MISSION SQUAD GUIDELINES

Starting a GSSA Mission Squad is very easy. Below are two ways to start.
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Add GSSA Missions to Your Existing Group - Add some fun and community service to your current or existing  family, friends, church, book club or social meet-up group by acting as a GSSA Mission Squad that periodically plans and performs anonymous acts of kindness (we recommend at least bi-monthly or quarterly). At some point share the purpose concept of GSSA with the group, show them the GSSA website and invite them to become a GSSA Mission Squad.   

Starting a Brand New GSS Agent Mission Squad - Invite some people out to eat or over to your home for a fun evening. At some point share the purpose and concept of GSSA, show them the GSSA website and invite them to participate. Or send out information and the GSSA website link to people in your contact list and invite them to participate in starting a Squad.   
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Purpose
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Share that the purpose of forming the GSSA Mission Squad is to create a sense of community and build strong positive relationships by getting together to socialize, plan and perform secret missions of service together to help people in your community.
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Size/Composition
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GSSA Mission Squads are often comprised of three to twelve people. So, you only need to start with three people to get a GSSA Mission Squad started. Invite a few friends, family, neighbors, members of your church, book club, sorority, professional association, or people at work. Before long the group will grow. Try to keep the group size between from growing beyond a group of 15 or 20, otherwise it might get unwieldy to plan and carry out missions. If you have larger groups, create more than one Mission Squad.
 
Leader
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GSSA Mission Squads must have an identified Squad Leader.  The Squad Leader is responsible for registering the Squad on the GSSA website and facilitating/leading regular (monthly, bimonthly or quarterly) Squad meetings/discussions to plan and conduct secret missions. Squad Leaders should also encourage conversations among members to keep them engaged in between meetings  by reaching out to them periodically  in between meetings through text, email messages, phone calls, coffee/lunch or other outings.  
 
Squad Leadership should rotate periodically (at least yearly) to avoid burnout.
 
Mission Focus
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GSSA Mission Squads can choose to focus their Squad’s secret missions on a specific target group such as single parents, the homeless, domestic violence victims, children, families, veterans, teachers, etc. Or they can rotate and conduct mission to help someone or a cause identified by members of the group. Ideally, the Squad mission focus should be decided by the group at their first meeting and revisited periodically.
 
Meetings
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Determine a time and place for your Mission Squad meeting (in-person or virtually). You don’t need to meet in-person to form a Squad. You can form a Squad and meet remotely via Zoom, Google Meets or other remote method, if that works best for your group.
 
It is suggested that your Mission Squad meet monthly, no less than bi-monthly. Otherwise, the Squad is more likely to disband because people will get busy with other activities.
 
Schedule your first meeting and send the GSSA website link to invitees to review prior to the first meeting.
 
Suggested First Meeting Agenda/Discussion Items:
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Have some social time (including food is always nice)
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Officially open the meeting with prayer (if a Christian group)
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Do an Ice Breaker to get to know each other
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Select your Mission Squad Name
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Select a Squad Leader
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Go on the GSSA Website and register the Mission Squad by completing the GSSA Mission Squad Sign-Up Form
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Have each person sign-up as an Individual GSS Agent, if they have not already done so, by completing the GSS Individual Agent Sign-Up Form
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Determine the Squad’s Mission Focus, if any ( you can keep it general)
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Determine a consistent time and place to meet regularly and consistently (in-person or virtually)
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Determine how often the Squad will meet to plan secret missions (at least monthly or bi-monthly is recommended not to lose momentum and interest)
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Determine how often the Squad will actually carry out secret missions (at least bi-monthly or quarterly is recommended not to lose momentum and interest)
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Brainstorm your Squad’s first mission ideas (be sure all members are engaged and have a chance to contribute); select one or two missions to start
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Begin planning how and when to carry out your first secret mission (secret missions can be carried out during or in-between meetings and reported at the next meeting)
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Determine the role various Squad members will play in carrying out the mission​
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Determine next meeting date
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Adjourn
 
Other Potential Mission Squad Meetings/Discussion Topics
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Discuss news stories, articles or topics related to various aspects of your Squad’s mission focus
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Invite guest speaker from an organization related to your Squad’s mission focus to debrief the squad about real world “Field Conditions” related to the Squad’s mission focus
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Debrief your last mission (how did it go, were you able to keep it secret from your “mission target,” what obstacles did you run into it any)
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See other Tips below for Managing a Successful GSSA Mission Squad
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Squad Missions
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GSSA Mission Squads are encouraged to meet monthly or bi-monthly to plan secret missions and conduct secret missions at least bi-monthly or quarterly. Missions do not have to be complicated or cost money. As Squads plan missions, they will realize that it is sometimes challenging to complete the mission in complete secret. That’s the fun part! It takes some creativity to think outside the box to plan secret missions. But you can you it!
 
Don’t forget when carrying out your secret mission to attach or leave a simple anonymous note for your “Mission Assignment“ (the person your mission will help) with an encouraging scripture, or a note that God loves them, has answered their prayer or that someone cares about them and wanted to help them. Sign the note with your GSSA Mission Squad Name only. For example: Courtesy of GSSA “Bright Angel” Mission Squad. You can create or write your own anonymous notes or order GSSA Mission Squad “Calling Cards,” note cards or post cards from the Mission Gear Store.
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“Mission Accomplished” Forum
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Encourage Mission Squad members to regularly login to the “Mission Accomplished” discussion forum to anonymously report their individual or Squad’s missions accomplished to inspire other agents with ideas of missions they can do in their community and to get ideas of mission they can plan. It’s a great way to interact with the community of GSS Agents and see the impact that they are having in the world.
 
Tips For Managing a Successful GSSA Mission Squad
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Enthusiasm, passion and participation in a group will fade over time without some care and feeding. Below are some tips you can use to help and keep your GSSA Mission Squad active, productive and successful over time:
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Keep it fun
Involve food, short movie or other activity
Nurture relationships
Select meeting times that most people can attend
Have discussions about commitment if attendance/participation starts to dwindle
Rotate locations/hosts if meeting in Squad member’s home
Recruit new members periodically
Send text/email/Squad Briefing Room meeting reminders
Identify and communicate mission assignment activities that people who miss a meeting can perform
Ensure everyone at meetings are engaged in discussions
Encourage Squad members to login to the Squad’s Agent Briefing Room and "Mission Accomplished” Discussion forums on the GSSA Website.
Invite guest speaker related you the Squad’s Mission Focus to provide real life field conditions
Add outings and/or other activities like a topic discussion or bible study, cookie exchange, etc., for variety
Have a Squad member keep good records of missions accomplished, debriefings and other details to help with planning future missions
 
Need more help? Reach out to GSSA Headquarters at gssaHQ@gssagents.org