From left, Girl Scouts of Alaska CEO Marge Larson, poses with Jillian Fazakerly, of Ketchikan, and Megan McAllister, of Juneau, during a reception held Friday at the Juneau-Douglas City Museum. For more information on Girl Scouts of Alaska CEO Marge Larson, visit www.girlscoutsalaska.org.
Story last updated at 9/27/2009 - 1:29 am
As part of a national realignment strategy, the two Girl Scouts councils in Alaska will merge to form a statewide council - the Girl Scouts of Alaska Council.
Julia Erickson, CEO of the Tongass Alaska Girl Scout Council since February 2007, believes the time has come for the merger.
"There is the technology to support a statewide organization, which can reach all of the girls in the state," she said. "Girls will be able to share in the benefits of a larger council, such as more programs, different camps and the financial advantages of having one business organization instead of three."
On Thursday, the Girl Scouts Susitna Council, headquartered in Anchorage and serving southcentral and western Alaska, and the Tongass Alaska Girl Scout Council, headquartered in Juneau and serving Southeast Alaska, will unite.
According to the Girl Scouts of Alaska Council profile, the goal of the realignment is to "strengthen the Girl Scout movement by creating councils capable of providing more opportunities for girls, enhanced services for adult volunteers, enhanced outreach to underserved populations and stronger community partnerships."
With approximately 6,160 girl members - about 37 percent of whom live off the road system - and 1,500 adult volunteers, the new council will cover 108 communities throughout the state.
"Girl Scouts of Alaska is an opportunity for Girl Scouts to share resources and strengths by better utilizing staffing, expertise and giving girls more opportunities to participate in Girl Scouts," Erickson said.
Marge Larson will start as the first CEO of the statewide council.
"She has a long history of nonprofit leadership," Erickson said of Larson. "She is also a Girl Scout leader and mother of a Girl Scout."
Aside from meeting the new CEO at a reception Friday, this weekend's Girl Scout activities included volunteer training at St. Ann's Catholic Church, a Girl Scout charter meeting and the 18th annual Girl Scout auction.
"The weekend included training for leaders, a lot of fun and some wonderful opportunities to strengthen adult Girl Scout leaders, a reception at the City Museum to meet the new CEO and the 18th annual auction to support Girl Scout programs and camps in Southeast Alaska," Erickson said.
The charter meeting provided an opportunity for Tongass Alaska Girl Scout delegates to approve the merger, Erickson said. There also was a ceremonial raising of the new Girl Scouts of Alaska flag.
As far as Erickson's role in the new council, she will become Southeast Alaska Regional Director, which will allow her to increase membership, develop programs for girls in Southeast, including Resident Camp Feather Winds - one of her favorites, she said.
"I am honored as well as very pleased and excited to be a part of Girl Scouts of Alaska," Erickson said. "All of this will continue to grow with the support of our community partners and donors to benefit girls and their families."
• Contact Neighbors editor Kim Andree at 523-2272 or kim.andree@juneauempire.com.
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