We’re a month out from the 2020 National Council Session, so things are starting to get REAL. I’ve been using all of this to help with studying for a parliamentarian certification, and there’s a lot this year! If you aren’t aware, I recorded a YouTube video about parliamentary procedure tailoring it specifically for the NCS. While prepping for it, I pulled out the NCS Standing Rules and took a look at them. I know parliamentary procedure isn’t the most exciting subject in the world, but stay with me while I go through this particular issue, because there’s something pressing I want to point out, especially if you’re a National Delegate.

So first, what are standing rules? As opposed to governing documents, they relate to the administration of an organization’s meeting such as how delegate credentials will be handled during a session. Normally, standing rules do not deal with parliamentary procedure. However, convention standing rules are a little bit different in that they can in addition to regular administrative rules. You can find this year’s standing rules in the OFFICIAL Call to Meeting on pg. 3.
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A GSWAC (Not a Council) Presentation on National Governance in Girl Scouting

National Governance No Comments blue book, democratic process, governance, national board, national council, national delegate

I had a request of sorts to put together a presentation on an overview of our organization’s National Governance structure. It’s not nearly as long as the previous one about NCS parliamentary procedure, and it’s just a very high level overview for those new to the subject. I hope you find it helpful!

September 9 2020

2020 NCS: A GSWAC (Not a Council) Parliamentary Procedure Presentation

National Governance No Comments 2020 NCS, democratic process, national delegate, roberts rules

Earlier this week, I led a training on parliamentary procedure for our council’s national delegation. I tailored it specifically to relate to a National Council Session and for National Delegates, so it’s more than just your average parliamentary procedure rigamarole. After my presentation, I modified the slides a little bit to make it more UNOFFICIAL and then recorded a GSWAC (Not a Council) version. If you’re a National Delegate whose parliamentary procedure training was a little lacking or you want a brush-up – or – if you’re a non-delegate who wants to understand what’s going on during the proceedings, check it out! Please share it as well if you’re so inclined. I hope this will help because parliamentary procedure can be a very confusing (I use this word a lot in the video) and overwhelming topic. So without further ado, here it is! Note: I make mention that Request for Information & Parliamentary Inquiry aren’t allowed for the NCS, but that has been changed.

September 8 2020

2020 NCS: Not Passing Proposal 2 is Our Fail-Safe

National Governance, Opinions 3 Comments 2020 NCS, blue book, democratic process, farthest north council, gsusa, membership dues, national board, national council

The term “fail-safe” became popular during the Cold War when both the Soviets and the United States had tons of nuclear missiles pointed at each other, and you never knew when you might have to run down to a fallout shelter. There was even a 1964 movie with the same name starring Henry Fonda and Walter Matthau. And a pre-I Dream of Jeannie Larry Hagman! Due to human and computer failure, an American bomber accidentally takes off to drop some nukes on the Commies. There was supposed to be some mechanism in place that shouldn’t have allowed this to happen, but it didn’t engage. I haven’t seen the movie, but I did see War Games which kinda sounds like the same thing. How about a nice game of chess? Anyway, here’s the definition of a fail-safe in case you’re not familiar with it:

adj

1. (General Engineering) designed to return to a safe condition in the event of a failure or malfunction
2. (Military) (of a nuclear weapon) capable of being deactivated in the event of a failure or accident
3. unlikely to fail; foolproof

vb (intr)

to return to a safe condition in the event of a failure or malfunction

September 1 2020

2020 NCS: Passing Proposals 2 through 4 Opens Pandora’s Box

National Governance, Opinions No Comments 2020 NCS, farthest north council, gsusa, membership dues, national board, national council, national delegate

If your National Delegates haven’t started meeting with you yet, THEY NEED TO WAKE UP. I know everybody is preoccupied with COVID and school starting, and maybe some National Delegates are still disappointed that they didn’t get a trip to Orlando. But a commitment was made to be a National Delegate, in-person or virtual. We are now into September.

IT IS TIME TO GO TO WORK.

August 29 2020

Why I Don’t Support #IWill

Opinions 5 Comments 2020 NCS, traditions

You can find this patch on MakingFriends.com.

Recently, there’s been some discussion about whether or not to take the word “try” out of the Girl Scout Promise and just use “I will.” A troop of Juniors wrote letters and recorded a video detailing why they believe the Promise should be changed. The Heart of New Jersey council proposed a discussion topic about it for this year’s National Council Session, but it wasn’t OFFICIALLY chosen as one. I heard that National Delegates participated in a forum about it a few weeks back, but I don’t know anything beyond that. But I don’t support it. Continue reading

August 26 2020

Want to Find Out What’s Going On With Our Movement?

National Governance 9 Comments 2020 NCS, gsusa, national board

During every National Council Session, there’s something called the Stewardship Report that GSUSA and the Office of the National Board put on. It consists of highlights and findings along with the finance report for the past three years between National Council Sessions. They also peer into the future and discuss strategies and priorities. It’s much like what you’d see at your council’s annual meeting, but on a national scale. Continue reading

August 15 2020

7 Reasons Why the National Council Should Have Sole Authority Over Membership Dues: Cliff Notes Version

National Governance, Opinions 6 Comments 2020 NCS, democratic process, farthest north council, membership dues, national board, national council, volunteers

Earlier this year, I wrote a War & Peace version of why I believe the National Council should have sole authority over membership dues with an accompanying post about how the National Board & GSUSA’s version of the membership dues timeline in the 2020 National Council Session Workbook is false. My friend Amy D and I also recorded a webinar for the fun of it recapping things. We lip sync and the presentation is neat looking, so if you have 22 minutes to spare, check it out.

But I realize a lot of people don’t have the time to read a lengthy explanation or watch a webinar about why Proposals 2 through 4 should be shown the door. So National Delegates who need a short recap, this post is for you. Everybody else, if you agree with it, please forward this to your National Delegates and/or raise these points when you meet with them (and hopefully you do). This message has to get out via grassroots channels because many Facebook groups no longer allow links to blogs, whereas GSUSA and the National Board have direct contact with ALL delegates via email, their council leadership, the delegate website, webinars, and regional meetings.

So here are my seven reasons why Proposal 2 should either be amended to naming the National Council as the ONLY authority or why it should not pass as written. I also speak to Proposals 3 & 4. I’m going to be very, very blunt, but I just want to cut to the chase for time’s sake. If you want a more diplomatic version and more in-depth rationale, read the first one. Also I’m going to write short rebuttals for some statements I’m seeing out there. I promise I will keep this one short. Buckle up. Continue reading

August 12 2020

A Big Welcome – But Wait, There’s More….

Opinions 4 Comments 2020 NCS, comics, democratic process, gsusa, judith batty, membership dues, national board, national council, sylvia acevedo, volunteers

In case you didn’t hear the surprising news, Sylvia Acevedo is stepping down as National CEO for GSUSA as of this Friday, August 15th. Judith Batty, a current National Board member, will be taking over as interim CEO. I won’t go into her background and history as you can do that by reading this press release from GSUSA.

Ms. Batty sounds like she’s got great experience to take over during this tumultuous time for our organization between COVID’s devastating effects and the virtual National Council Session this fall featuring a battle over control of membership dues among other things. Continue reading

August 6 2020

I’ve Had IT and I’m Calling People OUT

National Operations 5 Comments 2020 NCS, cei, gsusa, strongly worded letter, vtk

WARNING:

STRONGLY WORDED BLOG POST AHEAD

Addendum 8/20/20: GSUSA has indirectly reached out to me about these issues, so I am going to document them and get them shipped back.

Addendum 10/4/20: I actually ended up having a Zoom meeting with 3 GSUSA VTK staffers and we discussed the overall issues I see, so whaddya know! Let’s see what the future holds!

I normally do not write blog posts while I am “emotional” per se, but I have had it with this issue that has been bothering me for three years now – and that is the laziness when it comes to what is being rolled out for VTK (Volunteer Toolkit). Yes, LAZINESS. I don’t know where the breakdown is happening whether it’s on the development or project management level, but it infuriates me every time I see it, and I’ve been seeing it continuously since I created this inane series of videos about VTK back in 2017. Continue reading