National Delegates

Get ready for the world's largest Girl Scout gathering in 2026!

The 2026 Girl Scout Convention will be in Washington, DC, from Monday, July 20, through Saturday, July 25.

Every three years, delegates from every council across the nation and USA Girl Scouts Overseas meet to discuss, debate, and vote on issues important to the Girl Scout Movement and elect national leaders for the next triennium.

Girl Scouts Nation's Capital will be our host council, and we're grateful for their hospitality and support in preparing for and carrying out this important event for our Movement.

Your Opinion Matters!

During GSUSA's 58th National Council Session, National Delegates from Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan (GSSEM) will vote on three proposals. We would like your input!

PDF: Proposal 1 | Proposal 2 | Proposal 3

Surveys are due by July 22 at 11:59 PM EST.

National Delegates & Alternates toggle arrow

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

Duties

National Council delegate and alternate duties: 

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.
Engage with other delegates, gather feedback from delegate webinars and the National Council Session, and share learnings and insights with council members.

Applicant Eligibility

National Council delegates and alternates must:

Be a citizen of the United States of America as set out in GSUSA's Congressional Charter.
Be a registered member of the Girl Scout Movement.
Be able to consider a broad spectrum of the opinions of adult and older girl members from all parts of the council.
Be willing to prepare thoroughly for the issues and business that will come before the National Council.

Alternate Delegates

National Council alternates:

Are selected to ensure that councils can quickly and easily replace delegates who cannot complete their full term.
Must be prepared to assume the delegate role at any time and with little notice.
Should participate in all delegate training, education, and other preparation to ensure they are ready to conduct National Council business if called upon.

Time Commitment

For National Council delegates and alternates:

The time commitment varies throughout the triennium.
Initial training in the role is approximately six hours, delivered through on-demand webinars.
Education commitments increase in the months leading to a National Council Session (NCS).
Input-gathering activities take place throughout the triennium.

About the National Council Session toggle arrow

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, USA Girl Scouts Overseas, and the National Board, gather to discuss, debate, and vote on issues important to the Girl Scout Movement and 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, 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.

Convention details | Get updates | Be a sponsor »

2023 Girl Scout Convention Recap toggle arrow

In July 2023, approximately 900 delegates, including several hundred girl members aged 14–17, represented their councils during the 56th National Council Session (NCS).

They elected a new National Board, including new National President Noorain F. Khan, engaged in breakout discussions about governance, and respectfully debated and voted on important issues.

Read about:

The actions taken on the proposals.
The Blue Book of Basic Documents, which was updated to reflect those actions.

After the conclusion of the NCS, we welcomed thousands more Girl Scouts from across the country and around the world to partake in fun and enriching programs, make new friends, and attend special performances and celebrations at Phenom By Girl Scouts.

Check out the recap blog to experience the powerful moments that made the 2023 Girl Scout Convention unforgettable.

For more information, please email Katrina Palmer, Chief of Staff, at kpalmer@gssem.org.

Council Finder

Get ready for the world's largest Girl Scout gathering in 2026!

The 2026 Girl Scout Convention will be in Washington, DC, from Monday, July 20, through Saturday, July 25.

Your Opinion Matters!

Duties

Applicant Eligibility

Alternate Delegates

Time Commitment

Time Commitment

About Alternate Delegates

What is the role of an alternate delegate?