2015 Blue Book Changes

The following changes were approved at the 2014 National Council SessionText in red strikeout was removed and replaced with text in green.

  1.  Amended 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 or lifetime annual, lifetime, or other applicable membership dues to Girl Scouts of the United States of America.

2.  Amended Constitution/Article V/Section 5/Sessions of the National Council:

5.  Each member present in person at the National Council shall be entitled to one (1) vote. Decision on annual membership dues shall require a majority of votes cast. All matters shall be determined by a majority vote of the members present and voting, unless otherwise provided by this Constitution.

3.  Amended Constitution/Article VIII/Section 4/Credentials:

4. Charters and other credentials shall be issued for no more than six years. Certificates of membership shall be issued for no more than one year, except for lifetime membership annual, lifetime, or other applicable periods. All credentials shall bear the name of Juliette Low.

4.  Amended Constitution/Article XI/Officers:

1. The officers of the corporation shall be the President, who shall have the working title Chair of the National Board of Directors; the First and Second Vice Presidents, who shall have the working titles of Vice Chairs; the Secretary; the Treasurer; the Chief Executive Officer; the Chief Financial Officer; and such other officers as the Bylaws may provide.

5.  Amended Constitution/Article X/The National Board of Directors:

2. The National Board of Directors shall consist of the President, the Vice Presidents, the Secretary, and the Treasurer; and 25 members-at-large. The Chair of the National Board Development Committee, if not already elected to the National Board, shall be ex officio a member of the National Board.  The Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer shall be ex officio members shall be an ex officio member without vote. The National Board shall at all times be representative of the various geographical areas of the country.

6.  Amended Constitution/Article XI/Officers:

3. The Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer shall be appointed by the National Board of Directors to hold office at its pleasure. Such other officers as the National Board of Directors may deem necessary may be elected or appointed by the National Board as provided in the Bylaws.

7.  Amended Constitution/Article XI/Officers:

5. In recognition of distinguished service, all Past Presidents of Girl Scouts of the United States of America shall be honorary officers and members of the National Council with full voting rights. The Past Presidents shall be members ex officio of the National Board of Directors without vote except during any period when they may be serving as duly elected members of the National Board of Directors.

Changes made outside of Constitution reflecting NCS approvals:

1.  Removed Chief Financial Officer from Bylaws/ARTICLE II/OFFICERS

2.  Amended Policies/MEMBERSHIP REGISTRATION/SECURITY OF MEMBERSHIP DATA

MEMBERSHIP REGISTRATION
All girls and adults participating in the Girl Scout Movement shall be registered as members with Girl Scouts of the United States of America and individually pay the $15* annual, or other applicable membership dues, except those adults who are lifetime members or who are working in a temporary advisory or consultative capacity.

3.  Amended Credentials/CERTIFICATE OF MEMBERSHIP/Membership as a Girl Scout and Credentials/CERTIFICATE OF MEMBERSHIP/Membership as a Girl Scout adult from “has paid annual or lifetime membership dues;” to “annual, lifetime, or other applicable membership dues;”

The National Board approved updates to comply with changes in the DC Non-Profit Corporation Act regarding the authorization, establishment and membership of board committees. See D.C. Code §29-406.25.

1.  Added to Bylaws/ARTICLE IV/EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE/2. Duties (detailing what the exec committee cannot do):

iv. fill vacancies on the Board of Directors or on any committees of the Board.

2.  Amended Bylaws/ARTICLE V/COMMITTEES:

1.  The National Board has the authority to establish standing and other committees committees of the board and advisory committees. The National Board shall establish the functions of these committees, which shall operate under the general supervision of the National Board.

2.  Except where otherwise provided in the Constitution and Bylaws, the chairs of standing committees established by of the National Board shall be appointed recommended by the President from members of the National Board, and approved by either the Executive Committee or the National Board a majority of all the National Board members in office when the action is taken, for a term beginning at the time of the approval of the appointment and ending at the close of the next regular session of the National Council. No individual shall serve as the chair of the same committee for more than two consecutive terms.

3.  Members of committees established by the National Board shall be National Board members recommended shall be appointed recommended by the President, in consultation with the chair of the respective committee, and approved by a majority of all the National Board members in office when the action is taken, for a term beginning at the time of the approval of the appointment and ending at the close of the next regular session of the National Council. No individual shall serve as a member of the same committee for more than three consecutive terms. Members of committees need not be members of the National Board.

Other modifications:

Amended Credentials/MEMBERSHIP DUES AND PROCEDURES FOR REGISTRATION:

National Board members, National Board standing committee members, other National Board committee members, including Advisory Committee members, other national volunteers, and other adult members who have their contact only with the national organization use registration forms received from the national organization. They forward the completed registration forms and dues directly to national headquarters.

Download a copy of this version.