September 6, 2006
Dear Friends, Volunteers and Supporters,
Girl Scouts of Middle Georgia, Inc. has been very busy during the last year providing creative, fun and meaningful programming for our Girl Scouts. We are fortunate to have so many wonderful volunteers and supporters engaged in helping us develop girls to their full potential.
Many of you may recall from our last fall’s Association meetings, from the 2005 National Convention in Atlanta or from our newsletter, The Gazette, or the National Leader Magazine that Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) is implementing a new Core Business Strategy. For the past several months, GSUSA has worked with councils to review jurisdictions and boundaries and to work toward a realignment of councils in order to build high capacity councils.
We were officially notified by GSUSA on August 28, 2006, that the National Board of directors had reviewed all the jurisdictions and voted on a new realignment of councils. There are currently 313 councils in the United States, and the new map calls for 109 councils. We currently have 8 councils in Georgia, and the new map calls for 2 councils.
Assuming approval by the 8 councils’ Boards of Directors and membership, there will be 2 councils in Georgia. One council will be “Greater Georgia” and will include Girl Scouts of Middle Georgia, Inc. along with five other councils. The second Georgia council for the most part is comprised of Atlanta’s Metropolitan Statistical Area. It will combine Girl Scouts of Northwest Georgia with Girl Scouts of Pine Valley and in addition have Jasper (currently with Girl Scouts of Middle Georgia, Inc.), Dawson, Barrow, Walton, and Forsyth (currently with Girl Scouts of NE Georgia) counties.
The realignment process for our councils is scheduled to begin in April 2007, and is expected to take several months to complete. The New Core Strategy identifies key areas of work including new program models and pathways, volunteerism, marketing, funding, culture, governance, and organizational structure. Program models and new pathways should be finalized by October 1, 2008.
GSUSA is working with councils across the nation to secure a strong future for our girls by building high capacity councils that have the resources, connections, and talent to support our mission: “Girl Scouts builds girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place.”
As you know, the world is constantly changing. Change is truly inevitable and now is the time for transformation and revitalization for Girls Scouts. Girls will be better served by flexible, efficient, and well funded high capacity councils. We are committed to working with our sister councils to make this transition successful.
With this realignment, more girls should have the opportunity to be a part of Girl Scouts and have access to the benefits of the Girl Scout Program helping to develop future generations of courageous, confident girls who do indeed make the world a better place. After all, if ever we needed help in making the world a better place, it is now.
Thank you for all that you do and for your continued support as Girl Scouts moves forward with this historical change.
Sincerely,
| Elizabeth W. Hardin Chair of the Board of Directors |
Lee Laughter Chief Executive Officer |
| Girl Scouts of Middle Georgia, Inc. | |