Town meetings are most effective with smaller troops. The system usually requires a moderator who guides discussions, making sure that all the girls get a chance to speak and all ideas are considered. Moderators can be selected at random or chosen by interest or knowledge of the topic. Moderators can be rotated, and secretaries and treasurers can also be elected for certain periods of time. Task groups or committees may be formed to pursue interests or activities that cannot be handled by the total troop.
Patrols can elect rotating leaders and assistant leaders and choose patrol names and symbols.
The patrol system works better when patrols change several times during the year so each member has an opportunity to work with everyone else in the troop. Maturity, experience, interests, and friendships will all play a role in determining how to divide a troop into patrols. A leader might feel more comfortable assigning girls to patrols initially, particularly if she wants to encourage girls to make new friends. However, as girls work more with each other, they should take more responsibility in determining the patrol makeup. Have the girls decide, knowing that they will be in different configurations three to four times during the year.