Daisy Girl Scout Leaders

[cerberus]

I am SO frustrated right now! I did all the training and have emailed like a dozen times to no avail. Last I heard was two weeks ago that they had 17 girls interested and were going to get a co-leader for the troop and they would let me know something the following week.

Nothing. At this point I asked since they can't accommodate starting a new troop to find a troop for my daughter and that we would travel up to 20 miles. Zero. Nothing.

I am starting to thing there isn't so much a lack of volunteers but a lack of follow through on the GS's part.

I think we will investigate 4H at this point.

I am starting to think there isn't so much a lack of volunteers but a lack of follow through on the GS's part.

I think we will investigate 4H at this point.[/QUOTE]

Funny that you post this! Myself and another person at our meeting volunteered to be co-leaders and several other parents volunteered to help out that was in Sept. We just got an email a week ago saying that they were finishing up background checks and hoped to get us together at the end of Oct. So at this point nothing will happen until sometime in Nov. I am pretty much discouraged by the entire process and started looking at 4H today.
They were all gung-ho at the recruitment meeting, but now the whole process is annoyingly slow (at least from what they told us in the meeting).

 

[Suellen]

Oh... after I submitted my 'application' I had to call them about 10 times to find out what happens next. FINALLY they called my references and said I could go to the training. which I did and THEN after I was all set to go except the co-leader they added another training I now need to do.

I'm in no hurry at this point since they seem to be in no hurry to get us a co-leader OR other girls.

Besides which we are considering moving at this point and I might just not be interested anymore. I even bought all the leader stuff AND all the stuff for Mimi!

 

[runinggirl78]

Hi, I have some questions that maybe someone knows some answers! Our school was alow to get a troop started so I volunteered to be the leader.Just did my training and I am planning my parent meetign for the end of October. My girls are all in Kindergarten and we will meet 2 x's a month for 75 min. So my question is....how much should I ask for the parents for craft fees? We will do a snack schedule so that cuts it down a bit. Also, it is my understanding ww will earn the Promise center first and then the petals. When do I do the Investiture ceremony to give them their membership pins? First meeting or do I wait? I was thinking if we do it first meeting, we could make our ceremony/activity we could each make the daisy with the petals as our craft.

Also, my SU said to have the girls go to our shop ( its very close) and buy their smocks and whatever else I register us for. Do I register for the petals and have the parents buy them and send them to me to keep or do I buy them with our troop money? Lots of ?'s I know!!! I will take any and all advice!

Thanks!

Sarah

 

[Marshay]

Hey, guys! I finally finished copying everything I need for our first meeting with parents -- this Wednesday!! I'm really excited about it but ... when I sent out email asking girls to confirm -- nobody has responded. I did cc: my troop leader to make sure she got it and she did. Now I'm wondering, will anyone show up?

Anyway, she's in a troop with 12 other girls. We've had three meetings so far and I'm a bit concerned. I was wondering what you all do at your meetings? My leader seems to be more concerned about planning trips than anything else. Any thoughts/suggestions/advice for what I should do?

First, I'm sorry this is happening to you. I really would not expect the "I don't like kids" thing to come from a kid-organization, KWIM?

If you decide to stay in the troop, you may want to ask if you can do more of a leadership role with the girls. I would not expect the troop to do all kinds of actvities (we have 3-4 planned outside our meeting space and they do not cost any money). So if costs are getting to be too much, I think someone needs to say so.

Or else talk to the Service Unit manager and find out if there is another troop that is available.

You definitely should be doing more than coloring and planning trips.

As for craft fee -- remember unless someone is willing to donate supplies, all craft items must be bought. This includes scissors, tape, glue, crayons, markers, yarn, buttons, construction paper, paint, brushes, pencils, erasers, ... you get the idea. These items do add up really quickly.

We are making a special Daisy-rag doll and the material alone comes out to $6/person. and this doll only covers 2 meetings. So we are actually charging $22 for arts and crafts and if there is anything left over, we'll have a party with that money, do a spring activity or save for next year.

As a new leader, I really don't know how much we need.

I do know I already spend a fair amount of money on folders, paper, copying, large storage bins, etc that I won't get reimbursed for unless I take it out of the troop dues. I certainly consider that "supplies" but don't want to take it (yet) until we see how the rest of the year goes.

Anyway, I do wish you the best. GS should be fun for everyone and if your leaders are not leading, then I would consider other options.

 

[Marshay]

glad to find this

I went to a GS recruitment event at DD school,, little did I know it was for scouts to get involved but more so for moms to agree to lead,, the amount of spots they actually had for existing troops was nonexistent. So I agreed to colead a daisy troop with what I thought was 3 other moms, turns out it is 2 others but oh well,, we have 7 girls.
Now the perturbing part is the other 2 leaders got their training done way before me so they got together to plan things and never even gave me a thought in the equation, grrrr,, anywho they picked a time not that great for me. They planned out most of the extra events for the year and I hope planned the earning of the petals. I had to miss the 1st official meeting since I was at the training myself then.
They started working on the promise is all I know from what DH told me,, I am not getting much info from them which is really ticking me off,, if you want help great,, if not,, have at it.
Best I know we aren' t doing journeys this year.
Everyone was reponsible for getting their own tunics/vests.
They collected $10 seed money but I have no idea if they are doing dues? but I would think we need to cause that money will go fast. We aren't doing snacks at the meeting for the sake of time and are holding meetings at our local church.

UGH. Sounds like the other two leaders have really taken the lead and run with it. Maybe you can instead be a leader in a certain area. Like volunteer to be the cookie mom ... or volunteer to plan special events or take over 2-4 meetings, etc.

I wish you luck! Nothing worse than having someone who wants to be involved turned away or feel snubbed! They don't know what they are missing!

I'm a Spark leader (in Canada) which is the same age as Daisies. We have two units in our district, which sadly leads to small groups. Mine is only 3 girls, a fourth one showed up the first week and never came back . I just got the Leader Book so I'm excited to see exactly what the girls need for their "keepers" (badges).

Lisa: usually at our meeting we start with "opening" (songs) and then usually go on to a game, craft and finally a story along with snack. Depending on time we may do a closing, but usually we don't have time. Unfortunatly some units are more "active" than others. I don't think there's any harm in looking into other units in your area. And if someone asks why you switch, you can just tell them this current unit suits your daughter better.

We are two leaders, we met a couple of weeks ago to plan out until Christmas time. We usually plan a bit of each (ie: I tend to do the craft and game, while the other leader brings the snack and book) but it depends. I'm new to Spark and the other leaders been doing it forever, and I think she's looking for new and fresh ideas!

What's everyone planning for Halloween? We're going to make a "mud pie" (chocolate pudding and gummy worms), and I found a cute craft using a kleenex box. I'm thinking of doing some sort of "spooky" relay.

Our first meeting with parents is only this Wednesday, so we are skipping Halloween and going straight to learning about GS, along with the song(s), sign, handshake, quiet sign, promise and laws. Oh, and making a necklace out of beads with thier names on it.

I am SO frustrated right now! I did all the training and have emailed like a dozen times to no avail. Last I heard was two weeks ago that they had 17 girls interested and were going to get a co-leader for the troop and they would let me know something the following week.

Nothing. At this point I asked since they can't accommodate starting a new troop to find a troop for my daughter and that we would travel up to 20 miles. Zero. Nothing.

I am starting to thing there isn't so much a lack of volunteers but a lack of follow through on the GS's part.

I think we will investigate 4H at this point.

Oh, I'm sorry for this. I've found here in the capital region that they are pretty well organized but just busy. I went to our first service unit meeting (a requirement) and found out that we have 17 new leaders in our Unit! Most are Daisy level.

Oh... after I submitted my 'application' I had to call them about 10 times to find out what happens next. FINALLY they called my references and said I could go to the training. which I did and THEN after I was all set to go except the co-leader they added another training I now need to do.

I'm in no hurry at this point since they seem to be in no hurry to get us a co-leader OR other girls.

Besides which we are considering moving at this point and I might just not be interested anymore. I even bought all the leader stuff AND all the stuff for Mimi!

I'm sorry to hear this, too!

All I can offer is that in our area, all the GS Service Unit people are volunteers, too. Moms just like you and me. So they are busy with their real life, their own GS troop and trying to help the new leaders.

If we all are successful in starting our troops, just think, when we do this again next year, it'll be soooooo much easier!!

Hi, I have some questions that maybe someone knows some answers! Our school was alow to get a troop started so I volunteered to be the leader.Just did my training and I am planning my parent meetign for the end of October. My girls are all in Kindergarten and we will meet 2 x's a month for 75 min. So my question is....how much should I ask for the parents for craft fees? We will do a snack schedule so that cuts it down a bit. Also, it is my understanding ww will earn the Promise center first and then the petals. When do I do the Investiture ceremony to give them their membership pins? First meeting or do I wait? I was thinking if we do it first meeting, we could make our ceremony/activity we could each make the daisy with the petals as our craft.

Also, my SU said to have the girls go to our shop ( its very close) and buy their smocks and whatever else I register us for. Do I register for the petals and have the parents buy them and send them to me to keep or do I buy them with our troop money? Lots of ?'s I know!!! I will take any and all advice!

Thanks!

Sarah

We are charging $22 for arts & crafts but are planning to do more than maybe other troops (i.e., make a Daisy rag doll, make a gift to give to senior citizens, grow plants, bake muffins and put in individually decorated bags, make 5 foot paper icicles, etc)

We are doing a small investiture ceremony at the 2nd meeting and giving out uniform, membership pin and promise center to all who can say the promise.

I am volunteering to purchase all the uniforms and pins/patches. I have to get my daughter's anyway, so it's no problem to pick up more (once people pay). So I'll have all the Daisy petals and will just keep them for everyone and hand out as needed.

 

[runinggirl78]

So happy to ready through this thread!!! What is everyone doing for their first year Daisy Scouts? I am kind of torn between jsut concentrating on petals or doing the Journey Welcome Daisy Flower Garden where as my SU explained you can double dip for some patches/petals. Obviously we are getting a late start in the school year and my parent meetign is next week. Right now I just have 5 girls including DD. I would really liek to have my agenda of what we will concentrate on this year worked out. Really we will only have 14 meetings so Ihate to overwhelm them. I want it to be fun for everyone ( including the parents!)

I am so confused over this Journey series.

Sarah

 

[Marshay]

So happy to ready through this thread!!! What is everyone doing for their first year Daisy Scouts? I am kind of torn between jsut concentrating on petals or doing the Journey Welcome Daisy Flower Garden where as my SU explained you can double dip for some patches/petals. Obviously we are getting a late start in the school year and my parent meetign is next week. Right now I just have 5 girls including DD. I would really liek to have my agenda of what we will concentrate on this year worked out. Really we will only have 14 meetings so Ihate to overwhelm them. I want it to be fun for everyone ( including the parents!)

I am so confused over this Journey series.

Sarah

Skip the Journeys and save it for next year. Just concentrate on the petals. There are 11 all together and if you throw in 2 fun meetings plus the meeting to register everyone, you are at 14.

anyway, this is what we plan to do (just do the petals this year and then do a Journey book next year) and I have 18 meetings scheduled.

My parent meeting is Wednesday and I really don't know who will show up. 5 have said they are interested besides my daughter but no one will RSVP for the meeting.

I admit it makes me frustrated -- my co-leader and I are planning all these meetings and fun activities and no one can even do a simple thing like let me know if they are coming or changed their minds...

 

[mommy2princesses0309]

As for craft fee -- remember unless someone is willing to donate supplies, all craft items must be bought. This includes scissors, tape, glue, crayons, markers, yarn, buttons, construction paper, paint, brushes, pencils, erasers, ... you get the idea. These items do add up really quickly.

I understand that but as it is we are all expected to bring our own supplies on the weeks that it's our turn to "run" the meeting. there are no supplies being bought by the troop and kept at the site or used by the troop. Very often there are no scissors/glue/tape and they go borrow it from another troop.

I am seriously considering pulling her out - just to find another troop or start up fresh next year is the question.

 

[Marshay]

I understand that but as it is we are all expected to bring our own supplies on the weeks that it's our turn to "run" the meeting. there are no supplies being bought by the troop and kept at the site or used by the troop. Very often there are no scissors/glue/tape and they go borrow it from another troop.

I am seriously considering pulling her out - just to find another troop or start up fresh next year is the question.

As an alternative, it isn't too late to start your own troop, if you are so inclined. For us it took about 4 weeks from the time I decided to lead until our first meeting tomorrow. You'd still have all of next year -- could start the troop in December/January.

It seems like a lady who doesn't like kids' troop wouldn't be the best for your daughter (understatement!). I know I'd be frustrated.

Maybe talk to the SU manager for your area (go to your local girl scout website page or yellow pages for info). She may suggest some alternatives.

 

[kelann7]

I am also just concentrating on the petals this first year and will do the Journeys next year. We are only having 13 meetings for the year.

It sounds like councils vary in each region. Once I agreed to be the leader, we planned our parent meeting for the following week - I didn't have to wait. I went to training on a Monday, had the parent meeting on Tuesday and had my first meeting a week and 1/2 later. This is a school troop, so only children that attend this school are included. They gave me my troop number right away and didn't make me wait for the background check. They did contact my references, but they didn't stop me from doing anything in the meantime.

It does seem to me like there is a lot of work involved in getting ready for the first meeting, but then it all falls into place, especially if you are a planner like me and have most of the year already planned.

Thanks.

Kelly

 

[Familyof4lovesDW]

I just wondered if anyone else was doing nut sales? We got a little bit of a late start on it, but we wanted to earn some money for our troop. You can get a patch for just selling 5 items, so we made that the goal, since we only have a week to sell.

We are getting ready for our pizza party, so we can earn the pizza party patch.

When we have our garden party at the end of next month, we are handing out their garden patch and the center of the petal and whatever other petals they may earn by then (hopefully they will all have the promise down by then). We are letting them invite a parent, so they will be there to see them get their patches. We are having the girls bring their favorite dessert to bring down the cost for the troop funds.

 

[kelann7]

I just wondered if anyone else was doing nut sales? We got a little bit of a late start on it, but we wanted to earn some money for our troop. You can get a patch for just selling 5 items, so we made that the goal, since we only have a week to sell.

I was told that we couldn't participate in nut sales if we weren't registered by Sept 15th. We didn't have our parent meeting until September 21st, so no one was registered in time. I think I will do it next year to get money for the troop.

Kelly

 

[daisy2jae]

finally got the names of my troop so we can start! Can't wait to read through this thread for lots of ideas!

 

[skw444]

I just wondered if anyone else was doing nut sales? We got a little bit of a late start on it, but we wanted to earn some money for our troop. You can get a patch for just selling 5 items, so we made that the goal, since we only have a week to sell.

We participated in the nut sales and made $157 profit! This is a great start for our troop.

 

[Marshay]

Well I had my first GS meeting on Wednesday and we had two girls show up!
both girls registered and so did their moms. Although no one signed up to be Cookie Mom, they did volunteer to help chaperone some meetings and do some other work for us, so I'm pleased.

So we have 4 girls total in our troop. Technically, we need 5 to be official, but we are still allowed to continue and hope to pick up another girl in the coming weeks.

Neither parent batted an eye at the $90 cost and since I vounteered to pick up all the uniforms, patches, pins, etc, they were happy!

We'll have our Investiture Ceremony on Nov 3rd -- my co-leader and I decided to alternate months (2 meetings per month) on who would take the lead for each meeting. This way we don't have to feel like we are always "on" and can take a break from the planning/leading every other month.

 

[Marshay]

We participated in the nut sales and made $157 profit! This is a great start for our troop.

Awesome!!

 

[kelann7]

Well I had my first GS meeting on Wednesday and we had two girls show up!
both girls registered and so did their moms. Although no one signed up to be Cookie Mom, they did volunteer to help chaperone some meetings and do some other work for us, so I'm pleased.

So we have 4 girls total in our troop. Technically, we need 5 to be official, but we are still allowed to continue and hope to pick up another girl in the coming weeks.

I think there are some activities that actually would be easier with a small group. And with a small group, it may not be as necessary to have a Cookie Mom - I'm planning on handling cookies myself this year, since no one else volunteered to help, but I am not sure exactly what I'm getting into - it should be interesting.

Kelly

 

[Marshay]

I think there are some activities that actually would be easier with a small group. And with a small group, it may not be as necessary to have a Cookie Mom - I'm planning on handling cookies myself this year, since no one else volunteered to help, but I am not sure exactly what I'm getting into - it should be interesting.

Kelly

I know we have a training session to go to learn about selling cookies. However, I asked our SU if we could talk about cookies at our next monthly meeting and they will do so.

I'll share with you if anyone is interested. Mtg isn't until mid-November though...

 

[Marshay]

Oh, forgot to mention, our SU just added a new training session for Daisy Leaders -- yeah! So I'm going next month. I hope that's all the training I need for now (CPR, 1st Aid, GS on-line and Daisy Program Level). We aren't camping so no need for camp training yet!

 

[Familyof4lovesDW]

We participated in the nut sales and made $157 profit! This is a great start for our troop.

That is great! I am hoping maybe we make enough to help out our account and go bowling. There is a bowling patch that we can get.

We have our meetings weekly so we need to get some extra money to help with supplies. We try to do a craft and a snack that goes with our garden book chapter. We thought we could just earn the petals as we do the things in the journey.