GIRL SCOUTS HEART OF NEW JERSEY ANNUAL COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES. March 11, 2017 The Olde Mill Inn Basking Ridge, NJ

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1 GIRL SCOUTS HEART OF NEW JERSEY ANNUAL COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES March 11, 2017 The Olde Mill Inn Basking Ridge, NJ CALL TO ORDER: The Ninth Annual Council Meeting of the Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey Council was called to order by the Chair of the Board, Nancy Faulks at 9:10 a.m. She welcomed those present, which included Board members, Board Development Committee members, delegates, staff and guests. FLAG CEREMONY: The flag ceremony was performed by: Madison Feron, Troop 12312, Cadette (SU 11) Alyssa Jaipersaud, Troop 12312, Senior (SU 11) Takiya Jackson, Troop 20134, Brownie (SU 21) Cadence Byrd, Troop 20134, Brownie (SU 21) Kaiya Sims, Troop 51030, Senior (SU 21) Ka'Jai Lewis, Troop 51030, Cadette (SU 21) Amirah Scott, Troop 51030, Cadette (SU21) Harmony Jackson, Troop 20057, Junior (SU 22) Giuliana Velaj, Troop 41314, Junior (SU 53) Samantha Vandergroef, Troop 41314, Junior (SU 53) Allison Ameo, Troop 65468, Brownie (SU 65) Kathryn Flanigan, Troop 65468, Brownie (SU 65) Jocelyn Ameo, Troop 65637, Junior (SU 65) Sophia Smith, Troop, 65637, Junior (SU 65) Amanda Smith, Troop 65411, Brownie (SU 65) Melissa Liebergall, Troop 60699, Cadette (SU 73) Alexis Caravella, Troop 95125, Cadette (SU 93) JUDGE OF ELECTIONS: Joanne Otlowski, Service Unit 63, serving as the judge of elections, established the existence of a quorum by announcing the presence of 77 voting members with representation from 40 (out of 62) Service Units (40 members representing 31 service units is required for this purpose). Tellers for this meeting were LaTanya Everett, Service Unit 43, and Kelly McDonald, Service Unit 23. STANDING RULES: Nancy introduced the parliamentarian, William Starkey and announced that the meeting would follow Robert s Rules of Order. She recognized Brett Simon, who moved the adoption of the following rules for this meeting: repetition of discussion will be ruled out of order; and debate on all pending motions would be limited to three (3) minutes per speaker for the duration of the meeting. The motion was made, seconded and approved by two-thirds majority vote. Nancy asked the assembly to permit Sue Seeley, Service Unit 86, Barbara Liebergall, Service Unit 73, and Yasché Glass, Service Unit 21 to review and approve the minutes of the meeting on behalf of the assembly, said minutes to be posted on the Council website. Nancy introduced the board members who were present and thanked them for their hard work during the past year.

2 REPORT OF THE BOARD DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE: Karen Katz, Chair, explained the committee s responsibility in presenting a slate of candidates for the Board, Board Development Committee, and National Delegates. BOARD OF DIRECTORS SLATE Officers (Term: Ends 2019 Annual Meeting) Secretary Dianna Beck-Clemens * Treasurer Lori Grier Members at Large (Term ends: 2019 Annual Meeting) (filling an unexpired term) Maureen P. McNamara Members at Large (Term ends: 2020 Annual Meeting) Estelle Vaughns Williams, M.D. Susan Goodman Jocelyn Virgil-Phillips Emil Menzies Rochelle Herring Ed.D. Continuing Board Members Officers (Term ends: 2018 Annual Meeting) President Nancy Faulks First Vice Chair Lydia Whitefield Second Vice Chair Princess M. Palmer Members at Large (Term ends: 2018 Annual Meeting) Mindy Lissner Michelle Rochon Brett Savage-Simon* Patricia Steingall Tiffany Wilson Members at Large (Term ends: 2019 Annual Meeting) Vanessa Hobbs * * Joint Board of Directors and Board Development Member BOARD DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE SLATE

3 (Term ends: 2019 Annual Meeting) Karen Katz Dianna Beck-Clemons * Evelyn Bourne Continuing Board Development Members (Term ends: 2018 Annual Meeting) Deb Stahl Malissa Cass Vanessa Hobbs * Brett Savage-Simon* * Joint Board of Directors and Board Development Member NATIONAL DELEGATE SLATE Adult Delegates: President, Board of Directors Nancy Faulks Chief Executive Officer Patricia Carroll Yasché Glass SU 21 Newark (Newark) Kasanu Sims SU 21 Irvington (Newark) Girl Delegates: Alejandra Arboleda Troop Service Unit 63 - South Plainfield (South Plainfield) Madison Fearon Troop Service Unit 11 Secaucus (Secaucus) Briana Evelyn Troop Service Unit 21 Newark (Newark) Alexandra Bushue Troop Service Unit 23 Glen Ridge (Montclair/Glen Ridge) Abigail Wilson Troop Service Unit 75 Belle Mead (Montgomery, Belle Mead, Skillman, Blawenburg, Rocky Hill) Jordan Everett Troop Service Unit 43 Union (Union) Alternate Delegates:

4 Tara Fearon (Adult) SU 11 Secaucus (Secaucus) Caroline Leanza (Girl) Troop Service Unite 76 Bernardsville (Bedminster, Bernardsville, Peapack-Gladstone) Addie Holt (Girl) Troop Service Unit 23 Montclair (Montclair/Glen Ridge) MOTION from the GSHNJ Board Development Committee: For the slates, as presented to be approved. MOTION PASSED: The slate was adopted. GENERATIONAL INTELLIGENCE SPEAKER: REPORT OF THE BOARD CHAIR: Amy Lynch of Generational Edge Nancy gave an update of the CEO Board Chair Conference and presented GSUSA s movement wide strategy under the following five banners: Reach more Girls Higher Impact Increased Investment Effective Operations Stronger Brand This summer council will operate three summer camps highlighted in a new video posted to GSHNJ.org: Camp DeWitt Camp Lou Henry Hoover The OVAL Nancy introduced Liz Nason, the new Camp Director and Property Manager for both Camp DeWitt in Hillsborough and The OVAL in Maplewood. Liz has twenty years of experience, most recently in Washington, D.C. where she was the Associate Executive Director for the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington. Master plans for all camps have been completed and a capital budget has been developed. All capital improvements are reviewed and based on the following outcomes: Safety Reputation Asset Preservation Expanded Programming The board has taken a strategic approach to our Eagle Island sale proceeds recognizing they are not endless. The services of Graham-Pelton were engaged to assess our readiness to conduct a capital campaign. They suggested we first work on telling our story. Volunteers can help us by speaking proudly of what they are doing and telling everybody they know about the good work we do, including: Annual Young Women of Vision event 100 th Anniversary of the Gold Award spread in the June edition of NJ Monthly

5 GSHNJ Museum, the first ever Girl Scout Museum in NJ GSHNJ National Young Women of Distinction awardee, Julie Averback The new G.I.R.L. agenda will be a focus at the National Convention: G. Go-getter I. Innovator R. Risk-taker L. Leader Nancy thanked Tom Angelo, Board Treasurer, the only Board member rolling off this year, for his service before and during his board tenure. He served his final term on the board ending today. MISSION MOMENT: FINANCE REPORT: Julie Averbach, GSHNJ awardee of the 2016 National Young Women of Distinction, spoke to membership about what being a Girl Scout has meant to here, and how she was inspired to choose her Gold Award project. Tom Trageser, Chief Financial Officer, presented the finance report for fiscal year ending September 30, He noted: Form 990 and audited financials were available prior to the annual meeting More than $11M of Net assets $2.1M investment portfolio Council remains debt free $7.5M in revenue (including $1.9M sale of Eagle Island) Gross revenue excluding Eagle Island sale proceeds was down $40K prior to last year Camper weeks for all camps are currently higher than prior year with the opening of Camp DeWitt Investment portfolio of $2.1M is being aligned by our core beliefs and values To attract and maintain staff we are looking for an investment manager to help us offer a 401k plan to our employees CEO REPORT: Patricia Carroll, CEO, welcomed our delegates and thanked them for their support. Our guest speaker today was an example of council giving back to our volunteers, to make their jobs easier, and fun Nationally Girl membership and retention is decreasing GSHNJ retention rate is improving due to council s effort to work more closely with you, the volunteers New Girl membership retention rates are lower and is an area of focus for council Council is using data to analyze program offerings, outcomes and initiatives to determine whether or not we are making a difference We are one of the last councils to transition over to to Volunteer Systems which is GSUSA s new platform intended to improve the volunteer experience Many of you have participated in Webinars hosted by Karen Briegs who is an experienced past Service Unit Manager and leader who understands the volunteer experience As reported at last year s annual meeting, GSUSA membership dues are increasing from $10 to $25 as of the membership year beginning October 1, our council service fee remains the same at $15 Our movement needs to talk about the Gold Award the same way we talk about the Boy Scout Eagle award. The need for greater awareness started the journey of all four

6 NJ councils to create a Gold Award video, and a spread in the June NJ Monthly magazine. For Girl Scout week our council s service units will be provided green ribbon to wrap every tree from the Hudson to the Delaware in green. Pat thanked our board for their support, and announced Nancy Faulks was serving her last year as our Board Chair, and thanked her for leading our organization through many transitions. Pat thanked everyone for the work they do every day serving 18,000 girls. INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS: CLOSING: Nancy asked new and returning Board members, Board Development Committee and newly elected National Delegates to come forward to receive their pledge or reaffirmation of the oaths of their office. As there was no other business, a motion was made to adjourn the meeting, seconded and approved by majority vote. The meeting was closed at 12:30 pm.