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  Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles Realignment News

   A Monthly Council Merger Update for Girl Scouts and the Community

Issue #1 • April, 2008    

 

Welcome to Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles Realignment News!
This is a historic time for Girl Scouts. Six Los Angeles area Girl Scout councils began a merging process in October, 2007 to build a single Girl Scout council serving all of Los Angeles County and parts of San Bernardino County. The new council will be formed by Dec. 1, 2008.

We are proud to present you with the inaugural issue of Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles Realignment News. Produced by the realignment development and communications sub-committee under the direction of the Council Realignment Committee, Realignment News is collaboratively published by the six merging councils.

Realignment News gives us one voice as a new council so that we can share timely and accurate information. Issues will appear monthly, and in times of "breaking news," special editions will also be distributed.

Take the Governance Model Survey
The Governance Sub-committee of the Council Realignment Committee is seeking input in deciding between two policy influencing systems. A policy influencing system is the process that gives members a voice in important decisions made by the council, such as selection of candidates for the nominating committee, board of directors, national council of delegates and changes to the by-laws.

Your input is appreciated. Please provide feedback via a survey
available here and at www.girlscoutsla.org.
Responses will be accepted until May 2, 2008.


 


Connect Online!
Visit the Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles Realignment Web site as we share the news of our exciting, dynamic council taking shape.

www.girlscoutsla.org.

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Committee Forms to Merge Greater Los Angeles Councils

As part of the GSUSA planning and implementation process, a Council Realignment Committee (CRC) has been established.

It is made up of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Board President, and one other board member from each aligning Girl Scout Council.

The CRC is charged with leading the merger process. The vast amount of Girl Scout Council experience and business expertise of this team will ensure that the new council is developed in adherence to GSUSA realignment guidelines, as well as the legal and governance aspects of the GSUSA realignment.

GSUSA Approves Greater Los Angeles Council Realignment
Girl Scouts of the USA’s (GSUSA) National Board of Directors recently voted to endorse a plan to realign 312 councils into 109 high-performance, community-focused councils.

This change was approved by GSUSA with the goal of creating a streamlined infrastructure that will facilitate the greatest impact on girls’ lives nationwide and to be able to deliver on the promise of our mission: to build girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place.

In Fall 2006, the GSUSA National Board of Directors approved the alignment of six Greater Los Angeles Area Girl Scout Councils:

Angeles Girl Scout Council, Girl Scout Council of Greater Long Beach, Girl Scouts - Joshua Tree Council (southeastern portion), Girl Scouts - Mt. Wilson Vista Council, Girl Scouts - Spanish Trails Council, and Girl Scouts of the San Fernando Valley will form one high-capacity, community-focused Girl Scout council.
 
The new structure will make the most effective use of resources to better serve local communities and create more opportunities in Girl Scouting for even more girls.

Girls and adults can expect the full continuation of quality program delivery and volunteer services during the realignment process. Beyond that, girl members and adult volunteers will see expanded programs, greater access to camps and other program facilities, more opportunities for girls, and increased visibility for Girl Scouts in the community.

This new council will encompass all of Los Angeles County and a small portion of San Bernardino County and will serve approximately 50,000 girls and nearly 22,000 adult volunteers from the start.
 


Council Realignment Committee
The Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles Council Realignment Committee (CRC) includes 18 representatives from the six merging "legacy councils."

Sub-Committees Support Council Realignment Committee (CRC)

Some 50 volunteers and staff are serving on one or more of the following sub-committees to provide high-level expertise and support. The subcommittees are appointed by and are accountable to the Council Realignment Committee and will provide recommendations to the committee per the subgroups' charges.

Development and Communication Sub-Committee
The Development and Communications Sub-Committee coordinates all internal and external communications on behalf of the CRC. The sub-committee will review current development practices, identify new opportunities, and monitor grant submissions during the merger process. The group will provide recommendations for a development and communication plan and structure for the new council and how to align the councils' existing communication and development functions.

Service Delivery Sub-Committee
The Program/Service Delivery Sub-Committee will review and select a model for program and the delivery of services of the new Girl Scout Council.

This sub-committee is primarily concerned with developing methodology for merging the service delivery systems and preparing systems for the future program operations of the new council. This sub-committee monitors the method of merging all service delivery operations of the new council, which could include membership, program, adult development, product sales and Girl Scout shops. The sub-committee has divided into subgroups for program, membership and adult development/training.

Finance Sub-Committee
The Finance Sub-Committee will review and select a model for financial affairs of the new Girl Scout council. This sub-committee is primarily concerned with developing the methodology and monitoring the merging of all fiscal operations for the new council.

Governance Sub-Committee
The Governance/Corporate Structure Sub-Committee will research, review, and select a governance structure for the new Girl Scout council and recommend such a structure to the CRC. This Sub-Committee will be focused on developing new bylaws, amending the articles of incorporation, agreeing on the method of combining jurisdictions to form the new council and overseeing the preparation of appropriate legal documents.

Human Resources Sub-Committee
The Human Resources Sub-Committee's primary responsibility is to lay the framework of and make recommendations for the new council’s human resources philosophy, policies, and business practices. They will be focused on development of a framework and methodology for integrating the current HR practices of the merging councils into a single high capacity human resources program.

Technology Sub-Committee
The Technology Sub-Committee is primarily concerned with all activities related to technology planning efforts on behalf of the CRC. This committee is primarily concerned with developing a technology plan for the new council and the methodology for merging the current technology systems and data of each of the existing councils.

Nominating Sub-Committee
The Nominating Sub-Committee is an interim body charged with developing and presenting to the delegations of each of the six legacy councils, a single slate of nominees for the officers of the board of directors, members-at-large, and the board development committee for Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles. This working group is a sub-committee of and is accountable to the Council Realignment Committee.

CEO Search Sub-Committee
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Search Sub-Committee’s primary charge is to initiate a search, review prospective candidates and recommend to the CRC a Chief Executive Officer for the new council.

Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place.