FequentlyAskedQuestions

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. WHAT IS THE STRUCTURE OF GIRL SCOUTING?

a. World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS): This is the international organization we all belong to.
b. Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA): This is the national organization. They set the national policy and support the councils.
c. Councils: We belong to Totem Girl Scout Council, which serves 10 counties in Western Washington.
d. Associations: The regional orgranizations that serve as a voice of the membership to council.
e. Service Unit: The service unit is composed of troops/groups and individual girl members in a specific. geographical area. The service unit is made up of the service team which provides support to the individual leaders and troops.
f. The Troop: A troop is made up of at least 5 girls and 2 adults.

2. DOES THE TROOP PURCHASE THE TRY-IT'S, BADGES OR INTEREST PROJECTS?

This is an individual troop decision. Some troops purchase all the recognitions earned by the girls, which some have the girls reimburse the troop for the recognitions they earned outside the troop. This is something you and your troop needs to decide at the beginning of the year when deciding on troop policy.

3. WHY WEEKLY DUES AND HOW MUCH?

Weekly dues help fund your troop. Cookie money alone does not cover all the troops annual expenses. The amount each girl pays on a weekly basis varies from troop to troop, with most troops charging $1.00 a week. This is something you did to decided with your troop when you set troop policy at the beginning of the year.

4. WHO PAYS FOR THE EVENT PATCHES THE TROOP OR PARTICIPANT?

This depends on if the troop decides to pay for an event out of troop funds or have each participate pay. The event patch is usually included in the event fees.

5. DO ALL THE GIRLS NEED THE HANDBOOK AND TRY-IT, BADGE, OR INTEREST PROJECT BOOK?

The handbook can be optional for Daisy's and Brownies. The leader should have a copy and can make copies of any pages as needed. Juniors and above need to have their own copy of the handbook since many of the badges or Interest Projects refer to pages in the handbook.

Every girl should have their own copy of the Try-It, Badge, or Interest Project Book since the girls can work on the recognitions on their own. Many activities the girls do at school or at home can be applied to Try-It's, Badges, or Interest Project.