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Service Units

SERVICE UNIT STRUCTURE

PURPOSE
The purpose of a Service Unit is to provide operational services to adults who deliver Girl Scout programs to girls. Service Unit structure provides the way a geographic area (specific community or communities) receives Girl Scout services.  

SERVICE TEAM
Each Service Unit is managed by a volunteer "Service Team" who provide services to the adults in their area. The Service Team is lead by a Service Unit Manager who works closely with council membership staff and area volunteers to insure a high level of Girl Scout program is carried out in the Service Unit.
Activities conducted through the Service Units are:

MEMBERSHIP
Acquire community support for volunteers, meeting places, etc.
Recruitment.
Registration
Organization of troops/groups
Consultants, mentors
Training

PROGRAM
Service Unit events
Day camp
Equipment and program materials
Adult Skills bank
Collaboration with community groups
Guidance for group trips/campouts

COMMUNICATION
Notices for meetings
Information recorded
Public awareness
Service Projects
Recognitions

FINANCE
Guidance for group finances
Year End Summary report to the Council
Product Sales
Group money earning

SERVICE UNIT MEETINGS
Group adults receive a monthly publication, the "In The Loop" which provides information about activities, deadlines, and events on the council level. Service Units hold monthly meetings to discuss the information in the "In The Loop" as well as go over local activities and make plans for Girl Scout events on the Service Unit level. Leaders will be notified of dates and locations of these meetings and should make every effort to have their troop represented by an adult. Mini training sessions on Girl Scout program and sharing of ideas is also ongoing at Service Unit meetings. The Service Unit is a source of networking and volunteer peer support.

SERVICE UNIT DIRECTORY
Adults will receive a directory of Service Unit Personnel at their first Service Unit Meeting.

PURPOSE
Fulfills council by-laws (Article I and VIII)

Provides adult members in the Council a process in which they may influence policy decisions of the council. Allows communication stream between Board of Directors and membership

BOUNDARIES
NORTH - Perryville Service Unit
SOUTH - Dogwood and Tywappity Service Units
EAST - Shawnee and Alexander County Service Units
WEST - Ellington and Wayne County Service Units
CENTRAL - Rolling Hills and Tsalagi Service Units
METRO - Cape DA/BR, JR, and Cad/SR Service Units
NORTHWEST - Patton, Hawthorne Service Units

ASSOCIATION MEETINGS
Association meetings are held twice each year, unless special meetings are called by the membership. Notices of meetings are given through "The Arrow", the "In The Loop", or through special meeting cards. Meetings are held in April and November.

Association meetings are generally held in conjunction with Service Unit monthly meetings. In this way a quorum is met and volunteers do not have an additional meeting for the month.

Delegates are sent packets of information to review before the meeting. Reports on funding, membership, council goals, and council leadership are among the most common agenda items.

At the meetings, the membership is given copies of the materials to review as the agenda is covered.

ASSOCIATION YEARLY SCHEDULE

MARCH

Delegate packets mailed, meeting notices sent through the In The Loop, ARROW, etc.

APRIL

Meetings held during first two weeks of month.
Agenda includes: Presentation of Slate of Board of Directors, Nominating Committee
Annual Meeting Agenda: Election of Association Delegates for next term
Reports on Membership, Funding, Goals, Property Usage, etc
Annual Meeting held late April.

AUGUST

Delegate training held

OCTOBER

 Mini training on Association held in Service Units
Meeting notices go out through In The Loop, ARROW, etc
Delegate packets mailed to Delegates.

NOVEMBER

 Meetings held during first two weeks of month
Meeting agenda includes: Election of Association Nominating Committee
Review of Annual Meeting
Reports on funding, membership, property usage, goals, etc

ASSOCIATION PERSONNEL
Association Chair
Delegate selected by other delegates to act as Association Chair. Position approved by the President and Board of Directors. Association Chair presides over the meeting, insures minutes are kept and submitted for council records, and acts as liaison between Association and Board of Directors.

Delegates
Volunteers elected by the Association membership. Term of office is one year. Number of delegates for each Association is dependent on number of registered girls. Delegates receive ongoing communications from the Board of Directors, report to the Association at meetings and when necessary between meetings, and vote at the Annual Meeting.

Association Secretary
Appointed by the Association Chair to take minutes and submit them to the Service Center. Secretary also 

records participants at meeting and verifies quorum.

Association Nominating Committee
Three members of the Association who are elected by the Association membership to develop the slate of delegates each year.

COUNCIL NOMINATING COMMITTEE SEEKS INPUT
The Nominating Committee for the Girl Scouts of Otahki Council is charged with finding qualified community leaders to serve on the council Board of Directors and Nominating Committee.

The membership of the council is urged to submit names of potential candidates for these important jobs to the Service Center or through Association minutes and delegate communication.

All candidates will be interviewed by Nominating Committee members.