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Q. How many meetings does a girl have to attend before she can be invested?

Number of meetings before being invested

A. When a Girl Scout is invested she receives the membership pin appropriate for that program level. Wearing the membership pin signifies the fulfillment of membership requirements.

Membership requirements are:

has made the Girl Scout Promise and accepted the Girl Scout Law;
has paid annual membership dues;
meets applicable membership standards
Applicable membership standards are the age and grade for the Girl Scout Program level the girl is in.

A girl is invested during an investiture ceremony and is defined in the handbook as a way to welcome someone into Girl Scouting for the first time. While the number of meetings a girl must attend before being invested is not stated, investiture is usually planned when the girl(s) have had the opportunity to learn the Girl Scout Promise and learn about the Girl Scout Law as well as fulfilling the above mentioned membership requirements.

Rededication often accompanies an Investiture ceremony and is for Girl Scouts who have already been invested. It is a time to renew their Girl Scout Promise and Law. Many girls do this at the beginning and the end of the troop year. Example: If a girl new to Brownie Girl Scouts was invested as a Daisy Girl Scout then she is not again invested but rededicated. The treasured "twist me and turn me" usually considered part of the Brownie investiture can still happen because the new Brownie Girl Scout then goes to join the rest of the group after that part of the ceremony and is then rededicated versus invested. When Daisy Girl Scouts bridge to Brownies they often receive their Brownie Girl Scout pin because they officially become Brownies at the bridging, giving further credibility to the rededication.

Note: Adults joining Girl Scouts for the first time in their lives are also invested with the pin worn in the adult level of Girl Scouts. They do not wear the pin associated with the girl level of Girl Scouting they may be working with. If the adult was ever before invested into Girl Scouts either as a girl or as an adult they are not invested again, even with a lapse in membership, sometimes over a period of years. They are rededicated.

Q. Does a girl have to have a uniform before she can be invested?

A. A girl never has to have a uniform. Wearing the pin is considered to be "in uniform" and she receives her pin when she is invested.

Q. Does a girl have to complete the bridging steps for her level before she can bridge?

A.There is a recognition for all program levels which girls may earn by completing the requirements if they so choose. For Daisy Girl Scouts it is the Bridge to Brownies; Brownie Girl Scouts it is the Bridge to Juniors; Junior Girl Scouts it is the Bridge to Cadettes; Cadette Girl Scouts it is the Bridge to Seniors; Senior Girl Scouts it is the Bridge to Adults.

If the Girl Scout has not completed the requirements for the earned recognition, she still participates in the Bridging Ceremony and receives the appropriate membership pin for the next program level since the Bridging Ceremony recognizes all who are moving into the next program level because of grade or age. The additional bridging recognition at each level can assist in the bridging by acquainting girls with the program at the next level and is an optional choice which the girl(s) can choose to earn. A girl would have to complete the bridging steps in order to receive the Bridging Patch for that level, but she can register at the higher level regardless of whether she completes the steps or not. All girls who move from Brownies to Juniors receive the wings whether they complete the bridging steps or not.

Q. Can I wear the year stars and the 5 year or 10 year pins at the same time on my uniform?

A. (This answers is from GSUSA's website which is the most current.) The guard numerals show the total number of years (not necessarily continuous or consecutive) of registered membership, both as a girl and an adult, in any Girl Scout/Girl Guide organization. A five-year numeral guard replaces five stars; a ten-year one, ten stars. The guard attaches to the Girl Scout Membership Pin, regular or miniature size.

For more information on Girl Scout Insignias check out their Awards, Badges, and Other Insignia page.

Q: What banks are troops allowed to use when establishing a troop checking account?

A. Troops can open an account with any bank they choose. SunTrust, Riggs or Chevy Chase banks have agreed to allow troops to bank for free (no fees). Sometimes other banks will also allow the troops free banking, but it is the discretion of the branch manager at that bank. Please also review Green Pages 2000 Chapter 3, pages 2-3 on how to establish a troop checking account.

Q: When writing Daisies, is it spelled Daisies or Daisys? We have seen it both ways and are not speaking of when you write Daisy Girl Scouts.

A. When referencing Daisies in the plural when not writing Daisy Girl Scouts (the preferred way according to Sr. Editor, Print Production at GSUSA) it should be written Daisies and NOT Daisys.

Q: I'm in the process of planning our activities for the year. I can't seem to find when Thinking Day is this year. Can you give me the date, please?

A. Thinking Day is one of those "Special" Girl Scout Days and is always February 22 as the mutual birthdates of Lord and Lady Baden Powell, he being founder of Boy Scouts and she World Chief Guide of WAGGGS.

However, since Feb. 22 falls on various days of the week, troops, groups, service units plan any joint activities on a date that works for most and when space might be available. So when is Thinking Day? The answer is always Feb. 22. When is it celebrated? Is whenever those you are associated with plan and schedule it.

Q: Hello! We are Junior Troop #000 and would like to begin planning a troop trip to Savannah, Georgia for Spring 2001. Does the council have any material that would help us in our planning efforts? We were told that there was a "Savannah" packet of information available, but have not been able to locate anything like that. Any help you can give us would be most appreciated. Thank you!

A. Please refer to Green Pages 2000, Chapter 5, page 2 for information and instructions. The Birthplace Bound planning book is requested from the Birthplace as stated in Green Pages along with the other planning information you need. When you contact the Birthplace please have considered dates in mind so they can tell you the availability.

Please also refer to Chapter 5, page 1 regarding the required Troop Trip Training and Chapter 8, page 24 regarding the Intent to Travel Form.

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