Originated by Girl Scouts of Central and Southern New Jersey and Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England
Proposal
THAT Article IV (The National Council), Section 7 (Term of Delegates) of the Constitution of Girl Scouts of the USA be amended by inserting the words, “shall be elected in the calendar year preceding the National Council Session and” after the word “councils” and before the word “shall”. If approved the text would read as follows:
Current wording:
Subject to the requirements of the preceding sections of this article, delegates elected by local councils shall serve as members of the National Council for three years from the date of their election or until their successors are elected, provided they remain the delegates of the local council which elected them; delegates from USA Girl Scouts Overseas shall serve as members for three years from the date of their selection or until their successors are selected, provided they remain delegates from USA Girl Scouts Overseas; members of the National Board of Directors and National Board Development Committee shall be members of the National Council during their term of office; those persons elected by the National Council shall serve until the next regular session of the National Council.
Proposed Amendment:
Subject to the requirements of the preceding sections of this article, delegates elected by local councils shall be elected in the calendar year preceding the National Council Session and shall serve as members of the National Council for three years from the date of their election or until their successors are elected, provided they remain the delegates of the local council which elected them; delegates from USA Girl Scouts Overseas shall serve as members for three years from the date of their selection or until their successors are selected, provided they remain delegates from USA Girl Scouts Overseas; members of the National Board of Directors and National Board Development Committee shall be members of the National Council during their term of office; those persons elected by the National Council shall serve until the next regular session of the National Council.
If Adopted, Will Read:
Subject to the requirements of the preceding sections of this article, delegates elected by local councils shall be elected in the calendar year preceding the National Council Session and shall serve as members of the National Council for three years from the date of their election or until their successors are elected, provided they remain the delegates of the local council which elected them; delegates from USA Girl Scouts Overseas shall serve as members for three years from the date of their selection or until their successors are selected, provided they remain delegates from USA Girl Scouts Overseas; members of the National Board of Directors and National Board Development Committee shall be members of the National Council during their term of office; those persons elected by the National Council shall serve until the next regular session of the National Council.
Rationale Submitted by Originating Councils
Currently the majority of National Council Delegates elected from councils begin their term 6 – 7 months prior to the National Council Session. This allows little time for these delegates to become knowledgeable about their role, informed about the issues to be addressed, and educated about how business is conducted during the National Council Session. The delegate experience for these individuals is not ideal. They experience an intense period of activity prior to the National Council Session, return to their councils and report on that experience and then begin to develop concepts for the next National Council Session.
If all National Council delegates elected from councils began their terms during the year prior to the National Council Session the delegate experience would follow a more logical pattern. In the first year of their term they would become familiar with their role, constituency and issues or concepts to bring to the National Council by participating in the Proposal/Discussion topic submission process. During the second year of their term they would attend the National Council Session better prepared to address these agenda items. Finally, they would report back to their councils on the experience of and actions taken at the National Council Session. They would end their term by training their successors.
Financial Impact Statement Submitted by Originating Councils
This will have no financial impact on councils or the GSUSA. It is simply a change in timing for activities that already take place. Guidance on how to elect delegates in advance of knowing the exact allocation of delegates per council already exists and is implemented in approximately 15 councils. This proposal will make that process universal.
Recommendation of the National Board
The board recommends approval of this constitutional amendment.
Reason for the National Board’s Recommendation
This proposal would improve the delegate experience and further the goal of delegate engagement. As noted by the originating councils, most councils currently elect their delegates to the National Council for a three-year term that starts only six to seven months prior to NCS. This is a compressed time period for delegates to become knowledgeable about their role and informed about the issues that will be addressed at the NCS. If the three-year term started earlier, it would allow more time for councils to educate the delegate body. It also will enable those same delegates to start their term during the time period when councils submit proposals, allowing them to help shape the proposals that they will ultimately be voting on at the National Council Session. Feedback from a delegate survey hosted on the Delegate Website cited the benefits of having more time to fully prepare for the role. Councils also advised that this would provide more opportunities for delegates to engage in the planning process for NCS and to engage on the topics that would be presented. The NCS Advisory Team supports this proposal.
Delegate engagement throughout the triennium is a priority for the National Board. In 2018, GSUSA reactivated the Delegate Website to communicate more frequently with delegates and will keep the website active throughout the triennium. GSUSA has additionally hired a full time National Engagement Lead devoted to delegate engagement, facilitated a mid-triennium call with national CEO Sylvia Acevedo for delegates in August 2019, in which she addressed important topics for our Movement, and distributed enhanced toolkits for delegate selection and engagement to councils. Electing delegates early and at a consistent time across the Movement will allow for more engagement and sharing of ideas and information.