Today there are
nearly 3.7 million Girl Scouts — 2.8 million girl members and 942,000 adult
members. More than 50 million American women enjoyed Girl Scouting during
their childhood—and that number continues to grow as Girl Scouts of the USA
continues to inspire, challenge, and empower girls everywhere.
Girl Scouts of the USA is one of 145 member
organizations of the World
Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS, http://www.wagggsworld.org/
).
The US Girl Scout Movement is led by an
all-volunteer National Board of Directors in partnership with the national
headquarters staff. US Girl Scouting depends on its more than 942,000 adults, 99
percent of whom are volunteers, to share the responsibility of influencing the
lives of millions of girls.
Historically, there have been eight Girl
Scout Councils in Iowa to manage and organize Iowa Scouting.
Following a
national trend, these councils are being realigned. In the Fall of 2007,
Girl Scouts of Moingona Council (which has been the Governing Council for
Ames-Gilbert Girl Scouts) joined with Girl Scouts of Lakota Council,
Girl Scouts of North Iowa Council, Nishnabotna Girl Scout Council and Sioux
Trails Girl Scout Council to form the Girl Scout Council of Greater Iowa.
The head quarters is at the former Moingona Council office:
Girl Scout Council of Greater Iowa
10715 Hickman Road
Des Moines, Iowa 50322
Phone: 515-278-2881
Toll free: 800-342-8389
Fax: 515-278-5988
Email: mgsc1@aol.com
Web Site:
http://www.girlscoutsiowa.org/
Map of included counties:
http://www.girlscoutsiowa.org/jurisdiction-and-size.cfm
The Ames-Gilbert Service Unit is comprised
of approximately 30 Girl Scout troops ranging from Kindergarten children to
High School seniors. Troops are headed up by two or more adult volunteers.
Volunteers agree to participate in various trainings offered through Girl
Scouts to ensure that they have the skills to plan and manage a troop.
Volunteer leaders meet monthly to plan area wide events, exchange tips
and supplies, and learn about upcoming Council events.
There has been a recent shortage of
volunteers and without volunteers there can not be new troops. Please
consider becoming involved - our girls are counting on us! Both male and
female volunteers are welcome. As part of the annual registration process,
volunteer leaders agree to go through a background check and sign a
volunteer agreement form. Fliers go home with elementary age girls at the
start of the academic year announcing the time and location of call-out
meetings. These call-outs are for both recruiting leaders for new troops and
assigning new girls to existing troops that have openings. There is
typically one evening call out in Ames and another in Gilbert, held in early
September. Please note, however, that people can join Girl Scouts throughout
the year.
If there is no troop for your girl to join,
she can still register as a member of Girl Scouts and participate in local
and Council sponsored events, including summer camps. In such cases, the
girl's guardian would be responsible for supervising her Girl Scout
activities and she would be known as a "Juliette" Girl Scout.
For information about volunteering, local troops, and
registration, contact the Service Unit leader Jeannette Olson, okfamjro@yahoo.com, 232-8583.