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| © 2003-2005 Girl Scouts of Indian Waters Council. All rights reserved. The "Girl Scouts" name, mark, and all associated trademarks and logotypes, including the "Trefoil Design," are owned by GSUSA. Used under authority of GSUSA. |
MAP | Q&A | REALIGNMENT NEWS
Council Realignment Update
Over the last three years the Girl Scout organization has conducted a comprehensive review of our business with a membership-wide team of council CEOs, volunteers, GSUSA staff and girls nationwide. Through that extensive review we determined that realigning our councils will allow us to provide a consistent Girl Scout experience that builds courage, confidence and character in girls so that they may make the world a better place. The Girl Scout organization is very proud of the work we are doing in a diverse environment committed to meeting the needs of girls - the hallmark of the Girl Scout organization for nearly 95 years.
Link to Girl Scout's Core Business Strategy Website
This link provides you with further information about the national Core Business Strategy. It will also give you the opportunity to link to additional sites with the following topics:
• Facts
• Program & Uniform Questions
• Parents
• Volunteers
Realignment Letter from the CEO
Dear Friends of Girl Scouting,
Over the past few years, the Girl Scout organization has undergone an unprecedented movement-wide review in which all facets of the organization – from structure to fund-raising – have come under assessment. The result of that analysis was the development of the “Core Business Strategy” (www.girlscouts.org/strategy). This strategy, including the work of many volunteers, girls and Girl Scout staff, will allow us to match operations with our vision of meeting the needs and challenges of girls today and beyond.
After identifying Girls Scouts' strengths, challenges, and imperatives for success, we focused on six important areas for girls:
Included in the strategy work was a plan to realign councils throughout the United States. The realigning of councils will create a Girl Scout culture that is more innovative, inclusive, agile, accountable and girl-centered. We will join with five other Girl Scout councils to form one new council for north central Wisconsin and the upper peninsula of Michigan. The new council will serve over 29,600 girls and 7,900 adults in 52 counties. The councils include: Girl Scouts of Birch Trails WI, Inc. (Wausau), Girl Scouts of The Fox River Area, Inc. (Appleton); Girl Scouts of Indian Waters Council, Inc. (Eau Claire); Girl Scouts of Lac Baie Council, Inc. (Green Bay); Girl Scouts of Peninsula Waters, Inc. (Marquette, MI); and Girl Scouts of Woodland Council, Inc. (Wisconsin Rapids). All councils in the new jurisdiction have already been actively working together to successfully form the new council, and formal merger activity will take place over the course of the next year to 18 months.
Our goal is to provide consistency, increased opportunities and the best use of resources in this new “high capacity” council. Services and support will be close to girls, community based and geographically dispersed throughout the new council’s jurisdiction. With increased resources and combined strengths, the new organization will utilize the best practices to equip our volunteers with stronger tools to successfully mentor and impact girl members. Each area will have representation on the new council board of directors and donations will continue to serve girls in your community.
During and after realignment, many things about Girl Scouting will remain the same; many will change. We want to do everything possible to keep you informed and updated on our progress and how it affects girl members, adult members, parents, donors, and other supporters of the Girl Scout movement.
We anticipate that during the 2007-2008 troop year, most troops and parents will not be affected by realignment activities. Product sale program(s) will also remain the same this year for each of the councils involved in the realignment. There will be changes the following year, but specific details have not yet been determined. Please be assured that we are all working together to develop the very best programs and services possible for the new council.
Again, we will keep you informed as information becomes available. If you have questions about the realignment or other aspects of the Core Strategy work, please check our website www.gsiwc.org for updates and links to the councils realigning with Indian Waters. You may also contact me (CEO) at 715-835-5331 or e-mail helenh@gsiwc.org with questions.
Yours in Scouting,
Helen Heinz
CEO
Below is the map of our new council.
Girl Scout Leadership Development Model
The goals of the leadership development model are to:
Where can girls use leadership skills?
Girl Scout Leadership Development Model Activities
Girl Scout Leadership Development Model Processes
Girl Scout Leadership Development Model Outcomes
Girl Scout Leadership Development Model Advantages for Girls
Girl Scout Leadership Development Model Levels
Girl Scout Leadership Development Model Uniforms
Girl Scout Leadership Development Model Volunteerism
“ Single Entry System”
- One or more staff devoted to volunteer entry process, including application, interview and background check
- Consistent orientation process, mentor assignment, training
- Established evaluation and recognition program
Advantages
- Stronger development process
- Increased safety
- Greater efficiency
- Enhanced communication between volunteers and staff
We officially began our realignment in April 2007!
Q: What is happening now?
A: Once local Boards of Directors approve the proposed changes in jurisdiction, a Council Realignment Committee (CRC) will be appointed. This committee will include all CEO's and board presidents from the merging councils as well as perhaps other community representatives. The committee - working with many active subcommittees - will establish the council structure and policies, define the delivery systems, integrate program and camping opportunities, and integrate databases. The committee may also establish the staff structure, hiring plans, and personnel policies. They may select the cookie company and other vendors. Decisions about the search for the new CEO will be made by members of the CRC. In some cases, the newly elected board of the corporation will be given the authority to make some of these decisions on behalf of the new council.
Q: Where does the work of the CRC end and the work of the new council
begin?
A: This process can be compared to the building of a new house. It is the job of the CRC to design the house, put in the foundation, and do the framing work. It is the job of the newly formed council to select all interior elements and do all the finish work.
Q: What will happen to our Program Center? Where will the headquarters
be?
A: The job of selecting the headquarters location is the responsibility of either the CRC or the newly elected Board of Directors. In either case, the selection of the office headquarters needs to be based on the agreed-upon vision for the new council. Successful operating structures will require multiple satellite office locations and creative service delivery models.
Q: What will be happen to our camp property and programs?
A: Decisions about camp properties and other assets will be made later in the realignment process.
Q: What can volunteers do between now and then?
A: The best thing volunteers can do while we are "waiting to realign" is focus on expanding membership within all existing jurisdictions. This will create additional strength for the merger work that lies ahead. For most of our volunteers and girls it will be business as usual. Our transformation should not interrupt the Girl Scout experience but should strengthen our capacity to serve girls better.
Q: Are our resources going to be strained to shore up any weak councils
with which we will be joined?
A: All of the councils involved in our realignment are strong. All are serving girls above the national market share average. All have done well on their most recent Council Performance Assessments. Many are bringing beautiful camp properties and other assets to our new council.
Check out the amazing five councils we will be joining.
Girl Scouts of Birch Trails Council, Inc.
http://www.birchtrailsgirlscouts.org
Girl Scouts of Fox River Area, Inc.
http://www.gsfra.org
Girl Scouts of Lac Baie Council, Inc.
http://www.lacbaiegirlscouts.org
Girl Scout Council of Peninsula Waters, Inc.
http://www.gspw.org
Girl Scouts of Woodland Council, Inc.
http://www.woodgsc.org
During the process of
national realignment and council mergers, it is our goal to keep the membership
informed and share with you the information we receive from Girl Scouts
of USA.
GSUSA publishes "Realignment News" that features updates and information on the realignment process. Each issue contains a "question and answer" section that addresses common concerns and issues.
If you have questions or concerns, you may contact Helen Heinz, CEO, at helenh@gsiwc.org, or by calling 715-835-5331 or 800-432-9823. If you wish to share comments directly with GSUSA, you do so at www.girlscouts.org/strategy.
The documents listed below are in PDF format. Click on an issue of "Realignment News" to open, save, and/or print the document.
| Q & A |
