Girl Scout Council's latest ruling...

[Girls Scout Leader]

Well ,the Girl Scout Council, in thier infinate wisdom has jsut announce to me that I am able to hold the previously rained out car wash THIS WEEKEND (today is thursday) or else we cannot do any other money earning activities until Jan. This is due to United Way's blackout dates and the cookie sale and delivery.after making us wait through July because of questionalbe money problems with the service unit (not my troop) so that meant that we cannot do any fundraising from July until January. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? WE cannot make the $$ we need for our trip in that short of time. I ahve panicky, teary girls who feel totally ripped off. We are still trying to get something in writing that says this that we should ahve had from the beginnign, but to all you knowlegeable people..

Any body have ideas about how to word the advertisements for a "non-troop" money erarning activity? Would something like:

Garage Sale: All Proceeds donated to Girl Scout Troop 237

Waht do you think? I would MUCH rather do this open and above board, but we tried. Any other ideas?

 

[Steve H.]

Wow, that's rough.

Sorry, I don't have any ideas, but is it possible to talk to your Travel Agent to see if you can get a refund of your deposit (just in case your troop isn't able to raise enough)?

 

[kidzmom3]

If you did that for a yard sale, would the council object? Is there any way you could borrow from another troop and pay back later? I don't know if that would be feasable. Would any other troop in your neighborhood be willing to fund raise for or with you? What about a massive cookie effort. You could do multiple cookie booths, go on large door to doors (with chaperones), visit local businesses. Speaking of local businesses, would any of them be willing to help sponser the girls, or are there any funds,grants that you could apply for?

 

[JeniC]

Garage Sale: All Proceeds donated to Girl Scout Troop 237

That is the appropriate wording. Then you can still do your fundraising without it being GSC "Approved"

 

[Cinders]

I'd have each of the girls have individual sales at their homes and make posterboards saying something like "Help me earn my way to Disney" or "All money from the sale goes into my GirlScout account" and have them sell lil extras like baked goods and drinks.

If you decide to just have one large sale be sure your troop treasurer understands the money is earmarked for that specific trip. And make sure all the girls participate....ones that dont help dont get a share of the profits.

 

[AirForceRocks]

I have to say that I rue the day my DD decided to become a Brownie (Jr. GS this coming year). It seems that there are constantly fundraisers for something, in addition to the overpriced cookies which yield next to nothing to the troop.

Good luck in making money for your trip - hopefully you can slide it past the Council.

 

[Girls Scout Leader]

No troop has that kind of dough...most have no more than $100. As far as a Massive Cookie Sale, at 48 cents per box, we need to sell 10,187 boxes. Our town, plus the neighboring one together, does not have that many people! The most my troop has made in the cookie sale is $250. Local Lion's club wil donate about $100. So, little by little we will make it. It's jsut so frustrating to have to resort to these tactics. What is it teaching the Girls? When the trip is over, I will be resigning. I have been a leader for almost 10 years and I'm tired of the problems. Too too many. It's overwelming.

 

[Kteacher]

How much do you have left to raise? It could still be do-able. First I would have a meeting with the parents- tell them you need to raise x amount of money for the trip still, and explain the restrictions of the council. Are parents already kicking in a certain amount of money towards the trip, or is the trip trying to fund the whole thing? You didn't mention cookie booth sales- we always make a lot of money during booth sales- are booth sale dates early enough in your area to work in your favor? The suggestions about the girls doing things on their own and then donating the proceeds to the troop are good ones. Please don't lose hope!! Pm me if you want!

 

[Kallison]

SCREW the GS Council, they are the biggest PITA"S!! Those cookies line the pockets of all the Mom's working there and the girls get next to nothing! Our troop refuses to break our butts doing booth sales to make them money. Actually I just sold baseball tickets for church, another boy scout troop and my DD's brownie troop. We made $1 per ticket and we did rather well. After I handed the leader the money she told me we are not allowed to do fundraisers -- well oops! I think the garage sale sounds fine. Can you do it without mentioning the G.S. Troop, just do it as a private group.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

GSC has turned their backs on the girls imho. You cannot get donations (Grocery, Walmart etc) because quote" they donate monies to our GSCGSL" OK fine...but you cannot raise money except for the crazy rules they have.
How is the HECK are people supposed to have a troop and do something???

We sold candy bars as a "group" but not under the our Girl Scout name. We had to raise money for the troop.

I quit after 6yrs. My younger dd has no leader and I do not want to be a leader because of the way the council has the rules set up. They have ruined Girl Scouting.

 

[CarolA]

Did you talk to the Executive Director or President directly? If so, then I think your next step is the GSUSA organization. I think a 6 month ban on troop fund raising is a little extreme and I am a lifelong Girl Scout. I went and looked at Safety Wise after your last message and some of the things you said did not seem in line. Yes, we can't sell products and no raffles (which has some valid points), but I could not see anything against recycleing for example and the United Way campaign is normally a month long strech so cutting you off in July seems way too early.

Do you know any other troops in your council in a simular situation? If so, band together and see what you can accomplish.

Also, I would apply for finanical aid. Yes, I know they are not going to give it to you, but.... sometimes it makes them think! Find out what the aide form is for your council and fill out one for each girl on the trip. Somewhere on there, be sure to note that the reason you want the council to pay is that they won't let you raise the funds. (I have been known to irrate the Heck out of my councils in the past! Sometimes you have to make them think oustide the box! LOL!)

SCREW the GS Council, they are the biggest PITA"S!! Those cookies line the pockets of all the Mom's working there and the girls get next to nothing! Our troop refuses to break our butts doing booth sales to make them money

This comment really offended me. The average professional Girl Scout makes a small salary compared to the salaries paid in the private market. (Trust me I know. There is a reason I never pursued a Girl Scout career!) Most of the women and men I know who work for the organizaton really do want to help the girls. Also, that money does provide other things for the girls. Most councils have Camps for the girls? How do you think those are funded. Most of the councils I have been involved with are very prudent with their funds. I will admit there are some exceptions, but they are exceptions not the rule.

My Brownie troop raised almost $400 in cookie sales this year. Granted we live in a much more populated area then Girl Scout Leader so I am not saying that she can, but the point is this is a good fund raiser for the girls. We did not push the sale hard at all. (Our original goal was only that all girls participate!)

 

[chinamom3]

Hi. A friend and myself started a Brownie troop for our first grade daughters last year. We have a total of 12 girls. Because the Council down here did not get new troops started until late September (we start school the first week of August), we did not get into any fall fundraising, and decided to do no cookie selling at all. Both we and he girls' parents decided we'd rather focus on public services, earning patches. etc. Anyway, we had about 7 girls' family businesses donate $50.00 each, $50 being the max that can be donated. This was quite enough to get us supplies, buy their patches, pins, and numbers, etc., because we also didn't want to nickle and dime the girls' parents to death. (Later on, at the end of the year, we found out that NOT selling cookies is really looked down on! But- we're going to let the parents decide again this year if they want to or not.) Anyway, would this donation by parents and perhaps businesses in the area be acceptable for the girls to go on their trip? It's amazing how asking for $50 seems to be such a little amount to businesses that are constantly asked to donate such larger amounts. And, you can always "pay them back" by doing the picture in the newspaper thing and stating businesses that helped send them on their way.

 

[minnieandmickey]

They never said that parents couldn't do fundraisers did they??? I would have the parents start doing it for their children, just explain what is going on.

 

[CarolA]

Personally I think it would be MUCH better for your Brownies to sell cookies then to ask businesses for donations. Part of being a Girl Scout is becoming self sufficent. Having YOU ask for money does not help them with that skill set.

I have been amazed with our Brownies the difference it makes when we talk about doing things. They really consider if something is worth "Their" money. My Brownies have also actively looked for ways to spend their cookie profits on people less fortunate then themselves. They did not do this when the money came from thier parents.

And selling cookies does support the rest of the organization. (Patch programs and other things that you are using!)

 

[MerryPoppins]

How about selling the things you would put into a garage sale on ebay? It's amazing what people will pay. You can say in your text that the proceeds are being donated to a GS troop for an upcoming trip.

 

[doxdogy]

I agree with the previous advice. Go above their heads to the national level. I was a Girl Scout leader many moons ago. I honestly don't remember any fundraising bans. That is just plain silly. How about help from the media? Take your plight to them, maybe they can help. If need be, go to a neighboring town and ask if you can hold fundraisers there.

 

[December99]

One thing you all need to be clear of is that the council's don't set these bans. They are set by the United Ways. If United Way gives funds to the council, they tell them when they can and can't sell in the respective communities. We have it here - and we are lucky if we get $1000 from UW when the boys get WAY much more - kinda stinks. Your council should be questioning United Way as to the time restraints. Don't you have magazine/nut sales also? I would think that would fall in this timeframe too so does that mean those sales are off now?

I agree with Carol - you need to speak with the Executive Director. Explain to her what you are striving for, how much is left to raise and find out what you can do.

DO NOT do any other fund raising and say where the proceeds are going to if you do it during the blackout. If your council or GSUSA find out that the money was stated it was going to the troop - they could ask for the money and go after the money. If you want to do a garage sale and say it's going toward a trip just say it's going toward an education group trip or something like that or tell the people in person - don't publicize it! You could get in a load of trouble. You can have the parents have a garage sale and after it's over they can donate the money to the troop but you have to see what your guidelines are of money being donated to the troop before it has to go to the council. We have a $200 limit. After that it cannot go to the troop. I'd hate to see them deny you your trip because you broke some rules and went around them. It's very important to make an appointment to talk with your Executive Director. You never know - if they see how hard these girls are working for this trip - they might offer some financial assistance. Heck - even $50 a girl would be better than nothing!

 

[JimB.]

GSL -

I feel your pain.

My DW is also a GS Leader, and the actions of our local council here at times just drive her freakin' bananas!!

From the troop level, it appears many times that the troops exist merely to serve "The Council" & not the other way around as it should be.

They have either forgotten what is was like to be a girl in scouting, have forgotten the challenges of being a GS Troop leader, or have never even BEEN in scouting and do not have much of a concept of the ideals of what scouting is.

Word to the wise - do no fund raising with the GS name attached to it without council approval. ABSOLUTELY do not SELL any PRODUCTS when using the GS name - it implies an endorsement of those products.

Just do what you need to do - Garage sales, Car washes, bake sales, whatever, without "doing it" as Girls Scouts.

My DW's troop just did a combination car/dog wash & did very well.

Another thing she has done is organize a troop day trip to local places, rented the WHOLE facility, & opened it up to the entire GS neighborhood, & also inviting Boy/Cub scouts & their families as well. They all pay HER in advance, not the facility, and she always manages to make a few $$ from this. Skating rinks, Putt-Putt courses, Movie theaters. water parks have all worked.

Good luck.

 

[gepetto]

Isn't there a less extravagent trip the girls could take that they would be happy with? A week at WDW along with a Disney cruise is quite expensive even if you can find a discount. Maybe if you found a more educational or service related trip, your council would work with you more. It might also make it easier for you to get donations.

 

[kidzmom3]

the girl scouts of america promote girl planning. I see nothing wrong with the trip, there are hundreds of troops that go to WDW every year. I hope the girls are able to make it, and if they can't I hope you can get a refund of the deposits.