LEADER INFORMATION 

Leaders:  Please start compiling your hours you spent volunteering for Girl Scouts for the year of 2011.  This information will be compiled and will be put into the Cranberry Township's Annual Report.  Please submit all hours to Chris Bench, Service Area Manager.
There have been recent media reports related to GSUSA's stance on transgender youth (specifically, a Colorado council allowing a transgender youth to participate in Girl Scouts and a rebuttal to this decision posted on YouTube and picked up by the Huffington Post). Should you receive inquiries, below is a statement from GSUSA to assist in your response. Please let your regional  Director of Membership and Marketing know if you encounter questions or concerns related to this matter. As always, if you are approached by the media regarding a sensitive issue, please forward to Cori Begg at 412.594.2526 or cbegg@gswpa.org.  GSUSA Statement on Transgender Youth  Girl Scouts of the USA is an inclusive organization, and we welcome all girls in kindergarten through 12th grade as members. Acceptance of transgender youth is handled on a case-by-case basis, with the welfare and best interests of the child in question and the other members in the troop as the top priority.  What We Stand For Membership  Message:  Membership standards are established by the national organization.  Girl Scout membership is open to: ·         Any girl in grades K-12 who has made the Girl Scout Promise, accepts the Girl Scout Law, and pays annual membership dues. ·         Any adult who accepts the organization’s principles and beliefs and pays annual or lifetime membership dues.  Boys Research shows that girls benefit most from a program designed specifically for them and delivered in an all-girl setting. Boys have unique needs and interests as well, which are best addressed by an organization structured to meet their specific needs. Congress provided Girl Scouts of the United States of America with a Congressional Charter to develop a program uniquely for girls.  As a private membership association, Girl Scouts provides an organization for girls to obtain leadership and other skills.
Become an Adult Volunteer Facilitator   Have a positive impact on a girl’s experience with Girl Scouting!  Become an adult volunteer facilitator. It is a rewarding position that gives our volunteers the opportunity to educate others in areas that will enhance their own abilities and skills. Do you have a special talent to share with other adults?  Contact Carmen Toothman, Adult Volunteer Learning Specialist at 1-800-248-3355 ext. 1117. Update: Volunteer Application Process There are more than 6,000 Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania (GSWPA) volunteers who run troops, facilitate learning opportunities and make a difference in girls’ lives. The safety of Girl Scouts is of the utmost importance, so GSWPA will be notifying current volunteers to update their criminal background check records (occurs every 3 years). Volunteers will be notified directly by email or mail. There’s no need to contact GSWPA. We appreciate the cooperation of our volunteers during this period and we continue to value, and thank them for all their efforts.
CLARIFICATION ON GIRL SCOUT VOLUNTEERS AND PAPERWORK NECESSARY!  Look for all forms under the leader section 1.)    Any adult that registers (pays $12.00 registration or membership dues) is only a member of GSUSA.  Just because they register that does NOT make them a volunteer it makes them a member and they are insured by GSUSA nothing else. 2.)    A Girl Scout volunteer is some one who is supervising girls, handling money, handling product sales, acting as a driver, chaperone or first aider. a.       Therefore cookie moms must become a Girl Scout Volunteer. b.      There is a chart in your Volunteer Essentials manual on page 105 outline who should complete a volunteer application. 3.)    In order to become a Girl Scout Volunteer you must complete the volunteer application process, This process is outline on page 104 of your Volunteer Essentials Manual!  a.       Part of this process requires the participant (cookie mom) to be interviewed.  You will not become a volunteer unless you are interviewed. b.      Volunteers must be members! 4.)    Once a participant is cleared, then they become a Volunteer and they complete the volunteer agreement.   “Grandfathered” volunteers, are now a thing of the past.  Your three years are up, if you are told by a staff member you need to complete the application process, you should do so.  The Application process has been around since we merged which included the interview.  In the beginning the interview was not as formal as it has become.  As of last year it is required that the interview be filed with the application for every volunteer in the Volunteer Development Department.  Leaders and Assistant Leaders should be interviewed by the Coach, Service Unit Manager or your Membership Staff (preferably, In that particular order, unless you are recruited by the membership staff). Troop committee members need to interviewed by the Troop Leader.  They are your volunteers, and they help you with the troop, they are the cookie moms, magnut moms, chaperone, drivers, treasurers, extra hands at meetings, substitute leaders, etc.  You need to interview them to see how they can best help you and if you can work with them
Leaders....ARE YOU LOOKING FOR FREE  THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR GIRLS?? Don't worry!  Check out RADical Days...this website  gives you  all dates for free events around the Pittsburgh area!	100th Anniversary Celebration Promotion GSWPA is running a special promotion in preparation for our 100th Anniversary Celebration.  If you attend any or all of the seven events listed below and wear your 100th Anniversary Pin you will be entered into a drawing.  The prize will be a 100th Anniversary commemorative item.  You can enter one time for each event that you attend and wear your pin to.  Each of the winners will then qualify for the "grand" prize drawing--- 1 night lodging at the Grand Celebration event in August. Events where you can qualify are: -Kick Off’s    -Fall Town Halls    -Fall Enrichments  -Cookie Trainings   -Spring Town Halls   -Annual Meeting -MagNut Trainings Don't have a 100th Anniversary Pin?  The shop will have items available at your Kick-off Event!
GENERAL TROOP FORMS	TROOP VOLUNTEER RELATED FORMS
Emergency Procedures Sample Troop Attendance Record Troop Committee Roster Star Troop - Cranberry Area Specific Membership Update Form Sample Permission Form Scouting Web - Troop Resource Volunteer Essentials Leader 101 Safety Activity Checkpoints Donations to Troops - Guidelines Inventory Sheet - Inventory List of Girl Scout shed Trip Camping & High Risk Activity Application Updated Equipment Rental Reservation Form Adult Health History Form Girl Scout Health History Form	Adult Nomination Form for Outstanding/Leader Award Adult Letters of Endorsement (need 2 letters with nomination form) Volunteer Position Training Requirements Chart- Page 1 Volunteer Position Training Requirements Chart - Page 2 Interview Form - leader must give interview to any new registered member of troop Annual Volunteer Agreement - must be filled out annually; leaders, co-leaders, assistant leaders, product sales volunteers Volunteer Application       and    Disclosure Form - to redo background check every 3 years or new memberVolunteer
COUNCIL RESOURCES     GSWPA Staff Directory       Did you know that you can be tax exempt when purchasing supplies for your Girl Scout Troop or events?  Make sure to carry the tax exempt form with you to any store.  Some stores, you may be able to request online.  See links below. PA Tax Exempt Form - this is password protected, please email if you do not know the password. Stores to sign up for tax exempt status online: http://joann.com/VIP   See Volunteer Support Opportunities or look on www.gswpa.org for all current and upcoming trainings!   Want a peek at the new Girl's Guides to Girl Scouting?  Click here to see more!