Well, it’s here. The Early Alert for the 2020 National Council Session has arrived. What’s the Early Alert you ask? Usually in February before the National Council Session, the National Board and GSUSA release what they intend on presenting as proposals and a discussion topic.

There are four – count ’em – four proposals regarding everybody’s favorite topic – membership dues. I believe they are determined for “membership dues” to go to the top of the GSWAC (Not a Council) Tag Count. Right now it’s at #26. Continue reading

The Yellowstone Trip: Three Years in the Making (Part One)

Experiences as a Leader 1 Comment cadettes, cheryl, seniors, trip out west, trips, troop 20, troop 2562, yellowstone

When I first began to write about our troop’s trip out to Yellowstone this past summer, I planned to include all of it in one post. But as I started going through the pictures, I realized there would be absolutely no way to try to sum it up in one post and do it any justice. I could write an entire book about the trip. So I’m breaking it up into multiple ones, but even still, I know I won’t come close to describing what Yellowstone is all about and our experiences. I don’t know how many blog posts this will take, but I hope you will join me for the ride! I’m going to include only the best pictures and not overload you with too many because I don’t want to turn this into a flashback from the 70s wherein visitors to a home are subjected to the couple pulling out their vacation slides and making them sit through grainy images up on a wall. But one of these days I do plan on creating a photo album on Shutterfly. Picking out which few photos to share here will probably be the hardest part of this blog series. Continue reading

January 26 2020

The WINNER of the OFFICIAL Scarf Poll!

Random Things That Don't Fit Anywhere Else Kinda Like Me 1 Comment OFFICIAL scarf

About a month ago, I created a poll for readers and friends to vote for which OFFICIAL scarf I should wear to our council’s annual meeting on January 25th. Thanks to everyone who voted! So without further ado, here’s the Facebook Live video from Saturday morning which reveals the winner!

January 17 2020

Farthest North vs. GSUSA: It’s Over. For Real This Time.

National Governance 5 Comments farthest north council, gsusa, membership dues, national board, national council

On the last episode of Farthest North vs. GSUSA, the Alaskan Supreme Court ruled in favor of Farthest North. But GSUSA filed for a rehearing of the case! What happens next is anyone’s guess!

Well, the guessing is over. In the words of the Court:

“IT IS ORDERED: The Petition for Rehearing and the Motion for Reconsideration are both DENIED.”

December 21 2019

The OFFICIAL Scarf Showcase!

Random Things That Don't Fit Anywhere Else Kinda Like Me, Traditional Stuff 21 Comments core business strategy, councils, history, OFFICIAL scarf, sofia chang, sylvia acevedo

It’s been really serious around here lately what with white papers and all, so it’s time for some zaniness. And what could be zanier than OFFICIAL SCARVES?? FYI – in case you aren’t familiar with my blog:

And in case you’re new to what my deal is with OFFICIAL scarves, you probably should read this first. But if you think my membership dues timeline is thorough, wait until you read:

THE OFFICIAL SCARF SHOWCASE!

December 20 2019

Annual Meeting OFFICIAL Scarf Poll

Random Things That Don't Fit Anywhere Else Kinda Like Me 5 Comments gsusa, OFFICIAL scarf, surveys, sylvia acevedo

Our council’s Annual Meeting is coming up on January 25th, and I’m asking you, the reader, to choose which OFFICIAL scarf I should wear to it! There are four to choose from: Polka dot (“All Business”), Retro badge (“Historical and Classic”), Striped and trefoils (“Friendly”), and GS Promise & Law (“Traditionalist”). I was very excited about this idea (and I still am), but my thunder was stolen! Keep reading after you vote to find out more! You may need to scroll either up or down on the page to find the text once you vote due to the way Google renders embedded surveys. Continue reading

November 21 2019

The Democratic Process Solution White Paper

Delegate Duties, National Governance, Opinions 4 Comments 2004 restructure, 2017 NCS, blue book, board of directors, core business strategy, councils, delegate, democratic process, frances hesselbein, governance, gsle, gsusa, leader issues, national board, national council, national delegate, volunteers

Well, here it is. Ever since writing Death Spiral: Governance Edition, I really wanted to take it to the next level and publish a white paper. So I did. It’s a culmination of what I have been doing for the past four years since I first wrote White Paper Hub Bub – which is attempting to get to the bottom of what is causing our Movement’s dysfunction. I guess it’s fitting that I wrote a white paper since a white paper is what kicked all of this off.

In The Democratic Process: THE Solution to What’s Troubling the Girl Scout Movement, I write about the disappearance of the democratic process in Girl Scouting, but I also lay down a road map on how to get it back. I’d like to thank everybody who helped with editing this paper. Additionally, I would like to thank those who, for the past four years, have let me bounce ideas off of them, listened patiently and answered my questions, gave me resources, and supported my blog. It is my sincere hope that this paper will be taken sincerely and seriously because I do think it is THE solution for what ails us. Continue reading

October 31 2019

Founder’s Day Scout’s Own

Traditional Stuff 1 Comment ann robertson, ceremonies, halloween, history, j-low

Today is Halloween, but for all of us here in Girl Scout land, it’s really Founder’s Day aka J-Low’s birthday. Birthday wishes are sent out via multiple sources on Facebook and shared multiple times by everybody! Halloween is always a very hectic day in my household due to trying to get everybody home from school, home from band practice, and attempting to cook dinner and eat it in time to get ready for trick or treating. I got all of this done and was checking my email when I realized I had completely forgotten to write up something for the blog. I always try to post something on March 12th and October 31st because I would hang my head in shame if I didn’t.

So I quickly flipped through a bunch of books and nothing jumped out at me. Then I remembered the GS Leader Magazine Archive hosted by the GS History Project which is run by the fabulous Ann Robertson – who will now get her own tag here on GSWAC (not a council). I’m sure she winced when she read that last line. Continue reading

October 22 2019

Girl Scout Troop Leader Experience Podcast Interview

Random Things That Don't Fit Anywhere Else Kinda Like Me 1 Comment alien biscuits, farthest north council, membership dues, memories all alone in the moonlight, troop 20, troop 2562, troop stuff

A few weeks ago, I was approached by the Girl Scout Troop Leader Experience Podcast (formerly the Girl Scout Volunteer Connection Podcast) and asked if I would be interested in being interviewed for a podcast. I said sure, why not? I warned Sarah, the host, that she might lose some listeners, but she said that was okay and she’d take that risk. 😉

If you’re brave enough to listen to it, I share some of my memories with my troop growing up (including the infamous Alien Biscuits story), experiences as a current leader, and some thoughts on the Farthest North vs. GSUSA case regarding membership dues.

There are a variety of ways to listen to this podcast. You can download it via iTunes here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/interview-with-amy-brown-of-girl-scouts-with-a-cause-gssc-mm/id1439828810?i=1000454147121

Or play it directly from the website here: http://girlscoutpodcast.com/interview-with-amy-brown-of-girl-scouts-with-a-cause-gssc-mm

Or if this works for you, it’s embedded here:

There might be more podcasts from me in the future, so be sure to subscribe!