Core Strategy

Despite what might seem like a relentless focus on realignment and the redrawing of council boundaries, GSUSA and Girl Scout council staff are working daily on the full spectrum of the organization's Core Business Strategy.

Realignment -- the creation of an efficient and effective organizational structure -- is just one of the Core Strategy's strategic priorities. And although a key one – it means moving to a system of high-capacity councils that will best serve girls -- it does not exist in a vacuum.

While GSUSA and councils across the country work on realignment, even more staff are focused on every other aspect of the Core Business Strategy.

This means that teams are working hard on the revitalization of the Girl Scout Leadership Development Program, a retooling that will make Girl Scouts relevant and worthwhile for all girls everywhere well into the future. As part of that effort, comments and suggestions have been gathered from Girl Scout members across the organization, both girls and adults.

Other staff members, drawn primarily from the organization's Membership departments, are hard at work helping councils test volunteer pilot programs that will ensure a core of committed volunteers to keep Girls Scouts strong and growing.

In GSUSA's Fund Development department, staffers are focused on both improved fund-raising efforts and the creation of a culture of philanthropy, as well as the new Girl Scout Alumnae Program. For the Alumnae Program, the work so far has included reaching out to former Girl Scouts to re-engage with Girl Scouting, and to contribute their unique memories of their time in Girl Scouting.

Still more staff members, particularly in council and GSUSA marketing and communications departments, are focused on transforming the Girl Scout brand. One recent success in this area is the "It's a Girl's Life" campaign, which won several awards in the 2006 competition of the Association of Educational Publishers.

Each strategic priority offers its own unique benefits to Girl Scouting, but the synergy they create together is far more important to strengthening Girl Scouts as a whole.