Board of Directors

Guiding our council

The Board of Directors is the primary governing body for Girl Scouts of Utah. It is a group of people dedicated to GSU’s mission of building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.

The Board is responsible for setting the council’s strategic direction, ensuring necessary resources, providing oversight, monitoring its own performance, engaging in fundraising efforts, and influencing decisions made on behalf of the council.

Staff Support
Sonya Gilbert, Executive Assistant & Governance Liaison
801-716-5087 or sgilbert@gsutah.org

Board of Directors Responsibilities toggle arrow

Members of the Board of Directors commit their time, talent, and treasure to the council. As a Board Member, you agree to a variety of general responsibilities, like maintaining confidentiality, as well as those relating to:

Set Strategic Direction

Maintain focus on the Girl Scout Mission
Establish direction, approve the council’s strategic priorities and annual budget
Attend Town Hall and Annual Meetings to hear the voice of your constituents to determine the direction of the council
Articulate, safeguard, model, and promote Girl Scout values

Ensure Necessary Resources

Develop policies related to the generation of financial resources
Ensure that the council has the right leadership and necessary resources for implementation of council’s strategy and daily operation
Approve Annual Budget, Audit, and 990 Form yearly

Provide Oversight

Establish policies to protect assets and ensure all legal and ethical accountabilities are met
Ensure compliance with applicable laws, ethical standards, promote transparency
Regularly review the performance goals of the CEO against council’s strategic priorities

Board Performance

Ensure that Board members are actively engaged in the work of the Board
Use relevant information from multiple sources to make quality decisions
Ensure that the Board understands its roles and responsibilities
Complete annual Board Assessment with GSUSA

Fundraising Responsibilities

Network within the community to open doors for additional fundraising by providing contacts
Complete Board of Directors Member Commitment Form, which includes personal giving commitments along with $500 annual gift and ongoing Girl Scouts adult membership during board tenure

Decision Influencing

Establish a process for two-way dialogue with the membership when making critical decisions

In turn, GSU will

Provide regular financial reports & updates
Support opportunities to discuss the organization's activities, programs, and goals with the Board Chair and CEO
Offer meeting details, information about issues, pre-reads, and any other information in a reasonable and timely manner.

Board Committee Responsibilities toggle arrow

All members of the Board of Directors serve on at least one committee, bringing knowledge and experience that supports the committee. Board committee members should represent the diversity of the community, including race, gender, ethnicity, geographical, educational, and vocational backgrounds.

Board committees are accountable to the Board of Directors. Committee members review information related to their committee and recommend steps that benefit the council for the Board of Directors and staff to consider.

The Executive Committee is comprised of the elected officers of the Board of Directors and two Board Members-at-Large, selected by the Chair and approved by the Board. The CEO is an ex officio non-voting member of the committee. The Chair of the Board serves as the Chair of the Executive Committee.

The Executive Committee is authorized to make certain decisions on behalf of the Board between Board meetings. The Executive Committee also reviews CEO performance and compensation and makes recommendations.

Current Executive Committee Members
Joelle Creager (Chair)	Diana George
Diana Hagen	Helen Hu
Deepika de Silva	Kimberly Venable
Lisa White

Finance & Investment Committee is responsible for assisting the Board of Directors in overseeing council investments, monitors monthly financial reports to ensure sound financial management, examines the annual budget and recommends for Board approval, makes recommendations to the Board regarding operating and capital budgets.

The committee also identifies and tracks internal and external trends bearing on the council’s financial condition, generates projections as a guide to strategic planning and financial policy, and recommends policies and guidelines related to sound financial management.

Current Finance & Investment Committee Members
Diana George (Chair)	Chelé Cary
Joelle Creager	Kimberly Venable
Henry Wurts

Audit & Compliance Committee reviews the Audit and Form 990 and recommends for Board approval, reviews council policies and insurance coverage, provides guidance on risk management issues and ensures appropriate plan is in place, and ensures compliance with the principles of good governance.

Current Audit & Compliance Committee Members
Don Owen (Chair)	Erin Carraher
Peeches Cederholm	Joelle Creager
Britt McPartland	Karina Sargsian

Camping for a Cause Subcommittee is responsible for assisting GSU in the planning and implementation of the annual Camping for a Cause fundraiser held in August at Camp Cloud Rim.

Current Camping for a Cause Subcommittee Members
Leslie Egan (Chair)	Peeches Cederholm
Joelle Creager	Saydee Hunter
Amy Leininger	Susan Merrill
Juanita Meske	Loren Micalizio
Nicole Pitts	Evan Shah
Deepika de Silva	Aspyn Thompson
Mallory VelaDiaz

Board Development Committee (BDC) is a committee of the GSU Corporation, not a committee of the Board. Its purpose is to ensure that the Board of Directors has personnel, training, and support to fulfill its governance responsibilities. The BDC has at least seven and no more than nine members, the majority of which must come from the community. Board members are eligible to serve on this committee and must be slated by the BDC and approved by the Voting Members of the Corporation.

Current Board Development Committee Members

Board of Directors Application toggle arrow

Serving on the Board of Directors is an extraordinary opportunity for individuals who are passionate about the council’s Mission, Promise and Law, and serving girls across our council. They play a key role in the governance and leadership of Girl Scouts of Utah. The Board meets at least six times a year, which includes an annual retreat.

Applications will be reviewed and assessed by the Board Development Committee. Members-at-Large shall be elected by the voting members of the council for a term of two (2) years, not to exceed three consecutive terms. Terms of office shall begin at the close of the Annual Council Meeting in April at which elections are held. Committee appointments are evaluated by the CEO and Board Chair.

If you or someone you know would like to apply to be a member of the Board of Directors, please review the Board Committee and Board of Directors Member Commitments in the dropdowns above then complete the online application. If you have questions, please contact Sonya Gilbert at sgilbert@gsutah.org .

Board Committee Application toggle arrow

We are seeking thoughtful, engaged candidates who are willing to contribute their time and expertise through monthly meetings, or as needed based on committee priorities.

Committees play a vital role in advancing the governance work of the organization and supporting the Board of Directors in stewarding our mission and resources. Current committee opportunities:

Finance and Investment
Audit & Compliance
Fund Development
- Also oversees an event-focused subcommittee supporting Camping for a Cause.

In addition, the Board Development Committee, operating as a committee of the GSU Corporation, supports leadership cultivation and board composition.

Once your application has been submitted, a member of the Board Development Committee will be in touch with you regarding next steps. Thank you for your interest in serving Girl Scouts of Utah!

Officers of the Board

Board Chair

Secretary

1st Vice Chair

Treasurer

2nd Vice Chair

Board Members-at-Large

Member-at-Large

Member-at-Large

Member-at-Large

Member-at-Large

Member-at-Large

Member-at-Large

Member-at-Large

Member-at-Large

Member-at-Large

Member-at-Large

Member-at-Large

Member-at-Large

Board Development Committee

The Board Development Committee (BDC) is a committee of GSU, not a committee of the Board. Its purpose is to ensure that the Board of Directors has personnel, training, and support to fulfill its governance responsibilities.

Full BDC Responsibilities toggle arrow

The Board Development Committee has several primary responsibilities:

Align the Board composition with the strategic needs of the council
Solicit and recruit candidates for elected positions in the council
Provide to the membership a single slate for all open Board and BDC positions in the council, including officers and National Delegates
Conduct Board orientation and Board Development training sessions as needed and/or as directed by the Board of Directors, including an annual Board Retreat
In conjunction with the Board of Directors, develop:
- Board orientation and educational materials
- Methods for identifying needed skills and talents for the Board and committees
- Methods for succession planning
- Board annual self-assessment