Big changes are in store for Colorado Girl Scout councils as they prepare to merge into a single statewide organization.
Beginning in October, Colorado’s five regional Girl Scout councils will merge as part of a nationwide push to consolidate 312 councils into 109 by 2009. State and national Girl Scout officials cited organizational efficiency and cost effectiveness as driving the move.
The nonprofit is also hoping that by combining councils – and, consequently, resources such as fundraising and campsites – more activities and travel opportunities will become available to Scouts.
Some changes are already taking place. Sunday, eight Colorado counties that were previously served by out-of-state councils, including those in Wyoming and Kansas, were merged with in-state councils in preparation for the bigger realignment.
Michelle Bellows, co-chairwoman of the Colorado Realignment Committee, said jobs will be safe, despite the consolidation of five administrative staffs into one.
“This is not like a corporate merger where the goal is to save money by reducing cost,” Bellows said. “Our goal is to increase our impact.”
Nonetheless, some transfers and juggling of positions will be necessary, said Ellen Christie, spokeswoman with the national Scouts office.
The five Colorado councils employ approximately 250 full-time staff members, said Bev Morrato, vice president of community development with the Mile Hi Council.
The Colorado headquarters will be in Denver, at the current home of the Mile Hi Council. The four other headquarters will remain open as regional program centers, Morrato said.
The major state realignment – the first of its kind in nearly 40 years – is also motivated by shifting demographics, Bellows said.
Members have reported that in some districts, there are few, if any, full-time troop leaders.
“It’s much more difficult to find mothers who have the time to lead Girl Scout troops,” Bellows said.
The Scouts aim to make the volunteer system more flexible, Bellows said.
Details for changes to be implemented in 2008 will be made available in the coming months.
For now, the Girl Scouts of Colorado website advises Scouts and volunteers to go about their business as usual. Changes in the next few months will be administrative, officials said.
Representatives from the five councils are meeting monthly to make sure the transition happens as smoothly as possible.
Concerns that have been raised include making sure rural populations are served equally compared with urban areas. The committee also wants to make sure there is cross-council promotion now that Scouts will have easier access to camps statewide.
“We’re looking to build the best infrastructure we can, and to have the wisest use of resources,” Christie said.
This year is the Girl Scouts of America’s 95th anniversary.
Staff writer A.J. Miranda can be reached at 303-954-1381 or at amiranda@denverpost.com.
IMPACT
What’s to come: The new Girl Scouts of Colorado website – – says it’s business as usual as far as scouting events and activities go. But a year after the October consolidation, Scout officials are predicting an organization with expanded opportunities for Scouts and volunteers, mobility between campsites and troop leaders.
Councils: The Chipeta, Columbine, Mile Hi, Mountain Prairie and Wagon Wheel councils will merge. As of July 1, counties previously served by out-of-state councils – including Archuleta, Dolores, Jackson, La Plata, Montezuma and San Juan – were merged into the five councils.
A.J. MIRANDA
