2024–2025 Service Area Teams
The Service Team is made up of volunteers who support troops and leaders and help build a strong Girl Scout program in their local area. In this packet, we hope to provide you with helpful information to guide the work of your team. Your Membership Engagement staff is the primary council liaison for Service Teams and can help with any questions or planning needs.
GSUSA Service Team Trainings
Want more information on strengthening your service team? Check out these great courses on GSLearn, just for service team members.
• GSUSA Service Unit Training: Developing and Growing the SU Team
• GSUSA Service Unit Training: Effective Meetings
• GSUSA Service Unit Training: Goal Setting & Planning
• GSUSA Who is the recruiter?
Service Area Team Duties
r Recruit new youth members and volunteers and form new troops by building Girl Scout awareness within your community.
The only way to keep Girl Scouts going strong throughout our Council is to continue to welcome new youth members and volunteers! Our Service Team members know the families and organizations within their communities personally and are our best resources for finding ways to spread the word! Our service teams work with their Council staff person to coordinate local recruitment efforts and implement grassroots marketing efforts in their local communities.
Example Service Area Recruitment and Awareness Building activities:
• Inviting friends and family to join
• Putting up yard signs or posters in high traffic locations
• Hosting a bring-a-friend event
• Distributing flyers in grocery bags or through local businesses
• Sharing Girl Scout membership or volunteerism information on local websites/social media pages, newsletters, and church bulletins
• Organizing a parade float or walking unit
• Staffing a Girl Scout booth or activity at school and community events, festivals, county fairs, etc.
• Creating a display at a public library
r Provide program opportunities for youth.
Service Teams organize program events where local troops of all ages can gather to participate in experiences beyond their own troop. Typical examples of Service Area events include cookie rallies, Bridging ceremonies, camporees, celebrations, service projects, or working with local partners on outings such as roller skating, swimming, or YMCA overnights.
Want to host an event with less stress? Many of our service areas came up with creative ideas for fun, easy events!
Here are some of the great examples they shared:
• Partner with a business or community organization, such as nature centers or museums. They can do the program for you!
• Ask an older Girl Scout troop to plan an event as a fundraiser for their troop. They can do the organizing!
• Host a science fair, art show, or talent show. The girls can do their own programming!
• Keep it simple. Outdoor movies, hiking trips, and outdoor game days don’t require much preparation!
• Work with school or community groups, like drama clubs or cheer groups. They will often run a program as a fundraiser.
Whatever types of programming your area offers, know that our staff is here to support you as you plan your events.
As always, many resources for planning Service Area programs can be found on the Service Area Resources page of our website.
General Event Planning Help
Service Area Event Planning Guide: learn the mechanics of event planning. https://vc.gsnwgl.org/service-areas/ planning-events-for-girls/
Service Area Event Support: Need Event Support? Reach out to the program dept. at program@gsnwgl.org we are happy to help!
Service Area Event Ideas
Education & Leadership Cookie Rally Science Fair Career Fair Service Projects
Outdoor Day Camp or Overnight Camp Night Hike Campfire Sing-aLong Outdoor Art Day
Just for Fun Dances Swimming, Bowling, or Skating Outdoor Movies Parades Girl Scout Traditions Bridging World Thinking Day Badge Days
Health & Safety
When planning Service Area activities, always keep health and safety top of mind and always follow Girl Scout Safety Activity Checkpoints.
r Support and Enhance the Adult Volunteer Experience
Service Team members can be great mentors for new leaders, as well as provide local opportunities for training, networking, and appreciation events for volunteers!
Examples of volunteer support activities provided by Service Teams:
• Host local enrichment trainings for volunteers, such as outdoor education, CPR, lifeguarding and networking/idea sharing sessions.
• Provide Girl Scout books or troop start up supplies to new leaders
• Create a mentoring program to match new troop leaders with experienced volunteers.
• Host a robust service area social Facebook page, where ideas are shared, questions answered, and local opportunities are posted.
• Plan and implement fun, interactive service area leader meetings.
• Identify exceptional volunteers within the service area and nominate them for council recognition. Awards include Volunteer of Excellence, Appreciation Pin, Honor Pin, Thanks Badge I & II. Criteria can be found in the awards and honors section of our website.
• Offer volunteer appreciation and social activities such as a year-end leader dinner or celebration.
r Service Area Volunteer Positions
Service Teams have a variety of volunteer roles, developed to meet the needs of the local area. Because the size, geography, and needs of each Service Area differ, the volunteer structure of each team varies. Below, you will find a list of the most common Service Team roles. Some Service Areas have multiple volunteers in each role to help share duties.
The Service Area Manager leads the Service Team, facilitates leader meetings, helps evaluate the needs of the local Girl Scout community and works with the team to help meet those needs. They also work closely with GSNWGL staff to ensure that the council and local service area are collaborating effectively.
The Service Area Secretary sends out information about upcoming leader meetings and events, takes minutes during meetings, sends out meeting notes, and updates social media pages.
The Service Area Treasurer manages the Service Area bank account, keeps records of expenses and revenue, and shares this information with members.
The School Coordinator (usually one per school) is the contact person within each school. They can work with school staff to distribute flyers, helps set up recruitment events at the school, and keeps the Council staff informed about upcoming school events that we could get involved in.
Event Planners plan larger events for girls in the Service Area to attend. Examples could include community service projects, Bridging ceremonies, roller skating parties, career days, bring-a-friend events, parent-child dances, summer day camps, and more.
The Fall Product Coordinator organizes fall product orders, distribution, and recognitions within the Service Area and trains leaders on the program.
The Service Area Cookie Manager organizes cookie orders, distribution, and recognitions within the Service Area, and facilitates cookie training for leaders.
Looking for more information on Service Team roles? Ask your staff person for our Service Team slide decks. We have resources for Service Area Managers, Event Planners, Treasurers, and General Team Members.
r Service Area Funds Management
Each year, service areas receive two allocation payments from the Council. Service Areas can also raise funds through program events or other approved fundraisers.
Examples of Service Area expenditures:
• Cover the expenses of Service Area program events so they can be very inexpensive or free!
• Cover service area event fees, troop numbers or additional insignia for Girl Scouts with financial needs.
• Provide start-up funds, books, or supplies for new troops.
• Buy display boards or other recruitment material for use at school/community recruitments.
• Fund thank you gifts and volunteer appreciation activities for leaders
• Provide snacks/food for Service Area meetings.
• Help fund community service projects.
• Provide incentives for troops that reach special achievements, such as those that add Girl Scouts, help with events, register early, etc.
• Offer training opportunities for volunteers.
• Provide gifts for graduating 12th grade members or Gold Award recipients.
• Offer Service Area patch programs.
Questions to consider:
• How will your Service Area use funds this year?
• What needs and opportunities exist within the Service Area? How can you use your funds to address the needs?
r Leader Meetings
Leader meetings are an important way for our volunteers to stay informed, network, and get new ideas!
In most service areas, Council staff will work with the service teams to co-host local Service Area meetings in August, October, January, and April. In other months, we will provide resources for Service Teams who would like to hold optional meetings focusing on leader idea sharing, training, and local business. (Please note that every Service Area is unique, so please talk to your staff and service team members to collaborate on your area’s specific schedule.)
These local meetings are a great way for volunteers to connect, share ideas, offer trainings and plan local initiatives and activities. Please note that the August leader meetings will be kick-off events and will include fall product training, while the January meeting will include cookie program training.
Expenses: After creating a yearly plan of work, Service Team members develop an annual budget to support the activities they wish to offer. Council staff can help with planning and budgeting. Just ask!
Here is an example of a typical service area budget, showing the percentage of funds they plan to spend in each category:
• Program services: 40%
This includes expenses for providing program opportunities for girls, including supplies, facility rentals and extra activity insurance.
• Volunteer development and recognition: 20%
This would include items such as leader meeting materials, training fees, appreciation gifts, year end volunteer celebrations, etc.
• Assistance to individuals: 15%
This includes support for individual Girl Scouts or troops with financial needs to attend service area events or additional insignia or troop numbers. Note: Financial Assistance for memberships, basic uniforms, and council programs are funded by GSNWGL.
• Resources: 10%
This may include things such as a zoom meeting subscriptions or equipment/supplies for use by troops within the service area.
• Start-up resources for new troops: 10%
This provides a one-time startup gift of money or materials for new troops. Troops are not expected to reimburse the service area.
• Administration: 5%
This includes expenses for administrative costs including photocopies, paper, postage, and meeting place rental fees.
