Frequently Asked Questions about Online Membership Registration

When will online membership re-registration for 2012 be available?

Online re-registration is available now at www.sdgirlscouts.org/register

Who can register online for the 2011-2012 membership year which begins on October 1, 2011?

All adults and girls who are currently registered for the 2011 year which ends on September 30, 2011.

Account Activation and Profile Management Demo (Video)

Who cannot register online for membership?

New troops, new lifetime memberships for either adults or graduating seniors, memberships requesting financial aid (new Girl Scout members ONLY), and memberships which will be paid for by cash or check. These members may submit paper forms to the appropriate volunteer.

Why is Girl Scout membership registration going online?

Online registration has been an option for camp for the last three years and the use of this feature has increased each year. Both parents and volunteers have been asking about online registration for membership for the last four years, so we are really excited to be offering it at last.

What are the benefits for parent/guardian to re-register online?

It is quick, easy, and convenient. Credit and debit card information is processed in a secure transaction. It provides council with accurate spelling and contact information. Helps to reduce paper use, mailing costs, and be more environmentally friendly.

What are the benefits for troop leaders when re-registration is done online by parent/guardian?

No more collecting forms or money from parents. No more driving the forms to the Service Unit registrar's house. No more completing dues summaries.

Troop leaders will have access to troop information and be able to email parents, print rosters, update troop member contact information, as well as meeting information, all from the troop management access.

Troop Management Demo (Video)

How will currently registered members re-new online?

Registered parents/guardians will be able to access their girl's account to renew her membership. Registered adults will also be able to access their own accounts and renew online.

Membership Renewal Demo (Video)

Is a parent/guardian signature required for online membership registration?

No. The online purchase of a Girl Scout membership by a parent/guardian replaces the need for a signature.

How do I pay for an online membership?

Easy, payment can be made using a credit or debit card.

Why does the Council need my email address?

Troop leaders will be able to communicate with their troop members via email through their access to troop management. Service Units and the Council will be able to send information about events and news via email. In an effort to reduce paper use and costs, the Council is looking for more environmentally friendly ways to communicate with members. Girl Scouts San Diego is committed to respecting the privacy of its members. We do not sell or trade membership lists, contact information, or any other personal data about our members for any reason.

When will I receive a membership card?

Members will be able to print a membership card (view example) when they complete their online registration. Girl Scouts USA no longer prints and mails membership cards due to cost.

What types of transactions must be done by Council for membership registration?

New Lifetime memberships (adults and girls graduating grade 12) must be processed by Council and be submitted via a paper form.

Troop Transfers must be done by Council. A Change of Address/Member Information Form with the current/new troop information must be submitted to the Service Unit registrar to start this process.

Position code assignments must be done by Council. A process is currently being developed to facilitate this.

New Troops must complete membership forms and submit them to the SU registrar who then sends them to the Council.

A girl in my troop wants to re-register but is transferring to a different troop, can she still re-register online?

Yes, this is done in a two-part process. She can re-register online, which will place her into the same troop she was in. She can then be transferred into her new troop by the Council once a Change of Address/Member Information Form with the current/new troop information is submitted to the Service Unit registrar.

What is Personify?

Personify is a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software purchased by GSUSA for all Councils to use, free of charge. It is hosted, maintained, and supported by TMA Resources, Inc. and has been configured by GSUSA and Councils for Girl Scout use. All membership and customer information is stored in Personify.

Why am I called a customer in Personify? I am a member of Girl Scouts.

The Personify program refers to every individual in the database as a "customer." In Personify, the term "customer" is used to refer to both members (registered girls/adults, and lifetime members) and to non-members (parents, guardians, and emergency contacts). At Girl Scouts we will still refer to members and non-members in the same way we always have-the term "customer" will only show up when using Personify.

Who will have access to girl/adult and parent/guardian information in Personify?

Parents/guardians will only have access to their girls' information.

Registered adults will only have access to their personal information.

Troop leaders will only have access to members registered in their troop. Troop leaders who lead more than one troop will be able to access both troops, just not at the same time.

Council staff has access to various types of information in Personify depending on their job duties.

Credit and debit card information in NOT stored in Personify.

At this time, Service Unit volunteers will NOT have online access to all members and troops in their Service Unit.

How will Service Unit volunteers know who has been registered into their Service Unit?

One of the great benefits with online registration is that the Personify database will be updated daily; membership data is available 24 hours after a parent/guardian or adult re-registers.

Service Unit volunteers will be sent reports (PDF and Excel versions) with the data needed in order to perform their volunteer roles via email. More specific information on who will receive the reports and when is still being developed.

How do I register if I do not want to do it online?

No problem, just complete a membership registration form and submit it to your troop leader, who submits it to the Service Unit registrar, who then submits it to the Council office. Paper registrations will take approximately 14-21 business days to appear in the system.