Girl Scouts of River Bluffs Council
#4 Ginger Creek Parkway,
Glen Carbon, IL 62034 - (618) 692-0692 - (800) 345-6858 - Fax: (618) 692-0685Girl Scouts of River Bluffs Council
Approved by the Board of Directors – July 20, 2005 - Amended by Board of Directors May 21, 2008
Program Policies and Standards
• A policy is an accepted rule and binding upon all members of the organization.
• Standards are recommended practices and guidelines to help insure high-quality
program and uniformity throughout the council.
The program standards and activity checkpoints in the 2000 edition of Safety-Wise are adopted as policies and standards respectively, of Girl Scouts of River Bluffs Council. The following outlines the additions and/or modifications to Safety-Wise that meet the needs of the council membership.
Council-Owned Properties
POLICY:
No pets are allowed on council-owned property.
No hunting, firearms, or weapons are allowed on council-owned property.
No fireworks or liquid fuels are allowed on council-owned property.
Fishing without a license is not permitted on council-owned property. Children under 16 years of age do not need a license to fish.
No alcoholic beverages are allowed on council-owned property without prior approval of the Board of Directors.
No illegal drugs allowed on council-owned property.
No individual is allowed on council camp properties without a reservation or prior approval of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) or her designee.
Water Related Activities
POLICY:
For all aquatic activities, Safety-Wise and the Waterfront Procedures and Safety Regulations must be followed.
Financial Assistance
POLICY:
• Financial assistance is available for girls and adults who would not otherwise be able to
participate in the Girl Scout program. For simplicity, the measure for financial need will be the
current Illinois Income Guidelines used for the school lunch program. Extenuating circum-
stances will be considered.
STANDARD:
• INDIVIDUAL GIRL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE may be granted for:
National membership registration
Troop/Group dues - $20.00 maximum
Council approved day or resident camp registration fees and transportation costs may be given for no more than a one-week opportunity per girl in any calendar year.
Fee for council-sponsored events that are offered to individual Girl Scouts.
Brownie through Girl Scouts 11-17 may request appropriate level sash and insignia (council and GSUSA patches, troop/group numbers) one time per program level. Equivalent monies may be used toward the purchase of a vest, if desired.
destination applicants who meet the criteria outlined in the financial assistance guidelines may receive monies based on eligibility and availability of funds.
• TROOP/GROUP FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE may be granted for:
Those new troops/groups organized after the annual cookie sale may request a loan. This loan should be refunded to the council financial assistance program within 6 months.
When troop/group funds have been mismanaged (excluding uncollectible cookie money) a loan may be requested. This loan should be refunded to the council financial assistance program should the money be retrieved.
• ADULT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE may be granted for:
National membership registration.
Registration fee for a council approved training/enrichment opportunity.
THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM does not cover:
• Fee for troop/group based program
• Fee for council-sponsored events for troops/groups
• Uniforms - Books
• Extended trips
Troop / Group Money-Earning
POLICY:
All money earning projects must be approved by the Neighborhood Chair before being conducted.
Participation in the cookie sale is a prerequisite for approval of any money-earning activities, financial assistance and/or camperships unless the troop/group was formed after the product sale.
Raffles/Games of chance are not acceptable money-earning projects.
Troops/Groups and neighborhood associations may not solicit business, community groups or individuals for financial support. Gifts-in-kind may be solicited from local businesses.
Troop/Group money-earning projects must not be scheduled during the ordering and delivery days of the council cookie sale.
Neighborhoods and troops/groups may not apply for nor accept grant funding.
Debt
POLICY:
A debt is any money or product owed to Girl Scouts of River Bluffs Council, a bank or outside vendor that has not been resolved within two weeks of it being brought to the attention of the debtor (River Bluffs or its designee). This includes any product sales (cookies, nuts and candy, etc.), equipment, insignia, registration fees or insufficient funds checks returned to the council. Debt resides with an individual not a troop or service unit.
A person owing a debt to Girl Scouts of River Bluffs Council, a bank or outside vendor, in the name of Girl Scouts, for more than 60 days (2 months) will be removed immediately from all adult volunteer position(s) currently held in the council. If the entire debt is paid or if the obligation of the Repayment Agreement is satisfied within six months, the individual will be considered for reinstatement to a volunteer position one year after the debt has been repaid. Request for reinstatement will be reviewed and approved by a committee. If approved, money handling restrictions will be enacted per the committee.
If contact is made within the first 60 days with council personnel regarding resolution of the debt, the troop may participate in Girl Scout functions which will require payment by cash, money order or cashier check.
A person incurring a second debt to the council, a bank, or outside vendor will be removed immediately from any and all adult volunteer position(s) and barred from holding any future volunteer positions with Girl Scouts of River Bluffs Council.
Girl Scouts of River Bluffs Council reserves the right to prosecute any violations to the fullest extent of the law.
POLICY:
Any funds collected in the name of Girl Scouts by individuals, troops/groups, neighborhoods or districts shall be reported to the council on an annual basis or upon request.
All troops/groups must open and maintain a checking account to reflect money earned/acquired/donated in the name of Girl Scouts.
If a troop/group disbands and there are unspent funds, the account is closed and the funds and records are submitted to the council for future disbursement.
All troop/group checking accounts must have a minimum of 2 authorized signers with one of these being the service area neighborhood chair.
STANDARD:
All troops/groups will open accounts at preferred banks listed by the council.
Contracts / Liability Release forms
POLICY:
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and/or her authorized designee must approve and sign contracts and liability forms for Girl Scout activities conducted on the troop/group, neighborhood and council level.
POLICY:
Proof of insurance for non-Girl Scout facilities is required for troops/groups participating in the following activities:
Hayrides Skiing Challenge Courses
Horseback Riding Rental Vehicles Watercraft (boating, sailing, canoeing, bumper boat)
Swimming Roller-skating Snowboarding
Theme/Water Parks Ice Skating Rock or Wall Climbing/Rappelling
Go-Carting
The minimum amount of insurance required of sites offering these activities is $1,000,000 liability coverage, as recommended by the council’s insurance company.
POLICY:
All vehicles being used for Girl Scout activities must have the minimum amount of insurance required in the state of Illinois: $20,000 bodily injury; $40,000 each accident; and $15,000 property damage.
A vehicle log must be completed for all rented vehicles and/or chartered bus service and returned to the council.
STANDARD:
Girl Scouts of River Bluffs Council strongly recommends that the minimum amount of insurance coverage carried on private vehicles be $100,000 bodily injury; $300,000 each accident; $25,000 property damage; and $5,000 medical payments.
Troop / Group Travel
POLICY:
Girl Scout troops/groups planning trips lasting 3 or more nights (excluding holidays) or that exceed 175 miles one-way of hometown, must have prior approval from their neighborhood chair and the council program staff. The troop/group leader must complete specialized training prior to applying for an extended trip permit.
When an adult male is serving as a driver on a Girl Scout activity, a non-related adult female must accompany the group in the vehicle.
Booster seats for children under 8 years when provided by parents are required.
STANDARD:
When transporting girls, it is strongly recommended that two non-related adults accompany the girls
whether on a local field trip or an extended trip.
Use of booster seats for children under 8 years old is encouraged.
All drivers are encouraged to become registered members of the Girl Scout organization.
STANDARD:
While it is strongly recommended that the guidelines in Safety-Wise for the size and composition of troops/groups be followed, exceptions may be made based on factors such as site limitations, leadership experience, and availability of girls. These exceptions may only be made after consultation with the neighborhood chair(s).
When leading girls, it is strongly recommended that a minimum of two (2) non-related adults be present at each meeting or activity.
GSRBC 7/20/05 f:/board / WORD / Program Policies Revised 72005 / Amended May 21, 2008
This page last edited on Thursday October 01, 2009.