Questions? Contact delegate@sdgirlscouts.org.
56th National Council Session
National Council Delegates (NCDs) serve as Girl Scouts San Diego’s voting members, which is comprised of ten NCDs and five alternates, at the National Council Session. They engage and gather feedback from Girl Scout members in our council, learn about proposals, and take action to be the voice of Girl Scouts San Diego during the National Council Session. They then bring back information to share locally.
Congratulations to our newest slate of delegates! These delegates were elected by our GSSD Board of Directors and will represent our council at the 2023 National Council Session and serve in their roles until 2025. Check out their remarkable biographies in the Current National Delegates drop down menu below.
56th National Council Session, July 2023
National Council Session (NCS) is a national business meeting, where delegates from every Girl Scout council and USA Girl Scouts Overseas meet to discuss, debate, and vote on issues important to the Girl Scout Movement as well as elect national leaders for the next triennium. Girl Scouts San Diego has ten National Council Delegates who will represent our council during the 2023 session happening July 18-20.
There are seven proposals that delegates will be voting on during the 56th National Council Session. Delegates have gathered feedback and had in-depth discussions on the following topics.
- Amend the Girl Scout Promise and Law to use more potent, actionable language-Did not pass.
- DEIRJ Language-Passed with amendment.
- Allowing the possibility of virtual attendance for National Council Session and for Special Sessions of the National Council-Passed with amendment.
- Constitutional amendment on the timing of delegate allotment-Passed.
- Constitutional amendment formula for delegates-Did not pass.
- Council representation on the National Board-Did not pass.
- Girl Scout Gold Award scholarship fund-Passed.
National Council Delegate Responsibilities 
Current National Council Delegates
Marisela Chevez
Marisela was born and raised in Los Angeles, California and has made San Diego her permanent home. She was a brownie and has looked forward to being a troop leader since her daughter was a baby. She is currently the leader of her daughter’s multi-level troop of Daisies and Brownies. Marisela graduated with a Bachelor of Science in History from UC Berkeley. Marisela is also a trauma informed yoga teacher and a Lactation Educator Counselor. She works at the UCSD Center for Research on Educational Equity, Assessment & Teaching Excellence (CREATE) as a STEAM Program Specialist for K-16. She has worked in the non-profit and education sectors for over 20 years and is passionate about expanding access to education and the outdoors. She credits her time as a Girl Scout for shaping her love of hiking, camping and the outdoors. Marisela is currently the Historian for Oak Park Elementary’s PTA and a volunteer for the Cal Alumni Association. Her family enjoys camping and traveling together in the teardrop trailer they designed and built themselves. In her free time Marisela enjoys gardening, knitting, crocheting, reading, and hiking.
Rita Datko, GSSD Board Chair
Rita currently serves as GSSD Board Chair. She has volunteered with Girl Scouts San Diego for over 20 years, serving as a troop leader, service unit manager, and national delegate. She has served on the Girl Scout Board of Directors since 2017, and been active on the Executive, Finance and Board Development committees. She earned a Thanks Badge, Girl Scouting’s highest award for volunteerism. All four of her daughters were Girl Scouts. Rita has 28 years of experience in the healthcare industry. She is responsible for the overall financial management and business operations of Sharp Health Plan, ensuring its success and alignment with the strategic plan and overall financial and operational goals.
Carol M Dedrich, GSSD CEO
Carol is Chief Executive Officer of Girl Scouts San Diego. She attributes the lessons she learned as a young Girl Scout with preparing her for leadership roles in school, the military and throughout her career. As CEO, her priorities include serving a geographically and economically diverse girl and volunteer base, leveraging community partnerships to better reach underserved communities, enriching the volunteer experience, enhancing the middle and high school Girl Scout experience, and building lasting relationships with donors in order to serve more girls and continue to provide relevant, critical programs. She is committed to helping girls develop their courage, confidence, and character in order to overcome insecurities that can plague girls throughout their lives. She is also dedicated to building collaborations and helping women of all ages to support each other with less judgement of self and others, while expanding perspectives, skills and experience.
Sarah Doney
Growing up in Poway, Sarah enjoyed being a Girl Scout with her older sister in the 1990's. As a former event coordinator, being a troop cookie manager for the past four years has been one of her favorite positions to volunteer in. She is very excited to take on the role of service unit product programs coordinator for Fallbrook/Bonsall/Rainbow this year. Sarah also serves in the role of troop treasurer for her Girl Scout troop and as Popcorn Kernel for her son’s Cub Scout pack. Outside of working at her family business, she serves as CEO at a nonprofit recreation roller derby league in Oceanside and team captain for the California leg of the National Great Strides team, Evelyn's Entourage. She loves cooking for friends and family, watching football, crafting, and listening to books on audio and podcasts.
Michelle P. Fischer
A Girl Scout volunteer for over 15 years and a Lifetime Member, Michelle joined Girl Scouts as an adult when her oldest daughter expressed an interest in Girl Scouting. She is the co-leader of her youngest daughter’s troop and has served in various leadership roles with Mountain Shadow Service Unit. As an avid supporter of the Fall Product Program and the Cookie Program, she currently serves as Regional Manager for Canyon Trails. She recently completed her first term as a National Council Delegate and is honored to be serving a second term. Aside from volunteering her time, she proudly supports Girl Scouts San Diego as a member of the Juliette Gordon Low Society and as a member of Daisy’s Circle. Because of the tremendous, positive impact Girl Scouting has on girls’ lives, Michelle plans to continue her involvement for many more years to come. Michelle and her husband, Keith, have two sons and two daughters and live in Rancho Peñasquitos. She works as the Business Manager of two churches and acts as consultant to several others within the Diocese of San Diego. In her spare time, she enjoys hanging out with family and friends, eating good food and just relaxing.
Perette Godwin
Passionate about volunteerism and giving back to the community, Perette is co-leader of her daughter’s Girl Scout troop and volunteers with council and the Clairemont Service Unit. She also served on the board for the San Diego Unified Council of PTAs, the SDSU Alumni Engagement Board, and other nonprofits. She is a highly skilled communications professional with more than 20 years of experience in public relations, social media, and marketing. She spent years helping clients navigate the challenges of live television and print interviews, and working in front of the camera, herself, as an award-winning anchor and reporter. She has also worked for several San Diego nonprofits in development and fundraising. Currently she works as a supervising public information officer for the City of San Diego. Perette was honored with the 2016 SDSU Ambassador Legacy of Leadership Award and the 2014 Alumni Diversity Award.
Ashley Hilliard
Ashley is currently a freshman at Heritage Christian School. She has been participating in Girl Scouts for just over ten years, starting when she was a Daisy in kindergarten. In her time as a Girl Scout she has completed both her Bronze and Silver Awards and is soon going to start planning her Gold Award. She has been a Day Camp Aide (DCA) and a Counselor-In-Training (CIT) at Girl Scout camp. She has also been a teacher’s aide at her musical theater program in Eastlake and last year served as secretary for her Filipino cultural program. She is so grateful to have yet another wonderful opportunity to learn leadership skills through Girl Scouts and is honored to be a National Council Delegate for San Diego.
Jerrica Owen
Jerrica has been involved in Girl Scouting through San Diego Council since starting out as a Daisy many years ago, earning her Silver Award in high school, and is now leading a troop of her own. She has the privilege of being a second-generation troop leader and service unit manager, currently leading a large multi-level troop in Imperial Beach. Jerrica is committed to expanding the impact, and inclusive engagement, and is honored to do her part to deliver on the mission of Girl Scouts throughout the community. Jerrica strives to ensure all girls have a place through scouting and is dedicated to growing girls of confidence and leadership. Jerrica holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Chico State University in Public Health Administration and works full-time as the Executive Director for a national animal welfare nonprofit organization. She currently lives in imperial beach with her husband, 4th grade daughter, dog, and desert tortoise.
Eugenia Flores Wyatt
Eugenia is the Imperial Valley Service Unit manager and a parent/co-leader to a Senior Girl Scout. Her favorite Girl Scout activity is camping with Troop 7011, which they do quite often. She is an active member in her community who volunteers her time with several non-profit organizations. Among her many tasks, she most enjoys organizing and hosting FUNdraising events, virtual badge workshops and Service Unit Encampments. Eugenia is a law enforcement wife, mother of two and veteran of the United States Air Force.
Angela Zenteno
Angela is currently a sophomore attending Guajome Park Academy Charter. She started her Girl Scout journey in the 2nd grade when she lived in Las Vegas, NV and continued when she moved to California. She and her troop are very active in their community, planning events for younger girls, volunteering for service unit events, and constantly working on projects for communities around them. Outside of Girl Scouts, Angela is very active in her schools ASB as acting School Climate Chair. She runs and is a part of multiple clubs including The Guajome Art Club and The Student Advocacy Union. She plays basketball and softball and is trying to bring cheer to her school as well. She’s excited for her new adventure as a National Delegate!
Shannon Deverell—Alternate
Shannon is currently a junior at Westview High School and has been in Girl Scouts for 12 years, starting as a Daisy in Kindergarten. She has completed her Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards. Shannon is the author of a book called Plugging Into Nature which encourages girls to get outdoors. She also has an ongoing blog and website teaching and encouraging girls to get outdoors and discover their own passions. She has volunteered hundreds of hours and had a leading role in numerous camps and girl-led experiences such as day camps and camporees. During her years in Girl Scouts, she has learned to become a leader and has had the opportunity to become immersed in the outdoor community within Girl Scouts. Shannon is currently in the NJROTC program and earned Honor Cadet at Leadership Academy. She is part of the Pawsitive helpers club, making and donating toys, money, and resources to animal shelters in need. Shannon partakes in the Philosophy, Speech, and Debate Club and is the captain of the varsity marksmanship team and on the varsity tennis team.
Kathy Ling—Alternate
Kathy is a proud lifetime member of Girl Scouts. She began her Girl Scout experience as a Junior in the Los Angeles Council; her Mom was her troop leader. Years later, Kathy has led her own daughter’s troop from Kindergarten Daisies through 11th grade Ambassadors. What started as a means for her daughter to make new friends and build character has helped Kathy to develop a deeper understanding of and passion for Girl Scouts. In the Encinitas Service Unit, she has served as Membership Recruiter, Recognitions Chair, Activity Consultant, and most recently Service Unit Manager. Harnessing the organizational and planning skills from her career as a program manager for technology companies, Kathy has been encampment and event director for many local Girl Scout events, including the virtual Service Unit events during the height of COVID. Kathy has received the Award of Distinction and the Volunteer of Excellence recognitions for her leadership in her Service Unit. She is now thrilled to continue her Girl Scout journey by becoming a trainer and National Council Delegate representing GSSD. Kathy spends her free time with her husband and daughter, enjoying Broadway shows, k-dramas, crafting, and traveling for leisure and to visit extended family.
Michelle Matter—Alternate
As a lifelong Girl Scout, Michelle has been active with Troop 94 since her grandmother was her Brownie leader. She has served in a variety of roles including assistant leader, troop treasurer, and troop cookie manager. Both of her daughters were in Girl Scouts, and one is a Gold Award recipient. Professionally, Michelle has more than 20 years of experience in state government, higher education, and the nonprofit sector. Michelle completed her Doctor of Education in Organizational Change and Leadership from the University of Southern California and currently serves as Senior Policy Analyst for The SCAN Foundation.
Syra Walia—Alternate
Syra is currently a sophomore at Scripps Ranch High School and has been a Girl Scout since kindergarten. She has completed both her Bronze and Silver Awards, and she is currently working towards her Gold Award. As an animal lover, some of her favorite hobbies include volunteering at the Frosted Faces Foundation and pet sitting for her 10+ clients. In her free time, Syra enjoys baking, attending BeWise workshops and preforming a traditional North Indian dance called Bhangra. Syra has the lifetime achievement award for cookie program participation and her goal for this year is to make it to the next level of 2,500 total boxes. She was an attendee to the Empowering Me Older Girl Conference and can’t wait to start her journey as a National Delegate alternate.
2020 National Council Session Voting Results
