July 26 2023

2023 NCS and Phenom Review

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

Well, that’s a wrap on the 56th National Council Session (NCS) and Phenom Girl Scout Convention. Where to even begin? There’s a lot to unpack, but I’ll go through it as best as possible. Buckle up!

My favorite part of the convention was finally meeting up with friends that I have made through online networking channels. Some folks I’ve known for years, but this was the first time we’ve ever met in-person. It’s really neat how you instantly click with them. It had also been almost six years since I had seen some other friends at the Convention in Columbus. That’s too long of a wait!

I want to thank those of you I spoke to in Orlando who gave me supportive comments about the work I do in Girl Scouting. It has been like a ride on a rickety wooden roller coaster for the past however many years since I started delving into deeper waters, but hearing from you really does make the journey smoother. It was a great pick-me-up at just the right time.  Continue reading

July 12 2023

Can You Keep a NCS Secret?

National Governance    7 Comments    , , ,

We’re down to single digit days before it’s time for the 56th National Council Session (NCS) to commence, and GSUSA has finally — FINALLY — sent out a “What You Need to Know” email for all of us guests. My travel anxiety kicked into high gear a few days ago, and I had been forced to find out things piecemeal from friends who are delegates and Facebook groups which wasn’t helping matters. Lots of rumors about security and water bottles and social media guidelines were swirling around, but now GSUSA has OFFICIALLY published a guide (and an app!). But there’s something weird right at the very end of the guide.

The very last page of the 15 page document details the social media and communication guidelines that attendees of Phenom and the NCS are supposed to follow.  Most of it is pretty standard, but there is one thing that strikes me as odd. The document states that attendees aren’t allowed to share “National Council Session voting outcomes.” What? Continue reading

June 30 2023

My Concerns about the 2023 NCS

National Governance    5 Comments    , , , , , ,

Is this me, perhaps? Is the NCS falling?

We’re a little over two weeks away to the start of the 2023 National Council Session, and I’m trying to get these SWAPs made in time. It’s slow going. But I’ll get there. Look for me. I’ll be the one in navy and wearing an OFFICIAL scarf.

I have to admit I’ve had some very, very wild mood swings over the past few months when it comes to this NCS. I’ve experienced a different perspective this time around since I’m serving on a council resource team for a proposal. I’m going to keep the specifics to myself, but it has been very disappointing and discouraging to see how things have been handled. I feel that councils who have proposals that GSUSA doesn’t support are at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to trying to rally support. I’m saying this ahead of time so that it doesn’t come across as sour grapes depending on what happens with the proposal. Continue reading

June 18 2023

Personal Updates

Experiences as a Leader    1 Comment    , , , , , , , ,

Hello readers. I am still in the midst of a pretty bad case of writer’s block, so bear with me if things sound stilted and awkward and updates are few and far between. I have an idea of what’s causing it, but time will tell if or when I will ever snap out of it. It was a miracle that I was actually able to scratch out this post. Continue reading

June 11 2023

Kindness for Kelaia

Experiences as a Leader    No Comments   

Normally, I keep things such as GoFundMe campaigns private, but I felt called to publicize this one, and I received permission to do so. This is something that has hit my local service unit very hard on multiple levels. I’ll let Tracey, Kelaia’s leader, explain in the GoFundMe campaign directly:

She is getting close to her goal. Some of the other healthcare items the family is looking for include these things specifically: a Hoya electric lift, a tilt in space wheelchair (customized for a child), and a Raz tilt shower commode chair.

As a service unit, we made a commitment to bringing back programming that will focus on bullying and mental health as we feel we had gotten away from it the past few years. It’s too important to not do it. I am just heartbroken over this.

Thank you for any help you can provide.

May 17 2023

GSG Town Halls and the NCS Workbook

National Governance    No Comments    , , ,

We’re getting closer and closer to the National Council Session!  Here are two quick hits:

First, the NCS Workbook has been published. You can download it from GirlScoutGovernance.com here: 2023 NCS Workbook

And GSG NCS Town Halls are back by popular demand! We will be hosting a series of three Town Halls open to both National Delegates and non-delegates alike in June, and registration is now open! We will be reviewing the seven proposals that will be featured at the 2023 National Council Session, and if time, the discussion topic.

After each proposal is presented, participants will be allowed to ask questions or speak for or against the proposal. Every speaker has up to 2 minutes to speak (much like what is done at an NCS).  However, the total time allocated for each proposal could possibly limit the number of speakers. Continue reading