The Girl Guides Association of Dominica is gearing up for its 2026 Annual General Meeting, scheduled to take place June 19 at the Goodwill Primary School Auditorium in Roseau, bringing hundreds of stakeholders from across the island together to reflect on 12 months of growth and lay out strategic plans for the coming years.
Billed under the unifying theme “Honoring Our Roots, Proud Past, Progressive Future,” the meeting will kick off at 4:30 PM, with a guest list that includes rank-and-file Guides, unit leaders, long-time volunteers, community supporters, and invited dignitaries. Among the high-profile attendees are Dominica’s President and national Chief Guide Her Excellency Mrs. Sylvanie Burton, and Roseau Mayor Lucy Belle-Matthew, both of whom will take part in the official opening proceedings.
The day’s agenda has been structured to blend ceremonial celebration, organizational accountability, and forward-looking strategic discussion. Attendees will be welcomed with the national anthem and an opening prayer, followed by welcoming remarks from organizational leaders, vibrant cultural performances prepared by local Guide units, the presentation of annual activity and financial reports, and a special awards segment recognizing outstanding contributions to the movement over the past year. Two featured guests, youth development advocate Brendalyn Bazil and Minister for Culture, Youth and Community Development Honourable Gretta Roberts, will also deliver addresses to the assembled gathering.
A centerpiece of the public session will be the release of the annual Chief Commissioner’s Report, presented by sitting Chief Commissioner W. Valencia Webb. The document details a year of significant momentum and expansion for the Guiding movement across Dominica, with the association recording steady membership growth as more girls and young women from communities across the island sign up to join local units.
Over the past year, members have participated in a diverse slate of programming designed to build critical life skills, ranging from intensive leadership training camps and large-scale environmental conservation projects to community service outreach, educational skill-building workshops, and traditional Guiding outdoor adventures. All activities are centered on the core goals of nurturing self-confidence, collaborative teamwork, and personal resilience among young participants. The report also highlights the expansion of several local Guide units and ongoing organizational investments in leadership development to strengthen the volunteer base that powers the movement.
In prepared comments, Chief Commissioner Webb emphasized that the past year’s progress would not have been possible without the sustained commitment of unit leaders, volunteers, participating parents, and local community partners, all of whom work together to deliver transformative, positive experiences for girls and young women across Dominica.
After the conclusion of the public ceremonial session, voting delegates will move into a closed business session to handle core organizational governance matters. The key order of business during this segment will be the election of new leaders for multiple executive board positions, including Chief Commissioner, Assistant Chief Commissioner, International Commissioner, Treasurer, and Assistant Secretary/Treasurer. Delegates will also approve the meeting agenda, confirm official minutes from the previous AGM, and debate proposed changes to the association’s strategic direction that will guide its continued growth in the coming years.
Organizational leaders note that the association remains laser-focused on expanding its reach across the island, enhancing the quality of its programming, and opening new opportunities for girls in every community. Ahead of the meeting, planning committee members expressed expectation that the 2026 AGM will reaffirm the organization’s longstanding mission to nurture confident, responsible, and civically engaged young women, while upholding the core values of the global Guiding movement and pursuing new opportunities for growth and impact.