Council Name Change – FAQ’s
What is the name change?
The Sahuaro Girl Scout Council is now the Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona.
Why do we need to change our name?
During the national re-alignment many smaller councils merged together to form larger councils. These new councils were asked by Girl Scouts of the USA to select a name that began with “Girl Scouts of” and ended with a unique identifying name. Many of the Councils picked their names with the goal of unity in mind. While the Sahuaro Girl Scout Council did not undergo realignment, our Council believed a new name was in store in order to reflect the changing face and area of our Council.
Over the past 100 years, our Council has expanded from our home base in Tucson and now reaches Yuma, Nogales, Safford, Casa Grande, and Douglas to name a few. Just as we have covered larger distances, we have also been able to serve more girls than ever before- 14,000 and counting! With careful consideration and input from our delegates and fellow Girl Scouts, we decided to change the Council name to reflect our new composition and unite us as move into the next 100 years. We firmly believe our new name will bring us together as one- girls, adults, alumni, volunteers, and staff alike.
What procedure was followed?
Following the procedure written in our bylaws, our Council received approval from our membership on July 8, 2011 approving the Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of the Sahuaro Girl Scout Council. Article I was amended to read “the name of the corporation shall be GIRL SCOUTS OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA.” The amendment was later approved on August 29, 2011 by the members of the Board, Christine McNamara Board Chair presiding.
After securing those signatures, we then submitted our request to the Arizona Corporation Commission, who receives and approves all submissions for a corporation name change, pursuant to A.R.S. Section 10-11006
What will happen now?
We will begin to use the new name, “Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona,” on all our official documents and in all operation activities and marketing going forward. The name change will not happen overnight, however, and will require a transition period.
Will anything change?
Even though our name has changed, we want to stress that Girl Scouts’ service and commitment to our girls, alumni, and community remain unchanged. We will continue to work tirelessly to build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place.
In addition, the change will not affect any current account information, correspondence, or point of contact you have had with our Council. Moreover, all contracts and documents previously signed by “Sahuaro Girl Scout Council” will remain valid, and the corresponding obligations will be assumed by “Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona.”
Will we have to change the name on our troop bank accounts?
As troops and individuals make changes to their accounts- new signers, closing and opening new accounts- the name can be changed at that time.
Will the name change impact the Council’s budget?
The change of name is occurring simultaneously with the new brand messaging GSUSA developed to strengthen the public’s understanding of the value, importance, and relevancy of Girl Scouts. Since we are updating our branding to align with the Girl Scout Movement the name change will have negligible additional cost to our budget.
Who do I contact if I have more questions?
We would be happy to answer further questions! Please contact Girl Scout Chief, Debbie Rich, CEO, drich@girlsscoutssoaz.org, 520.319.3168, or Kristen Hernandez, COO, khernandez@girlscoutssoaz.org, 520.319.3172.
