1. What about my troop number?
2. What about a new ID strip?  Who will pay for any new numbers and ID strip?
3. I understand GSUSA is going to release a new Leadership Development Program.  When does that happen?
4. What about the resources we are using now?
5. Can we manage a change in council while moving into a new Girl Scout program, too?
6. Girls in our troops have started work on their Girl Scout Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards.  Are those awards changing?  Will we have to change course midstream?
7. It's already hard to reserve a troop camping site at our own camps.   Merging will make it even more difficult, won't it?
8. Where can I find out about all of our new council's campsites?
9. What about summer camp?  Where will we send our girls?
10. How will we get a council program calendar?
11. Our council always does a special event that our girls and volunteers love.  Will we be able to continue?
12. Will all council sponsored programs be open to girls throughout the council?
13. Do we have enough money to pay for program expansion?

It’s very likely that several troops in our current councils share the same number.  Girl Scouts of the USA will address this by adding a number to the beginning of each troop number.

I understand GSUSA is going to release a new Leadership Development Program.  When does that happen?

The first new resources are scheduled for release in fall 2008, and they sound exciting!  Of course, we’re not ever going to forget the fun of Girl Scouting, but new resources focus on leadership development.  We’re going to help girls discover, connect, and take action.  Read the latest information on the New Girl Scout Leadership Experience.

Many of our resources will still be used as we move into the new leadership development program, but some of our resources are dated.  When new program information is released, we always plan for transition time. 

Can we manage a change in the council while moving into a new Girl Scout Program, too?

Councils all over the country are managing the change, and we believe we have wonderful volunteers and staff who can make the transition go smoothly.  It will take time for all of our troops to move fully to new age levels and resources, but with good planning, we’ll be fine.  We can do this!

Girls in our troops have started work on their Girl Scout Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards.  Are those awards changing?  Will we have to change course midstream?

Watch for more information from council program directors in summer/fall 2008.  There will be some new options for leadership awards, but the Girl Scout Gold Award will always be the highest award a girl can achieve in Girl Scouting. 

At this point, our recommendation is that girls who are working on leadership award requirements should plan to finish their work using the most current requirements, but we have to be reasonable about the timeline.  The transition timeline is usually a year.  Girls working on the highest awards now (fall 2007) should plan to finish award requirements by the end of September 2009 at the latest, but watch closely for more guidelines as we get more information from Girl Scouts of the USA.  Girls who want to start work on the highest awards in fall 2008 should use the newest requirements and guidelines.

It's already hard to reserve a troop camping site at our camps.  Merging will make it even more difficult, won't it?

We don’t think so.  Some troops may decide to explore new options for council-owned campsites, but we don’t see a big change or cause for concern.  When we look at available spaces at all available Girl Scout sites, there is more than enough room.

Our new council has several lovely campsites.  It’s exciting to consider the possibilities!

This website is linked to each of the websites for our five current councils.  If you visit those websites, you’ll find current camp information. 

Girls will have the option to attend several different resident camps.  For information about Girl Scout camps in Missouri, check links to council websites which are posted on this website.  Also, don’t forget to check Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri and Girl Scouts of NW Missouri and NE Kansas. 

Troops will get some information by mail and program calendars will also be posted on websites.  We hope to have online program event registration available soon, so stay tuned.

Our council always does a special event that our girls and volunteers love.  Will we be able to continue?

There are so many great programs offered in each of our five councils.  Some of them are award-winning.  Many can easily be moved to our new council. 

Some favorite programs will continue; others may not.  For example, many events that have been handled by councils in the past will be handled by local communities or regions.  Events that have always been held in a particular location may be held in multiple locations so that even more girls can join the fun. 

Our five councils will begin working on a joint program calendar in the near future.  Event evaluations, attendance, cost, accessibility, and consistency with the Girl Scout Mission will all play roles in determining what our new program calendar will include. 

When girls meet age level and participation requirements, they will be eligible to attend any council-sponsored program.  Of course, travel presents challenges, especially while gas prices are so high.  We’re going to have to be pretty innovative. 

Our goal as a new council is to develop a program calendar which includes exciting, equitable program opportunities throughout our jurisdiction.  There is no expectation that troops will have to travel farther to participate in good program experiences.  They’ll have the option to travel if they wish, but we expect that troops will continue to offer progressive experiences as girls get older:  Simple and close to home for younger, less experienced Girl Scouts.  Longer and more complex experiences as girls get older.

Expenses for events and camp programs should be covered by program fees.  The new council will also have a financial assistance program, although the details and procedures haven’t been decided, so it will not look like financial assistance procedures currently used by any of the five councils.  Our national policy is that no girl will be denied access to Girl Scouting for socioeconomic reasons. 

Most importantly, the new council will have a strong fund development staff group devoted to raising money for Girl Scouting.  They will work in partnership with the council’s board of directors to ensure that our activities are funded.  Typically, council fund development includes:

Family partnership – annual appeals to Girl Scout families for contributions
Annual Giving – friends of Girl Scouting, including alumnae, clubs, businesses
Grants
Fund raising events
Planned giving:  bequests to Girl Scouting