The Flint Hills Girl Scout Council lost two long-term employees to retirements that coincided with a statewide reorganization of Girl Scout councils in Kansas.
The workers who retired were Lynn Smith, executive director of the Flint Hills council, and Jane Palmer, director of membership services.
Smith had been with the local council since 1986 and had been director since 2000. Palmer, who was in charge of product sales, membership and training, had been on the council staff for 15 years.
Both retirements were effective on Monday, Oct. 1.
The reorganization is part of a national realignment that, in Kansas, places 80 counties and 15,000 Scouts under the auspices of the new Kansas Heartland Council in Wichita, according to Angela Cato, director of community relations for Girl Scouts of Kansas. Heartland now includes councils that were in Wichita, Garden City, Hays, Hutchinson, Salina, and Emporia.
“We’re right in the middle now of doing a staffing structure,” Cato said. The Emporia office “will provide the same services as we have in the past.”
“The operational headquarters will be in Wichita and that’s where the CEO will be housed,” she said. “... They’re getting rid of duplication of services.”
Cato said that the pooling of resources should result in a stronger organization, as well as more efficiencies for operating the Girl Scouts in the state. Membership, recruitment and other activities will continue to be done locally.
“I think everyone’s going to be helping out during this transition,” Cato said, adding that the changes should not affect Scouting activities at local offices.
“They’re going to have a seamless Girl Scout experience. We’re committed to that,” she said.
Cato also said that the local Girl Scout affiliation with the United Way will continue as it has in the past, with funds earmarked for the old Flint Hills Council staying in that council.
“United Way allocations will be respected according to the restrictions that are in place now,” Cato said. “We’re already used to having money stay in specific areas. That’s the same with donations.”
A gathering to initiate the new, enlarged council will be held for all Girl Scouts from the Heartland Council on Oct. 13 at Starwoods Center outside Wichita.