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Service Unit Resources

Welcome service unit team members! Here you'll find important information and resources for your service unit team position and the operations of the service unit.

Table of Contents

Welcome and thank you, service unit manager and team,

On behalf of Girl Scouts of NE Kansas & NW Missouri, we would like to say thank you again for taking on your position. As a volunteer leader for your service unit, you have been appointed to your position because you have the qualities of leadership we are seeking and a special interest and commitment to the Girl Scout mission.

You are an invaluable extension of Girl Scouts and we thank you for generously giving your time to help make the world a better place for girls. Your commitment to serve girls and adult volunteers as a service unit team member enables troops to succeed and girls to experience a lifetime of leadership. Without you, none of this would be possible. Ultimately, we hope that this experience will be as rewarding for you as it is for the volunteers and girls we serve.

We understand and appreciate that this role you have taken on can be both rewarding and overwhelming, empowering and tiring, inspiring and challenging. We are so thankful for your commitment to Girl Scouts and hope that this space will provide the resources you need to continue to be successful. With the combined efforts of your council support staff, fellow service unit team members, and other volunteers with whom you work, you will make Girl Scouting a positive, enriching experience.

Thank you again for all that you do.

With Gratitude,
Service Unit Support Manager Team

 SUM Guide Table of Contents

What is a Service Unit?

A Girl Scout service unit is a community of girls and volunteers grouped together within a defined geographic area. The Service Unit Team is an essential local, volunteer-led support system that organizes trainings, meetings, events, girl programs and membership support for volunteers, girls and caregivers.  See an overview of our full council territory.

Service Unit Mission and Goals
Service Unit Positions

You can learn more about service team positions and access the current resources for each position below. After being appointed to a service team position, contact your service unit manager to register for training. 

Event Consultant

This training course will guide you through planning Service Unit Events and promoting the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. To schedule your training, please contact your membership manager.​

Opportunity Consultant
Recognition Chair

This course covers both service unit and council award opportunities for adult volunteers. You will see an overview of each award and the steps to submit nominations.

You will also see creative, informal ideas in recognizing volunteers all year long.

Questions? Email us or call (800) 728-8750.​

Download Recognition Guides:

Recruiter/School Liaison
Service Unit Manager

As a Service Unit Manager, you provide the link between council staff and front-line volunteers. Your position training will be conducted in person and include tools for you to build a successful team, run your meetings and plan for the year. To schedule your training, please contact your membership manager.​​

Troop Consultant
Welcome Specialist

This training course will guide you through onboarding new troop leaders and helping them promote the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. To schedule your training, please contact your membership manager.

Service Unit Communication & Recognition
Communicating with Your Volunteers

As a service unit team, it is important to maintain regular communication with all volunteers in your Service Unit to ensure everyone has access to information. To meet the various needs of your volunteers, please identify and utilize a primary and secondary form of communication.

Here are some commonly used communication methods:

  1. Text messaging
  2. Service Unit Facebook posts (see online guidelines)
  3. GroupMe, Band App, etc.
  4. Dedicated Service Unit Webpage
  5. Email
  6. Phone calls
  7. Short electronic newsletters/blogs

 Facilitating Communication

Service Unit Meetings

Here is a great document to capture important contact information and share with your leaders each year:

Training & Enrichment Activities

Service Unit Agenda Enrichment Topics
Be on the lookout for enrichment topics in your monthly Service Unit Agenda.

Pro-tip: These topics can be presented by your Troop Consultant or another team member during service unit meetings.

Guest Speakers
Work with your Service Unit Support Manager to invite guest speakers to your service unit meetings. Guest speakers can include experts in your community or council staff who can help enhance your programming.

Pro-tip: Encourage your troop leaders to provide suggestions for topics and speakers.

Day Camp Training
Training is offered to both new and returning day and twilight camp staff volunteers.

Product Program Training
Training is offered to the Service Unit Product Program Manager who supports troops in the service unit throughout the Cookie and Candy, Nuts & Magazine Programs. A service unit may assign multiple individuals for this role. Service Unit Product Program Managers will work with the staff Product Program team. Learn more now.

Opportunity Catalog Demo and VTK Demo

 

 

 

 

Recognition Ceremonies

Ceremonies help Girl Scouts mark special events throughout the year, such as bridging to another level, Court of Awards, or a flag ceremony.

Ceremonies can commemorate accomplishments or add something special to the beginning or end of a group's meeting. Girls can plan a ceremony around a theme, such as friendship or nature, and express themselves in words or song. Whatever its purpose, every Girl Scout ceremony helps girls share in Girl Scout history and traditions—and create their own special memories.

We encourage service units to incorporate adult and girl ceremonies into the Service Unit Calendar.

Service Unit Adult Recognition

Taking time to identify and recognize volunteers for a job well done is a vital step in maintaining volunteer engagement. By identifying those who exemplify exceptional service and publicly recognizing them, service units can further establish a culture of praise and gratitude.  See all the ways to recognize adult volunteers.

Volunteer Management Procedures
Banking for Service Units

All service unit, day camp and event account holders are still required to submit a finance report annually, due July 1.  This includes both BOA and non-BOA accounts.

  1. Complete the Service Unit Finance Form

 Banking for Service Units

Suggested Service Unit Templates

You might be interested in additional templates to use when communicating with your volunteers and troop leaders and we have provided some optional documents for your consideration (Microsoft Word documents).