The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1951-11-02

impossible due to previous COM
mitments.
In my last letter to you, | en-
closed material on the plan of
the National Organization to
achieve total council coverage in
the United States, which listed
the requirements for council or
ganization. In relation to this
plan, the Florida Keys do present
a unique problem, and | agree
that it would be impractical for
iyou to attempt to work with
Dade County.
On the other hand, it is ques-
tionable whether a Monroe
! County Council, including all of
the communities on the Keys,
could finance a program in ac-
,cordance with the requirements
, for organization. We know that
the strength of our organization
lies in the fact that 99% of our
total membership is volunteer,
but we also know that the volun-
teers need professional leader
ship to insure quality program.
This is why the National Board
made that one Of the require
ments Off council organization
when they adopted the total COW
erage plan in 1916. They realize
J that we could not continue to
/ organize councils which would
derend entirely on national staff
for professional guidance. To
serve an ever increasing number
of councils of this kind would
require a much larger budget,
which both the National Organi-
cation and local councils ques-
toned.
While your officers are willing
and certainly would be qualified
to administer the work of a
council, they would undoubtedl
ly need advice, guidance, and
training for their jobs. Standard
training for all adults can only
be given by a professional work
er, or a qualified volunteer who
has had national training
course. A professional worker
could also direct your campaign
program, and help the council
meet all of its charter require
! ments. 8
Your present organization
could not serve as the council,
sSheeapse ms the, eiatiogA fprfs
1stf n Al aa y ne
ties are delegated -toea Board i
Directors. The Board is made Up
of officers, and the chairmen Of
such functional committees as
training, camping, troop orgarf-
cation, etc. These chairmen APP
point as many members as they
need to carry on their work, but
the committee members are not
on the Board. The officers and
Board members are elected by
the entire membership, which is
known as the council. The coun-
Gil meets two or three times a
year, but the Board meets once
month. Leaders should not be
chosen as Board members since
they already have big job to
do, and should be relieved of
administrative respons i bility.
Board members are chosen for
their qualifications to do the
! work which is delegated to the
Board, and they also need to be
Preventative of the entire iuris-
diction of the council.
1t is necessary for national staff
to assist with all council organi-
cation, therefore / cannot give
you permission to 60 ahead and
organize. / recommend that you
tappoint a Steering Committee
made upof some active adult
members in Girl Scouting and
one or two of your leading citi-
zens outside OF the organization.
They can explore the possibilities
of financing council, and Sc
curing the needed Board per-
sonnet. They will need to study
, the work of the Board, as out
lined in the Primer, and in the
booklet which | am sending you
under separate cover. 1t is en-
titled Working Together in an
Area Council" and is our guide
! to the organization structure
needed in councils covering more
than one community This COM
mittee can be empowered to act