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The 2005 National Council Session —
A Milestone in Girl Scouting
FOR ALL GIRLS. SOARING BEYOND GREATNESS
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To many heartfelt delegates and members, it was like coming home. . . or almost home. . . when on October 7-10, the 2005 Girl Scout National Council Session/50th Convention met in Atlanta, Ga., just a few hundred miles from Savannah, the birthplace of the organization's founder, Juliette Gordon Low. Continuing in the spirit of her energy, and infusing contemporary Southern hospitality, the hosts Girl Scout Council of Northwest Georgia, Girl Scouts, Central Savannah River Council, Girl Scouts of Concharty Council, Girl Scouts of Middle Georgia, Girl Scouts of Northeast Georgia, Girl Scouts of Pine Valley Council, The Girl Scout Council of Savannah, Georgia, Girl Scouts of Southwest Georgia, welcomed the triennial gathering to the Georgia World Congress Center. The 1,755 delegates (255 of whom are teenage girl members) would hear, debate and vote on formal proposals, and elect a new slate of officers, national board members, and a nominating committee.
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Another 11,355 attendees comprised visitors (non-delegates) representing about 2,300 adult members, 550 girl members, representatives from overseas Girl Scouts and the World Centers, national staff (who provided management and support) and other participants including approximately 1,022 exhibitors. The record-setting grand total for attendance at a National Council Session (NCS) was reported in the final session as 13,110.
The four days included an abundance of entertainment with opening and closing ceremonies and performances by hundreds of area Girl Scouts, and interspersed professional acts during meeting "lulls."
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The exhibit hall brimming with a record number of exhibitors who create and sell appropriate paraphernalia, as well as the organization's National Equipment Service group which handles the warehousing, sales and distribution of all Girl Scout uniforms, official program materials, a wide array of fun stuff that girls use and enjoy as they develop in Girl Scouting, and the interface with council shops throughout the country.
GSUSA headquarters departments and various Girl Scout councils also offered girl activities set up throughout the hall. Celebrities, such as Dominique Daws, Gold Medal Olympian and a long-time promoter of Girl Scouts, and America Ferrera, film star and the new spokesperson for the uniquely ME! The Girl Scout/Dove Self-Esteem program spoke, and signed autographs.
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However, National Council Sessions are about the business of Girl Scouts, and insuring that the Movement continues to thrive as the largest all-girl organization in the nation. This particular NCS addressed five benchmark Proposals [See Proposal Summary] designed to open the way for a major transformation of Girl Scouting that the organization has been preparing for during the last two years.
Board Chair Cynthia Thompson and Chief Executive Officer Kathy Cloninger have been leading the organization through the process of developing a new Core Business Strategy that will transform the Movement, making it more successful than ever before. Thus the theme of this year's National Council Session: FOR ALL GIRLS. SOARING BEYOND GREATNESS.
From it's beginning, Girl Scouts has been a strictly democratic organization, directed by the membership through triennial selection and election of delegates from Girl Scout councils, who converge to consider proposals either from other councils who have met the organization's Constitutional requirements, or from the National Board of Directors. All Proposals originated by action of the National Board, and were adopted without modification.
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As the work goes forward, CEO Kathy Cloninger will partner with the new National Board Chair, Patricia Diaz Dennis, the first Latina ever to hold this position, to lead the organization successfully through the transformation.
The business meetings opened with a presentation of the Stewardship Report. The National Council Session in Long Beach, Calif., in October 2002, had ushered in this triennium with Girl Scouts facing significant challenges, but still united in the belief that the mission of Girl Scouting was more important to girls than ever before. "It was clear then that to succeed in delivering a relevant, safe, and fun-filled Girl Scout program to girls, we needed to realign as necessary to be where the girls are and to be even more girl-centric. Being where the girls are means building a membership more reflective of the nation's population, and we can report exciting progress in this area, predominantly through our Hispanic Initiative. Being more girl-centric means building a ‘By Girls, For Girls' program approach especially for pre-teen and teenage girls," Cynthia said.
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Innovations in program and expanded outreach efforts to new communities positioned Girl Scouts to pursue new partnerships. Significant progress was made in teaming with corporations, foundations, and federal agencies and departments to fund an exciting array of opportunities.
New studies by the Girl Scout Research Institute further strengthened Girl Scouts' reputation as a premier voice for girls, and the GSUSA Public Policy and Advocacy Office led a nationwide effort to inform and educate decision-makers about issues that are important to girls. In the triennium $23 million was raised for Girl Scout program and distributed to Girl Scout councils.
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Organizationally, GSUSA's financial position has remained positive, and an increase emphasis on fundraising has benefited councils as well as the organization as whole. Under the leadership of the new chief executive officer, Kathy Cloninger (who assumed this position in 2003), work began on the core business strategy, which includes a team of National Board members, council representatives, and GSUSA staff who worked from June to December 2004 gathering data, probing assumptions, addressing serious contemporary challenges faced by the organization, and forming insights that led to the identification of five strategic priorities:
- A new program model and clear pathways for girl participation.
- A reinvigorated system of volunteerism.
- A contemporary and relevant Girl Scout brand.
- An effective and efficient governance system and organizational structure.
- A new funding culture to attract the resources needed for growth and expansion.
A sixth priority — an inclusive, girl-centric, and results-focused culture — will support the achievement of the other five.
Five "Gap Teams," so named because they are bridging the gap between the current system of organization and a yet-to-be defined new approach, are working to define each of the priorities. The teams are involving hundreds of people including girls, volunteers, and council and GSUSA staff.
During the NCS, attendees were invited to attend Open Space events and Strategy Cafes (particularly in the areas of governance, restructuring and a new program model) to learn more about the core business strategy, contribute ideas and ask questions. These informal meetings, as well as Open Forums during the business meetings, provided unprecedented opportunities for information gathering and discussion, prior to debate and ballot counting.
Elected to serve 2005-2008
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The profile of the elected Girl Scout National Board and Nominating Committee reflects the organization's dedication to increasing diversity: 39 are women, five are men; 27% are Black; 52% are White (non-Hispanic); 14% are Hispanic; 5% are Asian American; 2% are American Indian; eight have been president of one or more Girl Scout councils; 18 have served on one or more council boards of directors; 33 were girl members; four are attorneys; 12 are outstanding professionals in education or social services; three have earned Ph.D.s; four have been appointed to state or federal legislative or executive positions; 18 are specialists in banking, finance, communications, technology, or strategic planning; three have top-level experience in fund development; seven have distinguished backgrounds in marketing; four are experts in human resources; 21 serve on one or more boards of other national not-for-profits or corporations. They reside in 24 states and the District of Columbia.
Officers:
Patricia Diaz Dennis, President/Chair
San Antonio, Texas
Sharon H. Matthews, First Vice President
Charlotte, N.C.
Mary P. Borba, Second Vice President
Stamford, Conn.
Linda P. Foreman, Secretary
Durham, N.C.
Gwendolyn J. Wong, Treasurer
Hillsborough, Calif.
Members-At Large:
Susan L. Anderson, Philadelphia, Pa.
Sheri Betts (also Nominating Committee), Mitchellville, Md.
Donna L. Blackwell, New York, N.Y.
Maria Blake (also Chair, Nominating Committee), Indianapolis, Ind.
Patsy Brison, Asheville, N.C.
Valdar Coryat, Freeport, N.Y.
Tanya Dawkins, Coral Cables, Fla.
Tjada D’Oyen, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Raquel “Rocky” Egusquiza, Dearborn, Mich.
Mimi U.B. Coppersmith Fredman, State College, Pa.
Tom Frost, III, San Antonio, Texes
Michelle L. Garcia, Washington, D. C.
Olivia N. Graham, Arlington, Va.
Nan C. Hillis (also Nominating Committee), Tallahassee, Fla.
Kip Hughes, Denver, Col.
Marne L. Keller-Krikava, Appleton, Wis.
Connie L. Lindsey, Chicago, Ill.
Sandra E. Madrid, Bothell, Wash.
Nancy Marino, Upper Brookville, N.Y.
Gail G. Mattson, Oak Ridge, Tenn.
Melodie Mayberry-Stewart, Cleveland, Ohio
Joseph L. Mayfield, Greenwich, Conn.
Linda Mazon-Gutierrez, Tucson, Ariz.
Debra Nakatomi, Los Angeles, Calif.
Judith A. Ramaley, Alexandria, Va.
Angel L. Rodriguez, Parker, Texas
Patricia Bowe Romines, Bartlesville, Okla.
Rhea S. Schwartz (also Nominating Committee), Washington, D.C.
Sara L. Schwebel (also Nominating Committee), Cambridge, Mass.
Joyce Espy Searcy, Nashville, Tenn.
Brigadier General Annie Sobel, Tijeres, N.M.
Gail M. Talbott, Cocoa Beach, Fla.
Davia Temin, New York, N.Y.
Marisa Tabizon Thompson, Eugene, Ore.
Joan Wagnon, Topeka, Kan.
Perry Yeatman, Westport, Conn.
National Nominating Committee
Non-board members:
Ralph E. Alonzo, San Antonio, Texas
Pauline Dow, El Paso, Texas
Megan MacPherson, Lincoln, Calif.
Mitchell A. Martin, East Point, Ga.
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VOLUNTEER