National CEO Survey

The other day I came across a link for a survey that someone had shared on the GSUSA Are You Listening? Facebook Page in which GSUSA is asking for input on qualities that should be considered during the search for the new National CEO.  It was sent via email, although the source was not revealed.  I’m guessing it came from a council newsletter, because the text stated that the survey link could be shared with volunteers, parents, or girls.  So I thought I’d check it out too, and I’m assuming it’s okay to share it.  Here’s the link to the survey.  It is due September 30th.

One question asked what challenges we think the National CEO will face in the next 2 to 5 years.  I would like to share my response.  It made me very sad to write this, and I even felt a little depressed afterwards.  But I thought I’d share it anyway: 

I believe that one of the hardest challenges the National CEO will face is repairing the damaged relationships between GSUSA, councils, and volunteers.  There is a divide as large as the Grand Canyon between all three from what I have witnessed and experienced.  Name brands can be shored up, financial situations can be fixed, and programming can be changed, but relationships are the hardest ones to mend when trust has eroded away.  This is what has happened from my personal observations.  I was a Scout from Brownies up to Senior/Gold Award in the 80s, and when I came back as a volunteer in 2010 after being out of pocket all of those years, I stepped into a distrusting and cynical environment.  Those that were concerned and upset eventually left out of discouragement, and the ones left became detached.  New volunteers that enter this environment are disengaged – not out of bitterness since they have no history of what went on, but because there’s no relationship there.

I realize the change that happened in 2004 was supposed to unify Girl Scouts councils and bring them under one umbrella.  I can understand that the belief was that each council was operating as its own unit, and therefore there was no unified message.  However, that disconnect has now shifted to volunteers, who are making up a lot of their own programming away from what GSUSA is promoting as official or even going back to retired programming – like a “black market” if you will.

I feel that if this trust can be repaired through a variety of different avenues – then any other challenges will be quickly and successfully met.

I have to say I am encouraged by GSUSA reaching out the way they have the past few months by asking for input from volunteers.  I hope it is not just lip service.  Probably the best way I can describe where I’m sitting right now is “cautiously optimistic.”