Service Units

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 three troops with different leaders
A Service Unit Manager (cannot serve in any other Team position)
A Service Unit Treasurer
A Service Unit Recruiter, or the equivalent participation of Service Unit in hosting recruitment events, with the intention of completing 12 Recruitment Events through a Membership Year.
A Service Unit Communications
A Service Unit Bank Account
Current submitted and approved service unit financials

To earn product program proceeds must also have

Service Unit Cookie Chair
Service Unit Product Program Chair

2026 - 2027 Roundtable Schedule toggle arrow

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

Usually held on the first Tuesday of the month, unless it falls on a holiday or holiday weekend. 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 an active Service Unit who have been invited by your Chief Development and Engagement Officer.

All Roundtables are 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM MT / 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CT

2026 - 2027

Tuesday, October 13, 2026
Tuesday, November 10, 2026
Tuesday, December 8, 2026
Tuesday, January 12, 2027
Tuesday, February 9, 2027
Tuesday, March 9, 2027
Tuesday, April 13, 2027
Tuesday, May 11, 2027
Tuesday, June 8, 2027
No July Roundtable
Tuesday, August, 10, 2027
Tuesday, September 14, 2027

2027 Service Unit Summit toggle arrow

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.

Saturday, August 7, 2027, in El Paso, TX

Wednesday, August 14, 2027, in Midland, TX

Five Functions of a Service Unit toggle arrow

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 function 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 positions 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 Girl Scout 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 toggle arrow

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

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

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 toggle arrow

*Service Unit Fall Product and Cookie Program Chair are appointed by Council Only.

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 toggle arrow

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 Resources toggle arrow

The Annual Service Unit Vision Worksheet is intended to help your service unit develop the best customized plan to deliver the Girl Scout Leadership Experience to your service unit area, in partnership with council.

582 zip code master list by service units and schools This file outlines all of our service units and schools by zip codes. Please use this to help you with your annual planning.

Approved Uses for Girl Scout Service Unit Funds

Service Unit Guide Book

The Service Unit Stellar Award - coming soon!

Service Unit Directory. All service units are different in team structure, demographics, challenges and successes. One of the best ways to learn is to network, connect with your peers. Below is a directory of our active service units.

Troop Financial Review toggle arrow

Process, SU Review of Troop Financials (download)

Sound financial stewardship of troop funds is necessary to be in good standing and ensure a sustainable program. In partnership with the council, service units are encouraged to review the financial reports of their troops. Consider the below as part of this process.

1. The service unit treasurer will lead financial troop report reviews, in partnership with the service unit manager and council.

2. Decide if you want to review them electronically or as paper copies. The council will only accept electronic copies (pdf files).

3. Set your specific service unit deadline and communicate that to your troops as early as possible.

Service units will decide whether to accept reports after your deadline.
Troop leaders are responsible for submitting financial reports to the council by June 30, whether they are reviewed by their service unit or not.

4. Decide how long you will need to review your troop financial reports.

Allow enough time for leaders to receive completed checklist, make any changes and submit to council by June 30.
The service unit is responsible for providing the checklist to all troops that submitted their report to them, regardless of decision.

5. Follow the checklist for each troop financial report submitted.

If approved, provide a copy of the checklist to the troop.
If not approved, detail reasons under the notes section of the checklist and provide the troop with a copy of the checklist.
Service unit decides to review financial report again or not.
The troop leader must submit the completed checklist, with financial report to council, preferably via the Volunteer Tool Kit (VTK), by June 30.
Keep copies of all completed checklists for your service unit records. Service units do not have to keep copies of the troop’s financial reports.

Troop leaders are solely responsible for submitting their troop financial report to council via the Volunteer Tool Kit (VTK), by June 30.

_{Service Unit Example}

_{1. Service unit decides to review their own troop financials for membership year 2023.}

_{2. Service unit sets a deadline of June 1 for troops to submit financials to service unit.}

_{3. Troop financial report reviews are completed by service unit by June 15. All troops receive their completed checklist. Any troops that submitted financials after the service unit deadline must submit directly to council by June 30.}

_{4. Troop leader submits financial report, with completed checklist, to council, by June 30.}

Checklist, Troop Financial Report