Realignment News

This is your source for information on all aspects of the national and local realignment of Girl Scouts.

Launch of New Web Site

We are pleased and excited to announce that Girl Scouts of Western Ohio have launched a joint web site. The new web site will be a central source for merger information. Each council will be maintaining their current web site for local services and information. The new combined site will have links to all four of the current council web sites. Connect to Girl Scouts of Western Ohio web site now.

 Troop Numbers

As we move toward the merger and become Girl Scouts of Western Ohio, it is necessary to adopt a system for dealing with duplicate troop numbers across the four councils. The new council will be composed of over 4,450 troops. In an effort to be fair to all troops involved, we will be using a new system that is recommended by Girl Scouts of the USA.

All troops will receive a five-digit troop number for 2008, while retaining the digits of their original troop number. The four merging councils will add a prefix to the beginning of existing troop numbers that will identify the service region. Zeros will be inserted after the prefix to make the troop number five digits.

The prefix was assigned to each council from north to south as follows:

• Maumee Valley Region – 1

• Appleseed Ridge Region – 2

• Buckeye Trails Region – 3

• Great Rivers Region – 4

Examples:

• Troop 35 from Maumee Valley Region will become 10035

• Troop 3 from Appleseed Ridge Region will become 20003

• Troop 789 from Buckeye Trails Region will become 30789

• Troop 1164 from Great Rivers Region will become 41164

Implementation will begin this summer with all new troops being assigned numbers using the new system. Service Unit report codes will remain three digits but will also be changed to begin with the regional prefix. For example, service unit report code 612 in Buckeye Trails would become 312.

We are aware of the impact of purchasing new numbers and new council identification strips. Watch the council web site for updates and upcoming newsletters for exciting news about special offers and incentives.

New Girl Scout Cookie Baker Selected for Girl Scouts of Western Ohio

We are pleased to announce that ABC Bakers is the Official Girl Scout Cookie Baker for the newly merged Girl Scouts of Western Ohio’s 2008 Girl Scout Cookie Sale.

The delicious new cookie selection consists of Lemonades, Thanks-A-Lot (All Abouts), Carmel deLites ( Samoas), Peanut Butter Patties (Tagalongs), Shortbread (Trefoils), Thin Mints, Peanut Butter Sandwich (Do-Si-Dos) and new 100 calorie pack Cinna-Spins. 

Selling Girl Scout cookies has been part of our Girl Scout heritage and tradition for 90 years.  It is an important part of what makes Girl Scouts the world’s largest organization dedicated to girls.  We are all excited about the opportunities this decision brings and look forward to partnering with ABC Bakers to create an outstanding cookie sale for 2008.  For more information on the new Girl Scout Cookie varieties and ABC Bakers please visit www.girlscoutcookiesabc.com

This first major decision for Girl Scouts of Western Ohio was based on a recommendation by the Cookie Selection Task Group.  The task group was comprised of equal representation from all four merging Western Ohio Girl Scout Councils, including Maumee Valley ( Toledo), Appleseed Ridge ( Lima), Buckeye Trails ( Dayton) and Great Rivers ( Cincinnati).  A process was developed and implemented for the selection of the cookie supplier for the combined sale. Each member of the Cookie Selection Task Group had experience and expertise in the Girl Scout Cookie Sale and each council was responsible for selecting its own members from staff, operational volunteers, and board members. Some of the criteria used to make this choice included:

• A knowledgeable, responsive, experienced baker team able to support the cookie sale throughout the council

• User friendly cookie sale software

• Theme & Materials are designed to be girl, parent and volunteer friendly and linked to the Girl Scout Program

• Creative marketing plan to maximize the effectiveness of the sale Overall product quality

• Demonstrated reliable delivery service – cookies available when and where needed

• Overall product selection

• Best total financial package

• Baker’s commitment to ongoing research

• Demonstrated history in large councils (volume and/or geography)

• Support for merger – best partner to facilitate a smooth transition of the cookie sale into one unified process for the new council

After interviewing a team from each baker and reviewing information presented as to how they would meet the set criteria, the Cookie Selection Task Group was excited to recommend to the merging council CEOs that ABC Baker be the official Girl Scout Cookie Baker for Girl Scouts of Western Ohio.

We recognize that selecting a new cookie baker and creating a unified cookie sale for all four merging Girl Scout councils will create variations to each regions sale.  Your continued support for this very valuable economic literacy and business skills activity will help Girl Scouts of Western Ohio change the lives of girls.  As we continue through the realignment process more details will follow such as cookie pricing, dates and girl/troop recognitions.  Please check back later this summer for additional 2008 Girl Scout Cookie Sale updates.

Girl Scouts of Western Ohio adopted as new council name

Following a polling of delegates at each of the Annual Meetings of the four merging councils, the Council Realignment Committee has adopted Girl Scouts of Western Ohio as the name for the new merged Council. The decision was based on the overwhelming number of votes being cast for that choice of name.

National Girl Scout Council Realignment

Girl Scouts of Buckeye Trails is joining Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) in a historic transformation to modernize the organization and focus on leadership development for girls in the 21st century.

For the past two years, local girls and adults have been among thousands nationwide who voiced their opinions and shared ideas to decide the future direction of Girl Scouting.  The conclusion:  the organization, which since 1912 has inspired 50 million girls and women, must seize the opportunity to revitalize the Girl Scout Movement to remain compelling, contemporary and relevant to today’s girls.

On Aug. 26, 2006, GSUSA’s National Board of Directors voted to endorse a plan to realign 312 councils into 109 high-performance, community-based councils. The new structure will make the most effective use of resources to better serve our local communities and create more opportunities in Girl Scouting for even more girls.

As part of this national realignment, Girl Scouts of Buckeye Trails (Dayton, Ohio) will join with Girl Scouts of Appleseed Ridge (Lima, OH), Girl Scouts – Great Rivers Council (Cincinnati, OH) and Girl Scouts of Maumee Valley (Toledo, OH) to form one Girl Scout council serving over 55,000 girls. The merger will be completed by January 1, 2008.

Council Realignment Committee

A Council Realignment Committee has been leading the way in making the merger go smoothly. The committee consists of 28 members with equal representation from each of the merging councils. Members are the current CEO's, Board Chairs and Board Members. Subcommittees and task groups have begun meeting to accomplish the work of transition.

The Council Realignment Committee of the four merging councils in western Ohio are pleased to announce that Barbara J. Bonifas has been selected as CEO to lead the efforts in building the new western Ohio Girl Scout council. The formal selection process included representatives from the boards of Appleseed Ridge, Buckeye Trails, Great Rivers, and Maumee Valley. Barbara’s appointment will become effective on January 1, 2008, when the new council is formed.

Barbara has been the CEO of Girl Scouts - Great Rivers Council for over 18 years and brings a wealth of experience to this new position. As a 50 year member of Girl Scouting, Barbara has worked professionally in five Girl Scout councils and served as CEO in three of those councils. Barbara grew up in Delphos, Ohio and graduated from The Ohio State University. She began her career in Appleseed Ridge Council, before moving to Heart of Ohio Council, Pennyroyal Council, Kentuckiana Council, St. Croix Council, and Great Rivers Council.

Barbara has a passion for the Girl Scout mission and the proven ability to challenge and inspire others through her vision and commitment to meeting the needs of girls. She is excited about the opportunity to work with board members, volunteers, and staff members to create the council of the future for the girls of western Ohio.

In her new role, Barbara will work closely with the current CEO's in Dayton, Lima and Toledo to ensure the best ideas and practices of each council are integrated into the new organization.

We are confident that we can count on each and every one of you to give Barbara and her team your full support. We are fortunate to have such strong, experienced leadership in western Ohio and look forward to building on the many successes we have all enjoyed, and to an even brighter future.

Frequently Asked Questions About Realignment

Girl Scouts of the USA Core Business Strategy

New National Program Model to Begin in October 2008

The National Board endorsed a Girl Scout Leadership Development Program, which will develop girls’ leadership skills by engaging them in activity cycles based on the values of the Girl Scout Promise and Law and the vision expressed in the Girl Scout Mission Statement: Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. This leadership philosophy enables us as one national Movement to speak consistently about the impact of Girl Scouting on girls’ lives .

 Amendment of Membership Standards

To meet the social and developmental needs of girls, it became necessary to differentiate groups by grade level, thereby requiring a realignment of membership age groups and the addition of a new identifying name. As a result, three actions regarding the membership standards were approved:

• The membership grade levels have been realigned to better meet the social and developmental needs of girls.

• A new age-identifying name has been added, resulting in six age-differentiated levels. The name “Ambassador” to identify Girl Scouts in the 11 th and 12 th grades consistently rose to the top in all research with girls, and reflects young women’s leadership roles in our global world.

• The words “Girl Scout” will be emphasized at the beginning of each identifying name, highlighting the one consistent Girl Scout leadership experience and strengthening the Girl Scout brand.

Grades

K & 1  - Girl Scout Daisy

2 & 3 - Girl Scout Brownie

4 & 5 - Girl Scout Junior

6 - 8 - Girl Scout Cadette

9 & 10 - Girl Scout Senior

11 & 12 - Girl Scout Ambassador

Girl Scout Uniform

Most uniform conversations centered on how we as a Movement balance our traditions of unity with economic practicality for families. In practice, most girls today are choosing to use a tunic/vest/sash with their own clothing and this is reflected in uniform sales trends. At the same time, it is important to maintain Girl Scout tradition, and create a dress code that will identify Girl Scouts as a leadership organization. As a result, the National Board approved the following:

• Girl Scouts at each level will have one official uniform item (e.g. tunic, vest, sash) for the display of official pins and awards.

• Following an official dress code, girls will use their own solid white shirts and khaki pants or skirts with an official uniform item that will unite girls as Girl Scouts.

• The adult uniforms will be a scarf worn with the membership pins for women and a tie for men. The scarf/ tie and membership pins will be worn with navy blue business attire of choice.

• Girl Scouts at the Daisy and Brownie levels will continue to have a full uniform ensemble available.

• Girl Scouts in high school will also have an optional scarf, uniting them in the international WAGGGS tradition.

• GSUSA will continue to offer a range of appealing casual wear for girls and adults.

Transitioning

Program changes will be phased in beginning in October 2008. The organization is committed to supporting volunteers so that you fully understand the leadership experience – and the exciting opportunities that exist for you and girls. As part of our journey ahead, the national organization is committed to:

• Providing tools and support to councils, to educate volunteers on the strengths of the new plans for age differentiation.

• Providing clear transition guidance to councils and tips for volunteers during the two year prep period.

• Providing girls with a two year transition period, which enables them to carry out plans and projects they have begun in the current system.

• Ensuring time to fully educate adults about the program curricula.

Frequently Asked Questions About the New Leadership Development Program