“The work of today is the history of tomorrow, and we are its makers.”
Juliette Gordon Low
This year’s National Council Session (NCS) was historic! Originally scheduled as a fun and exciting experience of sisterhood in Orlando, due to the pandemic was flipped to the first all-virtual National Session. National delegates from across the country gathered virtually to present, discuss, revise and vote on proposals that would indelibly affect the National Girl Scout movement.
For our council, this NCS was a momentous success, as two proposals, authored and presented by Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana (GSGCNWI), were passed. This was the first time two proposals from the same council have been approved, and we are incredibly proud of everyone who made this happen!
Our girl delegates made amazing strides in leadership (read all about them on our blog), and we also want to acknowledge and thank our council’s adult National Delegates who, over the last three years, poured their hearts into learning all about Girl Scout governance and created proposals that would forward our movement. We dedicate this blog post to them!
Making your proposal come to life at any National Council Session is no small task, and this year, the circumstances were even tougher. For months prior to NCS our delegates poured over every word of the 2 proposals to be able to present them in their best version. Delegates participated in countless small group discussions with other delegates from around the country to answer questions, hear opinions and comments, and gather support.
Our convention team came together, and girls and adults participated in meetings and learning opportunities for all our council’s National Delegates. Through this safe platform of sisterhood, girls new to the role of National Delegate, listened, learned and took the lead to ask questions, share their ideas and offer suggestions. It was wonderful to watch our seasoned adult delegates lend their expertise and guidance to our girls to carry the movement into the future.
The virtual platform proved a challenge for the delegates, but through mutual support and an active WhatsApp chat group, they were able to overcome all obstacles. Over the three days of the convention, our delegates, and thousands of others, including girls, volunteers, staff, and board members, presented, debated, amended, and voted on proposals relevant to Girl Scout members from every state. The work paid off, and GSGCNWI has a lot to celebrate.
2023 is already on the way—and the discussions on what to bring to the table are already underway. While we wait, let’s congratulate everyone involved in the huge success:
Adults (Delegates and Alternates)
Christine Alfred
Levita Anderson
Marty Devereux-Poch
Athena Gallian
Christine Graves
Maureen Jamrock
Kathy Lakowski
Heather Larson
Patricia Lasley
Heather Linehan
Beverly Macrito
Michelle Maracic
Katie McCoy
Dietra McKamey
Noreen Merchant
Amy Morin-Martin
Cathy Neely
Christine Potermin
Selena Randecker
Sylvie Salazar
Kathy Scherer
Karen Schillings
Denise Urban
Davia Wilkerson
Nancy Wright
Melissa Young-Bridgeforth
Jody Collins
Kelly Pavlik
Kelly Philbin
Tresa Radermacher
Rachel Rodriguez
Karla Weiss
Girls (Delegates and Alternates)
Alonda
Leah
Carlie
Erin
Dakota
Caroline
Katherine
Alany
Ariana
Sadie
Emily
Laura
Save the Date for the next National Council Session!
Girl Scouts are welcome to attend the next National Council Session in July 2023 on their own, as a troop, or you can apply to be a delegate.
Applications will open in 2022 for the 2023 National Council Session. Adults and Girls that are 14 and up will be able to apply.
Learn more about our Democratic Process and other opportunities on our website.
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