1. How will we receive our training?
2. Will the training I received in my old council still be accepted in the new council?
3. If you're a trainer in a council now, will you be a trainer in the new council?
4. Is there going to be a new adult development facilitator position?
5. What about our council's special adult recognitions?

Girl Scouts of the USA is getting ready to release a new training design for all Girl Scout councils.  We can look forward to standardized age level training online, but we also expect that councils will need to provide some classroom courses and home study courses.  Videoconferencing sites are located throughout our new jurisdiction, so you might be able to attend a training/conference with volunteers from throughout the state.

Some training will be transferable to the new council (for example First Aid, CPR, and some outdoor training).  With an entirely new program, leaders will need to complete training for their program age level (GS Daisy, GS Brownie; GS Junior, GS Cadette, GS Senior, and GS Ambassador).  One of the big jobs ahead in our first year is to gather volunteer records.  We may need to check with you to make sure we have complete information on the time you’ve given to your own development as a Girl Scout volunteer.  Your training card or training certificates could be helpful.  Of course, we’ll also be consolidating information about adult recognitions so we’ll have a good history of awards recipients over the years.

Trainers have lots of Girl Scout knowledge in their minds and hearts, and our council will benefit from their combined expertise.  Like all operational volunteer positions, trainers are appointed annually by the council.  Some may decide to continue, while others will not.

We are expecting an entirely new national approach to adult development, but we have no idea what our key adult development volunteers will be called.  The current GSUSA trainer certification program has been discontinued, and there will be some exciting options for people who like to facilitate adult learning opportunities.  We want to build on the group of people who have been at the center of our adult development work in councils. 

The new council will follow the Girl Scouts of the USA recognition system.  When councils merge, some traditional council awards are combined and occasionally some new ones are created!