Girl Scouts of Rhode Island, Inc. is now officially named Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England (GSSNE).

The new name was overwhelmingly chosen by delegates at the organization’s annual meeting on May 1, and went into effect on June 21.

Prior to 2006, the council’s jurisdiction included all of Rhode Island; Bellingham, Blackstone, Millville, Rehoboth and Seekonk, Mass.; and Pawcatuck, Conn. In 2006, Girl Scouts of the USA embarked on an effort to realign and consolidate councils nationwide – moving from 312 councils to 109 councils. The new structure was meant to make the most effective use of resources to better serve local communities.

In 2008, when that process was complete, Girl Scouts of Rhode Island, Inc. gained these eight additional communities from Massachusetts: Attleboro, Fall River, North Attleborough, Plainville, Somerset, Swansea, Westport and Wrentham.

The council’s delegates had considered and rejected another name – Girl Scouts of Greater Rhode Island, Inc. – at the annual meeting in 2011, saying the name didn’t go far enough to make the Massachusetts communities feel included.

Girl Scouts is the world’s preeminent girl leadership organization where, in an accepting and nurturing environment, girls build character and skills for success in the real world. Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England, in partnership with 2,600 adult volunteers, serves 8,700 girls. For additional information, visit www.gssne.

org, follow @GirlScoutsofSNE on Twitter, and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GSSNE.