Help Shape the Council's Future.

Strategic Learning Process

Girl Scouts Heart of the South launched our Strategic Learning Process in 2011.  This process will help us to develop strategies to adapt to our ever-changing environment.  The process has four phases: Learn, Focus, Align and Implement.

We Listened to You! (Learn)

Learning involved conducting over 90 one on one interviews, four focus groups and numerous surveys throughout our 59 county geographic region. We talked to donors, service unit managers, troop leaders, staff, girls, community partners, parents, volunteers and members of the general public. The Alliance for Nonprofit Excellence, Community Advisory Boards and selected staff facilitated the data collection.

We asked questions about how to provide better service to our members and the value Girl Scouting provides to girls and to our community.   

Leadership Message (Focus)

All girls deserve Girl Scouting.  Our goal is to double our membership and help girls become successful leaders of tomorrow.

Both retention and growth are vital for our success.  Volunteers are the key to:

• Recruiting and retaining our girl and adult members
• Increasing our visibility
• Building our awareness of girl needs
• Communicating our message

Girl Scouts Heart of the South will become even more member focused to ensure we address the needs of our girl and adult members.   Reaching our goals will require all of us working together – girls, community partners, volunteers, donors and staff.  

Our Member Focus

Girl Scouts Heart of the South works with volunteers and community partners to recruit and retain all girls ages 5-17.  In our market, we recognize that the younger a girl is introduced to the Girl Scout leadership experience; the greater our opportunities for volunteer engagement, and our potential for long-term retention.  

Our Path to Success

Girl Scouts Heart of the South brings volunteers and girls together for a girl-led leadership experience. We are best at:

• Teaching life skills through financial literacy/entrepreneurship and outdoor opportunities
• Building confidence in girls
• Developing leadership skills in girls  

To achieve our goals, we will focus on four key priorities:  

1. We will recruit and retain volunteers through new and innovative training. 
   
   1. Led by member-focused staff
   2. Recognizing and rewarding the commitment of our volunteers
   3. Taking actions together to move our council forward 
2. We will increase the awareness and visibility of Girl Scouting within our council.
   
   1. Staff-led marketing
   2. Utilizing technology
   3. Engaging alumnae and volunteers
   4. Targeting marketing efforts
3. We will increase communication efforts.
   
   1. Determining the best method for each area
   2. Educating members on our financial design
   3. Create a unified message of what Girl Scouts do best 
4. We will continue to focus on funding campaigns
   
   1. Maintaining council fiscal sustainability
   2. Increasing board and volunteer participation  

The Next Step (Align and Implement)

Our goals cannot be accomplished without your dedication to our mission.  Together, we truly are building girls of confidence who make the world a better place. One day these girls will change the world, but it starts with us.  We need your help to make this plan successful.

GSHS is putting together four focus teams to work on next steps and we invite you to participate. These teams have each been assigned one focus area; Volunteers, Funding, Visibility and Communication. Please email Dorothy Covington at Dorothy.covington@girlscoutshs.org and include your contact information and the team you are most interested in.

Thank you for your commitment to Girl Scouts. Together we will continue to help girls become our future leaders.

Angela H. Woods
CEO, Girl Scouts Heart of the South