CEO Search
Guiding Principles regarding CEO Search Committee
- Board Chairs and the Selection committee will be transparent and communicate their progress as much as possible, without compromising the integrity of the process.
- The committee will employ a recruitment process that will ensure the best possible candidate who is highly skilled, passionate and mission-focused.
- Utilize all current CEO’s for information regarding skill sets and competencies needed.
Who is involved in selecting the new CEO?
The CEO Search committee is comprised of a board designee of each of the seven merging councils. The existing CEOs will be available to this committee as resources, but will not be directly involved in the process. The Search committee also gathered input from council staff members, board members, delegates, operational volunteers and key community leaders via a ‘Critical Competencies Survey’.
When will the CEO begin?
The CEO Search group is working toward a goal of having a new CEO identified by late February, to be on board as early in March as possible.
Will former CEOs become the satellite office COO?
The current CEOs, as well as other staff, will have the option to apply for new position openings, from the new CEO position to any of the other positions, at any of the satellite offices. Once the organizational structure is approved by the CRC and the new CEO, it will be posted internally for anyone interested in applying for positions.
Communications
Guiding Principles regarding Communications –
- Communications sub committee messages will be distributed once it is agreed upon in the timeframe by the CRC.
- A communication plan should be in place for information on realignment, the new council and a strategy to promote a positive vote.
Will current newsletters continue to be distributed, or will a new one be developed?
Each current council will continue to distribute its own newsletters and communications pieces through April of 2008. The communications subgroup is currently working on a transition Communications Plan from now into fall 2008, to ensure a continuous flow of open communication and a smooth transition for our girls and their families, our volunteers, and all constituents. A new newsletter, filled with information specific to our realignment, is also being developed by the Communications Subgroup, with targeted deliveries on January 1, April 1 and August 1, 2008.
Once formed, the new council’s communications department will take over the schedule and all communication processes to serve all audiences of the Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes.
Finance
Guiding Principles regarding Finance
- The new council should balance the desire to invest/manage money throughout the council with the desire to achieve economies of scale in resources.
- Refrain from limiting long-range planning and visioning due to funding concerns.
- The council will use its financial resources to ensure equity of experience for all girls and volunteers we serve.
Will there be only one budget for the new council, or will there be budgets for each satellite office?
The new council will have one corporate budget. Depending on the final organizational structure, departments and/or satellite offices may have partial budgets within the overall budget.
Fund Development
Guiding Principles regarding Fund Development
- Continue to establish a successful income stream during the transition period.
- Expand events to include neighboring legacy councils
Will our donation stay in our current jurisdiction, or be shared with the entire ‘new’ council?
Unrestricted donations to any Girl Scout council are used to efficiently and equitably serve all of the girls of its jurisdiction. This will also be the case with the Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes . It is our vision to reach out to every girl with the Girl Scout Leadership Program, and this will require the support of all of our friends and communities. The new council will be supported by up to 45 United Way offices and thousands of donors spread throughout our new jurisdiction. It will take the commitment of all of us to serve our girls.
How will the new council respect those who wish to donate only to Girl Scouts in their own community?
Our donors are just as critical to the health and vitality of our Girl Scout family as are the girls. It is paramount that we continue to manage our investors’ gifts in accordance with their wishes and/or intentions. Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes will continue working to build the trust and respect of its investors and supporters so that they may become comfortable with the understanding that less restricted gifts, left in the capable hands of our board and CEO, result in more efficient and equitable service for all girls throughout the jurisdiction. If a donor still wishes to restrict his or her gift to a specific geographic area, GSNWGL will respect and abide by such wishes, absolutely and gratefully. It should be noted, however, that the boundaries of the current councils will be dissolved in the realignment process.
Will endowments stay in our current jurisdiction, or be shared with the entire ‘new’ council?
This will be determined by the terms and conditions of each endowment. By definition, an ‘endowment’ is a fund that is created for permanent support of an organization or institution. Depending on where current endowments are held, (internally by the council, or externally – at a community foundation, for example) the rules of the holding agent will apply. In cases where the council holds its own endowment, it will be the decision of the new CEO and board of directors, through strategic planning, to determine the most prudent way to manage and grow these funds.
The new board, in consultation with the institution’s administration, will determine the objectives of the endowment and the policies to guide its management. Some of the critical factors to be considered include:
· The role of the endowment in supporting the institution’s mission
· The role of the endowment in maintaining a healthy balance sheet
· How much of the expendable gifts should be channeled to the endowment vs current spending
· Who should have the responsibility for investment decisions
· Which investment decisions, if any, should be delegated to outside advisors or investment managers
Will each satellite office have its own fund development events?
To begin and during a transition phase, it is expected that each satellite and each area will continue with any and all of its beloved and anticipated fund development events. At some point, the new council will conduct its own strategic planning process to determine which events should be carried forward, expanded, duplicated in new areas, and how. Some may be utilized as a model to be duplicated in new areas. Some may be expanded to encompass new participants or attendees. Whatever fundraising is determined to be in the best interests of the girls we serve will be offered to those who wish to invest in the futures of our girls.
Governance – Corporate Structure
Guiding Principles regarding Governance
- Governance structures should insure equality of representation to reflect the geography and diversity of the new council.
- In the development of governance and decision-influencing processes, be sensitive to the large geography, exploring multiple methods of communication and voting options.
Will there still be delegates for each area of the new council?
The democratic process has always been and will continue to be a cornerstone of the Girl Scout movement. What defines “each area” of the new council is yet to be determined. All geographic areas of the new council will be represented, but what is defined as any given area we do not yet know. We do know that delegate representation will not be defined by the existing seven council geographies. New regional boundaries will be determined based on equitable service and representation for all girls. Regardless of the configuration, there will still be delegates needed to represent the voices of girls from every community and every corner of GSNWGL.
How will delegates be selected?
Delegates will be elected as outlined by the Bylaws of GSNWGL, but the details of how, how many, and what specific region a delegate may represent is still being carefully determined and will be outlined in our bylaws.
Will there be any local type of boards or advisory committees?
The Governance and Corporate Structure subcommittee as well as the Fund Development subcommittee are both considering ways to incorporate the widespread yet very community-based input of our friends, members, donors and constituents. Rest assured that the new council will ensure that girls from all areas have a loud and clear voice with the board of directors and CEO of GSNWGL.
Where and how often will board meetings be held?
The Governance and Corporate Structure subcommittee is developing new bylaws which will outline the specifics of board meetings. All such work is taking the most current ‘best practices’ of board governance into consideration. Other factors in this decision include convenience for our volunteers, the technological capabilities available to the new council, and the geographic area we will serve.
Transition Nominating Sub Committee
Guiding Principles regarding Nominating
- The new board of directors should equally reflect the current geographic areas and their diversity.
- There should be processes in place to minimize travel and utilize technology with voting and communicating.
How many people will be on the board of directors?
The Governance and Corporate Structure subcommittee is developing new bylaws which will outline a board composition that will ensure representation from all geographies, yet be small enough to be nimble. All such work is taking the most current ‘best practices’ of board governance into consideration.
How will new board members be selected?
Board members will be nominated by the Board Development Committee based on the leadership needs of the council, and elected by the delegates of the council.
Will board members be selected from all geographic areas of the new council?
Yes, but what defines a ‘geographic area’ is yet to be determined. The new bylaws will ensure that the new board of directors reflects the entire geographic areas and its diversity.
Human Resources
Guiding Principles regarding Human Resources
- Build a well-defined process that will insure seamless transition with clear staffing structure, job descriptions, application process and placement.
- Provide consistent practices and messages.
- GSNWGL will employ highly skilled, passionate, mission-focused staff by offering a competitive compensation and benefits package.
- The new council will have some provision for carrying over benefits earned in the legacy councils.
- It is recommended that staffing positions be posted internally first.
When will the new operational structure be known?
The target for final approval and publication of the operational structure is anticipated to be March, 2008, once the new CEO is on board. Various sub-committees of the CRC have developed recommendations regarding staffing, but all will require final approval by the new CEO before positions can be posted and/or filled.
Will there be any downsizing of staff? If so, will they get severance payments and assistance in finding a new job?
Downsizing is not one of the reasons or goals of our realignment process. Our vision is that we will be serving more girls and more volunteers than ever with our new, higher capacity council. We also intend to provide high touch, community-based service for our members and friends Exact size, makeup and location of future staffing needs will be carefully developed by recommendations of CRC sub-committees, the full CRC and, ultimately, the new CEO. The current boards and CEOs are investigating and discussing what severance and career placement options will be offered to employees, should any downsizing occur.
Will employees have to re-apply for the same job?
It is unlikely that any jobs in the new council will be identical to any of the jobs in current councils. One of the reasons for the national realignment of councils is to build councils with the capacity to employ people in specialized roles – rather than the ‘2-3 hats per person’ we see throughout our council staffs today. It is likely, therefore, that current employees will be able to choose what specific role and what geographic area in which they most prefer to work, and then apply according to the new organizational chart of available positions.
What staff will be kept in local areas and what staff will be centralized at a headquarters location?
The goal for our new structure is to create an organization that will enable us to maintain a community-based, high-touch feel for our members, donors, and public at large. Girl Scouting is a grass-roots movement and is part of the very fabric of the communities it serves. This fact is something of which we are very proud and are dedicated to maintaining. It has not yet been determined what specific staff will be at what specific location. It is likely that a well-rounded team of staff, serving multiple areas of girl and volunteer needs, will be assigned to serve specific, manageable geographic areas.
At the October CRC meeting, a headquarters location for GSNWGL was recommended by the property subcommittee. The committee determined the headquarters location based on girl population and trends, the capacity for financial success, donor potential, traffic patterns, visibility, and need for a virtual facility. The committee recommended, and the CRC confirmed, consideration of a headquarters location for the CEO and key, senior staff in the Appleton-Green Bay area. The new CEO and board will consider this recommendation and make a final determination of a physical headquarters address later in the process.
Service Delivery / Program & Membership Systems
Guiding Principles:
- The council’s delivery of services will maximize volunteer recruitment, involvement and development.
- The council structures will be in line with the core business strategies of GSUSA and be able to implement the new program model/outcomes.
How will service unit numbers and troop numbers be determined?
Each council will be given a prefix numeral to put before all of their existing troop numbers so that duplicate troop numbers are avoided. Woodland’s prefix is ‘6’ and all troop numbers will be 4 digit.
Will the new council pay for new council name and number strips?
Any girl that pre-registers and attends the Kick-Off at Lambeau Field on June 28 will receive a free council name strip, otherwise they will have to be purchased. Only the prefix number will be necessary for troop numerals.
Will service units stay the same? Will there still be monthly meetings?
The structure and methods for our future delivery of services are being developed by a variety of staff and volunteers on the Service Delivery Subcommittee. Details are yet to be determined, but all decisions will be based on the guiding principles listed above.
Will there be local shops where members can purchase merchandise? Where will they be?
There will be a variety of ways for members to purchase merchandise, including physical shop locations and remote, mail order or virtual shopping processes. We are committed to being sensitive to the needs of all members in the jurisdiction in obtaining Girl Scout merchandise.
Will we have a member services director?
The organizational structure and staff positions that best meet member needs will be developed through recommendations of the CRC and fine tuned by the new CEO and staff.
Will we have to travel hundreds of miles to attend a leader meeting?
The goal for our new structure is to create an organization that will enable us to ensure convenience and a community-based feel for our volunteers. This will include staff working with volunteers to develop the best processes for meetings and communications within the council.
Property
Guiding Principles regarding Property
- Properties will be evaluated based on the needs of the new council rather than the experiences of the legacy councils or the condition of the current properties.
- All girls throughout the new Council will have equal access to all properties of the Council.
Where will the headquarter office be located?
At the October CRC meeting, a headquarters location for GSNWGL was recommended by the property subcommittee. The committee determined the headquarters location based on girl population and trends, the capacity for financial success, donor potential, traffic patterns, visibility, and need for a virtual facility. The committee recommended, and the CRC confirmed, consideration of a headquarters location for the CEO and key, senior staff in the Appleton-Green Bay area. The new CEO and board will consider this recommendation and make a final determination of a physical headquarters address later in the process.
How many satellite offices will the new council have?
The property subcommittee will examine potential satellite offices and making recommendations to the CRC based upon the future needs of our members. Final decisions will rest with the new CEO and board.
What will happen to our council’s camp?
All property decisions will be deferred to the new council’s board of directors and CEO based upon the vision and strategic plans for the new council.
Technology
Guiding Principles regarding Technology
- Technology should be an important consideration in the ways of work of the council and should be reflected in the plans of each committee.
What types of support will be available online now that we are so spread out?
We will need to maximize our use of technology for the convenience and service of our girls and volunteers. We also realize that due to our large jurisdiction and various levels of technology availability, we will need to offer multiple delivery methods for support services.
Will we be able to do online shopping for Girl Scout merchandise?
You already can! Visit http://goshop.girlscouts.org/gsusaonline/ Remember,however, that profits from these purchases flow to GSUSA and do not directly support Girl Scouting in your community. We anticipate that the new council will be able to offer GS merchandise online or at one of its satellite shops, with any profits going towards serving local girls.
Product Sales Questions
What product sales will be conducted, and when
The Service Delivery sub-committee, made up of staff and volunteers from each current council, is meeting and developing recommendations regarding product sales for the new council. Their recommendations will be passed along to the new CEO and staff for consideration.
How much troop profits be gained from product sales?
This will be determined by the new CEO and staff, based upon a variety of financial factors and the strategic plan developed by the new council.
Will cookie or other product sale credits be accepted at any service center activity, shop or camp throughout the new council?
Yes.
The New Girl Scout Leadership Model
What will the road to the New Girl Scout Leadership Experience look like?
A. The Leadership Model
Provides the design for what girls do in Girl Scouting. It illustrates how adult support strengthens girls’ experiences and drives and displays all the elements that must be in place to create a positive impact on girls’ lives.
B. Girl Scout Pathways
GSUSA envisions councils using the new leadership journeys to fuel girl and volunteer participation in a variety of consistent long- and short-term Girl Scout Pathways. For example, a journey can be spread over a series of troop gathering, provide the basis for a week of day or resident camp, or be the primary content of a virtual pathway.
C. Leadership Journeys
A series of leadership journeys, accompanied by new resources and new awards, is being created for each Girl Scout grade level. Each journey engages girls in exploring a theme through a series of linked experiences that, together, form a whole greater than any one journey activity. Each journey is tied to national “Discover, Connect and Take Action” leadership outcomes.
While engaged in the New Girl Scout journeys, girls and volunteers are encourage to add on outings, celebrations, in-depth explorations or anything else that meets their interests, time and resources.
Councils will preview the launch journeys in spring 2008 and can begin using them in fall 2008.
What will the New Girl Scout Leadership Experience entail?
From current programming, the transformation will center on building the world’s best leadership experience that ties activities to outcomes, provides differentiation for girls from kindergarten through high school, and offers flexible pathways for today’s diverse and busy girls and volunteers.
When will the New Girl Scout Leadership Experience be implemented?
It will be launched in fall 2008. The transition has been set up as a multiyear process so that councils can balance national action plans with local needs, making choices as needed to reach the Movement’s goal of providing girls with a unified Girl Scout experience by fall 2010.
How will outcomes and activities be tied together?
GSUSA will release a new publication this fall called Transforming Leadership: Outcomes of the New Girl Scout Leadership Experience. This document will detail the meaning of each outcome by grade level within the Discover, Connect, Take Action framework. Transforming Leadership will help focus efforts around those outcomes (e.g., program activity selection, fund development, communications) and pave the way for future outcomes measurement.
What happens if girls are in the process of earning their Girl Scout Bronze, Silver or Gold Awards?
Girls at every level can continue to use all available existing materials as new resources are developed and phased in. Adults are invited to use their best judgment to assist girls in choosing projects that are appropriate for their grade level. Existing program resources will continue to serve as supplements to the new materials through 2010.
With implementation of the new Girl Scout Leadership Model, what will the new membership grade levels be?
The new grade levels address the charge of intentionally creating differentiated Girl Scout experiences that mirror girls’ developmental needs:
Girl Scout Daisy, Grades K-1
Girl Scout Brownie, Grades 2-3
Girl Scout Junior, Grades 4-5
Girl Scout Cadette, Grades 6-8
Girl Scout Senior Grades 9-10
Girl Scout Ambassador, Grades 11-12
Volunteers
How will the volunteer experience be different for volunteers?
Volunteers have long asked for more concrete and specific guidance on “what to do” with girls. Recognizing that busy adults need “ready-to-go” materials, GSUSA is creating detailed facilitator guides to accompany each Leadership Launch Journey.
These resources will guide volunteers through the journey with girls, and will make girl-led, cooperative, and hands-on learning techniques easier than ever before to implement. Additionally, the facilitator guides will show volunteers how journey experiences are tied to achieving the national leadership outcomes. Together, the new materials for girls and adults will bring the Girl Scout Leadership Experience to life.
General / Misc Questions
How will the new council support volunteers consistently throughout such a large area?
The Delivery of Services subcommittee is currently working on recommendations for the CRC on exactly this topic. Our goal is to create a membership support structure that is geographically based, with convenience and efficiency as top priority. Our services for members will be community-based, with a high-touch (and high-tech, wherever possible) approach supported by an ‘intelligently designed’ staffing structure with the capacity to implement best practices in service.
Can we start attending other council’s activities?
Of course! Girls and volunteers are welcome to start sampling all their new council satellite service centers and program facilities have to offer
Can we attend other camps?
ABSOLUTELY! One of the most exciting and compelling aspects of our realignment is all of the wonderful program opportunities that will unfold for all of our girls! Every Girl Scout of the Northwestern Great Lakes will have open and equal access to a multitude of camps. We have small, medium and large camps, with lakes, swimming pools, archery courses, hiking trails, hills, fields, woods, yurts, and cabins of all shapes and sizes. The new council will operate all of the program facilities for a while to see how girls choose to utilize the various assets with the new Leadership Program model. The future CEO and board will continually monitor usage trends along with strategic plans to ensure the most prudent use of resources long term.
Which outreach programs will continue?
Outreach programs will be evaluated by the new CEO and staff, and will be continued where needed to allow every girl to have Girl Scout opportunities.
What will happen to Girl Scout uniforms?
Girl Scouts at each level will have one official uniform item (e.g., tunic, vest, sash) for display of official pins and awards. This uniform item will be required when girls participate in ceremonies or officially represent the Girl Scout movement (parades, fund raisers, special events, etc).
The official dress code will unite girls as Girl Scouts. Girl Scout Juniors and older program age groups will wear solid white shirts and khaki pants or skirts with their official uniform item, which will be required when they participate in ceremonies or officially represent the Girl Scout Movement. Brownie sand Daisies may still wear full uniform ensembles.
The adult uniforms will be a scarf worn with the membership pins for women and tie for men. The scarf/tie and membership pins will be worn with navy blue business attire.
Available elements:
Girl Scout at the Daisy and Brownie levels will continue to have a full uniform ensemble available.
Girl Scouts in high school will also have a scarf, uniting them in the WAGGGS tradition.
GSUSA will continue to develop and offer a range of appealing casual wear for girls and adults. |
