Girl Scout Council Realignment News

 

Southeast Louisiana, Audubon Girl Scout councils begin realignment process

Council Realignment Committee formed

NEW ORLEANS (From the Summer 2007 VIP)

 

The realignment of the Girl Scout Council of Southeast Louisiana and Girl Scouts –Audubon Council announced last September, has officially begun. The Council Realignment Committee (CRC), held its first meeting on May 17 in Gramercy.  The CRC is the leadership body for all realignment functions. The primary charge of this committee is to oversee the sub-committees' plan of work and to produce the proposed New Council infrastructure and the transition and integration plan for realigning councils.

Until a name is selected for the new council, the CRC has adopted GSUSA’s temporary name for the realigning councils – “Louisiana East.” 

“Realignment is about creating more opportunities and resources for our girls, volunteers and staff, not about cost savings like for profit mergers,” said Donna Tate, Audubon CEO and CRC committee co-chair.  “Aligning Audubon and Southeast into a single council will present many synergies and efficiencies which will naturally translate into bigger and better leadership experiences for the girls.”

“While we seek to bring the councils together, the CRC is committed to honoring and respecting the culture of each council,” said Margie Loud Zeno, Southeast Louisiana board chair and CRC committee co-chair.  “Our charge is to blend the best practices and cultures of the two councils without losing the distinctiveness of either one.”   

As one committee member put it, much like making a gumbo, the realignment will bring a variety of ingredients, all wonderful on their own, into a new creation that is equally as good or better.  “In essence, corporate structures will be changing but the heart of who we are and what we do will be maintained and strengthened through this process,” said Tate. 

Margie Loud Zeno and Donna Tate have been selected as co-chairs for the Council Realignment Committee.  Other members of the CRC include Ann Forte Trappey, Jackie Alexander, Roy Austin, Pat Witty, Kenneth Carter, Greg Smith, Jackie Daniels, Lynn Robertson, Paula Sclumbrecht, and Perry Sholes.