SUBMITTED BY:
Girl Scouts of Connecticut
STATEMENT OF PROPOSAL (in the form of a motion):
That Article V (Sessions of the National Council), of the Constitution of Girl Scouts of the USA, be amended by inserting a new section, “Interim Sessions” following §.2 “Responsibilities” and before the current §.3 “Special Sessions”:
“3. There shall be interim sessions (“summits”) of the National Council held annually between triennial National Council Sessions, at such time as determined by the National Board of Directors. Interim sessions shall be held by means of electronic communication. Notice of the time, place, and purpose of such session shall be mailed not less than 60 days before the session to each local council, to each USA Girl Scouts Overseas committee, and to each member of the National Board of Directors and National Board Development Committee.
The National Council at its interim sessions shall determine the general lines of policy of the Girl Scout Movement and program by receiving and acting upon reports of its National Board of Directors. Interim sessions shall prioritize discussions regarding significant operational matters and substantive policy issues of the Movement and program, and shall consider and act upon other legitimate business put forth by the National Delegate working groups.”
If adopted the text would read as follows:
INTERIM SESSIONS
3.There shall be interim sessions (“summits”) of the National Council held annually between triennial National Council Sessions, at such time as determined by the National Board of Directors. Interim sessions shall be held by means of electronic communication. Notice of the time, place, and purpose of such session shall be mailed not less than 60 days before the session to each local council, to each USA Girl Scouts Overseas committee, and to each member of the National Board of Directors and National Board Development Committee.
The National Council at its interim sessions shall determine the general lines of policy of the Girl Scout Movement and program by receiving and acting upon reports of its National Board of Directors. Interim sessions shall prioritize discussions regarding significant operational matters and substantive policy issues of the Movement and program and shall consider and act upon other legitimate business put forth by the National Delegate working groups.”
REASONS: (Include answers to these two questions)
1. What makes this proposal important to the future of Girl Scouting across the country?
2. What is the Movement-wide benefit adoption of the proposal will provide?
The Girl Scout Constitution explicitly states:
“The ultimate responsibility for the Girl Scout Movement rests with its members. We govern by an efficient and effective democratic process that demonstrates our leadership in a fast-changing world.”
In order to remain relevant, dynamic and responsive to the needs of our membership, the method and frequency with which the National Council meets to discuss issues of significance to the Movement should be increased to allow for the regular exchange of ideas and sharing of resources between the local, Council and National levels of our organization on an annual and ongoing basis.
In response to the ongoing discussion regarding the role and authority of the National Council and the national organization, including the National Board and Girl Scouts of the USA, it is time to re-examine the National Delegate role and to provide a pathway for how this group can work together more effectively throughout their term.
The triennial structure for National Council Sessions provides for Movement-wide governance meetings every three years. However, our modern Girl Scout organization is faced with pressing internal and external challenges that are complex, interrelated and international in scope. The democratic process outlined in the Constitution of Girl Scouts of the United States of America reflects a system of governance that is no longer adequate to meet the demands of modern life and the needs of our members.
The slow pace of national governance inhibits the potential growth of the Girl Scout organization and limits National Delegate involvement in matters of critical importance to our Movement. A democratic process that was intended to be efficient, effective, and membership-driven has become halting and cumbersome.
Shortening the length of time between sessions will improve relationships between the National Board and the National Council while providing a positive impact on the Girl Scout movement. Girl Scout members are contending with complex global issues, including public health, economic challenges, climate change, and a range of social justice and civic engagement issues. The work of our Movement is tied to each one of these issues. The strength of our Movement lies in the strength of our community.
A range of benefits would flow from adoption of this proposal. Advances in technology mean that we are more easily connected with one another than ever before. The ability to meet both in-person and virtually would enable the National Council to meet more frequently and enable National Delegates to offer greater input in national governance and operational issues. Providing for virtual interim sessions instead of annual in-person meetings will also help to reduce the cost of enacting this proposal.
An annual meeting structure would also allow Girl Scouts to move forward in a timely manner to address these pressing issues and guide the direction of our Movement. The National Council should be leadingthe way as a modern, nimble nonprofit organization rather than lagging behind the needs of our membership.
Interim sessions, or summits, would provide a forum for discussion that is issues-based, reflects priorities of membership, and offers the opportunity to partner with Girl Scout councils and National Council delegates on matters that extend beyond governance-specific proposals.
Strengthening this partnership would result in a richer experience to our Girl Scout membership. The underlying goal of this proposal is to allow for greater collaboration within the Movement and increased engagement with the National Delegate group. In this moment of change and disruption, we should take this opportunity to develop a more nimble governance structure, one that is more efficient and effective and that reflects a truly democratic approach to governance.
FINANCIAL IMPACT STATEMENT
Indicate the projected expenditures and impact on resources for councils and the national organization, for a five (5) year period.
If adopted, this proposal would represent a significant investment in the Movement and reinforce the National Board’s commitment to collaboration with members on matters of governance and policy.
Projected expenditures to GSUSA would include the cost for planning and hosting the proposed virtual summits annually, during each year that does not already include a triennial NCS. Anticipated costs also include the staffing needs and administrative support required to organize such summits as well as the cost for use of a virtual conference platform and administration.
For a two-day virtual event that includes a general session, multiple tracks and breakout rooms, the average price is between $20,000 to $75,000. Some of these costs may be offset by charging attendees a nominal access fee, sponsorship mentions or sponsored sessions.
Projected expenditures to local Girl Scout councils include minimal staffing and administrative support for the National Delegate to support their attendance at the virtual summits.
While these projected costs are a consideration, the benefits of a revamped, more collaborative governance structure are not insignificant. Efforts aimed at community-building will strengthen membership, and increased engagement leads to retention. Strong and stable membership numbers also yield financial benefits in terms of membership fees, programming, merchandising sales and more. Establishing a stronger brand identity and goodwill will also help to address the critical work in front of Girl Scouts at the national, regional and local levels. Our national organization should capitalize on this moment of vast change and work to move our Movement firmly into the future.