Transcript Preparing for the Membership Vote

Targeting the Faith Community
Presenter: Mark Hazlewood, P.R.A.Y. CEO
“Programs of Religious Activities with Youth”
 Mission Statement:
To foster the Christian growth of children,
youth, and families through churches and
youth serving agencies.

Children, Youth, and
Families are Brought
to Christ
Churches and Youth
Agencies Collaborate
Together
The P.R.A.Y.
Award
FBI
Membership
Plans
Adult
Recognitions
Religious
Emblems
Promotion
P.R.A.Y.
Denominations
Youth Agencies
Board of Directors
Elected by Membership at Annual Meeting
P.R.A.Y. Office
The P.R.A.Y. Award
Other Programs

Youth
Agencies
Children
Youth
Families
Churches
P.R.A.Y.
We recognize that
each organization
works
independently to
impact children,
youth, and families

Churches
Children
Youth

Families
Youth
Agencies
P.R.A.Y.
Our goal is to
intentionally work
together to impact
children, youth, and
families
The result is our
Faith Based
Initiative (FBI)
Membership Plans

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The Faith Based Initiative is a comprehensive plan to
BUILD AND STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIPS between Girl
Scout Councils and the faith community
It’s all about WHY councils should work with the faith
community and HOW to approach them
The goal of the FBI is increased membership
1. Why Collaborate?
2. Faith-Based Awards – what they are, how to use them as
membership tools
3. Cultivating the mindset for approaching the faith
community
4. Selecting the faith groups
5. Preparing for the call

Today’s webinar “It Takes a Council” will very narrowly
focus on only one step of the FBI.
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Collaborations will benefit the girl, the congregation,
and the GS Council
Religious Recognitions can be used not just for spiritual
growth, but as a tool for membership growth.
New Recruiting model:
◦ First recruit the congregation (i.e. place to meet, adult
leaders)
◦ Then recruit the girls
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Understand how Girl Scouting emphasizes spiritual
growth and know the benefits to working with the
religious community
Provide support for the FBI
Serve as “cultural informants” – be the door opener to
their own faith communities

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Understand how Girl Scouting emphasizes spiritual
growth and know the benefits to working with the
religious community
Incorporate building relationships with the religious
community into Plan of Work
Review the Council Corporate Plan

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Identify which goals in the strategic plan are most
appropriate to develop objectives dealing with
religious relationships
Assign responsibilities for these objectives to the
appropriate groups

Relegating religious awards to “Program”
Don’t make the mistake of:

Assigning just one person to work with the faith
community

Know the difference between My Promise, My Faith
and the Religious Recognitions created by the specific
faith groups

Distribute “To Serve God” brochure to troop leaders

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Recruit volunteers to make presentations on religious
awards
Promote religious awards programs to faith community
Identify resources in the faith community to conduct
religious award classes
Encourage faith community to recognize adult Girl
Scout leaders for their joint service to Girl Scouting and
the religious institution
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Promote interfaith events to recruit and retain girls (Girl
Scout Sunday/Sabbath, 10 commandment hike, weekend
retreats)
Submit articles in newsletter listing recipients’ names
Sponsor council-wide recognition ceremony for religious
award recipients
Provide letters or certificates congratulating religious award
recipients
Include information on religious awards in leaders program
handbook
Outdoor program: religious retreats at camp
Older Girl Program: religious awards promotions/workshop
as gold award projects
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Include faith-based programs in trainings
Include workshop on religious awards programs in
council-wide adult training event
Include information on adult recognitions
Display the “To Serve God” poster
Make the “To Serve God” brochure available to
volunteers
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Provide training to store employees on faith based
awards (MPMF and Religious Recognitions)
Stock religious booklets
Hang the “To Serve God” poster in store
Make “To Serve God” brochures available
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Promote Girl Scouting and the religious community
(how Girl Scouting values spiritual growth)
Include articles on religious award recipients in news
media
List religious award recipients in newsletter
Publicize Interfaith events (10 commandment hikes,
interfaith tours, Girl Scout Sunday Celebrations)
Establish links to P.R.A.Y. web page
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Make presentations about the faith based programs at
neighborhood or service unit meetings
Set up displays at council workshops, training events,
etc.
Coordinate interfaith events
Be the cultural informants or door openers to different
faith communities
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Display the “To Serve God” poster
Make the “To Serve God” brochure available upon
request
Display sample booklets
Post the P.R.A.Y. web site for information on religious
awards
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Be able to articulate how Girl Scouting can benefit the
faith community and help grow their membership
Select religious institutions with which to work
Do your homework
Include religious awards programs in the presentation
to the religious institution
Approach ministerial alliances, ecumenical groups,
denominational clergy associations - utilize peer to
peer recruitment

Top to bottom: everybody has a role
1. Why Collaborate?
2. Cultivating the mindset for approaching the faith community
3. Faith-Based Awards – what they are, how to use them as
membership tools
4. Selecting the faith groups
5. Preparing for the call




The Faith Based Initiative is a comprehensive plan to
BUILD AND STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIPS between Girl
Scout Councils and the faith community
It’s all about WHY councils should work with the faith
community and HOW to approach them
The goal of the FBI is increased membership
The F.B.I. takes the My Promise, My Faith pin and the
Religious Recognitions out of programming and
leverages them as MEMBERSHIP tools

[email protected]

Learning Center: http://www.praypub.org/LearningCenter/webinars.htm

Resources:
www.praypub.org/partner_gsusa.htm

Sign up to receive P.R.A.Y. Newsletter Updates:
http://www.praypub.org/pubs_main.htm


Thank you for your interest in partnering
with the faith community.
www.praypub.org