What’s in a name? That’s the question that Girl Scouts of Rolling Hills Council (GSRHC), Girl Scouts of Washington Rock Council (GSWRC) and the Girl Scout Council of Greater Essex and Hudson Counties (GSCGEHC) posed when they invited their membership to participate in a naming and patch contest for the realigned council. More than 100 entries were submitted to the Communications Sub-Committee of the Council Realignment Committee (CRC), comprised of representatives from the three merging councils. After carefully reviewing all the submissions, the CRC chose Girl Scouts of the Heart of New Jersey as the name that best characterizes the new council. The name was approved by Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) and will take effect October 1, 2008 when the three councils begin operating as one.
After more than two years of research, review and evaluation, Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA), determined that realigning the nation’s 310 councils into 109 new high-capacity councils would best leverage resources. Accompanied by GSUSA’s contemporary new leadership development model, these changes provide a foundation to provide a consistent experience and advance the Girl Scout mission of building girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place.
GSRHC, GSWRC and GSCGEHC will unite to create a new, high-capacity council that will capably deliver innovative programming and leadership development opportunities to a combined membership of 28,000 girls ages 5-17 and 11,000 adult volunteers. The newly-formed council has the potential to serve a 30 percent of the total girl population of the state in a region that spans New Jersey from east to west covering the counties of Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Somerset, Union and parts of Middlesex and Warren.
The Girl Scouts of the Heart of New Jersey will have multiple service centers throughout the council jurisdiction and council leadership is committed to providing a seamless transition. The anticipated changes will enhance the experience of girls and adults in the region. After nearly 100 years of inspiring girls to develop their full potential, this critical revitalization of the movement will ensure that Girl Scouting remains the best leadership development program for girls now and for generations to come.
For more information on Girl Scouting, be sure to visit the online homes of the three current councils at www.westfieldnj.com/girlscouts (GSWRC), www.gscgehc.org and www.girlscouts-rh.org.