THE REALIGNMENT PROCESS AND NEXT STEPS

Merger Uplink July 1, 2008 issue (119k PDF)
Merger Uplink May 29, 2008 issue (103k PDF)
Merger Uplink April 21, 2008 issue (92k PDF)
Merger Uplink April 10, 2008 issue (92k PDF)
Merger Uplink April 1, 2008 issue (91k PDF)
Merger Uplink March 24, 2008 issue (103k PDF)
Council Realignment Committee (CRC) Members (56k PDF)

Girl Scouts is making landmark decisions to guide the future of our organization. The transformation will further strengthen the organization and its focus on leadership development for girls in the 21st century. As the foremost authority on issues affecting girls, we’re focusing on what Girl Scouting does best through our core leadership philosophy of discover, connect, and take action. We are also honoring the traditions that have always made Girl Scouting such a positive experience.

To support the transformation and leadership development program efforts, the Girl Scouts of the USA’s National Board of Directors approved a plan to realign 310 councils into 109 high-performance, community-based councils. The realignment will strengthen the organization’s infrastructure and resources as we better serve our local communities and deliver a superior Girl Scout leadership program to even more girls.

As part of this national alignment, during the 2007-08 program year, Girl Scouts of Limberlost Council, Indiana Lakeland Girl Scout Council, and areas of Girl Scouts of Singing Sands Council and Girl Scouts of Tribal Trails Council will join to serve girls and adults across northern Indiana and into Berrien and Cass counties of southwest Michigan.

Each of our councils brings success and strength to the new yet-to-be-named council. We’re excited about the collective wisdom and experience our individual councils will bring to this new collaboration. Working with committed adult volunteers, the true beneficiaries will be the thousands of girls we serve now and the tens of thousands more we’ll serve in the future. These girls are tomorrow’s leaders – leaders who really will make the world a better place.
The Council Realignment Committee will lead the merger process. It will be composed of the board chairs and CEOs of our councils. Other members will be added when their additional expertise is appropriate, and subcommittees can be formed to support this work.

The Realignment Timeline
Girl Scouts of the USA has been considering realignment for several years and began the process of studying realignment of all council boundaries during the summer of 2005. Current jurisdictions are nearly 40 years old, and realigning boundaries will make efficient use of resources and offer more program opportunities to more girls.

During the 2007-08 program year, the merger of Girl Scouts of Limberlost Council, Indiana Lakeland Girl Scout Council, and areas of Girl Scouts of Singing Sands Council and Girl Scouts of Tribal Trails Council will be planned and a new council name will be developed. The new council will become effective October 1, 2008.

Girl Scouting across our communities will continue to provide exceptional programming for girls and support for adult volunteers during this time of realignment. Following realignment, the community can look to Girl Scouting for expanded opportunities for girls, enhanced services for adult volunteers, continued outreach to underserved populations, and vibrant partnerships with the greater community to meet our commitment to girls.