Current News

Council Realignment Propels Girl Scouting into the 21st Century (9/07)

The Girl Scout councils located within Southeastern Wisconsin are pleased to announce the hiring of Molly T. Fuller as CEO of the new Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast (GSWISE), which will begin operations January 2008. GSWISE will be a high-capacity council, resulting from the merger of the five current Girl Scout councils located within the Southeastern Wisconsin area: Girl Scouts – Great Blue Heron Council, the Girl Scout Council of Kenosha County, Girl Scouts of Milwaukee Area, Girl Scouts of Racine County and a portion of Girl Scouts of Manitou Council.

“I'm excited to partner with Girl Scout members in southeast Wisconsin to build one council offering the premiere leadership program for girls,” said Fuller.

Fuller, currently CEO of Girl Scouts – Kickapoo Council (GSKC) of Peoria, Illinois, brings over 17 years of senior level management to her new position. Through her work with GSKC, she has increased girl membership by 18% over the last five years, which translates to a market share of 21%, well above the national average of 10%. From her commitment to making Girl Scouts available to every girl, she has increased total membership of GSKC by 10%.

The full press release can be viewed with this link.

One Cookie Baker - One Girl Scout Cookie Program (8/07)

An operational task group including volunteers and staff from each council have worked hard to bring together the successful practices and processes from all the Girl Scout Cookie Programs to create the best Girl Scout Cookie Program that will benefit all of our members.

The order taking dates for the four legacy councils will be January 11-28, 2008. All troops will have the same handbook, recognition items and proceeds structure.

2008 Cookie Vendor Chosen (7/07)

The legacy councils of the future Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast (GSWISE), Girl Scout Council of Kenosha County, Girl Scouts – Great Blue Heron Council, Girl Scouts of Milwaukee Area and Girl Scouts of Racine County, are excited to announce a major council realignment decision. For the 2008 Cookie Program, all four councils have signed one contract with one baker, ABC Bakers.

Choosing one cookie baker was a tough decision as both bakers are capable and committed to serving Girl Scouts. The decision was not made lightly. The Kepner Tregoe Decision Analysis Model was the process used for decision-making and is based on identifying and ranking important criteria. Both bakers delivered a presentation to a CRC sub-committee consisting of volunteers and staff representing each council. Based on thoughtful analysis of how each baker could meet the ranked criteria, a recommendation by the sub-committee was made to the CEOs to negotiate a 2008 contract with ABC Bakers.

The next step for the legacy councils will be to form an operational integration task group including volunteers and staff from each council to bring together the successful practices and processes from all programs to create one best cookie program. For additional updates and information regarding realignment and the 2008 Cookie Program, please visit this site often.

Council Realignment Committee Initiates CEO Search (5/07)

The CEO Search Committee is a sub-committee of the Council Realignment Committee (CRC). The primary charge of this sub-committee is to initiate a search, review prospective candidates and recommend for hire to the CRC a Chief Executive Officer for the new council. The search committee will be comprised of two CRC members, Karen Nelson and Janet Pobar, both of Girl Scouts of Racine County, who will serve as co-chairs, and two representatives named from each council. The staff liaison to the search committee is Donna Bragg, CEO, Girl Scouts of Racine County. The search will be supported by J. Walter Thompson, a national search firm provided by GSUSA. The committee is utilizing a Selection Criteria Survey to create an updated position description, confirm desired competencies of a Chief Executive Officer, develop a marketing and orientation package and provide direction to the new executive once hired.

New York Training (4/07)

In mid-April, the CEO's and Board Chairs from each of the southeastern Wisconsin councils traveled to New York. There, they met with GSUSA consultants and representatives of councils who have already begun (and in some cases, completed) the realignment process. The training provided useful feedback and resources from around the country to apply to our own council realignment.