Adult Volunteer Policies

All adult volunteers shall be selected on the basis of ability and willingness to perform the volunteer position.  Volunteers must attend training, and qualify for membership in GSUSA.

An adult who seeks to act as a volunteer in GSCSNJ is required to complete a volunteer application.  The GSCSNJ screening process appropriate for the position must be completed before a volunteer appointment is made.

All adult volunteers must be registered members of GSUSA and agree to abide by the policies and principles of GSUSA and GSCSNJ.  Volunteers are required to pay annual membership dues, except those who are lifetime members or who are volunteering in a temporary capacity (advisory, program or consultative).

GSCSNJ does not discriminate against volunteers in relationship to any opportunities or benefits associated with volunteering for GSCSNJ on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, disability and veteran status, or any other classification protected by applicable law, except in the limited instances where such considerations are bona fide qualifications for the volunteer position permitted by law.

Volunteers shall be appointed for a term not to exceed one year. Volunteer appointment is based on the needs of GSCSNJ and on volunteer qualifications/skills.

GSCSNJ maintains a comprehensive volunteer management system which includes volunteer evaluations.  Volunteers will be reappointed to the same position or rotated to a different position by their Service Unit or GSCSNJ staff.  Reappointment is based on past performance, adherence to GSCSNJ and GSUSA policies and standards, and GSCSNJ goals.

Each volunteer will be provided with an overview of the Girl Scout mission and organization, and with information about GSCSNJ, and the support systems available to help them in their appointed position.

All volunteers will receive basic training for their position and will be required to complete training for that position in a specified time frame. Training will provide each volunteer with the knowledge and skills needed to be successful in her/his appointed position.

Volunteers who are GSCSNJ members are protected under the GSUSA sponsored Activity Accident Insurance basic coverage.

GSCSNJ has commercial general liability insurance and non-owned automobile liability insurance to protect volunteers against claims and suits made against them while performing their official duties on behalf of the GSCSNJ. The non-owned automobile liability insurance applies excess of the volunteer’s personal automobile liability insurance policy.  Also there are Federal and state volunteer protection laws which may provide protection from claims arising from a volunteer’s official duties on behalf of GSCSNJ.

Volunteers are the lifeblood of the Girl Scout Movement and will be given appropriate recognition for outstanding service to GSCSNJ consistent with the GSUSA publication Adult Recognitions in Girl Scouting.

An individual volunteer, or administrative volunteer to whom he/she reports, or GSCSNJ staff, may initiate separation of service prior to the end of the term of appointment.  GSCSNJ reserves the right, exercised through its CEO, to terminate a volunteer appointment at any time when such termination would be in the best interests of GSCSNJ.  The CEO’s decision may be appealed to the Chair of the Board whose decision shall be final.

GSCSNJ maintains an open door policy regarding volunteer concerns and problems.  Problem resolution is a systematic, documented process, which insures the objective and orderly handling of volunteer grievances.  Complaints will be thoroughly and promptly investigated.  No one making a complaint will be subjected to any form of retaliation.

All Girl Scout funds shall be used solely for the development, maintenance and support of the Girl Scout program.

Anyone handling GSCSNJ funds is accountable in accordance with applicable state and federal laws, GSUSA policies and standards and GSCSNJ policies and procedures.

All Girl Scout units must open and maintain a GSCSNJ linked bank checking account for the deposit and withdrawal of Girl Scout funds.

No Girl Scout unit is authorized to establish any terms of credit, i.e. credit card.

The act of paying for goods and/or services with a check or other financial instrument that will not be honored by the GSCSNJ depository and the non payment of any product program debt is considered unlawful and fraudulent.  As such, GSCSNJ will pursue all debts vigorously.  GSCSNJ will also seek to collect its costs of collection and delay from such debtors, including but not limited to, attorneys fees and post-judgment interest.

A Girl Scout unit may enter into contracts and/or agreements as long as they do not name GSCSNJ as a party to the agreement.

If there are expenses which a Girl Scout unit needs in order to supplement a Girl Scout program activity, funds may be obtained through approved money earning activities. These activities may only occur at a time other than any product program campaign.

All troop money earning activities require approval by the Service Unit Manager and GSCSNJ staff.

All money earning activities must be approved by GSCSNJ through the Gold/ Silver award application approval process.

GSCSNJ is incorporated as a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization.  Therefore, only donations given to GSCSNJ are tax deductible.  This means that no Girl Scout unit has any individual tax exempt status.

GSCSNJ recognizes that donation opportunities from GSCSNJ defined sources exist within local communities that may not be available or appropriate for the council to pursue.  Each service unit may receive such donations from such defined sources up to $1,000 per year.  Individual troops/groups may receive such donations from such defined sources up to $500 per year.

Troops/groups and independent girls must participate in all product program campaigns prior to accepting donations.
 

In order to maintain records for the IRS, and to provide consistency in reporting and thanking contributors, any checks received by a Girl Scout unit must be submitted to the council for deposit.

Funds from disbanded troops are to be used by the service unit or council to restart a troop, apportioned to other troops if girls are placed with existing troops or to provide benefit for service unit or girl activities.

Any confidential information acquired while performing official duties should be carefully guarded and treated as such.

 All media inquires must be directed to the Communications Department or the CEO.  Only designated individuals are authorized to respond to such inquiries and speak on behalf of GSCSNJ or any Girl Scout unit within GSCSNJ.

 All Board members shall avoid engaging in any actions involving a conflict of interest or actions that would appear to be a conflict of interest.

Use of prescription or over-the-counter drugs in a manner other than as prescribed by a physician or the manufacturer is prohibited.

Use of illegal drugs is prohibited.

Alcohol is prohibited at all girl activities in Girl Scouting.

Smoking is prohibited in the presence of girls and limited to designated smoking areas.

GSCSNJ supports and maintains environments that are free of child abuse and neglect and free from risk of sexual predators.

GSCSNJ reserves the right to refuse membership, dismiss, or refuse affiliation with any volunteer who is an excluded sex offender under Megan’s Law or who has a person living in their home who is an excluded sex offender.

GSCSNJ strives to maintain an environment of open communication.  Any grievance related to assignments or working conditions should be brought by volunteers to their immediate supervisor. GSCSNJ shall not take or tolerate any retaliatory action (e.g. demotion, suspension, termination or other retaliatory action) against any employee or volunteer who: discloses or threatens to disclose to a supervisor or public body a practice or policy of the employer which the employee or volunteer reasonably believes to be in violation of the law; provides information to, or testifies before, any public investigatory body conducting an investigation into alleged violations of the law by the employer; or, objects to or refuses to participate in any policy or practice which the employee or volunteer reasonably believes is illegal, fraudulent, or is against a clear mandate of public policy concerning public health, safety or welfare. 

GSCSNJ prohibits harassment based on sex, race, national origin, religion, age, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, and other classifications protected by applicable law.  

Harassment of any employee or volunteer by anyone, including any supervisor, co-worker, volunteer, Girl Scout member, any third party donor or vendor of GSCSNJ, will not be tolerated.