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 FAQs: VOLUNTEERISM
Answers to common questions about Girl Scout volunteers
Girl Scouts is the preeminent organization in the country committed to developing leadership skills in girls. The success of the leadership program relies on the abilities and dedication of nearly a million adult volunteers who deliver the program to girls.
- How many volunteers are in Girl Scouts?
- Who can volunteer?
- What do volunteers do?
- What are the different ways adults can participate?
- Why do we need consistent membership pathways?
- When will membership pathways be formalized?
- Can volunteers be recruited to help with all membership pathways?
- Why doesn't Girl Scouts have enough volunteers?
- How is Girl Scouts responding to changing demographics in the U.S.?
- How effective is Girl Scouts at placing and retaining volunteers?
- How is the volunteer system changing?
- What is the Single Entry System?
- How is GSUSA supporting council implementation of the Single Entry System?
- Are volunteers trained?
- What is e-learning and is it really effective?
- What e-learning courses are being offered in 2008?
- Are there special recruitment efforts to reach young volunteers?
- How many volunteers are in Girl Scouts?
There are 994,000 adult members currently registered.
- Who can volunteer?
Membership is open to women and men over 18 who accept the Girl Scout Promise.
- What do volunteers do?
Volunteers contribute their time in a number ways. Some work directly with girls as mentors, troop/group leaders, or troop consultants. Others venture into communities to speak, arrange service projects, act as translators, or mentor other Girl Scout adults. A volunteer might donate time as a board member, trainer, fund-raiser, communications consultant, registration assistant, cookie program organizer, or Web site designer. The greatest need, however, is for volunteers to work directly with girls.
- What are the different ways adults can participate?
Currently, the vast majority of volunteers work with girls in troops. Over the last several years, however, in response to girls' interests and needs, councils have been offering alternative "paths" for girls to participate. More specifically, membership pathways is defined as the ways girls and adults join and experience Girl Scouting. These opportunities give girls—and volunteers--a chance to enjoy Girl Scouting in expanded ways. The proposed pathways for girls are:
- Camp—day and resident
- Destinations—regional, national, and international trips (formerly Wider Opportunities)
- Online/virtual—a safe and secure web-based connection for girls to interact with sister Girl Scouts across the country and world
- Short-term—same girls in all sessions (up to 15 hours)
- Special interests & events—girls participate once or in multiple events (e.g., council events, drop-in centers, and activity centers)
- Troops—can be either multi-theme or thematic
Today, one in every five girls participates in Girl Scouting in a non-troop capacity. And, of course, volunteers are needed to guide girls as they participate in new ways.
- Why do we need consistent membership pathways?
To provide flexibility for member participation, to utilize and expand our resources, to grow membership, and to improve all ways of work (e.g., communication, recruitment, retention, tracking).
- When will membership pathways be formalized?
A pathways advisory team is just getting started on the work of formalizing pathways and developing criteria for each pathway. The work of the team includes analyzing how different pathways can become volunteer supported, how they can be funded, how the cookie entrepreneurship program can be offered in all pathways, and how the pathways will be integrated into the council's membership database (CES) computer system. Eight councils are now participating in the pathways advisory team; their recommendations will be made public in spring of 2008. The next step will be to pilot the recommendations in three councils during the 2008/2009 membership year. Results of the pilot work will be shared on an ongoing basis and resources will be developed for the 2009/2010 membership year.
- Can volunteers be recruited to help with all membership pathways?
Absolutely! Once we have consistent nationwide pathways and programs, volunteer position descriptions will be developed and promoted nationwide.
- Why doesn't Girl Scouts have enough volunteers?
For decades, Girl Scout relied on mothers of Girl Scouts as the primary source of volunteers. It was easy as many mothers had fond memories of being in Girl Scouts and wanted to provide that same opportunity for their daughters. Our country's population has changed, however, in particular with the growth in multicultural populations. Many of these populations are not familiar with Girl Scouts and the organization has not been as successful as it needs to be in recruiting and retaining volunteers from these groups. Many more mothers are working outside the home as well, and they simply don't have the time to give.
- How is Girl Scouts responding to changing demographics in the U.S.?
To reach multicultural communities, GSUSA is doing a number of things. We are making sure our materials are culturally relevant, particularly our messaging to families and potential volunteers. We are building relationships in multicultural communities that foster mutual understanding and respect. We are emphasizing that Girl Scouts is relevant for all girls, thus worthy of volunteering for.
Specifically, we have begun to build relationships with organizations such as National Urban League, Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, and Historically Black Colleges. We have developed multicultural marketing kits that contain materials relevant to Asian, Hispanic, and other communities. We have had an increased presence at national conventions, fairs, and community events using resources that specifically ask adults to volunteer for Girl Scouts. These initiatives will continue to be a major focus for the 2008 membership year, and are always done in collaboration with councils.
- How effective is Girl Scouts at placing and retaining volunteers?
GSUSA's overall retention rate is similar to industry standard – 65%. However retention of first-year volunteers is lower than that– 54%, and we are making a concerted effort to improve that retention rate.
- How is the volunteer system changing?
One of the most important changes we're making to our volunteer systems is to implement the Single Entry System consistently in all councils.
- What is the Single Entry System?
The Single Entry System is a 10-step process that requires all volunteer intake to happen through a single point of entry at a council and ensures the volunteer experiences a consistent, thorough, and quality placement process. The system includes steps for background checks, skill and interest surveying, position assignment, training, coaching, and recognition. This is a process similar to what many other non-profit organizations are using throughout the country.
- How is GSUSA supporting council implementation of the Single Entry System?
To ensure nationwide consistency, GSUSA is providing the training and resources necessary to ensure all 109 councils have implemented all 10 steps of the Single Entry System by 2010.
Eleven councils have already piloted the system. National Operating Volunteers have been trained and are currently available to help councils assess their existing systems, which should be done before implementing Single Entry. On- line webinars launched in August 2007 offer an overview of the system as well as detailed training on each step of the process. Live training will also be offered at the Edith Macy Conference Center beginning December 2007. Some councils will begin implementing the Single Entry System in Spring of 2008.
- Are volunteers trained?
Yes. Thanks to advances in e-learning technology, GSUSA will be able to offer consistent training nationwide to volunteers and council staff. This training will be supplemented by local in-person learning and coaching as well.
- What is e-learning and is it really effective?
GSUSA provides two types of e-learning: synchronous (same-time with other online learners and a learning facilitator) and asynchronous (done on your own, anytime you wish). It is an effective way to reach volunteers and provide them with information they can fit it into their schedules.
- What e-learning courses are being offered in 2008?
A number of courses are being developed to help prepare volunteers for the launch of the new Leadership Development Program for girls in fall 2008. Each new program "journey" will come with a facilitator's guide that will explain the specifics as well as reinforce the Discover/Connect/Take Action leadership components of that journey.
Training is also being developed to help volunteers ensure that girl-led, hands-on, and cooperative learning processes are happening when they deliver program to girls. Courses will be offered locally at a series of learning events in spring 2008 and will also be incorporated into e-learning modules.
In addition, an asynchronous volunteer orientation course is being piloted with councils this fall and will be rolled out nationwide in spring 2008. As well, training on Safety Wise, GSUSA's resource for safety (including forms and application of theory to real world scenarios), along with Outdoor and First Aid information will be offered in e-learning components.
For staff, there is a full webinar schedule that includes courses on implementing the Single Entry System, introduction of membership pathways, community cultivation focusing on multicultural communities, and serving girls and adults with disabilities.
GSUSA's goal is to offer consistent training nationwide that can be supplemented locally by councils.
- Are there special recruitment efforts to reach young volunteers?
Yes. GSUSA is strategically reaching out to volunteers in the 18-29 age group. Eight councils are participating in the Campus Recruitment pilot for the 2008 membership year. We are providing resources to help councils recruit college students from sororities, and those working to fulfill community service-learning requirements. These councils will also be testing the effectiveness of a postcard recruitment mailing aimed specifically at reaching 10,000 recently graduated Girl Scout alumni. In 2008, we will also begin work to recruit young volunteers from corporations.
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Looking Back at the History
Girl Scouts began to develop its Core Business Strategy in 2004, to ensure that this historic organization continues to be the best leadership experience for girls ages 5-17. READ MORE |
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