Newsletters
Through the Neighborhood YahooGroup, you will receive a monthly newsletter a few days before each Leader Meeting with reminders and information you need. Be sure to look for it!
Our Neighborhood produces a Parent Newsletter 3 times a year. The goal of the newsletter is to help support our Leaders and to keep parents informed.
Council Emergency Information Card
Small pink card that lists Council numbers that you might need in an emergency. Keep this with you at all times when you are with your Troop.
Council Website
Visit the council website!
Council Events and Trainings - The G.R.E.A.T. Guide
Registration for G.R.E.A.T. Guide opens 3 times a year for upcoming events. If more Troops sign up for an event than there is room for, a lottery takes place for the open slots. You will also find Trainings you can register for in the Guide as well! For more information about registering for G.R.E.A.T. Guide events follow this link.
Council Publications
Look for our Council's publication for adults: Columbia River Collage. You can view a previous edition here.
Council Store
When you buy Girl Scout uniforms, handbooks, and supplies at the Girl Scout Store, our local programs benefit from the income. Free Postage & Handling for Badge Orders for Girl Scouts - Columbia River Council members. Shop by mail or in person.
Council Office
15171 SW Bangy Road
Phone Numbers: (503) 620-4567 -or- (800) 338-5248
Council Policies and Procedures
In your packet you will receive Girl Scouts - Columbia River Council Policies and Procedures for Volunteers. As it states on the first page, the manual is not meant to repeat National Policies and Procedures but to "adopt specific Policies to clarify those areas needed to be defined for local use". Be sure to review these Policies and Procedures
National Policies and Guidelines
- Leader's Digest Blue Book of Basic Documents 2000
A quick reference to those parts of the official documents, policies, and procedures of the Girl Scout organization that you need to know about in your role as a Girl Scout Leader.- Safety-Wise
Your resource book of guidelines for seeing that all activities are planned and carried out so as to safeguard the health, safety, and general well-being of the participants. You must adhere to the guidelines for activities and leadership in Safety-Wise. This book should be the first thing you check when planning any activity with your Troop.- Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect
An explanation of Oregon's Mandatory Reporting Law. Girl Scout leaders and adult volunteers are urged to report to the appropriate authorities if there is reasonable cause to conclude that a girl member is a victim of abuse.Questions??
No Questions? Then we're ready to move on!