Vision Statement
At their meeting on December 1 the Council Realignment Committee adopted this vision statement to guide their work as they work together to create the new council. The new council name has since been inserted.
Girl Scouts of Central California South is recognized as the leading organization for girls committed to creating a learning community where every girl has the opportunity to design a personal Girl Scout experience that enables her to have fun, pursue her dreams, explore new ideas, create lasting friendships and change the world.
Dynamic, vibrant partnership support from families, communities and businesses enable us to remain steadfast in our commitment to our girls.
Bylaws Summary (Draft)
Click here to see a complete copy of the draft of the bylaws (MS Word). As you review this DRAFT of the proposed bylaws for the new council, you'll notice some things that are different. The Governance Sub-Committee tried to come up with a way to govern the new council efficiently and nimbly, while allowing for local input and accountability.
REGIONAL ADVISORY BOARDS
Article XV describes a new type of governance for the new council: "Regional Advisory Boards." The new board of directors will divide the council into regions. There will be from 2 to 5 regions in the council depending on how the board decides to organize it. Each region will have its own group of volunteers who will:
- Uphold the relevance of Girl Scouting within its Governance Region.
- Cultivate community members and submit names of potential board members to the Board Development Committee;
- Work with the Board of Directors and staff to raise local money
- Give input to the development of a Council vision, corporate goals, strategic learning and council policies which will meet the needs of girls and will respond to the expectations of families and other constituents within that Governance Region;
- Establish and maintain a system for involving the adults in the Governance Region in influencing policy decisions.
- Develop a forum for the discussion of ideas and concerns emanating from the girl and adult membership and the greater communities within the Governance Region.
One member of the Regional Advisory Committee will serve on the Board of Directors and represent the region.
ANNUAL MEETING
The new council's annual meeting will be in March, April or May each year. A quorum of 100 people, with at least 50% of the service units represented, will be required at the Annual Meeting to conduct business. If it can be arranged, electronic attendance at the annual meeting will be permitted.
WHO CAN VOTE?
Every registered member of the council who is over 16 years of age can vote. There will be no elected delegates. Voting by proxy, electronic submission or written ballot will be allowed.
NOMINATING COMMITTEE
The group of volunteers who will recruit and nominate board members will be elected by the council and will be called the Board Development Committee. There will be at least 5 and no more than 9 members. There will be at least one member from each region on the committee to help find board members from that region. At least 2 and no more than 3 members will be on the Board of Directors while they are on the Board Development Committee. The Board Development Committee will submit a single slate of nominees to the members of the council.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
There will be at least 12 and no more than 17 board members. There will be 5 officers (chair, 1st vice chair, 2nd vice chair, secretary, treasurer). There will be one person from each region who will serve on the Regional Advisory Committee and on the Board of Directors as the same time. There will be at least 5, no more than 7, "members-at-large" who will come from all over the council and will not represent any particular region. The Chief Executive Officer will be a member of the board without vote.
SENIOR GIRLS ON THE BOARD
There can be up to 2 Girl Scouts over 16 years old who can be appointed for a one year term. For legal reasons they must be non-voting members of the board.
TRANSITIONAL BOARD
There will be a transitional board and a transitional Board Development Committee who will have special duties as they get the new council started. They will serve until the first annual meeting which will take place in the spring of 2010. All the "transitional" provisions of the bylaws expire at the first Annual Meeting.