Files
This page was created to post files related to GS topics that we are not able to post directly to our Facebook page. If you have a file you would like us to add, you can contact us via PM on our FB page at GSUSA, Are You Listening? or e-mail us at [email protected].
Click highlighted green titles to view individual files.
Click highlighted green titles to view individual files.
Farthest North Girl Scout Council Lawsuit Concerning Membership Dues (Appeal Filed October 2018)
A lawsuit was filed in February 2017 against GSUSA because Farthest North Girl Scout Council believes that only the National Council has the authority to change membership dues, not the GSUSA Board. An Alaska Superior Court judge concluded that the National Council and the GSUSA Board have dual authority. In October 2018, Farthest North Girl Scout Council appealed that decision to the Alaska Supreme Court. GSUSA submitted their response to the appeal in December 2018 and Farthest North Council’s final Reply Brief was submitted on Monday, January 28th.
A lawsuit was filed in February 2017 against GSUSA because Farthest North Girl Scout Council believes that only the National Council has the authority to change membership dues, not the GSUSA Board. An Alaska Superior Court judge concluded that the National Council and the GSUSA Board have dual authority. In October 2018, Farthest North Girl Scout Council appealed that decision to the Alaska Supreme Court. GSUSA submitted their response to the appeal in December 2018 and Farthest North Council’s final Reply Brief was submitted on Monday, January 28th.
A Guide To Choosing and Using Woods Tools
This file contains a curriculum on using woods tools (knives, axes and saws). It was written by Jon Melick a Boy Scout volunteer. He uses this curriculum to teach woods tools use at the New England Base Camp in Massachusetts.
This file contains a curriculum on using woods tools (knives, axes and saws). It was written by Jon Melick a Boy Scout volunteer. He uses this curriculum to teach woods tools use at the New England Base Camp in Massachusetts.
2017 New Journeys and Badges Resource Packet
2017 New Daisy Badges and Journeys
2017 New Brownie Badges and Journeys
2017 New Junior Badges and Journeys
The above files were shared with us by a member. The first file was put together by Stacie Simpson and the others by Laura Harlow.
2017 New Daisy Badges and Journeys
2017 New Brownie Badges and Journeys
2017 New Junior Badges and Journeys
The above files were shared with us by a member. The first file was put together by Stacie Simpson and the others by Laura Harlow.
White Paper 2008
White Paper Call to Action 2008- Information from website
(The website where the information in this file came from is no longer active.)
These two files were shared on our FB page on July 3, 2017. The files were included in an installment of "Girl Scouts Delegates- SOS", a series of posts contributed by a member concerning the upcoming National Council Session to be held in October, 2017. The accompanying FB post: "White Paper, The Original. You may be familiar with a White Paper written to encourage GSUSA to bring back the traditional favorites in Girl Scouting, however it was not the first White Paper written by councils to GSUSA. Three council Board Chairs and their CEOs crafted a White Paper in 2008 demanding GSUSA follow through on promises made during the Core Business Strategy. They claimed the GSUSA/Council partnership was broken. In this effort, the group started a webpage, held an off-site meeting at the National Convention and even introduced a write-in candidate for the GSUSA board. Most important, they encouraged National Council delegates to vote “no” on convention proposals to send a strong message. Why, you ask? The democratic process was in jeopardy. GSUSA was altering the Blue Book to take power away from delegates. Because of the pressure from this group, GSUSA removed several proposals before the convention, while many other proposals were altered by amendment on the floor of the convention, all to restore the democratic process. Fast-forward to today, all three proposals for the 2017 National Council Session limit the decision-making power of the National Council in a similar way and deserve a closer look. Let’s study our history by reading this White Paper and the important information shared on the 2008 website before casting our votes in October."
White Paper Call to Action 2008- Information from website
(The website where the information in this file came from is no longer active.)
These two files were shared on our FB page on July 3, 2017. The files were included in an installment of "Girl Scouts Delegates- SOS", a series of posts contributed by a member concerning the upcoming National Council Session to be held in October, 2017. The accompanying FB post: "White Paper, The Original. You may be familiar with a White Paper written to encourage GSUSA to bring back the traditional favorites in Girl Scouting, however it was not the first White Paper written by councils to GSUSA. Three council Board Chairs and their CEOs crafted a White Paper in 2008 demanding GSUSA follow through on promises made during the Core Business Strategy. They claimed the GSUSA/Council partnership was broken. In this effort, the group started a webpage, held an off-site meeting at the National Convention and even introduced a write-in candidate for the GSUSA board. Most important, they encouraged National Council delegates to vote “no” on convention proposals to send a strong message. Why, you ask? The democratic process was in jeopardy. GSUSA was altering the Blue Book to take power away from delegates. Because of the pressure from this group, GSUSA removed several proposals before the convention, while many other proposals were altered by amendment on the floor of the convention, all to restore the democratic process. Fast-forward to today, all three proposals for the 2017 National Council Session limit the decision-making power of the National Council in a similar way and deserve a closer look. Let’s study our history by reading this White Paper and the important information shared on the 2008 website before casting our votes in October."
GSUSA Membership Numbers
This file contains a list of membership numbers for girls/adults broken down by year from 1960- 2015. The file was sent to us by a member.
This file contains a list of membership numbers for girls/adults broken down by year from 1960- 2015. The file was sent to us by a member.
January 2016 Letter to Girl Scouts National Board Chair
This file contains a letter addressed to the National Board President from a group of former Girl Scouts employees.
This file contains a letter addressed to the National Board President from a group of former Girl Scouts employees.
2015 White Paper to GSUSA Board of Directors
This file contains a White Paper written by a council CEO and submitted to the GSUSA Board of Directors outlining a plan to improve the Girl Scout organization.
This file contains a White Paper written by a council CEO and submitted to the GSUSA Board of Directors outlining a plan to improve the Girl Scout organization.
Council Benchmarks
This file contains criteria, standards, and benchmarks for councils to follow from GSUSA. The information in the file was in use from 2010- 2012. An updated version was issued in 2013.
This file contains criteria, standards, and benchmarks for councils to follow from GSUSA. The information in the file was in use from 2010- 2012. An updated version was issued in 2013.
Journey Matrix
This Journey matrix was shared by a member and is in use in her council. The member wrote on our FB page: "I use a matrix for each Journey that is this: 1. Introduction activity 2. Field trip related to the topic 3. Guest speaker related to the topic 4. Badge that relates to the topic but not necessarily in the "badge pack" that goes with that journey. 5. Take Action Project. No sitting around doing "schoolwork"- all hands on learning. I have taught the journeys at the junior, cadette, senior and ambassador levels. It wasn't until I embraced this matrix that the Journeys actually became fun."
If you have any questions as to if this method would be allowed in your council, please follow up with your council. We have provided the information here for informational purposes only.
This Journey matrix was shared by a member and is in use in her council. The member wrote on our FB page: "I use a matrix for each Journey that is this: 1. Introduction activity 2. Field trip related to the topic 3. Guest speaker related to the topic 4. Badge that relates to the topic but not necessarily in the "badge pack" that goes with that journey. 5. Take Action Project. No sitting around doing "schoolwork"- all hands on learning. I have taught the journeys at the junior, cadette, senior and ambassador levels. It wasn't until I embraced this matrix that the Journeys actually became fun."
If you have any questions as to if this method would be allowed in your council, please follow up with your council. We have provided the information here for informational purposes only.
GSUSA Long-Range Property Planning Toolkit
This document was provided to us by a member who wrote that it was made available to councils earlier this year.
This document was provided to us by a member who wrote that it was made available to councils earlier this year.
From the introduction: "A long-range property plan (LRPP) provides a Girl Scout council with the information, statistical data, and projection estimates needed to set priorities for property assets that will serve its membership well into the future.
A long-range property plan identifies a council’s strategic priorities and includes recommendations for property retention, maintenance, divestment, and acquisition to meet those goals. The plan carefully considers program and membership implications and typically takes approximately ninemonths to complete.
The first section of this guide explains the steps of the process for creating a long-range property plan for your council; the remaining pages are the planning resources referred to in the steps."
GSUSA Realignment News
These files were sent to us by a member and contain realignment news from 2005- 2007.
Realignment News December 2005
Realignment News May 2006
Realignment News August 2006
Realignment News November 2006
Realignment News December 2006
Realignment Update March 2007
Realignment News May 8, 2007
Realignment News May 22, 2007
These files were sent to us by a member and contain realignment news from 2005- 2007.
Realignment News December 2005
Realignment News May 2006
Realignment News August 2006
Realignment News November 2006
Realignment News December 2006
Realignment Update March 2007
Realignment News May 8, 2007
Realignment News May 22, 2007
New Girl Scout Program
This file was sent to us by a member. It details a plan of how to re-build the program incorporating both new and traditional GS elements. The member would like to remain anonymous at this time, but has asked us to share her idea for feedback from others.
This file was sent to us by a member. It details a plan of how to re-build the program incorporating both new and traditional GS elements. The member would like to remain anonymous at this time, but has asked us to share her idea for feedback from others.
From the introduction: Girl Scouts USA has been trying to broaden their appeal and recruit as broad a range of girls as possible, and the result seems to be a watered-down product that nobody is particularly happy with. This plan allows Girl Scouts to keep the “Pathways” direction that they are currently rolling out, while also recognizing that leaders need more program support, and girls and families want more badges.