January 30 2019

The Membership Dues Authority Proposal: There Can Be Only One

National Governance, Opinions    7 Comments    , , , , , , , ,

The series of Highlander movies features a famous line:  “There can be only one.”  I’ve personally never seen any of the Highlander movies because I’ve heard they involve heads getting chopped off, and I’m not one for gore.  It makes me queasy.  But moving on from decapitation – put on your reading glasses, because this is a long one!  And it involves discussion about national governance, so go get some coffee, too!  You also might need to whip out your copy of the Blue Book of Basic Documents, since I know you all carry one around in your back pocket.  You never know when there might be a governance emergency!

At one time in our organization’s history, there was only one that decided how much membership dues should be – and that was the National Council.  The National Board would put forth a proposal and a rationale as to why dues should increase, and National Delegates took that back to their council’s membership, discussed it, and then met at the triennial National Council Session (NCS) to debate and vote on it.  But that changed in 2012 when the National Board declared it was raising dues from $12 to $15 – and didn’t consult the National Council.  The same thing happened in 2016, but instead of $3, it was raised $10.  Annual dues are currently $25.

So how did this come about, and why the change from the National Council to the National Board?  Continue reading

January 14 2019

The 2019 Cookie Memes Show

Cookie Memes    No Comments    ,

It’s cookie time again, y’all!  And my response is… meh.  But there is one thing I enjoy about cookie season, and that’s creating memes!  I can always tell when it’s that time because the stats on my blog go way up from Pinterest hits and Google searches for “cookie memes.”  I would post links to my two daughters’ online cookie shops, but I’m pretty sure that’s against the rules somewhere.  Well enough chit chat!  It’s cookie meme time again, y’all!  If I come up with any more before the season is over, I’ll add them here.

Continue reading

January 5 2019

Holy National Governance, Batman!

National Governance    No Comments    , , , , , , , , , ,

Happy New Year!  2019 is here – and that means this blog will be five years old in April.  We’ve come a long way, baby.  I noticed one of the posts from the first month is about my first meeting as a service unit delegate.  I knew absolutely nothing about governance at that time – and look at me now!  There are two categories dedicated to National Governance and Delegates!

Along these same lines, I received an email from Marty Woelfel from the Kentuckiana council here recently about a new website called Girl Scout Governance that’s dedicated to our Movement’s national governance system.  Here’s what she has to say about it:

I wanted to send you information about a new Girl Scout Governance website.  I’ve posted links on several Facebook pages, including Girl Scout Convention Chat, Greenblood Gab, and some others–so perhaps you’ve already seen them.  If you care to take a look, here is the website: www.girlscoutgovernance.com.

As you will see, we are interested in trying to slowly bend GSUSA back toward more responsiveness to the voice of members.  We are very encouraged by a lot that has happened under Sylvia Acevedo, so now seems to be the time to “make permanent” the idea that GSUSA must consult with National Delegates on a regular basis.  I was a national delegate twice and a national alternate twice in the period 1999-2011 (counting my full term that began in 2008), and during that entire time, I remember only once that GSUSA contacted national delegates and alternates about anything at all.  In my opinion, they are really missing out on “using resources wisely.”  You will see at the website that I have other ideas, too, and we are hearing now from others about things like girl representation, membership dues, and so forth.

Continue reading