Before my involvement with Girl Scouts, I was involved with my children’s activities and was a community volunteer where I served on boards and worked with organizations to make my community a better place. These contacts were how I began my career with Girl Scouting.
When I took the job with the Girl Scouts as the CFO, the council did not own one single computer. My first task as a new staff member was to computerize the office. It is hard to believe today that all financial records were kept in ONE ledger. I remember the first audit after we computerized the office and they asked if we took a backup of the records off site. I explained to him that we had a daily backup for five days all in the fireproof safe, and we still had a copy of the ledger book. That seemed pretty safe to me, although today not only do we have a backup off site daily, we actually send one out of state. Just the beginning of new ways of doing things!
As the CFO I watched the council’s assets grow (not only in cash but in facilities at the council’s camps). The job was very fulfilling to me and I felt that I had found the perfect job for the remainder of my career. My first involvement with girls was managing their “cookie points”. The beauty of Girl Scouting where a girl can actually be financially responsible for what active she wants to do, because she receives the beloved “cookie points” for her accomplishments in the cookie program.
After working with two different CEOs, I felt that I would like to become the leader of the organization and become more involved in the program delivery that I had grown to love as the CFO. At that time the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida served 6 ½ counties and it was necessary to cultivate a Board of Directors made up of members from all the counties. I made so many new friends! And, in 2006 when Girl Scouts of the USA did a reorganization of the movement, Gulfcoast was fortunate to survive as a council and added 3 ½ counties to our jurisdiction. What a challenge to manage the geography that I have grown to love in my 23 years.
I spent my first years learning more about the Girl Scout movement, improving the ever challenging Human Resource skills and continuing to monitor financial records prepared by a new CFO. My job as CFO had given me many skills that I would use as I managed the council’s “personal real estate boom”. We sold the old council office, purchased the new site on Cattlemen Rd, did a bargain sale for property adjacent to Camp Honi Hanta, sold Camp Chanyatah, and most recently negotiated the gift of additional property adjacent to Camp Honi Hanta. In addition, I have spent the last two years in litigations on a new commercial pool at camp that leaked before girls were able to swim.
While I had the responsibility to do the “paper chase,” I experienced girls growing from the shy Daisy, through the toothless Brownies, the happy Juniors, the maturing "Highs and Lows" Cadettes, Seniors “going for the gold” and enjoyed the work of the Ambassadors who are not only the leaders of tomorrow, but also the leaders of today, who are making our world a better place.
My biggest challenge was the capital campaign. As a CEO who got the job because of her business skills, what did I know about a capital campaign? The Girl Scouts have the luxury of the Cookie program which covered about 49% of our budget. I had not done a lot of fund raising and this was a huge challenge for me. This community was unbelievable in the support of the Girl Scouts in our capital campaign. We were able to raise $8,000,000 from 2002-2005 with the help of Philanthropy Management, Inc. and the wonderful support of this community. The result of this successful campaign was the completion of the Searcy Koen Regional Girl Scout Campus.
It was during this time that I realized the importance of AFP. I joined the organization during the campaign to improve my skills, make new friends and just learn more about fund-raising. I have enjoyed my involvement with AFP and plan to continue my involvement during my retirement. My plans also involve staying connected to the not-for-profit world and giving back to a community that has given me so much.
As Bob Hope said “Thanks for the Memories."
-Sandi Stewart, former CEO, Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida
Congratulations on the next chapter!
ReplyDeleteAs someone whose first job out of college was with the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, I am still impressed at the strength of The Council and the talented leaders (the ranks of which include girls, troop leaders and staff) that make the world a better place. Through all its changes, that is one thing that has remained consitent. Congratulations again Sandi.
Thanks for modeling strong leadership -- not just for girls, but for all of us in the non-profit community. Here's to a fabulous next chapter in your life!
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