Local Girl Scout program will continue despite financial problems

The Tulip Trace Council -- based in Bloomington -- finds itself more than $1 million in debt, on the brink of bankruptcy and facing an imminent consolidation with the Central Indiana Council in Indianapolis, according to Carol Keierleber, interim CEO for the Girl Scouts of Tulip Trace Council.

Keierleber said a final decision on the consolation hasn't been made, but she said it is likely the only viable option left.

The director stressed the Girl Scout tradition will continue, despite the financial challenges.

"I want to assure you that Girl Scouts will continue and remain in the community. Girl Scout is part of a national organization and all will continue to be served," she told the Greene County Daily World.

Keierleber said what the local Girl Scout council is experiencing is common to all not-for-profit that rely heavily on community donations for support.

The struggling national economy has cut the amount of donations.

"We've had a significant decline in operating income from our product sales as well as from United Way support which has impacted on the council's ability to pay on their line of credit and to pay on the construction loan that they took out. While we are still meeting our obligations regarding that loan, it is becoming significantly more difficult for us with the state of the economy. I think all of that has kind of combined into a situation where the best option for us is to combine. With the economy taking the action that it currently did, receiving councils in terms of a merger were uncomfortable taking on that kind of debt. Then we have had to look at other options and that is what we are doing."

The Tulip Trace Council of the Girl Scouts, serves 15 south-central Indiana counties including: Greene, Brown, Monroe, Jackson, Bartholomew, Jennings, Lawrence, Orange, Owen, Ripley, Scott, Sullivan, Switzerland and parts of Morgan.

Currently, there are 35 Girl Scout troops in Greene County that have 351 members and an additional 190 leaders and volunteers.

Girl Scouts of Tulip Trace Council, an independent not-for-profit organization, is one of more than 150 local councils chartered by Girl Scouts of the USA. Tulip Trace Council, in partnership with adult volunteers, serves nearly 3,000 girls ages 5-17 and 1,500 adult volunteers,

The council was chartered in 1962.

One major change that will likely happen is the council's Camp Belmont in Brown County will be sold to help pay off the outstanding debt,

The council had recently invested more than $1 million in renovations to the council's headquarters at the 283-acre camp. That action came when the council thought it was merging with councils in Terre Haute and Evansville.

However, when word of the council's financial woes came to light earlier this year, those merger plans fell through, Keierleber said.

To get the word out about the management structure changes to the local members, leaders and volunteers, Tulip Tree officials are conducting a series of town hall meetings around the area.

Tuesday night, the group met at Humphreys Park in Linton.

Wednesday, they gathered in Seymour and Saturday they will meet in Bloomington. That meeting will be from 10 a.m. until noon at the First United Church at 2420 East Third Street.

Keierleber said those involved in the Girl Scout program are invited to attend this meeting to learn more about the council's future plans.

"Services to Girl Scout troops and to communities will continue to go on. Scouting will continue to go on. Our leaders are very strong," she added.