Since its founding in 1912, Girl Scouts has remained a volunteer-led organization. All Girl Scouts, parents, and volunteers of Girl Scouts of the Desert Southwest are able to enjoy Girl Scouting, in large part, because of the support our Service Unit structure provides.

Thank you for leading other leaders - we appreciate you!

A Service Unit is the most common term used by Girl Scout councils as a name for the geographic subdivisions of a council.

A Service Unit Team consists of Girl Scout volunteers who partner with council to manage their Service Unit in delivering the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. They serve as an intermediary between council and troops.

What do Service Units Teams do? They fulfill the Five Functions considered necessary for the delivery of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience - Administration, Membership, Support, Program, and Community Development

What defines an active Service Unit? To be considered an active Service Unit, all of the below criteria must be met.

At least two troops with different leaders
A Service Unit Manager (cannot serve in any other Team position)
A Service Unit Treasurer
A Service Unit Bank Account

2022-2023 Roundtable Schedule

NEW Zoom Registration Link

A monthly meeting for service unit team members across our council to convene, receive updates, ask questions and network.

Usually held on the first Monday of the month, unless it falls on a holiday or holiday weekend. Register once to attend all sessions. Password required. Please mark your calendars.

Register once to attend all sessions. Roundtables are open to all Service Unit Team Members and Troop Leader/Coleaders without a active Service Unit.

All Roundtables are 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM MT / 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM CT

2022
Monday, October 3, 2022
Monday, November 7, 2022
Monday, December 5, 2022

2023
Tuesday, January 3, 2023*
Monday, February 6, 2023
Monday, March 6, 2023
Monday, April 3, 2023
Monday, May 1, 2023
Monday, June 5, 2023
Saturday, July 8, 2023 - Service Unit Summit
Monday, August 7, 2023
Tuesday, September 5, 2023*

*preceding Monday is a holiday

NEW Zoom Registration Link

2022 Service Unit Summit

The Service Unit Summit is the one time a year that all Service Unit Teams can come together to receive council updates, training, news and network.

2022 Service Unit Summit Recording (8/6/2022) Access Passcode: Summit2022

2022 Service Unit Summit Slide Deck (8/6/2022)

Service Unit Communications Video by Lucy Lozano-Lerma (8/6/2022)

Deep Dives

Manager	Monday, August 15, 2022, 6–7 pm MT/ 7-8 CT Recording available here. Passcode: SUManager Manager Deep Dive slide deck Service Unit Meeting Guide Meeting agenda template (editable download) Team contact list (editable download) Welcome letter from Manager (editable download)
Treasurer	Wednesday, August 17, 2022, 6–7 pm MT/7-8 CT Recording available here. Access Passcode: SUTreasurer Treasurer Deep Dive slide deck
Communications	Monday, September 22, 2022, 6–7 pm MT / 7-8 CT (rsch) No attendees.
Registrar	Wednesday, September 27, 2022, 6–7 pm MT/ 7-8 CT
Event Coordinator	Monday, September 19 , 2022, 6–7 pm MT/ 7-8 CT Recording available here. Passcode: eventcoordinator Event Planning Guide Style Guide for Volunteers "GSUSA Brand Ambassador 101 for Volunteers" (gsLearn)
Recruiter	Wednesday, September 21, 2022, 6 – 7 pm MT / 7 - 8 CT No attendees.
Trainer	Wednesday, September 28, 2022 , 6 – 7 pm MT / 7 - 8 CT Not recorded, see training in gsLearn
Product	See product website

Five Functions of a Service Unit

1. Administration: This function ensures the Service Unit has a team to sustain itself, goals to meet and a plan to meet those goals including resources and effective communication. Positions with Administrative duties: Manager, Treasurer and Communications

2. Membership: This function refers to growth of membership. Without girls and volunteers, there is no Girl Scout program. Positions with direct Membership duties: Recruiter

3. Support: This fuction includes the support of all volunteers, parents and Girl Scouts in your Service Unit. As a result, you will see an increase in retention. All Service Unit postions have direct support duties, however the Service Unit Trainer is solely dedicated to support, with a focus on new troop mentoring.

4. Program: This function is all about what the Girl Scouts in your Service Unit know and do about the GirlScout Leadership Experience. How will they Discover, Connect and Take Action? This may include Journeys, badges, patch programs, events, activities, and more. Ensure it is girl-led, collaborative and hands-on. Try to cover all four program pillars: STEM, Outdoors, Entrepreneurship, and Life Skills. Positions with direct Program duties: Event Coordinator

5. Community Development: This function refers to how visible Girl Scouting is in your community. The more visible our brand is the easier parents and girls can find us. High visibility in the community also means making sure our Girl Scouts are recognized for how they are making the world a better place. Positions with direct community development duties: Manager, Communications, and Recruiter

Service Unit Positions

Please click on each postion for an in-depth description. Thank you!

All Service Unit Positions are for a three-year term. Service Unit Managers may not serve consecutive terms.

Service Unit Manager supports Girl Scouts in a designated community by coordinating and overseeing the work of the Service Unit Team. This is accomplished by appointing team members and developing a plan for the service unit that encompasses recruitment, retention, effective consistent communication, and provides a welcoming environment.

Service Unit Treasurer works with the Service Unit Team to oversee the service unit bank account including oversight of the financial records, financial reporting, and acts as a co-signer on the account. The Service Unit Treasurer also ensures troop leaders abide by all council and GSUSA financial policies.

Service Unit Communications facilitates effective communication within service unit members and coordinates with GSDSW to manage representative media messaging and efficient two-way dissemination of council/service unit communication.

Service Unit Registrar coordinates the annual membership registration of all-girl and adult Girl Scout members within a service unit as well as educates and promotes the use of the online registration process to all.

Service Unit Events Coordinator cultivates a variety of girl experiences for Girl Scouts in the Service Unit founded in the four program pillars - STEM, Outdoors, Life Skills, and Entrepreneurship.

Service Unit Recruiter is responsible for year-round recruitment of new girls and adults into the Service Unit. They coordinate recruitment opportunities for the service unit and help with implementing them as needed to ensure the service unit meets its membership goals.

Service Unit Trainer serves as a mentor to onboard, train, and continually support volunteer members of the Service Unit with the up-to-date council and GSUSA training requirements and content delivery. The SU Trainer may also be referred to as a Service Unit Consultant and/or Mentor.

Please see our Product webpage for information on product-related Service Unit positions.

There may be other more specialized Service Unit Positions available.

Council Appointment Process

All Service Unit Team members must have/complete the following:

Current Girl Scout Registration
Complete Background Check
In Good Standing
Training
Signed Service Unit Position Description
Confidentiality Agreement (if applicable to position)

Expectations

Service Units may expect the following from Council:

•Hold consistent, monthly Roundtables for all Service Unit Team Members

•Have monthly 30-minute "check-ins" with each Service Unit Manager

•Provide council and Service Unit membership goals

•Attend your monthly Service Unit Meetings

•Be accessible when you need support

•Provide and continue training as necessary

•When possible, offer resources to distribute to your troops

•Seek input and bring to your attention questions/issues specific to your Service Unit

•Help increase troop participation at your meetings

•Assist in growing your service unit

•Role model the Girl Scout Promise and Law

•Follow all GSUSA and GSDSW policies and procedures

•Foster a culture of respect, belonging and appreciation

Council may expect the following of Service Units:

•Fulfill your duties according to your position description

•Plan your year to meet set goals

•Submit pre, mid, and end of year Service Unit surveys

•Hold consistent, monthly Service Unit meetings with a virtual option

•Invite all leaders and coleaders to all Service Unit Meetings

•Reach out to troops that are not participating in Service Unit Meetings and advise council to assist

•Determine the best way to communicate as a Service Unit outside of your SU Meetings (mobile app, text, email, etc.)

•Inform your SU Manager and council, in writing, if you are no longer able or willing to continue your term

•Terminate, address, and/or correct any inappropriateness that occurs in Service Unit settings or platforms as soon as possible, via social media, in person or otherwise

•Role model the Girl Scout Promise and Law

•Follow all GSUSA and GSDSW policies and procedures

•Foster a culture of respect, belonging and appreciation

Service Unit Team Directory

All Service Units are different. Different team structure, different demographics, different challenges and different successes. One of the best ways to learn is to network, connect with your peers. Below is a directory of our Active Service Units.

Texas	New Mexico
Andrews (Andrews)	Desert Diamonds (Las Cruces+)
Emerald (Midland)	Desert Mountains (Alamogordo+)
Howard (Big Spring+)	Grant (Silver City+)
Odessa (Odessa)
Cotton Valley (El Paso)
Desert Flower (El Paso)
Fort Bliss (El Paso)
Indian Summer (El Paso)
Mountain Poppy (El Paso)
Painted Desert (El Paso)
West Sunset (El Paso)

Keep her engaged and inspired in challenging times. Renew Now.