Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts Board Prospectus 2024-25
Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts at a Glance
GSEMA is the tenth-largest Girl Scout council in the USA and the largest girl-serving organization in Massachusetts.
5,231 Girl Scouts attended summer camp
18,836 girls enjoyed the opportunities of Girl Scouts with the help of 8,858 adult volunteers
38 girls earned their Gold Award 612 Girl Scouts earned the Bronze or Silver Award
27,708
Girl Scout Cookie packages were donated to local charities
83% of Girl Scouts participated in the 2023-24 Girl Scout Cookie Program
1,943,922 packages of cookies sold
(as of August 31, 2024)
Dear Friend,
We are pleased to invite you to learn more about Girl Scouts and to consider becoming a member of the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts (GSEMA) Board of Directors. As you read through this board prospectus, we are confident that you will see the worthwhile and powerful investments that being a part of GSEMA’s board can make in our girls’ futures.
As an organization with over 100 years of history supporting girls, the GSEMA Board of Directors have reflected on what it means to be a Girl Scout today versus what it meant in our founding year of 1912. At this critical point in our history, it is imperative that we support girls and women by providing them the space to learn and grow on their own terms. Whether it’s representation in leadership, addressing the gender pay gap, or providing greater access to resources for connection and education, the journey to equality requires perseverance from all our organization’s members.
We do this by providing a supportive girl-led environment for girls to try new things, embrace challenges, overcome setbacks, and become inspiring role models. Whether our Girl Scouts are climbing mountains, speaking their minds, programming robots, or advocating for change in their communities—the GSEMA board is dedicated to ensuring that our Girl Scouts empower themselves to achieve an even greater potential. Serving on our board can provide an opportunity to contribute your invaluable expertise to our girls and help us to advance this critical work further.
Your involvement would directly support girls’ abilities to make positive change, regardless of their backgrounds, locations, or financial situations. It is a unique opportunity to share in the joy of shaping the next generation of women in leadership.
Yours in Girl Scouting,
Jeannette Buntin & Kristen Truglio
Co-Chairs, Board Nominating & Development Committee Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts
Interested?
Contact us at nominatingcommittee@gsema.org.
Jeannette Buntin
Kristen Truglio
A Message from Deb Taft, Board Chair
Making the world a better place and leading with courage, confidence, and character starts here at Girl Scouts. As Board Chair and President of Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts, I am honored to guide an institution that has been blazing trails since 1912.
No other organization combines time-tested, research-backed program opportunities with engaging content and activities that speak to today’s girls. Whether hiking a national park, learning to code, or giving voice to marginalized groups through community advocacy, Girl Scouts honor their interests and potential while developing skills that serve them throughout their lives. Members of our Board of Directors provide foresight, oversight, and insight to the eastern Massachusetts council for Girl Scouts to take their place boldly in today’s world.
Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts’ board members are leaders, champions, and advocates of our powerful mission. We center equity and the advancement of girls and young women in every decision we make. I invite you to learn more about Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts and to consider becoming a Member-at-Large of our Board of Directors.
Girl Scouts builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.
WHO WE ARE
We are Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts!
At 31,000 members strong, GSEMA is the tenth-largest Girl Scout Council in the country and the largest girl-serving organization in Massachusetts. GSEMA welcomes youth who identify as girls, transgender boys, non-binary and gender non-conforming people, and adults of all genders. Through activities in science and technology, interpersonal communication and career exploration, business and financial literacy, and outdoor and environmental awareness, Girl Scouting provides girls with opportunities to develop their confidence, courage, and character. Since the pandemic, Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts has continued providing girls with virtual and in-person programs, using the four program pillars of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. Additionally, we have provided support for their mental well-being through new mental health first aid courses for adult volunteers and have encouraged and recognized their civic engagement and social change efforts in their local communities.
Our girls have risen to these unprecedented challenges with bravery and determination, but they need Girl Scouts more than ever.
WHAT WE DO
Girl Scout Leadership Experience
With the help of our vast network of trusted adult volunteers, mentors, and alums, Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts leads the way as youth members find their voices and make thoughtful changes to their local communities. Our programs encourage girls to get outside, develop their life skills, foster their entrepreneurial spirits, and engage in STEM activities. Through enriching and exciting experiences like field trips, awardearning community service projects, and environmental activism, Girl Scouts helps girls develop their full potential.
GSEMA Adult Board Service
The Board of Directors and its committees work in partnership with our CEO and executive team to set the direction for our council. We face critical decisions in many areas, including strategic planning, fund development, audit, finance, investment, property management, governance, membership, girl programs, and human resources. We look for dedicated professionals with a variety of experiences, skill sets, and diverse backgrounds, along with a strong commitment to service and fundraising. Most importantly, we seek individuals who believe in the Girl Scout mission and have a passion for providing the best possible opportunities for girls.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
Board members serve as voting members of the policy-making body of Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts, as outlined in the council bylaws. GSEMA’s board reviews and approves organizational strategies and goals, and oversees progress in implementing and achieving these initiatives. The board provides governance and fiduciary oversight, including ratifying the organization’s annual budget. Board members also serve as “goodwill ambassadors” of GSEMA, participating and assisting with fundraising. The board has a duty to ensure the organization pursues its charitable mission in a manner consistent with the highest standards of ethics, integrity, and fairness and in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
Time Commitment
Board members are elected for a three-year term, not to exceed two consecutive full terms in the same position (as defined in the bylaws). Members attend four to five full board meetings per year plus a full-day retreat and commit to engaging meaningfully at and outside of meetings as required. Board members also have the opportunity to serve on one or more of the board’s committees that align with the member’s interests and the board’s needs. These committees include Audit; Board Nominating and Development; Bylaws Review; Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Racial Justice; Executive; Finance; Fund Development; Investment; Long Range Property Planning; and Strategy.
Stakeholder Engagement
Board members play a key role in supporting management by helping make connections with potential new partners and bringing expertise to GSEMA through their networks. Ultimately, the board is responsible for providing a sound financial basis for GSEMA. Through personal giving and actively participating in fundraising efforts, a board member recognizes this responsibility and demonstrates a commitment. A board member should designate GSEMA as one of the main recipients of their generosity.
Qualifications
• Becomes a Girl Scout member and maintains a current Girl Scout membership per council bylaws
• Accepts the Girl Scout commitment to work with all without regard to age, race, ethnicity/culture, country of origin, religion, language, socio-economic status, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, neurodiversity, ability, or political affiliation
• Passes CORI/SORI background checks prior to volunteer service
Youth Board Member Service
Each year, up to four Girl Scouts aged 14-17 are elected to the GSEMA Board of Directors. As the preeminent leadership development organization for girls, Girl Scouts values girl participation and girl voices at its highest levels. We invite girls to apply for a position on the board to gain exposure to organizational governance and to provide a girl perspective during board deliberations. This opportunity offers girls a unique leadership experience working in partnership with our adult board members to make a difference. Serving on the Board of Directors requires a commitment of time, but it comes with great benefits, including networking and mentorship. And it’s a great college application/resume builder!
What inspired you to join the GSEMA Board of Directors?
“I believe that it’s important to serve the community you live in. One great way to do that is through board work. Growing up I had strong female influences in my life that helped shape who I am, and I am grateful for those individuals and the life skills I learned from them. I hope that through Girl Scouts, other girls will walk away with a stronger sense of who they are, and develop skills and confidence that will allow them to be a strong voice among their peers.”
Julie Cameron, Board Member-at-Large
“Girl Scouts has a long history of serving and empowering youth to meet their full potential, a cause to which I am deeply committed. For me, scouting played an important role during my childhood years, and I’m proud to partner with GSEMA to help develop the next generation of leaders.“”
David Koenig, Board Member-at-Large
“I became a Girl Board Member to play a bigger part in making the world a better place and being a sister to every Girl Scout. Girl Scouts is about trying new things, growing from your mistakes, and learning how to use what you are passionate about to make an impact on the world. While on the GSEMA Board, I worked to help girls, from Daisies to Seniors, grow to their fullest potential through Girl Scouting.”
Leen A., Former Youth Board Member
2024-25 Board of Directors
OFFICERS
Deb Taft, Board Chair and President
Kelly Corwin, First Vice Chair
Elizabeth Fitzula, Second Vice Chair
Jane Lundquist, Treasurer
Diane McLaughlin, Secretary/Clerk
Monica Roberts, Chief Executive Officer (effective November 1, 2024)
MEMBERS-AT-LARGE
Michael Bookman
Jeannette Buntin
Julie Cameron
Susan Carabbio
Julie Linnell Cowan
Gizella Crawford
Karan Dyson
Teresa Epperson
Trevor Frankel
Michelle Hecht
Guilda Hilaire
David Koenig
Amina C. Lobban
Mary McNiff
Kim Reinert
Kristen Truglio
Gena Wilson Sullivan
YOUTH MEMBERS
Suvi C.
Abigail L.
Alexandria T.
Iris Z.
BOARD NOMINATING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Jeannette Buntin
Julie Linnell Cowan
Kara Curtis
Sadaf Kazmi
Lan Marinelli
Libby Murphy
Pam O’Leary
Kristen Truglio
Allison Walsh
Girl Scout Promise
On my honor, I will try:
To serve God and my country,
To help people at all times, And to live by the Girl Scout Law.
GSEMA is able to provide our unique leadership experience to thousands of Girl Scouts across eastern Massachusetts thanks to the generosity of our donors, members, and volunteers.
Girl Scout Law
I will do my best to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do, and to respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout.
