Home › Forums › Open Discussion › W.S. Girl Scouts problems ???
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November 1, 2011 at 12:35 pm #601088
smokeycretin9ParticipantTwo weeks ago my 8y.o. and I attended a informational thing at the library on Delridge because she has been asking for the last year to join Girl Scouts.
Before that night we have been emailing and emailing the local reps trying to get into a troop with no results.
Now, the rep who was putting on the info night has taken our registration money and info and we were told someone would contact us within a week or two. But no one has.
Is all the troops full? Is there some problem? Do we stink?
There is a little girl over here who keeps asking and asking when we will ever go to a meeting or join a troop. this is getting silly.
November 1, 2011 at 2:36 pm #739349
luckymom30ParticipantSounds familiar.
November 1, 2011 at 2:53 pm #739350
karenParticipantYou may look into starting your own group. It was my experience that there was no troop to join so a parent stepped up and started one.
November 1, 2011 at 2:57 pm #739351
luckymom30ParticipantWe were told to start our own troop and you would be surprised how many other girls want to join scouting. If you have the time it is a great experience.
November 1, 2011 at 4:02 pm #739352
smokeycretin9ParticipantI can look into it, but spare time for our family is at a premium most of the year.
My biggest concern was that they took our money after sitting thru info meeting and still getting same results that we have been getting for the last year.
a fool and his money are soon parted I guess.
November 1, 2011 at 5:12 pm #739353
queseraMemberKeep contacting them. I have confidence that they want to help parents pull things together. Keep in mind, however, that Girl Scouts is not the kind of program where you drop your daughter off and stay hands-off. If you don’t have time to be an active troop mom, you’re putting all the pressure on the other parents. Girl Scout troops require parental involvement or they will fail.
November 1, 2011 at 5:24 pm #739354
rockergirl5678ParticipantDid you get a name and contact info. from the person who registered you? If not I would call the “council” headquarters here in Seattle and talk to them – Good luck, as a former leader and lifetime scout I can tell you it is well worth the time to volunteer and they have great programs and camps here locally.
https://www.girlscoutsww.org/Pages/default.aspx
Membership Registrar, Seattle(800) 767-6845
November 1, 2011 at 7:46 pm #739355
SybilParticipantA similar thing happened to me. I ended up so frustrated I stopped trying.
November 1, 2011 at 9:09 pm #739356
luckymom30ParticipantMaybe you could contact your daughters school or the PTSA president for help and get a flyer out at the school and I bet you would have alot of girls wanting to join.
November 1, 2011 at 9:12 pm #739357
ChinookGSMemberHello to all! Girl Scouting IS a wonderful experience for girls and I’m sorry for your frustration. While I’m not the person in charge of recruiting or placement, I do have a leadership role and will do my very best to intercede if you’ll contact me directly. For everyone, in our two-income, busy, busy lives, it is often a challenge to place girls when there aren’t sufficient volunteers and I appreciate the positive comments to that end posted here. As well, parents must also realize that the perfect location, day & time of meetings may not always mesh with the troops with openings, so some flexibility is also required in order to get a proper placement. We do our very best, especially our volunteers who dedicate so much of themselves to the advancement & leadership development of local girls. Again, please feel free to contact me directly if I can be of some assistance. Yours in Girl Scouting!
November 3, 2011 at 8:34 pm #739358
smokeycretin9ParticipantI guess I will contact you ChinookGS. My wife tried again the local email contact to no avail.
I wonder if daughter would be interested in Soccer instead?
November 3, 2011 at 9:20 pm #739359
GenHillOneParticipantUmmm, contact ChinookGS how? By osmosis? Psychic? Smoke signal? Looks like an important piece of info is missing. I feel your pain, smokeycretin9.
November 4, 2011 at 5:29 am #739360
smokeycretin9Participanttrying telepathy as we speak. Try telling your 8 year old daughter that she really isnt a Girl Scout yet. Or that she does not have a troop to join.
This is just sad. I am willing to give as much volunteer time to HELP out another established group, but there is no way I can start one myself.
November 4, 2011 at 6:00 am #739361
CaitParticipantI really liked Camp Fire as a kid! She might enjoy that if scouting doesn’t turn out.
November 4, 2011 at 3:18 pm #739362
GinaParticipantMy nieces enjoyed the Y Indian Guides program through the YMCA, (now called Y Guides and Westerners) when Girl Scouting didn’t work out for them.
November 4, 2011 at 3:19 pm #739363
luckymom30ParticipantBeen there done that, we too had to tell our then 8 year old daughter that there was not one troop available for just one more little girl. We like Sybil gave up. Fast forward 3 years our daughter would still like to be part of a troop but once again no troops are available.
November 4, 2011 at 3:25 pm #739364
GinaParticipanthttps://www.facebook.com/GirlScoutsWW
There is a GSWW facebook page. If you fb you might want to leave a message on their page.
November 4, 2011 at 3:29 pm #739365
luckymom30ParticipantWhat is the age range for the Y program?
November 6, 2011 at 6:33 am #739366
smokeycretin9Participantok, Facebook posted and headquarters emailed. Nothing…..
tonight at dinner, topic was brought up. Daughter was in tears because she has not been placed in troop yet. I am going to lose it soon.
November 6, 2011 at 6:38 am #739367
smokeycretin9Participanthate to say it, but do we dare BOYCOTT Girl Scout Cookies this year?
November 6, 2011 at 1:35 pm #739368
shihtzuParticipantThat is irritating that they’re not getting back to you. However, the parents of just about every new girl scout I’ve known in the past few years have had to start their own troop if they wanted to join. Very popular!
A relative of mine is getting ready to start a new group for her youngest. Kind of funny since she’s sooooo not a troop leader type, but…her kid wants to do it and it was the only way.
I’m going to have to figure out what to do with my boy in a year or so. I wish Girl Scouts accepted boys!
Good luck. I’m annoyed for you :)
November 6, 2011 at 4:00 pm #739369
Talaki34ParticipantDo you know why she is so focused on Girl Scouts? Is there something that they offer in particular that she is interested in, but might be found elsewhere? Is it because all her friends have joined or is she trying to fit in? Unfortunately you may have entered in to the “I can’t have it, so now it becomes paramount that I get it or I will die zone” that most kids go through.
I am so sorry that you and your daughter have to deal with this. I would follow others advice and try to interest her in one of the other programs. I myself was a YWCA kid and I loved it.
November 6, 2011 at 6:59 pm #739370
rockergirl5678ParticipantAs a longtime Girl Scout – from the 4th grade on and as an adult (lifetime member) I know it does take time and patience to form troops and recruit leaders. I feel fortunate to be involved and participate in this wonderful organization. The leaders and girls whom I met growing up definitely made a big difference in my life.
I started a troop when my daughter was in kindergarten with several other mothers – some from my daughters school and some from the “waiting list” (girls who hadn’t found a troop). We operated our troop as a sort of “co-op troop” – 2 leaders and parent committee – so one parent wasn’t responsible for all of the various tasks needed to run a group.
We all took jobs and spent time planning meetings, events, outings, fundraising, etc. and this worked out very well. Also as the girls got older they took on many of the responsibilities of planning and leading the program. That is part of the beauty of programs such as scouting – it teaches young women how to become leaders, gives them confidence, builds self esteem and allows them to participate and be part of many different experiences.
While I sense frustration from the original poster and some others I want to point out it seems like only a short period of time has passed since you posted and having some patience will hopefully pay off in the end. In the meantime talk with other parents at your daughters school and consider starting a troop for her and others (on the waiting list)- it’s obvious there is a need and it will be well worth the many wonderful memories you will make. If you would like to learn more about the program I know there are leaders meetings and trainings available locally as well.
November 6, 2011 at 8:49 pm #739371
anotherwsmomParticipantI’ve tried contacting Girl Scouts as well. It’s been about 6 months now. The only problem with your suggestion Rockergirl5678, is that we can’t start a troop, invite wait-listed girls, and move forward without information from Girl Scouts, right? An official troop needs to be recognized and aided by Girl Scouts who WON’T RETURN ANY EMAILS OR PHONE CALLS.
Up until now, I didn’t know anyone had given the organization money and then continued to be frozen out. That is highly suspicious, especially for an organization such as Girl Scouts. Maybe it’s time some light was shed on the problem.
November 6, 2011 at 11:02 pm #739372
goodgracesParticipantWow, very eye-opening. Such dysfunction in an organization that I always assumed was top-notch. I will think once, twice, three times before pursuing GS when our daughter gets old enough.
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