Our Structure
Girl Scouts of the USA
Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) is our national organization that was founded in 1912. From coast to coast, GSUSA brings together girls of all backgrounds and abilities to give them a platform to be unapologetically themselves as they discover their strengths and rise to meet new challenges. GSUSA is headquartered in New York, NY.
Girl Scout Councils
Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSofSI) is one of 112 councils chartered by Girl Scouts of the USA. GSofSI serves nearly 6,400 girls and over 3,600 adults in 40 mostly rural counties in Southern Illinois. One out of every seven school aged girls in our jurisdiction is a Girl Scout. GSofSI is led by CEO Loretta Graham and governed by a volunteer board of directors. Staff of GSofSI work under the direction of the CEO to support our members and help deliver the Girl Scout Leadership Experience throughout Southern Illinois.
Service Units
The 40 county area of GSofSI is broken down into Service Units in order to best serve our girls and volunteers. A Service Unit is a geographic area (defined by counties or towns) led by a volunteer Service Unit Manager who, along with their volunteer Service Unit Team and council staff Community Engagement Manager, oversees the Girl Scout Leadership Experience in their area. A Service Unit is comprised of all girl and adult members in their geographic area. There are currently 40 Service Units in GSofSI.
Volunteers
The Girl Scout Leadership Experience would not be possible without the dedication and commitment of adult volunteers. There are a variety of volunteer positions available in Girl Scouts – from Troop Helper to Troop Leader to Service Unit Team Member – all of which are essential to provide the best possible experience for girls. Volunteers work together – within their troops and Service Units – to deliver the Girl Scout Leadership Experience to the girls they serve.
Troops/Girls
Now to the reason we’re all here – the girls! Girls can be involved in Girl Scouting as an individually registered member (Juliette) or with a troop. Troops come in all shapes and sizes. They can consist of a few girls in the same grade level or many girls that span multiple grade levels. There are special interest troops as well – such as robotics and astronomy. The troop dynamic is established by the volunteers who determine what best meets the needs for the girls they serve. Girl Scouting is all about being girl-led and delivering the best possible experience for each individual girl.
