Service Units
Quick Access
General
GSNorCal’s 2026 Property Assessment FAQ
Girl Scouts of Northern California is entering a pivotal moment as we enact our three-year strategic plan, focused on aligning our programs, resources, and infrastructure to meet the evolving needs of girls and families across Northern California. As part of this work, we are conducting a comprehensive, data-driven assessment of all 26 GSNorCal properties, including camps, program […]
What is the Service Unit Team?
The service unit (SU) team is a group or committee of local volunteers who provide support to troops, volunteers, and Girl Scouts in their area. There are many roles within a SU team and the roles are organized into sub-committees with different focuses (adult engagement, membership, program, entrepreneurship). Collectively SU teams host regular service unit […]
Service Unit Team Guide
The Service Unit Team Guide is an all-in-one resource for members of the service unit team. It also includes the following supplements:
Service Unit Team Position Descriptions
Check out the Service Unit Team Overview for detailed information about each role. Service Unit Team Overview SU Team Management Roles: SU Advisor Coordinate service unit team by ensuring the provision of regular team and volunteer meetings, team recruitment and succession planning, and annual service unit planning. Communicate with council regarding status and needs of […]
Marketing & Branding Resources
Girl Scout Cookie Social Media Toolkit
The Girl Scout Cookie Social Media Toolkit provides families with ready-to-use graphics, captions, and posting tips to help promote your Girl Scout’s cookie business online. Whether you’re sharing on Facebook, Instagram, or community pages, these resources make it easy to spread the word online and in your community. Use these materials to support your Girl Scout’s entrepreneurial […]
How to Interact with the Press
These guidelines are for staff, volunteers, and Girl Scouts who may interact with the media or want to share stories with local press. If you’re contacted by local media or if a story you submitted is published, notify Rebekah Kapfer, VP of Marketing & Communications (rkapfer@gsnorcal.org), right away. Our MarComm team can help amplify the […]
Event Flyer
How to Create an Effective Girl Scout Event Flyer A well-designed flyer can spark excitement and boost attendance for your next Girl Scout event. Whether you’re planning a badge workshop, camp experience, or fun meeting, use this as a guide to ensure your flyer is clear, informative, and fun! Step 1: Gather All the Essential […]
Service Unit Facebook Groups: Tips & Tricks
Purpose: Service Unit (SU) Facebook groups serve as a central hub for communication within the unit, allowing for easy sharing of information, questions, and support among members. Sharing Resources: SU Groups can be used to share valuable resources like upcoming events, troop meeting ideas, badge information, volunteer opportunities, and links to relevant Girl Scout materials. […]
Meetings
Sample Service Unit Meeting Plan
Arrival Activity/Snacks/Start-Up Consider adding some kind of self-directed activity leaders/volunteers may do if they arrive early for the meeting. The activity should not require a lot of time to complete and little, if any, cleanup. Supplies for the pre-meeting activity should be set up and ready for the leaders when they arrive. This activity gives […]
How to Hold Effective Service Unit Meetings
Providing effective service unit (leader/volunteer) meetings gives you, as the Service Unit Advisor, the opportunity to build the leadership skills of adults within the service unit. When facilitating a service unit meeting it is important to keep in mind three key objectives that help produce an effective meeting: By focusing on these three goals, your […]
Service Unit Management – Adult Investiture Ceremonies
This Adult Investiture & Rededication Ceremonies PDF includes the following ceremony scripts & supply lists:
Service Unit Planning Meeting
The Service Unit Planning Meeting (formerly known as Plan for Success, or PFS) is a meeting that service unit teams conduct annually in partnership with regional council staff, in May or June. The purpose of this meeting is to start planning for the upcoming Girl Scout year. Each team is provided with their own ‘Plan […]
Planning Events
Girl Scout Event Planner Resources
Whether you’re planning an event for the first time or are an experienced event planner looking for resource links, you’re in the right spot! Check out the Girl Scout Event Planning Guide for everything you need to know. You can also check out additional support resources in the Service Unit – Planning Events section of the […]
Budget Worksheet for Girl Scout Events
Use this worksheet to build your budget for an event and then submit the first part when filling out the Event Notification form. (If you prefer, you may submit a budget in another format with the same information.) This worksheet walks you through the steps to determine an appropriate participation fee. It also provides a […]
Evaluating Air Quality
Download a printable version of this resource here. An important part of program planning includes considering environmental concerns that could affect health and safety of members and volunteers. In Northern California, this means evaluating the air quality in your area during thesummer and fall months. If there is a wildfire close enough to a program […]
Event Flyer
How to Create an Effective Girl Scout Event Flyer A well-designed flyer can spark excitement and boost attendance for your next Girl Scout event. Whether you’re planning a badge workshop, camp experience, or fun meeting, use this as a guide to ensure your flyer is clear, informative, and fun! Step 1: Gather All the Essential […]
Service Unit Delegates
Service Unit Delegate Roster – 2026
Below is the roster of service unit delegates for the 2026 Annual Meeting. The nomination period was November 1 – December 7, 2025. Service units with contested races will vote for their service unit delegate during the election period, January 5-20, 2026. The election results will be added to the roster by February 2026. Service […]
Service Unit Delegate Voter Guide – 2026
2026 Election The 2026 service unit delegate election will run January 5 – 20, 2026. Adult and youth members age 14 and older are eligible to elect delegates for their service unit. Service unit delegates (age 14 and older by the end of elections in January) serve a one-year term as a key communication link […]
Council Governance Overview
Overview Membership engagement is a key part of Girl Scouts of Northern California’s strategy as we strive to honor the voice of our membership. Our governance system is comprised of elected and/or appointed delegates (age 14 and older) who serve as voting members of the council. Serving as a delegate is a key way for […]
Service Unit Delegate Allotment
GSNorCal’s Bylaws Article I, Section 4 a. Each Service Unit shall be entitled to elect one or more Service Unit Delegates based on the total number of Girls registered in the Service Unit, as of September 30 of the year preceding the Annual Meeting. The formula is noncumulative and is as follows: one (1) delegate […]
Service Unit Finances
Budget Worksheet for Girl Scout Events
Use this worksheet to build your budget for an event and then submit the first part when filling out the Event Notification form. (If you prefer, you may submit a budget in another format with the same information.) This worksheet walks you through the steps to determine an appropriate participation fee. It also provides a […]
Example Service Unit Financial Documentation Forms
Linked on this page is an example deposit slip and an example reimbursement / payment request form that service units can use for documenting their financial transactions. Service units should adapt these examples as needed to meet their needs.
Pass-Through Gifts and Fiscal Sponsorship Defined
Pass-Through. When a donor designates a charitable gift to a specific service unit or troop, this gift is considered a pass-through, as it “passes through” the council’s administrative offices and then is directly awarded to the service unit or troop. Monetary donations of $250 or more must be received by the council to comply with IRS […]
Resources – Finance Reports
Troop Finance Reports Service Unit Finance Reports