The La Vernia/Stockdale Service Unit is part of
the Mission Trails Association, which is part of
Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas Council (GSSWT),
Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA),
and the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS).
World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) was founded in 1928. It is an educational organization for girls that consist of approximately 140 national Girl Guide/Girl Scout organizations with a total membership of over 10 million. All Girl Guide/Girl Scout organizations must adhere to the principles found in the Promise and Law to be members of the WAGGGS.
Girl Scouts of the United States of America
Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) is located at 420 Fifth Avenue in New York City. All Girl Scout members in Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas (GSSWT) jurisdiction are members of the national Girl Scout movement. National membership dues are $10 annually per girl or adult member. The Girl Scout membership year runs from October 1 to September 30. Registered members are covered by activity insurance through Mutual of Omaha.
GSUSA charters local Girl Scout councils, provides training for staff and volunteers, program resources, national public relations support, equipment service support, and management guidance.
Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas
GSSWT is one of 319 councils nationwide chartered by GSUSA. Each council is guided by the Mission of Girl Scouting: Girl Scouting builds girls of confidence, courage and character, who make the world a better place.
Each council is its own incorporated 501c (3) not-for-profit organization. The board of directors hires the Chief Operating Officer who oversees the hiring of employed staff and the implementation of the yearly plan of work. Employed staff provides support and direction to volunteers and work with them in partnership to provide Girl Scout opportunities for all girls in and around the San Antonio area.
GSSWT Associations
Girl Scout associations are your link to the council board of directors for influencing the direction of and improving the quality of Girl Scouting! Our council’s 60 service units are grouped into eight associations. All adult volunteers and girls age 14 and older are considered members of an association. Members meet twice a year, generally in October and January, to hear important council news, elect delegates to the annual council meeting in May and help give direction to the work of the council by responding to discussion topics.
Service Units
Service units are geographic subdivisions of the council usually centered around a middle school. All schools that feed into middle school are part of that service unit, as are any private schools that are physically within the feeder school area. In outlying areas, the service unit is named by the counties or communities served. There are 60 service units in 21 counties served by GSSWT. A professional staff member called Membership Development Executive (MDE) is assigned to each service unit.
Troops
Troops are the basic unit of Girl Scouting, consisting of girls, adult leaders, and troop committee members. Troops are formed according to six levels:
Girl Scout Daisies
are in kindergarten and first grades.
Girl Scout Brownies
are in second and third grades.
Girl Scout Juniors
are in fourth and fifth grades.
Girl Scout Cadettes
are in sixth, seventh, and eighth grades.
Girl Scout Seniors
are in ninth and tenth grades.
Girl Scout Ambassadors
are in eleventh and twelfth grades.