Council Realignment Committee

As part of the GSUSA planning and implementation process, a Council Realignment Committee has been established in the state of Nebraska. It consists of three members from each of the five legacy councils: The Board Chair, the CEO, and one additional governance volunteer for a total of 15 members. The CRC is charged with leading the merger process.

The vast amount of Girl Scout experience and business expertise of this team will ensure that the new council is developed in adherence to GSUSA realignment guidelines as well as the legal and governance aspects of the GSUSA realignment. Following is a list of the complete committee:

Co-Chairing the committee are CEO Rosemary Fecht of Guiding Star council (western NE) and Board Chair Dr. Joan Giesecke of Homestead Council (Lincoln area.)



Goldenrod Council (Grand Island/Kearney area) Tara Naprstek - Board Chair
Tara is a CPA and is currently the comptroller of a Burwell manufacturing company serving customers world-wide.

Rita Uldrich - CEO
Rita has been the CEO of Goldenrod Council since 1994.

Ruth Kyle - Secretary of the Board of Directors
Ruth is also a former President of Goldenrod serving from 1994 - 2000.

Great Plains (Omaha area) Linda Willis - Board Chair
Linda possesses vast experience in the banking industry and is currently an active community volunteer involving many Omaha organizations.

Fran Marshall - Interim CEO

Judy Morss - Second Vice President of the Board of Directors
Judy is a training consultant and former IT manager for OPPD.

Guiding Star (western NE) Lori Zeilinger - Board Chair
Lori is an attorney in private practice in Grant, NE and is very active in civic and professional organizations.

Rosemary Fecht - CEO
Rosemary has been the CEO of Guiding Star since 1988.

Carol Aten - past President of Guiding Star
Carol has extensive Girl Scout experience as both a former employee and an active volunteer.

Homestead Council (Lincoln area) Dr. Joan Giesecke - Board Chair
Dr. Giesecke is the Dean of Libraries, UNL - Libraries. She is a published author and brings a myriad of experience in both Girl Scouting and management.

Vi See - CEO
Vi has been the CEO of Homestead since 1989.

Melanie Whittamore-Mantzios
Melanie is an assistant attorney for the NE Department of Justice, a position she has held for 15 years.

Prairie Hills (northeast NE) Deb Jensen - Board Chair
Deb is a partner in a growing restaurant business in Columbus. She has been in the dining industry for more than 20 years and has served on the Board since 1995.

Bernie Hansen - CEO
Bernie has been the CEO of Prairie Hills since 1999.

Lynne Ruth - Board Secretary
Lynne is a high school science teacher and assessment coordinator for Shelby Public Schools. Lynne has been a Nebraska educator for 29 years. She also served as Board Chair from 2002 - 2006.