Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington

It’s strange how we can all have such a spectrum of experience with the same organization. I’ve read these reviews and I swear people have experiences based on where they are at. With such a large organization, it seems being PRO ACTIVE is key with Girl Scouts. Waiting for people to call you back, waiting for a troop to call you, waiting for the service unit to call you… isn’t the way to go. Call incessantly until you get a person and BE KIND.
We have had a wonderful time with Girl Scouts… so much so, I am starting my own troop. It takes diligence and persistence. I want to get going and waiting for phone calls and responses sucks… yet these are VOLUNTEERS who help and those who are paid are busy people. We have enjoyed Girl Scouts on all levels — from the troop, to camps, events… cookie sales, visiting the store. I’ve not had much difficulty with anything other than waiting patiently for a phone call back… for a minute, then started calling. I always got someone on the phone at Council and everyone has been MORE than accommodating.
We had an issue a couple of years ago with scholarship, funding camp and had a go-​around with a couple of twits in the organization who were not very nice — yet I complained and followed through. These twits are no reflection of an organization. There are twits in every business. Who cares… Girl Scouts has a GREAT curriculum and has a wonderful group of volunteers supporting the girls to be their best.
Make it what you want… being a twit yourself and being demanding isn’t the way to go. Incessantly calling and talking to a live person is. If you want to get your child in Girl Scouts, find out the SERVICE UNIT for your area. If there isn’t one… know that you will be doing the leg work to get something going. Make it what you want… yet bashing Girl Scouts because of your demanding ego issues sucks.
We love Girl Scouts and have certainly made the most of the organization. Thank you Portland Council for all you do for our girls.

Not happy with this organization. That’s actually the problem– they’re not organized. We paid, and waited, called, got called, waited some more. My daughter is still without a troop with no explanation– 2 months.

I wanted to update all parents on this situation. I was finally able to get in touch with a Girls Scouts associate… she emailed me after I made a complaint with the big guns.
I found out that there is no chapter in my area, and that is why I wasn’t contacted. I thought that was very unprofessional. Shouldn’t you let a parent know the reason why they weren’t contacted, instead of just move on to the next intake form?
The woman said that we could travel (which we won’t because it is 30 min by bus to get there), or I could start my own chapter. I replied to her, saying that I would LOVE to start a Girl Scouts chapter for Chapman Elementary School. I asked her to give me the details that I needed.
That was three weeks ago. No response. Nothing. I called, left a message too, because usually a phone call is more effective. Still nothing. Sorry girls of Chapman Elementary, Girl Scouts doesn’t love us.

I’ve been a Girl Scout Troop Leader for 4 years. There are ups and downs with any non-​profit organization. Some years have been great because leadership has been great and others not so much. Unfortunately, this is one of those organizations where persistence pays off. If you want to be involved, definitely call and be pro-​active. If you are passive, you likely will not hear back. As a leader, I need to do the same to get information and make things happen for my troop. For me, the struggle is worthwhile because I see how it benefits my troop. My girls rock!
The girl scout store is located here as well. They have never filled an order by mail for me accurately in 4 years. I’ve learned it is better to get here in person, although, their hours are limited. For those of us who work full-​time, this can be challenging.
All in all, this organization has the best intentions at heart. If you want o make a change, this is a great opportunity.

It’s kind of funny to find the Girl Scouts on Unilocal,but I’ll take this opportunity to give them 1 star. My family’s experience with the Oregon GS council has been very disappointing. We have tried repeatedly to have them place us with a troop, but they have never returned a single email, call, or online application. Our troop was supposed to go to some kind of «Camporee,» but our leader never ever turned in the application forms, and didn’t even tell anyone until the day before the campout. The only thing they seem to be interested in is cookie sales.

My favorite and worst time of year. The dreaded Girl Scout Cookie sales time of year.
You see them standing at the door way with the table of boxes. You resist and go in to do your shopping. You come out and you’re hit again with the cute «Would you buy a box of coookies?» then you remember back to last year at this time… the The Thin Mints… the Tagalongs… the Samosa’s…then you relent. You buy a box.
They’re everywhere at this time of year… and try as you might to resist them… you can’t. You buy a box here… you buy a box there… bam you gain 5 pounds.
Just do one thing… buy from the kids that actually SELL them. I hate it when parents do the selling for them. I had to sell candy bars for baseball and I always had to sell direct. I remember my grandfather making me walk from office to office in his building to do my sales pitch and I think I’m a better person for it. Which I think is the point of selling these cookies for these kids.