How Girls Can Help Their Country Part 3

Officers of the Local Organization

A Commissioner. The duties of a Commissioner are:

To inspect companies and patrols and advise how to conduct them according to the principles found in the Handbook.

To secure the harmonious co-operation of all the captains in the district.

To be the authority for recommending the issue or the denial of captains' certificates before they are sent to Headquarters.

To foster the movement generally throughout the district. (Where there is no Secretary, the Commissioner must organize the examinations for Merit Badges.)

To forward the semi-annual reports to Headquarters.

A Secretary. The duty of a Secretary is to be the local executive officer.

She shall have charge of Headquarters and other property of the local organization.

She shall have a general supervision of the captains and instruct new captains in their duties.

She shall keep a record of all the troops, the names and addresses of the captains and the councilors of Girl Scouts, and such other information in regard to them as may be necessary for her work. She shall receive all the applications for Girl Scout captains' certificates and send these applications to Headquarters. Where a local council exists, all applications must be approved by the local council.

She shall render a report at the regular meetings of the local board of councilors on the condition and progress of the Girl Scouts.

She shall notify all the members of the annual, regular, and special meetings.

She shall attend all the public meetings connected with the organization.

A Treasurer. The duties of a Treasurer:

She shall keep an itemized account of all receipts and disburs.e.m.e.nts in a book, and present a written report at the regular meeting of the board of councilors.

She shall pay only those bills that have been signed by the Commissioner and Secretary.

She shall make an annual report and produce the vouchers which shall be submitted to an auditor at least one week before the annual meeting.

All the local organization's funds shall pa.s.s through her hands.

A Captain. The duties of a Captain:

The captain has the power to enroll Scouts and to recommend them to the local committee for badges and medals. She also has the power to release a Scout from her promise, and to withdraw her badges at any time, and to discharge her. A Scout who considers herself unjustly treated may appeal to the local council. Their decision shall be final.

The captain must apply to National Headquarters for an official certificate. Her application must be accompanied by the names of two prominent citizens, and in places where a local council is established her application must be sent through the local council or court of honor and be endorsed by one member of the council.

The qualifications for a captain shall be:

A general knowledge of the Handbook for Girl Scouts.

A full appreciation of the religious and moral aim underlying the practical instruction of the entire scheme of training.

Personal standing and character such as will insure a good moral influence over the girls, and sufficient steadfastness of purpose to carry out the work with energy and perseverance.

Age not less than twenty-one years.

A captain is a.s.sumed to have pa.s.sed the first-cla.s.s Scout Test. She wears the all-round cords, if she prefers to do so, instead of putting on all the separate badges as the girls do.

Captains may join the Red Cross or any other organization or club.

Officers' certificates must be returned if the officer resigns or if the certificate is cancelled, as these are the property of the President.

A Lieutenant:

The duties of a lieutenant are the same as those of a captain in the absence of the captain. She is chosen by the captain to work with her, and must be over eighteen years of age. Lieutenants may wear captains'

badges after pa.s.sing the first-cla.s.s test.

A Patrol Leader is selected in each patrol by the girls themselves (or, if the girls desire it, by the captain). She holds her office for six months or a year. The girls are apt to select the right girl for the place.

The patrol leader must be what her name implies, "A Leader," for she stands next to the captain and lieutenant, and takes either place in their absence. The patrol must not look upon her as a "Boss." This feeling must not enter into the patrol affairs at all, but the girls must remember that they have put her there, and they must do all they can to uphold her and support her in the work. If she is the right sort of girl no such feeling will arise. If a patrol leader gives an order that a Girl Scout does not like or think fair, the Scout must obey the order, but later on she may talk it over with her patrol leader. If, still, she is dissatisfied, she may go to her captain, who must decide the matter. If the patrol leader is not a good officer, the captain may reduce her to Scout rank and have another election.

The patrol leader appoints one of her girls as a Corporal, who takes her place when she is absent, and a.s.sists her in keeping the patrol leader's books.

The duties of the patrol leader are to call the roll and keep a record of attendance of her patrol.

The patrol leader keeps a record of the dues. Patrol leaders' registers may be obtained at Headquarters.

The patrol leader is responsible for leaving the club room in perfect order. She may have her corporal a.s.sist her in tidying up, or she may choose some girls to help her.

Patrol Officers:

Each patrol selects its own secretary or scribe.

The duties of a secretary: To keep a record of what is done at the meetings; to receive and answer letters.

Patrol Nurse. The duty of a patrol nurse is to take care of any accidents to the girls during a hike or a picnic. She should possess a first-aid kit.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE THREE GRADES OF GIRL SCOUTS

The Tests