HELP

This page has been designed to field "Frequently Asked Questions".
I hope to have more questions here soon. You could help me get this page up and running by e-mailing me with your burning questions.

QUESTION: I am a Co-Service Unit Manager in an area that has merged several small service units into one large service unit. We have an area that has several troops that continue not to participate with the "new" service unit. They have held several events this past year that are for selected troops only or by " invitation only". Help! I am at a loss as to how to get these leaders involved with their service unit. I have talked with the Field Director and the Executive Director of the council. I am beginning to believe they are at a loss as much as I am as to what to do about the situation. I have called, written and sent postcards to these leaders with no reply at all. The only time I see them is when they pick up their registration packets. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

ANSWER: This is a hard one. I go back to the old saying, the best way to get bears is with honey.

Basically what I am saying is try to find out what events they have done on their own, hopefully they did a bang up job. Approach them with a positive and enthusiastic demeanor. Tell them that together we could become the best SU in the council. Tell them you would love for them to help you execute this same event in your SU. Dwell on their strengths, don't lower yourself to their reasons for not joining with the group earlier.

There are probably many reasons in their eyes that this was not done fairly. If they try to go in that direction, I would just say, I will never know how it must have felt to not be included in the decision on the merger of these neighborhoods, but what I do know is that you are assets to Girl Scouting and we are all in this for the same reason, so lets work together to come up with the most successful SU out there.

QUESTION: As a new SUM how do I introduce a rededication ceremony for the leaders? I think it is a neat idea but we have never done one. Do I just plan it and place it on the agenda or enlist others. I plan to read a poem at our first meeting and have thought of just having a surprise element such as a ceremony or special poem at each meeting, or is this to much?

ANSWER: You really need to get help. Yes putting it on your agenda is fine. It being a surprise is fine to. If you have a service team that works with you I would get them for help. If you do not have a service team, then assigning people that attend the meeting parts of the ceremony is a good way to get people involved.

One of the things we did was give any new leaders their Girl Scout Pin. The ones that were returning as leaders we gave them a carnation or something like that. We normally did it in the October meeting.

By doing ceremonies at your service unit meeting you are exposing new leaders to the tradition of ceremonies.

I can not stress enough that having a new song, craft, ceremony at every Service Unit meeting is a good tool to keep them coming. If you let them know at the beginning of the year that every month they will learn something new that they can share with their troops, might help to keep them coming.

QUESTION:
Being a new Service Unit Manager is overwhelming. Where do I start?

ANSWER: The first thing you need to do is pat yourself on your back and say "I know I can do this". Next it is very important that you put together a Service Team. The best thing you can do is to put people on the service team that have been involved. Try to include people who have held position in the passed. Also need to include new blood because if you do not your service unit can not grow. Follow this link to find out more about the positions that you might want to have:

SERVICE TEAM AND SUPPORT POSITIONS

QUESTION:
I am a new co-service unit manager. One of the biggest problems I've encountered this year are people who have been in the service unit for years using the phrase "we have never done that before, why should we try it now?" They are just not open to new exciting things or change. My co and I have many ideas and suggestions, but when we try to do any of them we get that phrase; personally I think it "stinks". What should we do?

ANSWER:
I know you must be frustrated!! It is hard to teach an old dog new tricks, so try this:

Use one of your ideas that you feel would be the most excepted and successful. Recruit one of the Service Unit Team members that would be willing to work with you on this idea. Another words sell the idea to her first and let her sell it to the other old members. By winning over one old member who is respected by the group, you will hopefully be able to not only teach new tricks, but even find out that they will howl at the moon.

QUESTION:
As a SU Manager I have not received any training on how to handle the multitude of paperwork that must be handle with this position. Also how do I handle financial matters such as postage reimbursement, printing cost, etc.?

ANSWER: Yes paperwork work is never fun, but it is a necessity. It is hard for me to advise how to fill it out since every council has a different way of work. I would first check with your council liaison and inquire about why there is not a training available if there is a need. Second I would check with the previous SU manager and ask for her help. I would also delegate this duty. By putting together a service team to work with you, you can easily turn over bits and pieces of this paperwork to the person in charge of that area. In reference to financial matters such as postage reimbursement, etc. There are several ways to handle this:

Prior to your first SU meeting, have a service team meeting and set forth a proposed budget for the year. Make sure to include all expenses that might occur, including postage, printing, snacks at meetings, etc. Since all council have a different way of work it is hard for me to know weather you are working with existing funds or if you are starting with a zero balance. Some council give a percentage of their cookie sales back to the SU to help pay for these type of expenses. Since I have no way of knowing the status of your SU I will assume you are starting from a zero balance.

To be able to cover your proposed budget you could:

charge each troop a fee to help cover expenses. Be sure to give each troop a copy of your proposed budget and a breakdown of how you determined the troop cost.
ask for sponsorship at your first SU meeting. You will be surprised to find that there might be someone in the SU that would be willing to cover the printing expense, etc. Another thought would be to ask each troop to bring a book of stamps to cover the mailing of their monthly newsletter as well as any other last minute mailings that might occur.
Visit businesses in the community asking for sponsorship of your needs. I have found that real estates offices, banks, restaurants and doctor/dentist offices are normally willing to sponsor copying charges, postage, refreshments, etc.
plan a fundraiser to earn money needed to help with the proposed budget. Some good ideas for fundraisers are : garage sale, bake sale, dog wash, mothers day out sitting service, father/daughter dance.