2023 National Council Session Voting Summary

This report is UNOFFICIAL. GSUSA’s release can be found here. This summary does not include every vote that was taken during the NCS.

Tuesday, July 18, 2023

For the 2023 National Council Session, 902 delegates were allocated to councils and USAGSO. Between National Board and NBDC members, there were 33 additional members who were eligible to be National Council members leading to a possible 935 members for the 2023 NCS (not including Past Presidents of GSUSA and other members).

Credentials report:

• Delegates elected by GS councils: 872
• Delegates from USAGSO: 6
• Members of the National Board: 17
• Members of the NBDC: 2
• Past Presidents of GSUSA: 0
• Other members elected by the National Council: 0
• Total eligible voting members: 897

Survey Results: Is this your first time at a NCS?

Yes: 460 | No: 401 | Votes Cast: 861

Proposal 7 – Gold Award Fund

This proposal passed as written. Majority required. Yes: 863 | No: 14 | Votes cast: 877

THAT the National Council hereby affirms the recommendation of the Movement Gold Award Scholarship Foundation Task Force to create a donor-restricted fund in support of Gold Award scholarships; and

THAT that in recognition of its importance, the existence of such fund shall be reflected in the Blue Book of Basic Documents in the Fundraising Policies section of the Blue Book (or any successor section of the Blue Book as may be appropriate from time to time).

Proposal 6 – Delegate Allotment

This proposal, which changed the membership year that delegate allocation numbers are based on from one year to two years prior to the NCS, passed as written. Two-thirds required.  Yes: 607 | No: 276 | Votes cast: 883

Each local council to which a charter has been issued and remains in force shall be entitled to the following delegates based on the number of girls under its jurisdiction who are members of the Girl Scouts of the United States of America as of September 30, two years of the year preceding the regular session of the National Council:

a. two (2) delegates;
b. one (1) additional delegate for up to 3,500 girls;
c. one (1) additional delegate for every 3,500 girls thereafter.

Proposal 3 – Council Representation on the National Board

This proposal (to require the National Board to include three council CEO’s) was defeated. Two-thirds required.  Yes: 120 | No: 733 | Votes cast: 853

Wednesday, July 19, 2023

Credentials report (morning):

• Delegates elected by GS councils: 871
• Delegates from USAGSO: 6
• Members of the National Board: 20
• Members of the NBDC: 2
• Past Presidents of GSUSA: 0
• Other members elected by the National Council: 0
• Total eligible voting members: 899

Proposal 5 – Formula for Delegates

This proposal (to change the formula for delegates and require the NCS size to be as close to 1,500 as possible) and an amendment were both defeated. Two-thirds required.   Yes: 228 | No: 650 | Votes cast: 878

Proposal 1 – Virtual Meetings

This proposal (to allow for electronic notification and for virtual meetings of the NCS) by far generated the most discussion, included multiple amendments, and other actions.

• A vote to move to committee failed. Majority required.   Yes: 328 | No: 517 | Votes cast: 845
• A vote to divide proposal into two parts passed. Majority required. Yes: 584 | No 211 Votes cast:  795
• Section 1 & 3 (allowing for electronic notification) passed as written without debate.  Two-thirds required.  Yes: 830 | No: 19 | Votes Cast: 849
• An amendment to Section 4 (to allow for virtual meetings of the NCS at the discretion of the National Board) passed. The amendment allows for a virtual NCS only for special meetings and, for regular meetings, only in the case of an emergency. Majority required.  Yes: 499 | No: 360 | Votes cast: 859
• Section 4 passed as amended (wording is below). Two-thirds required.   Yes: 598 | No: 244 | Votes cast: 842

Two hundred members of the National Council present in person shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at sessions of the National Council, provided, however, that delegates are present from one or more local councils in a majority of the geographical areas of the country as defined in the Bylaws. At the sole discretion of the National Board, any special National Council session and in the event of an emergency any regular National Council Session may be held in whole or in part by means of the internet or other electronic communications technology pursuant to which the members of the National Council have the opportunity to read or hear the proceedings substantially concurrently with their occurrence, vote on matters submitted to the members, pose questions, and make comments. Attendance through such means shall constitute presence in person at such meeting for quorum and voting purposes. In the absence of a quorum, a majority of those present at the time and place set for a session may take an adjournment from time to time until a quorum shall be present.

Credentials report (evening):

• Delegates elected by GS councils: 871
• Delegates from USAGSO: 6
• Members of the National Board: 20
• Members of the NBDC: 3
• Past Presidents of GSUSA: 0
• Other members elected by the National Council: 0
• Total eligible voting members: 900

Proposal 4 – DEI-RJ Language

This proposal, to insert “anti-racism” into the preamble to the constitution, generated much discussion and a number of amendments, including secondary amendments.

• Secondary amendment passed to add back “and anti-racism.’ Majority required. Yes: 502 | No: 338 | Votes cast: 840
• Primary amendment passed to add definition. Majority required. Yes: 418 | No: 382 | Votes cast: 800
• Following passage of these amendments, Proposal 4 passed as amended (see wording below). Two-thirds required.   Yes: 678 | No: 196 | Votes cast: 874

DIVERSITY, PLURALISM AND ANTI-RACISM

Girl Scouts advance diversity, pluralism, and anti-racism and actively identify and oppose racism by removing systemic barriers to participation in our Movement and in the communities in which we live.

Thursday, July 20, 2023

Credentials report:

• Delegates elected by GS councils: 872
• Delegates from USAGSO: 6
• Members of the National Board: 20
• Members of the NBDC: 3
• Past Presidents of GSUSA: 0
• Other members elected by the National Council: 0
• Total eligible voting members: 901

Proposal 2: Promise & Law

This proposal (to change the wording of the Promise and Law to include “will” instead of “try” or “do my best”) also included a wide variety of discussion and generated two amendments which both failed.

• The motion to refer to a committee failed. Majority required. Yes: 196 | No: 645 | Votes cast: 841
• The motion to divide into two parts passed. Majority required. Yes: 613 | No: 215 | Votes cast: 828
• The first part of the proposal, to change the Promise, failed. Two-thirds required.  Yes: 199 | No: 653 | Votes cast: 852
• The second part of the proposal, to change the Law, failed. Two-thirds required.  Yes: 245 | No: 635 | Votes cast: 880

Other notes:

• The highest number of votes cast was 880 for the second part of the Promise & Law proposal.
• The lowest number of votes cast was for a motion to limit debate to one hour during the Promise & Law proposal. Only 788 votes were cast.