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GSUSA Releases Final Agenda for the 58th National Council Session — Your Voice Matters
Girl Scouts of the USA has officially released the final agenda for the 58th National Council Session (NCS), the Movement’s highest governing convening. This July, National Delegates from across the country will gather to discuss, deliberate, and vote on key topics and proposals that will help shape the future of Girl Scouting. The agenda reflects months of collaboration between councils, delegates, and the National Council Session Advisory Team and centers on the strategic priorities of Vision 2030.
At the National Council Session, delegates will engage in two Movement-wide discussion topics and three formal proposals placed on the agenda by the National Board. View the full final alert below, as well as a condensed version with only the discussion topics and proposals.
GSUSA Early Alert
GSGC’s Condensed Version
Your perspective is an important part of this process. Gateway Council is requesting feedback through a membership survey, which will be shared directly with Gateway National Delegates. Delegates will review every response submitted as they work to understand diverse viewpoints and form their opinions ahead of voting at the National Council Session this July.
GSGC Membership Survey on NCS 58 Discussion Topics and Proposals
Proposed Bylaws Update: Strengthening Governance While Centering Volunteers
Girl Scouts of Gateway Council is proposing updates to our bylaws that would transition the council to a Self-Perpetuating Board of Directors governance model. This proposed change is designed to strengthen council governance, protect our charter, and better utilize the time and talents of our volunteers.
Why is this change being proposed? Over the past several years, there has been a decline in volunteers serving as community delegates. As of membership year 2026, several communities no longer have delegate representation, which puts the council at risk of not meeting quorum requirements for the Annual Meeting—a required function to maintain our Girl Scout charter. To address this challenge, council staff researched best practices across nonprofit organizations and other Girl Scout councils. Many councils have successfully adopted a self-perpetuating board model, allowing governance responsibilities to remain with the board while creating more meaningful engagement input opportunities for volunteers.
What would change? Under the proposed bylaws, governance responsibilities—including bylaws, strategic direction, and financial oversight—would formally reside with the Board of Directors, as outlined in the amended bylaws. Board members would continue to be selected through the Board Development Committee process, with term limits and accountability measures already defined in the bylaws.
What would stay the same? Volunteers remain essential to council operations, including troop leadership, community leadership, programs, camps, and product programs. Members would still be able to submit governance related proposals for consideration at the Annual Meeting. Member voices would continue to be heard through council wide surveys and targeted volunteer focus groups on key operational topics such as camps, cookies, highest awards, and more.
Amended and Restated Bylaws
We encourage all members to review the Self-Perpetuating Board FAQs, which provide detailed answers to common questions about governance vs. operations, board selection, focus groups, and how member feedback will continue to shape council decisions.
Self-Perpetuating Board FAQs
Share your feedback, your perspective matters. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey linked below to share your thoughts on the proposed bylaw changes. Member feedback will help guide next steps and future engagement opportunities.
GSGC Membership Survey on Bylaw Revisions
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