Intro: We are Girl Scouts
... 1Our Mission and Vision ... 1
Girl Scout Promise & Law ... 1
Quick Start Guide
... 2Service Center Information ... 2
Our Camps ... 2
Property Reservations ... 3
Our Council Structure ... 3
Council Governance ... 5
Who Can Join Girl Scouts – and How?
... 7Girls at Every Grade Level ... 7
Council Membership Fee ... 7
Registering Online – Personify/E-Biz ... 7
Chapter 1: Girl Scout’s National
Programming
... 10Discover + Connect + Take Action = Leadership ... 10
The Three Processes ... 10
Flexible Ways to Participate ... 11
Finding a Troop ... 12
Participating as a Juliette ... 12
Girl Scout Traditions and Celebrations ... 12
The National Program Portfolio ... 13
Other Initiatives and Opportunities ... 16
Emblems and Patches ... 23
La Tienda – Your Council’s Shop ... 23
Highest Honor Awards ... 24
Chapter 2: Volunteering for Girl Scouts
27Understanding Your Role as a Girl Scout Volunteer . 27
Approved Adults – The Volunteer Application & GSNMT Background Check ... 28
Using Safety Activity Checkpoints ... 29
How Many Volunteers are Needed ... 31
Following the Girl Scout Safety Guidelines ... 32
Taking Advantage of Training Opportunities ... 33
Volunteer Recognitions ... 35
Chapter 3: All About Girl Scouts
... 37Arranging a Time and Place for Girl-Led Meetings ... 37
Understanding Healthy Development in Girls ... 37
Creating a Safe Space for Girls ... 41
Managing Conflict ... 42
Formal Grievance Process ... 42
When Sensitive Topics Come Up ... 45
Reporting Potential Abuse ... 46
Creating an Atmosphere of Acceptance & Inclusion 49
Chapter 4: Safety-Wise
... 51Girl Scout Activity Insurance ... 51
Providing Emergency Care ... 54
Media Policy ... 57
Online Safety – Social Media & Graphics Policies ... 57
Chapter 5: Managing Group Finances
... 59GSNMT Financial Policies and Procedures ... 59
Girl Scout Product Program ... 63
Additional Group Money-Earning Activities ... 69
Help Girls Reach Their Financial Goals ... 70
The Opportunity Fund ... 73
Chapter 6: The Troop Pathway
... 75Requirements for Becoming a Troop Leader ... 75
Steps for Getting Started ... 76
Chapter 7: The Travel Pathway
... 87Transporting Girls ... 87
Council Policy Framework as Approved by
the Board of Directors
... 96Girl Scouts was founded in 1912 by trailblazer Juliette Gordon Low. We are the largest girl-serving organization in the United States and a member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, a sisterhood of close to 10 million girls and adults in 145 countries.
Girl Scouts builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. We strive to be the premier leadership organization for girls, and experts on their growth and development.
On my honor, I will try:
To serve God* and my country, To help people at all times, And to live by the Girl Scout Law.
I will do my best to be
honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong,
and responsible for what I say and do,
and to
respect myself and others, respect authority,
use resources wisely,
make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout.
We are urban, rural, and suburban. We are in schools, churches, temples, mosques, public housing, foster homes, and detention centers. We are in virtually every zip code and in 90 countries around the world.
2.3 million girls 5 to 18 years of age 16,800 Girl Scouts overseas
888,000 adult volunteers 59 million alumnae
112 councils throughout the United States
At any given time, approximately 10 percent of girls are Girl Scouts, and it’s interesting to know that: 80 percent of women business owners were Girl Scouts.
69 percent of female U.S. Senators were Girl Scouts.
67 percent of female members of the House of Representatives were Girl Scouts. Virtually every female astronaut who has flown in space was a Girl Scout.
We have identified Three Keys to Leadership: girls themselves and their values; with others; and to make the world a better place. At Girl Scouts, everything centers around the girl: activities are girl-led, which gives the opportunity to learn by doing in a cooperative learning environment.
*Girl Scouts of the USA makes no attempt to define or interpret the word “God” in the Girl Scout Promise. It looks to individual members to establish for themselves the nature of their spiritual beliefs. When making the Girl Scout Promise, individuals may substitute wording appropriate to their own spiritual beliefs for the word “God.” Note:This disclaimer appears in the National Leadership Journey adult guides, but not in the girls’ books. It is included here as a reminder to you, as a volunteer, that it’s your responsibility to be sensitive to the spiritual beliefs of the girls in your group and to make sure that everyone in the group feels comfortable and included in Girl Scouting. Please feel free to share this information with girls’ families.
Girl Scouts of New Mexico Trails, Inc.
4000 Jefferson Plaza NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109 Tel: 505-343-1040; Fax: 505-343-1050
Hours of Operation: Monday-Thursday 8am-5pm; Fri 8am-Noon After-Hours Answering Service: 505-888-7220 (non-emergency) Website: www.NMGirlScouts.org
Twitter: Twitter.com/NMGirlScouts Facebook: Facebook.com/GSNMT
501 Commerce Way Ste 3 Clovis, NM 88101 Tel: 575-763-4475 2100 Cortland Drive Farmington, NM 87401 Tel: 505-728-1575 450 St. Michael’s Drive Santa Fe, NM 87508 505-983-6339
Did you know you can rent our camp for your family vacation or a family reunion? Both camps offer Family, Resident, and Troop camping sessions during camp season. In the off-season, both camps are available for rental by Girl Scouts and outside user groups alike. To rent a space at camp, call us at 505-343-1040 or email
Rancho del Chaparral
Ranger: Corkey GreenPhysical Address: 870 Forest Road 539 Cuba, NM 87013
Mailing Address: 4000 Jefferson Plaza NE Albuquerque, NM 87109 Web: www.NMGirlScouts.org/rancho.aspx
Camp Elliott Barker
Ranger: Michael Dean
Physical Address: 79 Westridge Road Angel Fire, NM 87710 Mailing Address: PO Box 626
Angel Fire, NM 87710 Web: www.NMGirlScouts.org/barker-1.aspx
This council has two camp locations and three service centers that offer a variety of group experiences. Our properties include:
Property Name Location Unique Features
Camp Elliott Barker Angel Fire, NM Horses, Canoeing, High/Low Ropes Course
Rancho del Chaparral Cuba, NM Horses, Covered Wagon & Hogan Sleeping Quarters Albuquerque Service Center Albuquerque, NM Full kitchen facilities, Backyard & Multiple Rooms Santa Fe Service Center Santa Fe, NM Full kitchen facilities, Large Group Room Clovis Service Center Clovis, NM Half kitchen facilities, Group Room
Our facilities can be used for all event types including, but not limited to: Troop Meetings
Service Unit Meetings Troop Events
Service Unit Events Camp Outings Family Reunions
Company Retreats Business Meetings Non-Girl Scout Groups may also rent our sites. For more information about property reservations, email us at [email protected] or call us at 505-343-1040.
The national office of Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) is located in New York City and employs roughly 300 employees. GSUSA is a member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS). Visit GSUSA online to find a wealth of resources for both girls and volunteers.
Global Girl Scouting ensures that girls have increased awareness about the world, cross-cultural learning
opportunities, and education on relevant global issues that may inspire them to take action to make the world a better place. Visit Global Girl Scouting online for additional information.
Since 1925, USA Girl Scouts Overseas (USAGSO), a division of Global Girl Scouting, has helped ease the transition for American families relocating overseas by offering the familiar traditions and exciting opportunities of Girl Scouting to girls abroad. USAGSO now serves thousands of American girls living overseas as well as girls attending American or international schools. Through Global Girl Scouting, members participate in World Thinking Day on February 22, visit the four WAGGGS world centers, participate in international travel, promote global friendships and understanding by supporting the Juliette Low World Friendship Fund, and take action on global issues.
Girl Scout councils are chartered by the national office to attract and retain members in a geographical area, provide ways for girls to participate in Girl Scouting, create an environment that reflects Girl Scout values and ideals, manage volunteers’ experience with Girl Scouting, and keep girls and volunteers as safe as possible. The national office provides support materials to all councils to ensure that the Girl Scout experience is nationally consistent. Girl Scouts of New Mexico Trails is a chartered council, and operates under its own 501c3 as an independent organization.
Girl Scouts of New Mexico Trails is a Service Unit-Centric Council. What does this mean? This means that no matter where you are located, throughout our great council, you have an experienced and dedicated team of volunteers in your backyard. They are there for local support, and we urge you to meet them as soon as possible. Each Service Unit is also paired with its own Regional Manager, the council staff member who helps manage the
area. Both your Service Unit Team and your Regional Manager will be invaluable resources to you in your Girl Scout Leadership Experience!
Girl Scouts of New Mexico Trails covers the top 2/3 of New Mexico. Below, you can find the contact emails and names of the Service Units that span our council:
Service Unit Report Code Contact Email Area Covered
Santa Fe 10 [email protected] Santa Fe Area
Los Alamos 22 [email protected] Los Alamos Area
White Rock 23 [email protected] White Rock Area
Raton 42 [email protected] Raton Area
Clayton 47 [email protected] Clayton Area
Clovis 52 [email protected] Clovis Area
Portales 53 [email protected] Portales Area
Tucumcari 55 [email protected] Tucumcari Area
Las Vegas 61 [email protected] Las Vegas Area
Taos 71 [email protected] Taos Area
Angel Fire 72 [email protected] Angel Fire Area
Espanola 81 [email protected] Espanola Area
San Juan 101 [email protected] Farmington & Kirtland Area
Zuni 121 [email protected] Zuni Pueblo Area
Gallup 122 [email protected] Gallup Area
Grants 123 [email protected] Grants Area
Belen 131 [email protected] Belen Area
Rio Abajo 132 [email protected] Los Lunas/Bosque Farms
Socorro 133 [email protected] Socorro & Surrounding Areas Santa Rosa 141 [email protected] Santa Rosa to Fort Sumner Desert Rose 152 [email protected] Rio Rancho Area
Cuba 153 [email protected] Cuba Area
Alamosa 154 [email protected] ABQ South Valley/SW ABQ
NW Mesa 156 [email protected] General West Side ABQ Bernalillo 162 [email protected] Bernalillo & Placitas Area Eisenhower 172 [email protected] ABQ NE Foothills
Desert Skies 174 [email protected] North Central ABQ
Mountain View 181 [email protected] East of the Sandia/Monzanos
Jackson 183 [email protected] ABQ SE Foothills/Canyon
Jefferson/Was 184 [email protected] ABQ Downtown/UNM/KAFB
Because Girl Scouts of New Mexico Trails is its own legal entity, we have our own Board of Directors, By-laws, and Governance Processes.
The Girl Scout movement is rooted firmly in the belief that the democratic process shall guide its activities. This means that members can influence decisions and activities in matters of governance and management and have access to those responsible for decision making. The governance process was put in place to ensure that all members of GSNMT have a voice.
Girl Scouts of New Mexico Trails delegates elect the Board of Directors, Board Officers, and members of the Board Development Committee at the Council’s Annual Meeting. Throughout the year, delegates respond to requests for consultation from the Board and in this way, influence the decisions of the Board as they fulfill their
governance responsibilities. Additionally, delegates represent the council at the National Council Meeting held every three years by GSUSA. The roles and responsibilities of the delegates and of the board are described in the council’s by-laws. The Council’s by-laws and delegate information can always be found on our website at
www.NMGirlScouts.org/Delegates.
Must be a registered member 14 years or older Serve a one-year term
Will vote in the elections of Council Officers, members of the Board of Directors, and GSUSA National Council Delegates
Will have the opportunity to serve on task groups exploring special topics and projects Will identify and make known major issues affecting girls and adult volunteers
Attend and participate in our council’s Annual Meeting
March 15th The number of delegates allowed per SU is submitted to the Service Unit Team
May 15th Service Unit voting is completed, names are all turned into council & training is available May-Aug Delegates facilitate discussion with members
August Proposals are submitted to the Board of Directors from the delegates September The Board of Directors votes on the submitted proposals
November Council’s Annual Meeting
The Council shall conduct an Annual Meeting of the Council membership annually. At the Annual
Meeting the Members of the Council will elect Officers, Directors, and Board Development Committee
members in appropriate years, National Council delegates and alternates to the National Council of the
Girl Scouts of the United States of America (GSUSA); consider proposed amendments to By-Laws and
provide input on key issues affecting the Council and requested by GSUSA and consider other business
appropriate to come before the Council in accordance with the process established by the Board.
Board Approved January 2014
Visitors are always welcome to voice comments and concerns at GSNMT Board meetings. However, in
order to ensure that all have the opportunities to express themselves, speakers are asked to adhere to
the following guidelines.
1.
Visitors are invited to speak to the Board of Directors during the designated 20 minutes “open
forum” period scheduled on each Board Agenda or if visitors wish to comment on an agenda item
they may be acknowledged at the time the agenda item is heard by the board. Anyone wishing to
comment must sign-up on the bottom of this form in order to be recognized. The form must be
completed and submitted to Director of Administration and Operation – Annette LeFebre 24 hours
prior to the start of the meeting. The contact information is [email protected]
2.
Comments during the Open Forum do not have to be related to items on the agenda; however it
must pertain to matters of GSNMT business, activities and responsibilities.
3.
Speakers will be given five (5) minutes to speak. Speakers cannot relinquish unused time to other
visitors. Board members may request that a speaker be given a time extension. If a group of visitors
(3 or more) wish to address the board they must fill out this form identifying their group and who
will be the speaker. The speaker of the group will have five (5) minutes to address the council. In
both instances the Board Chair will inform the speaker when one (1) minute remains.
4.
Speakers are not permitted to engage in personal attacks on any person or organization. Profanity,
offensive communication, or any potential libelous or defamatory comments are strictly prohibited.
5.
Visitor participation is not a dialogue between council and the visitors. The purpose is to afford
visitors the opportunity to voice their opinions, ideas or concerns. Board members may also
determine they wish to follow-up and /or refer it as an operational issue to staff.
6.
At anytime the Board Chair believes the speaker has stepped beyond the Visitor’s Comment
Guidelines, outlined herein, that visitor may be asked to refrain from further comment and asked to
be seated.
7.
Written comment may be submitted to the Board of Directors in lieu of speaking.
To access the Visitor’s Comment Guidelines paperwork which needs to be signed and submitted by
visitors, please download from our website:
www.NMGirlScouts.org/Board_Members.aspx
Girl Scouts is about sharing the fun, friendship, and power of girls and women together. Any girl – from kindergarten (or 5 years old) through 12th grade – can join Girl Scouts.
After girls join, they team up in the following grade levels: Girl Scout Daisy (grades K–1)
Girl Scout Brownie (grades 2–3) Girl Scout Junior (grades 4–5) Girl Scout Cadette (grades 6–8) Girl Scout Senior (grades 9–10) Girl Scout Ambassador (grades 11–12)
Girl Scouts is a membership organization, which requires a yearly membership fee. This fee goes directly to GSUSA (it does not stay in your local council) and covers you under supplemental accident insurance when you are participating in Girl Scout programming. When you pay your membership fee, you become a registered Girl Scout for that calendar year (October 1st – September 30th).
$15.00 Yearly Registration Fee (Girls and Adults) $375.00 Lifetime Registration Fee (Adults)
$195.00 Lifetime Registration (Graduating Ambassador Girl Scouts)
Personify/E-biz is a Customer Relationship Management System that has been developed by GSUSA and councils specifically for Girl Scout use.
As an individual, Personify/E-Biz provides:
Customer profile management
Family Giving donations
Registration for programs, trainings and camps
Printable Girl Scout membership cards
Membership renewals
As a troop leader, Personify/E-Biz provides:
Troop maintenance
Registration for your troop programs, trainings and camps
Centralized emailing and printable rosters of troop members
Printable Girl Scout membership cards
How to Get Started in Personify/E-biz
Create your Personify/E-biz login account. This is the first and most important step to gaining access to the Personify/E-Biz system to register for activities.
1. To create your login account, please click on this link (visit
http://gsusa.ebiz.uapps.net/vp/tabid/517/Default.aspx?pid=93) and fill out the fields in the “by Name & Email Address” section. You must use the email account GSNMT has on record from when you signed up for Girl Scout membership. For assistance or to change your email, contact [email protected]. 2. Upon completing Step 1, you will be sent an email containing a link to create your username and
password. Click the link to complete creating your account.
3. Fill out the fields in the Create User section that the above link directs you to. Hit “Create Account”. An email will be sent that confirms your account creation.
4. You are now done and ready to access E-Biz! You can start registering for programs and trainings beginning October 1, 2014.
E-Biz/Personify Troubleshooting
Unable to create a login/activate account:
Unable to activate account using Last Name and e-mail address. Reason: Your name and/or e-mail address is different than what is recorded in the system. Your name may be misspelled or your e-mail address may have changed since you registered. Try entering your name and e-mail address again; making sure the spelling is correct. If you are still unable to activate your account, contact us at [email protected].
Unable to access a previously activated account:
I activated my account, but cannot remember my password. Click on the “Password?” a link will be sent to you. You will need to enter your username and e-mail address.
I activated my account, but cannot remember my username. Click on the “Username?” a link will be sent to you. You will need to enter your name and the e-mail address that is in the system.
How to see “My Account” page:
I cannot see “My Account” information. Be sure you are logged into your account. On the navigation bar you should see “Your name’s Account” on the right hand side.
How do I know if my membership is current? Click on the “My Family” or “My Troops” tab depending on who you would like to verify. Here you will see a list similar to a spreadsheet. The last column on the right is “Girl Scout Member Until”. This date is the date this members hip is current until or when it expired.
I need to change my address, phone number, email address and/or race & ethnicity information. Click on your name from the either the “My Family” or “My Troops” tab. Click on “Edit” next to your name on the page that refreshes. Make your necessary changes and click “save changes”. Race & Ethnicity information is voluntary and used for statistical purposes only. Providing this information helps to ensure community support and funding for Girl Scouts in your local community.
I need to change my user name and/or password. Click on “Update Web Login Information”. Choose from the options. Be sure to save your changes.
How do I know if I am registered/attended an event/class? Click on the “Order History” link and you will see a dropdown list of orders completed for the last 30 days. You can adjust this filter to include orders placed up to the last year. This link is available on both the family and the troops tabs. By clicking on the order number, you can reprint the receipt.
What if I Need Technical Help? The Help Desk is available to support GSNMT members. To submit an electronic Help Ticket, please contact us at [email protected].
Late Registrations Cannot Be Accepted. We want to remind all members of the “No Late Registration” policy. With Personify/E-biz, when members log-in to register for a program or training, they will immediately be able to see if there is room in the session. There’s no more waiting for a confirmation to see if you got in. GSNMT offers a wide variety of quality
programs and trainings. It is important to have the necessary time in advance of all
programs/trainings to tally final attendance, purchase materials and supplies in order to ensure the success of the program/training and deliver the best possible experience. As each program/training is posted, a firm registration deadline will also be listed. We set those registration closing dates as close to the event as possible to ensure maximum attendance. We encourage you to check the GSNMT website for program/training calendar updates and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for current updates. Register in advance so you don’t miss out on the fun!