Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey is a member-driven organization with girls, parents, and volunteers actively engaged in creating strategic direction influencing governance and operations.
Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors elected by delegates representing our membership. The Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey Board reflects our strong commitment to diversity and inclusion, and includes some of the most talented and influential members of the Heart of New Jersey region. They provide insight on financial and policy-related issues, and help make our mission come to life every day.
GSHNJ Service Unit Delegates are the conduit between the
members of our service units and our Board of Directors. Delegates
have a responsibility to be knowledgeable about the community they
represent, actively engage with their constituents, and liaise with
GSHNJ staff and Board of Directors to influence the strategic
direction of our council.
Service Unit Delegates report to Service Unit Managers, and are voting members of the council. They serve a term of two years, and may serve for no more than three consecutive terms. Service units hold elections or select their Delegates in the fall, so they may begin their terms in January. Each service unit is entitled to two Delegates, at least one of whom must be 18 years or older.
Elected/selected Delegates must meet basic eligibility requirements and submit a 2021 Service Unit Delegate Agreement to lpendergast@gshnj.org no later than January 29, 2021.
Leadership Forums are hosted prior to Annual Meeting to
facilitate an open dialogue with council leadership and service unit
volunteers. They are the membership’s opportunity to talk with council
leadership to share concerns from their community, understand
council-wide strategic decisions, engage with other service units, and
simply get to know the members of our Board of Directors and council
executives. See below for these virtual event dates and links to register.
Service Unit Delegates are expected to attend at least one Forum per year, but may attend as many as they like. Advance registration of attendance at a Leadership Forum is required so delegates have adequate time to review the agenda and prepare for discussions by reflecting with their communities. See below for registration deadlines.
Communities that would like to raise a point of discussion at a Leadership Forum should submit a Discussion Topic Proposal by the deadlines below.
| Discussion Topic Proposal Submission Deadline | Leadership Forum Attendance Registration Deadline | Leadership Forum |
| Sunday, February 7, 2021 | Sunday, February 7, 2021 | Wednesday, February 24, 2021 |
| Sunday, February 21, 2021 | Sunday, February 21, 2021 | Tuesday, March 9, 2021 |
| Sunday, March 7, 2021 | Sunday, March 7, 2021 | Thursday, March 25, 2021 |
GSHNJ’s Bylaws require an annual meeting of the Corporation
Membership, which is comprised of our Board of Directors, Board
Development Committee, Service Unit Delegates, and National Council
Delegates. Any member of Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey who is 14
years or older may attend as guests.
At the Annual Meeting we elect new members to the Board of Directors and Board Development Committee, elect Council Delegates to represent our council at the GSUSA National Convention, consider and vote upon any proposed amendments to GSHNJ's Bylaws, and consider any other business appropriate to come before the Corporation including input and key issues affecting GSHNJ and our membership.
As voting members of the Corporation, the current Board of Directors, Board Development Committee, Service Unit Delegates and National Council Delegates are expected to attend and actively participate in Annual Meeting as representatives of the interests of their communities.
