The Blue Book of Basic Documents was recently updated to reflect changes made at the 2020 National Council Session. The changes include:
- Addition to Constitution/Article IX/Membership Dues:
Every person accepting the principles of the Girl Scout Movement and desiring to be a member of the Girl Scout Movement in the United States of America shall pay annual, lifetime, or other applicable membership dues to Girl Scouts of the United States of America. Dues are set by the National Council or the National Board.
The National Board shall implement procedures for communicating with and seeking input from Girl Scout councils and National Council delegates prior to any membership dues change by the National Board.
2. Addition to Credentials:
COMMUNICATIONS PROCEDURES FOR NATIONAL BOARD DUES CHANGES
Prior to any vote by the National Board to change membership dues structure or amount, Girl Scouts of the USA shall communicate with and seek input from all local Girl Scout councils and National Council delegates on the proposed changes, intended use of the funds, and potential impact on the Girl Scout Movement. After action is taken by the National Board, there shall be a report to all local Girl Scout councils and National Council delegates of the decision taken and the impact of the dues change.
3. Addition to Credentials/Membership Dues and Procedures for Registration:
In order to be a member of the Girl Scout Movement in the United States of America, a person must register with and pay annual, lifetime or other applicable membership dues to Girl Scouts of the United States of America. This is done locally through the Girl Scout council of USA Girl Scouts Overseas committee with which she or he is affiliated or through national headquarters if she or he has no council affiliation. The National Board of Directors must obtain approval from the National Council whenever a planned dues increase will result in dues increasing more than a total of 25% in any one triennium. Girl Scout councils account for membership dues in the custodian fund and transmit to GSUSA within two months of receipt all monies received for membership dues. These funds are not to be invested by the council for the purpose of generating income for the council.
and
Lifetime members pay $400 lifetime membership dues at the time they become lifetime members; discounted lifetime membership dues of $200 shall be offered to anyone who was a registered Girl Scout member before the age of 18 and is under the age of 30 at the time of becoming a lifetime member; discounted lifetime membership dues of $200 shall be offered to anyone who is a registered member and has served as a volunteer for a period of 10 or more years at the time of becoming a lifetime member.
4. Addition to Constitution/Article IV/The National Council/7. Term for Delegates:
Subject to the requirements of the preceding sections of this article, delegates elected by local councils shall be elected in the calendar year preceding the National Council Session and shall serve as members of the National Council for three years from the date of their election or until their successors are elected, provided they remain the delegates of the local council which elected them; delegates from USA Girl Scouts Overseas shall serve as members for three years from the date of their selection or until their successors are selected, provided they remain delegates from USA Girl Scouts Overseas; members of the National Board of Directors and National Board Development Committee shall be members of the National Council during their term of office; those persons elected by the National Council shall serve until the next regular session of the National Council.
5. Removed footnote from pg. 9 of Constitution/Article V/Sessions of the National Council:
* The following Section 6 of Article V is effective April 21, 2020 and expires upon conclusion of the 55th National Council Session: “6. The National Board may authorize any session of the National Council to take place in whole or in part by means of remote communication by any means of communications technology determined by the National Board and pursuant to which the members of the National Council have the opportunity to read or hear the proceedings substantially concurrently with their occurrence, vote on matters submitted to the members of the National Council, pose questions, and make comments. Attendance through such means shall constitute presence in person at such meeting for quorum and voting purposes, including without limitation under Article V, Sections 4 and 5; Article XII, Section 11; and Article XVII. The National Board may further authorize notice of such meeting to be given by electronic method notwithstanding Article V, Sections 1 and 3.”
The updated version of the Blue Book can be found on the GSUSA website.
A Blue Book change log from 2003 to 2020 can be found here.