Volunteer Essentials 2014-15 | Page 169

1. Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania (GSWPA) provides a Board Resolution authorizing troop/group/service unit volunteers to open and maintain accounts on behalf of the troop/group/service unit. The Board Resolution also allows for GSWPA to make account inquiries and close accounts if necessary. 2. Troop funds are only to be used for Girl Scout-related activities, which are based on girl-led decision making. 3. Those assuming stewardship of any Girl Scout monies within the jurisdiction of GSWPA are accountable to the council for those funds and must comply with the following:  All adults handling or managing funds must be registered members and have completed the application and screening process for their position and have been reappointed.  The troop leader, or their designee with troop leader oversight, is responsible for maintaining records and preparing reports that reflect the status of the troop/group funds. 4. All troops or groups who handle $25 or more annually are required to have a bank checking account. 5. Troops may only have one bank account. Service units may only have one bank account. 6. Travel Clubs may open a bank account under these same procedures. 7. Indie Girl Scouts may not have bank accounts. 8. Troops/groups may use checks and/or debit cards as necessary. Please see the operating procedure titled Debit Cards. 9. GSWPA staff will authorize the troop/group/service unit volunteer to open a bank account via a letter and a board resolution. Please see the forms section of our website for details on how to request a letter and board resolution. 10. A bank should be located that offers no-fee accounts for non-profit organizations. This varies from branch to branch. 11. The account must have a minimum of three signatures authorized on the account—two registered and approved non-related adults from the troop/group and one from the service team. Adults must not be living within the same household or related to one another. 12. The designated signers are authorized to deposit and withdraw monies from the troop/group accounts only. The designated signers are not authorized to conduct any other business on behalf of GSWPA or to access any accounts GSWPA may maintain at the bank except for those specific to their troop/group/service unit. 165