National Board of Directors

Yes – Nominations may be made from the floor of the National Council Session provided that notice of such nomination and written consent to serve by the nominee(s) shall have been provided to the President and the Chair of the National Board Development Committee at least 48 hours prior to the published time for the convening of the meeting at which the election shall be held.

Source:  Constitution/ARTICLE XII NATIONAL BOARD DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, NOMINATIONS, AND ELECTIONS/10.

If there is only one nominee for each position to be elected, then in accordance with the GSUSA Constitution, Article XII, Section 12, the nominees are elected by acclamation, which means the presiding officer declares all the nominees elected. During the National Council Session, a member may move to vote by ballot, in which case, each office would be voted on individually.

Source:  2017 Board Slate FAQ (PDF)

The National Board of Directors recommends and determines which proposals will be added to the NCS agenda.  However, if a proposal is supported by 15% (for a total of 17) of all councils, the proposal must be approved.

If the proposal suggests an amendment to the Constitution, the National Board decides whether it is appropriate or not.

Source:  Constitution/ARTICLE VI PROPOSALS TO THE NATIONAL COUNCIL and Constitution/ARTICLE XVII AMENDMENTS

The National Board slate is determined by the National Board Development Committee.*  Current information about how to nominate someone for the National Board of Directors could not be found on the GSUSA website.  However, here is a referral form from 2016:  Candidate Referral Form.  For more questions, it’s recommended to email BoardOffice@girlscouts.org and ask for more information.

*Source:  Constitution/ARTICLE XII/NATIONAL BOARD DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, NOMINATIONS, AND ELECTIONS/SINGLE SLATE OF NOMINEES 9.

For three years starting at the time they are installed after election at the National Council Session, and it ends when their successors are installed.

Source: Constitution under ARTICLE X/NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS/ELECTION OF MEMBERS TERMS

If a council board approves a proposal, they may send it directly to GSUSA prior to the established deadline.  However, it’s best if the council which approves the proposal sends it to all other Girl Scout Councils, asking for support by approving the same proposal.  That means they should send their proposal to other councils as soon as possible, so the other councils’ boards of directors have ample time to consider approval and vote. The more councils whose boards approve a proposal, the greater the chance the proposal will get on the agenda.  If 15% of councils (currently 17 councils) approve a proposal, the National Board must place that proposal on the agenda, unless the proposal in question is an amendment to the GSUSA Constitution. (Our constitution gives the National Board sole discretion to decide whether a proposed amendment to the constitution is appropriate.)

Source:  GSUSA Constitution/ARTICLE V/PROPOSALS TO THE NATIONAL COUNCIL & ARTICLE XVII/ AMENDMENTS

Officers serve a three‐year term beginning at the time of the installation at the session when elected and ending upon the installation of their successors at the next regular session of the National Council. Each person shall serve no more than three consecutive terms in any one or any combination of these offices. Regardless of the number of consecutive terms any person shall have served in any one or any combination of these offices other than that of President, such person shall be eligible for two consecutive terms as President.

Source:  2017 Board Slate Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)

A single slate means that the National Board Development Committee nominates only one person for each position. This is in contrast to presenting, for example, three candidates to choose from for each position.

Source:  2017 Board Slate Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)

Article X of the Constitution requires that the National Board be representative at all times of the
various geographical areas of the country. Article IX of the Bylaws sets forth the geographical areas.

Source:  2017 Board Slate Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)

Related FAQ:

The National Board Development Committee is elected by National Delegates and is made up of both National Board and non-board members.  It recruits, identifies, and recommends potential National Board members, and it also oversees the National Board’s development and effectiveness.

Source:  2017 Proposal 2 FAQ

The National Board is authorized to:

• Determine time and place of National Council Session¹
• Call a special meeting (majority of members required)²
• Create proposals to be acted upon by the National Council³
• Determine deadline for proposals⁴
• Determine what proposals submitted by councils can be acted upon (unless submitted by 15% of councils)⁴
• Administer the requirements for the credentials established by the National Council⁵
• Establish standards⁵
• Issue standards, procedures, and interpretations⁵
• Issue credentials⁶
• Revoke credentials⁶
• Manage affairs of the corporation between sessions of the National Council⁷
• Fill vacancies in its own membership until the next regular session of the National Council⁸
• Can act on behalf of the National Council in the event of an emergency that makes it impossible for the National Council to meet⁹

¹ Defined in the Constitution under ARTICLE V/SESSIONS OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL/Regular Sessions
² Defined in the Constitution under ARTICLE V/SESSIONS OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL/Special Sessions
³ Defined in the Constitution under ARTICLE VI/PROPOSALS TO THE NATIONAL COUNCIL/Origin Of By National Board of Directors
⁴ Defined in the Constitution under ARTICLE VI/PROPOSALS TO THE NATIONAL COUNCIL/Origin Of By Local Councils
⁵ Defined in the Constitution under ARTICLE VIII/CREDENTIALS/Administration
⁶ Defined in the Constitution under ARTICLE VIII/CREDENTIALS/Issuance Revocation
⁷ Defined in the Constitution under ARTICLE X/NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS/Management of Corporation
⁸ Defined in the Constitution under ARTICLE X/NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS/Vacancies
⁹ Defined in the Constitution under ARTICLE X/NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS/Emergency Powers

For a list of members on the National Board of Directors, visit this page.  GSUSA’s listing can be found here.

Either the National Council or the National Board.

Source: Constitution/ARTICLE XVI/BYLAWS

Local councils and the National Board of Directors can submit proposals for NCS consideration.  Proposals by local councils require the approval of the council’s board of directors.

Source:  Constitution/ARTICLE VI PROPOSALS TO THE NATIONAL COUNCIL/ORIGIN OF 1.

Discussion topics are determined via proposals submitted by either a local council or the National Board and follow the procedures for proposal submission and approval.

Related FAQ:

The National Council elects the National Board of Directors at the National Council Session (NCS).  The National Board Development Committee prepares a single slate of candidates, and there is also provision for nominees from the floor provided the board chair is provided notice and written consent of the nominee at least 48 hours prior to the published start time of the NCS meeting when the election is to be held.  In between National Council sessions, the National Board has the authority to fill vacancies until the next NCS.

Source:  Constitution/ARTICLE X NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS/ELECTION OF MEMBERS TERMS 3. & Constitution/ARTICLE X NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS/VACANCIES 5.

The Executive Committee is a committee of the National Board made up of no more than 11 members, including:

• The President (Kathy Hopinkah Hannan)
• The First Vice President (Sharon H. Matthews)
• The Second Vice President (Jeanne Kwong Bickford)
• The Secretary (Noorain Khan)
• The Treasurer (Charles D. McLane Jr.)
• The Chair of the National Board Development Committee
• The International Commissioner
• Up to four members-at-large
• The CEO – ex officio member without vote (Sylvia Acevedo)

Source:  Bylaws/ARTICLE IV EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE/1. Composition, GSUSA National Board

The membership of the National Council consists of:

1. Delegates elected by Girl Scout councils who are registered through their local council
2. Delegates from USA Girl Scouts Overseas
3. Members of the National Board of Directors
4. Members of the National Board Development Committee
5. Past Presidents of Girl Scouts of the United States of America
6. Other persons who are elected by the National Council

At least four-fifths of the entire body of delegates must be from local councils and from USA Girl Scouts Overseas.

Source:  Constitution/ARTICLE IV/THE NATIONAL COUNCIL/Membership

The National Board Development Committee determines the slate that the National Council would vote on at a National Council Session.  The committee also presents a single slate of nominees for: a) the President; b) the Vice Presidents; c) the Secretary; d) the Treasurer; e) members-at-large of the National Board of Directors; and f) members of the National Board Development Committee.

Source:  Constitution/ARTICLE XII NATIONAL BOARD DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, NOMINATIONS, AND ELECTIONS/SINGLE SLATE OF NOMINEES/9.

The National Board determines the agenda for the session.

Source:  Convention 101 Webinar (PDF)

The single slate by the NBDC is called for by Article XII, Section 9 of the GSUSA Constitution, which states: “The committee shall present at each regular session of the National Council a single slate of nominees for: a) the President; b) the Vice Presidents; c) the Secretary; d) the Treasurer; e) members‐at‐large of the National Board of Directors; and f) members of the National Board Development Committee. No member of the National Board Development Committee shall be eligible to be nominated for any officer position. A nominee for President shall be a current member of the National Board of Directors.”

Also, in Robert’s Rules, 12th edition (see 46:11), it says, “It is usually not sound to require the committee to nominate more than one candidate for each office, since the committee can easily circumvent such a provision by nominating only one person who has any chance of being elected.” If the National Council doesn’t like the slate presented, it has the power to make nominations from the floor for any position provided that notice is given to the President and the Chair of the National Board Development Committee at least 48 hours prior to the Session starting.

Source:  2017 Board Slate Frequently Asked Questions and Constitution/ARTICLE XII NATIONAL BOARD DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, NOMINATIONS, AND ELECTIONS/Nominations