Realignment Updates

Realignment creates Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan

The historic transformation of Girl Scouts in the 21^st century became a reality for five central Michigan councils. In October 2007, the realignment created became known as Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan. The members of the newly formed area include: Glowing Embers, Girl Scouts of the Huron Valley, Girl Scouts Irish Hills, Girl Scouts of Michigan Capital, Girl Scouts of Mitten Bay and two jurisdictional changing councils – Girl Scouts of Fair Winds and Girl Scouts of Singing Sands.

In May 2007 our Council Realignment Committee (CRC) for the central Michigan councils was established. In October 2007, this CRC committed to a Good Faith Agreement toward a merger of the five (5) full merging councils of Girl Scouts of the Glowing Embers, Girl Scouts of the Huron Valley, Girl Scouts Irish Hills, Girl Scouts of Michigan Capital, Girl Scouts of Mitten Bay and the two jurisdictional changing councils of Girl Scouts of Fair Winds and Girl Scouts of Singing Sands.

November 1, 2008, the five central Michigan councils will merge to become Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan Council.

The CRC — charged with leading the council merger process — is made up of the Chief Executive Officers (CEO) and Board Chairs from the merging councils. The vast amount of Girl Scout Council experience and business expertise of this team will ensure that the new council is developed in adherence to GSUSA realignment guidelines, as well as the legal governance aspects.

The CRC members for the Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan Council consists of:

Glowing Embers

Jan Barker, CEO
Barb Giesen, Board Chair

Huron Valley

Gail Scott, CEO
Bonnie Carre, Board Chair

Irish Hills

Laurie Skrzynski, CEO (interim)
Kathryn Keersmaekers, Board Chair

Michigan Capitol

Ruth Hohl Borger, CEO
Joe Lessard, Board Chair

Mitten Bay

Kerry Allen, CEO
Bill Mulders, Jr., Board Chair

Fair Winds*

Dawn Reha, CEO
Barbara Walker, Board Chair

Singing Sands*

Janet Ridenour, CEO
Linda Reynnells, Board Chair

*Council representatives are serving on CRC subcommittees.

GSUSA Realignment Consultant

Liza Pierce, GSUSA staff member

To assist with the process nine (9) sub-committees have been identified to provide high-level expertise and support to the CRC. The sub-committees and their chair(s) are: CEO Search - Joe Lessard; Communications - Gail Scott; Finance - Bill Mulders; Fund Development - All CEO’s; Governance - Barb Giesen; Human Resources - Jan Barker and Kerry Allen; Information Technology (IT) - Bonnie Carre; Property - Ruth Hohl Borger and; Service Delivery (Membership, Program, Training) - Laurie Skrzynski

Council Realignment Committee forms to merge Southeastern Michigan Councils

As part of the GSUSA planning and implementation process, a Council Realignment Committee (CRC) has been established. It is made up of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Board President and one other member from each aligning Girl Scout Council.

The CRC is charged with leading the merger process. The vast amount of Girl Scout Council experience and business expertise of this team will ensure that the new council is developed in adherence to GSUSA realignment guidelines, as well as the legal and governance aspects of the GSUSA realignment.

Co-chairs of the CRC are Nancy Philippart, Board President, Girl Scouts of Metro Detroit and Dan Martinez, CEO, Girl Scouts of Michigan Waterways Council. The remainder of the CRC includes the following representatives from their respective councils:

Fair Winds

Dawn M. Reha, CEO
Barbara A. Walker, Board Chair; Owner, Hartland Insurance
Ron Butler, Executive Director; Genesee United Way

Huron Valley

Diane Miller, CPA and Board Member
Diane Hockett, Assistant Executive Director, Huron Valley

Macomb County-Otsikita

Ava Danner, CEO
Carolyn Burdi, Board Chair; President, Carolyn M. Burdi Financial Consulting Services
Pete Keating, Board member; Vice President, Communications and Public Affairs, General Dynamics Land Systems

Metro Detroit

Arlene M. Robinson, CEO
Nancy Philippart, Board Chair; Executive Director, GM Accessories
Rick Sundquist, Board member; Attorney, Clark Hill, PC

Michigan Waterways

Dan Martinez, CEO
Lisa Morse, Board Chair; Director of Administrative and Legal Services for the St Clair County Community Mental Health Authority.
Mike McCartan, Executive Director of St Clair County Community Mental

Health Authority

GSUSA Realignment Consultant

Lorena Palm, retired Girl Scouts of Michigan Trails CEO

The Board Chairs and CEOs attended GSUSA Realignment training at the Edith Macy Training Center in early October. The full CRC met on December 10th. Guiding principles and ways of work were established. A draft vision statement was crafted for consideration and sub-committees were discussed. The CRC will meet again on January 9 th to approve sub-committee members and charges, finalize the vision statement as well as start developing a timeline for the new council.

Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan Realignment News

Facing Our Future in Governance

Realignment Task Groups to be Formed

Girl Scouts of the Huron Valley has begun the realignment process of the eastern and central council. GSHVC needs the input of many people to make decisions in key areas of operations. If you are interested in participating in this process, please click here for the Realignment Task Group Interest Indicator.

Realignment News "Facing Our Future"

March 2008
Fall 2006
April 2006

CRC (Council Realignment Committee) Timeline GSHOM

Program Change Update

Websites – Realignment

Central Michigan Council

The central Michigan council group has developed a new website which will be used to keep members informed of the merger progress as we move forward in the process. This new website has links to all of the councils which will be merging into the new central Michigan council. It also has copies of all issues of the Realignment News and a Facts section that answers frequently asked questions about the merger. The website address is cmgsc.org.

Southeast Michigan Council

The southeast Michigan council group has a new website, gssem.org.

Southeast Michigan Website

Girl Scouts of Fair Winds Council
Girl Scouts of Macomb County - Otsikita
Girl Scouts of Metro Detroit Council
Girl Scouts - Michigan Waterways, Inc.