National Council Delegates

2026 National Council Session

July 20–22, 2026

Washington, DC

Every three years, Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) holds a National Council Session—also known as NCS. During NCS, elected National Council delegates representing all 111 councils across the nation and USA Girl Scouts Overseas, and the National Board, gather to discuss, debate, and vote on issues important to the Girl Scout Movement as well as elect national leaders for the next triennium.

Throughout their three-year term, delegates gather feedback from their council’s membership, learn about proposals, and act as their council’s voice by serving as voting members on the National Council. Delegates then share insights and report on actions taken by the National Council with their council’s membership at Annual Meetings and other council events.

NCS is part of GSUSA’s national convention, which is held every three years. The other part of the convention is a member-focused event with dynamic, interactive workshops for girls and adults. This event includes inspiring speakers, exciting adventures, and opportunities to meet Girl Scouts from around the United States and the world, sparking forever friendships. The next national convention is scheduled for July 20–25, 2026, and will take place in Washington, DC, our nation’s capital, which will be celebrating our country’s 250th birthday.

Every Girl Scout council is entitled to elect a delegation based on its girl membership. Our delegation includes National Council delegates and alternates. The duties of National Council delegates and alternates are to: 

represent our council as voting members of the National Council throughout the triennium (delegates only);
complete training, which includes self-paced online modules and virtual and in-person sessions;
participate in council-hosted preparatory meetings and input-gathering opportunities;
register for and regularly connect on the delegate website for news and updated communications;
consider the spectrum of opinions of adult and girl members from all parts of our council and across the Movement;
participate in delegate webinars sponsored by GSUSA and provide decision-influencing input, as requested, throughout the triennium;
attend all business meetings of the National Council and participate in the decision-making proceedings (delegates only);
become educated in Robert's Rules of Order and parliamentary procedure;
be fully prepared to vote on all business items, including proposals and the National Board of Directors slate; and
engage with other delegates, gather feedback from delegate webinars and the National Council Session, and share learnings and insights with council members.

Three proposals are being considered this year, seen below:

Proposal 1:

Girl Scout Highest Awards - Solicitation of Contributions

Currently, only Girl Scout Seniors and Ambassadors may request donations for their Gold Award projects, excluding Silver and Bronze Awards. This restricts access to resources that could support meaningful community partnerships and limits the potential impact of Highest Award projects.

Proposal 2:

Membership Dues and Procedures for Registration

This proposal seeks to amend the threshold by which the National Board can increase dues in a single triennium (the three year period between regular sessions of the National Council) from 25% to 15%.

This is not about raising dues. It is a procedural proposal related to the percentage of increase the board may consider for a dues increase within any triennium, without requiring the approval of the National Council.

Proposal 3:

Preservation of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience Relating to Entrepreneurship

“GSUSA, along with its alliances and relationships with corporations and businesses, shall not sell, license, or otherwise provide for sale any food product bearing the Girl Scout name or service mark when related to the flavors, branding or likeness of Girl Scout Cookies during the designated entrepreneurship program sales period of any Girl Scout council.”

This means that GSUSA would not be able to license or sell any food or beverage products to be sold during the times when any council in the country is selling cookies or fall products, which is about 9 months out of the year.