As we look ahead to a new Girl Scout year, we’re carrying the momentum, ideas, and inspiration from an eventful summer in Washington, D.C. This July, Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida joined nearly 1,000 delegates from all 111 Girl Scout councils and Girl Scouts Overseas for the 58th National Council Session (NCS), where Girl Scouts and adult members came together to discuss, debate, and vote on issues shaping the future of our Movement.
For GSSEF, the experience was about more than being part of a national gathering. It was an opportunity for our delegates, especially our Girl Delegates, to see firsthand what it means to have a voice in the organization they are part of.
Girls Deserve a Seat at the Table
GSUSA intentionally held NCS in July for the second time, making it more accessible for girls to participate and witness the democratic process. And it worked. About one-third of the voting delegates were Girl Scout members between the ages of 14 and 18.
It’s no surprise that Girl Scouts would be at the forefront of creating opportunities for girls to be involved and heard. Giving girls a voice has been part of our trailblazing belief system for more than 100 years.
Girls should have a voice in democracy. Full stop.
That matters because girls deserve to learn that their opinions have value. There is a huge difference between telling a girl, “Your voice matters,” and putting her in a room where people actually listen to what she thinks.
When a girl is invited to debate an issue, ask a difficult question, advocate for an idea, or vote on a decision, she experiences something important: her perspective has weight.
NCS also showed girls that democracy isn’t about everyone agreeing. Disagreement isn’t necessarily conflict, and it doesn’t mean someone has to lose a friendship. The process teaches girls how to listen, ask questions, consider different perspectives, defend their position respectfully, and accept a decision that doesn’t go their way.
Business meetings and debates also show girls that leadership isn’t about having all the answers. A good democratic leader listens, considers different perspectives, represents the people they serve, and remains open to changing course.
Ultimately, when girls participate in governance, they begin to see themselves as citizens, not spectators. They begin to understand that institutions are shaped by the people who participate in them, and that they can be one of those people.
Bringing Local Ideas to the National Stage
One of the most meaningful parts of NCS is that proposals can come directly from Girl Scout councils. This year, three proposals were brought forward for national consideration.
Proposal 1, submitted by Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania and supported by 40 additional councils, addressed Girl Scout Highest Awards Solicitation of Contributions. The proposal would allow girls and troops to directly solicit funds for Bronze and Silver Awards, in addition to Gold Awards, where this is already permitted. The proposal passed with 566 votes in favor and 373 opposed. GSUSA is updating its corresponding webpages to reflect the change.
Proposal 2, submitted by Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana and supported by 41 additional councils, addressed National Membership Dues and Procedures for Registration. The proposal changed the maximum amount the National Board of Directors can raise membership dues during a triennium from 25% to 15%. It passed with 585 votes in favor and 358 opposed.
Proposal 3, submitted by Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland and supported by 25 additional councils, addressed preservation of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience relating to the entrepreneurship program. Following discussion and debate, a Point of Order was raised regarding whether the proposal met the requirements of the organization’s governing documents. Delegates then voted on whether the proposal should continue forward. The vote did not meet the threshold to continue, so the proposal was removed from further discussion or vote.
The details of each proposal were different, but the process itself demonstrated something important: ideas that begin at the local council level can become part of a national conversation.
Looking Toward the Future of Girl Scouting
Delegates also participated in conversations designed to help inform future committee work and organizational focus.
One discussion, Amplify Impact: Building Connection with Our Communities, focused on what families are looking for from their Girl Scout experience, how our values shape that experience, where barriers may exist, and what support members need to bring Girl Scouting to life in their communities.
Another, Revolutionize Engagement: Girl Scouts Her Way, explored research on how families want Girl Scout offerings to develop, how we can make joining and staying in Girl Scouts easier, and how those insights can inform future GSUSA pilot programs.
These conversations are part of an ongoing effort to understand what girls and families need from Girl Scouting and how the Movement can continue to grow and evolve.
Representing Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida
GSSEF was proud to send a delegation representing our council at NCS:
- Council Staff Delegate: Lisa Johnson
- Volunteer Delegates: Tori-Lynn Saraniti and Joseph Wilson
- Girl Delegates: Isabella M., Sadie S., and Ronica D.
- Alternate Delegates: Winifred Dorce-Evans, Rhonda Lang Netzel, Elle Harrigan, and Anna Laoretti
GSSEF also supported the travel and participation of four Alternate Delegates, creating even more opportunities for our council members to experience this important part of Girl Scout governance.
We are incredibly proud of our delegates for bringing their thoughtful perspectives, representing Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida, and taking their place on the national stage.
From NCS to Girl Scouts Unite
The week didn’t end with NCS. Following the three-day National Council Session, delegates joined Girl Scouts and supporters from across the country for Girl Scouts Unite, a celebration of leadership, friendship, service, and the many ways girls make history.
Our delegates participated in workshops, connected with Girl Scouts from across the country, and met inspiring leaders, including Girl Scouts of the USA CEO Bonnie Barczykowski and Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz.
Together, these experiences offered our Girl Scouts a firsthand look at leadership in action. They saw how ideas are brought forward, how people can disagree respectfully, how decisions are made, and how their own voices can be part of shaping the future.
As we begin a new Girl Scout year here in Southeast Florida, we’re excited to carry that same spirit forward. Because giving girls a seat at the table isn’t just about one week in Washington, D.C. It’s about helping girls build the confidence to speak up, the skills to listen and lead, and the belief that their voices can make a difference.
And that’s something worth carrying with us into the year ahead.
If this sounds like an opportunity you would be interested in exploring, the 59th Girl Scouts National Council Session and Girl Scout UNITE! event will take place in Indianapolis, Indiana, from July 23–28, 2029. We look forward to more than 10,000 Girl Scouts, delegates, troop leaders, alumni, and supporters – plus even more dynamic keynote speakers, bold skill-building workshops, special live performances, interactive exhibits, and big celebrations. Information about, and applications for, Delegate positions are scheduled to be posted by our council team in late summer of 2027. Stay tuned to GSSEF emails, social media posts, and e-newsletters.