Council Delegate Primer

Looking for more information about what you should know as a Girl Scout council delegate?  Although each council has its own governance structure, here are the basics you should know.

Articles
  • Delegates in the Council

    The following is an article written by Helen M. Feeney and published in the December 1965 edition of Girl Scout Leader Magazine. It is found on pages 11 and 17. It is a great summation of what a council delegate should strive for and what is entailed with the position.

  • Governance and Operations – What’s the Difference?

    It’s very important to know the difference between these two things as a delegate.

  • Who’s Who in Council Governance

    This article’s purpose is to give you an overview of the typical governance structure within a council.  However, every council is its own 501(c)(3), otherwise known as a nonprofit organization. Therefore, each council has its own system and style of governance independent of GSUSA. 

  • Council Governance Documents

    If you’re a council delegate, it’s important that you to educate yourself on the types of governance documents that apply to your council in order to be an effective delegate and representative.  Here are a few that all delegates should get to know.

  • Why Should Councils Abide By Their Bylaws?

    Sometimes volunteers have governance related questions regarding councils and whether or not they are faithfully following their bylaws.  Why is this a big deal? 

  • What is the Blue Book of Basic Documents?

    You may have heard references to the Blue Book of Basic Documents – so what is it? It’s the collection of governance and policy documents for our national organization. This article about the Blue Book is designed to give you an overview of how our organization’s structure is set up within its governing documents.

  • How to Navigate Council Finances

    Many volunteers express frustration about understanding their council’s finances.  They don’t know where to turn or how to translate what they’re being told and given at annual meetings and what these numbers represent.  They also might wonder where the money is going.  How do you find these things out? 

  • How Can We Get Someone That We Want on a Board of Directors?

    When it comes to decision-making on the council level, the board of directors is where the buck stops. Many delegates wonder how someone can become a member of the board in order to make sure voices of the membership are represented.

  • The Relationship Between Councils and GSUSA

    How exactly do councils and GSUSA work together?  Many people are unaware of the type of governance structure our organization uses, and it can cause confusion as to why things work the way they do. 

  • GSUSA’s Uniform Policy and How It’s Interpreted

    What is GSUSA’s policy on uniforms for girls and adults, and how is it interpreted in practice? Here are some tips for what you need to know for National Conventions or any time you need uniform information to look your best!

  • In addition to the above articles, these monographs from GSUSA are also helpful resources:

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