Service Unit Delegates, Delegates-at-Large, and National Delegates

Member engagement is a key part of Girl Scouts of Northern California's strategy as we strive to honor the voice of our membership. Our governance system, with elected or appointed delegates serving as voting members of the council, is the main way for members to give input to our Board of Directors. All delegates should attend the virtual Annual Meeting on April 15, 2023 to cast their votes and make their voices heard. Learn more about these delegate positions and how you can get involved today!

National Delegates

A National Delegate is an elected representative of Girl Scouts of Northern California who attends the National Council Session of Girl Scouts of the USA. This position is responsible for determining the direction Girl Scouting will take throughout the country and is a three-year term. The current application period has passed. Adult and girl members ages 14+ are eligible to apply for this position in fall 2024 to represent GSNorcal at the 2026 NCS. Meet our 2022-2025 National Delegates and Alternates.

Every three years, Girl Scouts gather at the National Council Session to celebrate and reinvigorate our Girl Scout Movement and chart our future. The National Council Session and Girl Event (Phenom) will occur July 18-22, 2023 at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. Early-bird registration opens this summer - save your spot and receive updates here.

Service Unit Delegates

What is a Service Unit Delegate?

Service Unit Delegates serve a one-year term as the primary communication link between our youth and adult members and Northern California's Board of Directors. As voting members at the virtual Annual Meeting on April 15, 2023, delegates will share their ideas, provide input to the Board on our council's strategy, vote on Bylaws amendments, and elect the Board of Directors.

How are Service Unit Delegates selected?

Each service unit is allotted a certain number of delegate positions based on the size of their membership. Adult and youth members age 14 and older can nominate themselves in November.

Adult and youth members age 14 and older also are eligible to elect delegates for their service unit. During the election January 4-20, 2023, you can review the Voter Guide to read nominees’ bios for your service unit and then cast your vote online. Only service units with more nominees than available delegate roles will need to vote, which includes SU127, 307, 345, 362, 608, 625, 630, and 730; as listed in the Voter Guide, service units with uncontested races do not require a vote (nominees are automatically considered elected due to no more candidates than available delegate positions and will not appear on a ballot).

Service Unit Delegate Resources

Delegate Training (Online via GSNorCal's Volunteer Learning Portal)
Girl Scouts of Northern California Bylaws
Blue Book of Basic Documents
Robert's Rules of Order

Delegates-at-Large

Delegates-at-Large serve as the primary communication link between our girl and adult members and Northern California's Board of Directors. Delegates-at-Large provide input to the Board on our Council's strategy and elect the Council Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting.

The Delegates-at-Large position was developed to provide opportunities for council level groups, other than Service Units, to be represented by voting members of the council. To learn more, check out the Delegate-at-Large nomination information.

Resources

Delegate Selection Process
Service Unit Delegate Nomination (November 1-30)

Annual Meeting

Join us at our next Annual Meeting on April 15, 2023. Stay tuned for more details.

Our April 2022 Annual Meeting included an update on the state of the council and the election of the Board slate and National Delegates. Members and our Board learned together about allyship as an important way to nurture belonging for youth, and we learned about gender identity beyond the binary and how Girl Scouts can and should be an inclusive space for gender expansive youth. View our meeting recap and slide deck on gsCommunity or watch the recording here (passcode: &WPn&S#Z).

2023 National Convention

Join us in July 2023 at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, FL for the world’s biggest gathering of Girl Scouts! Our national convention only happens every three years, so you don’t want to miss it. Connect with Girl Scouts from across the country to experience amazing activities and demos in the Expo Hall, meet special guests, attend the National Bridging ceremony and Gold Award celebration, and much more. Get excited with this 30-second video.

Dates:

National Council Session: July 18-20, 2023

Convention (Phenom): July 20-22, 2023

Registration:

Registration is now open. Early bird pricing lasts through October 31 (save $50 or more!).

*Current National Delegates will be registered by the council and should not register themselves. Alternates may register to attend at their own cost.

Hotel:

Delegates will be staying at Coronado Springs Resort, where the main NCS and convention activities will take place. Visitors/non-delegates will book their own accommodations and can choose to book any hotel at the time they register or later. (Note: The hotel reservation process is new this year and different from prior years.)

For questions about the National Convention please send an email to aburke@gsnorcal.org

For questions about delegate governance, please contact Amy Burke, Governance and Member Engagement Manager, at aburke@gsnorcal.org.