National Council Delegates

2026 National Council Session

July 20–22, 2026

Washington, DC

Types of National Council Delegates

Resources:

2024 Blue Book of Basic Documents

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.

Service Unit Delegates toggle arrow

Service Unit Council Delegates and Alternates are a crucial part of governance at Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta because they are the vital link for policy-related concerns between the Girl Scout members they represent and the governing board of the Council. They do this by listening to the members in their Service Unit and bringing any policy-related concerns to the Annual Meeting of the Members.

Adults and girls 14 years old and older may serve as Service Unit Delegates or Alternates and are responsible for being the voice of their Service Unit to and from the Board of Directors primarily at the Annual Meeting of the Members and other delegate meetings.

National Delegates toggle arrow

National Council Delegates serve as Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta's voting members at the National Council Session. They engage and gather feedback from Girl Scout members in our council, learn about proposals, and take action to be the voice of Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta during the National Council Session. They then bring back information to share locally. 

Starting in 1915 and every few years since then, delegates from every council across the nation and USA Girl Scouts Overseas have met during our National Council Sessions (NCS) to discuss, debate, and vote on issues important to the Girl Scout Movement and elect national leaders for the next triennium.

Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta's National Council Delegates or Alternates are members of our council over the age of 14. They represent Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta to and from the National Board of Girl Scouts.