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It Takes a Council to Increase Membership

It Takes a Council to Increase Membership. Targeting the Faith Community Presenter: Mark Hazlewood, P.R.A.Y. CEO . Background on P.R.A.Y . . “Programs of Religious Activities with Youth” Mission Statement:

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It Takes a Council to Increase Membership

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  1. It Takes a Council toIncrease Membership Targeting the Faith Community Presenter: Mark Hazlewood, P.R.A.Y. CEO

  2. Background on P.R.A.Y. • “Programs of Religious Activities with Youth” • Mission Statement: To foster the Christian growth of children, youth, and families through churches and youth serving agencies.

  3. P.R.A.Y. Mission Statement

  4. Association of Organizations

  5. Denomination Agency conference • We recognize that each organization works independently to impact children, youth, and families

  6. Denomination Agency conference • Our goal is to intentionally work together to impact children, youth, and families • The result is our Faith Based Initiative (FBI) Membership Plans

  7. Faith-Based Initiative • 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

  8. FBI Outline • Why Collaborate? • Faith-Based Awards – what they are, how to use them as membership tools • Cultivating the mindset for approaching the faith community • Selecting the faith groups • Preparing for the call • Today’s webinar “It Takes a Council” will very narrowly focus on only one step of the FBI.

  9. Goal: Understand how all parts of the council have a role in growing membership through the FBI.

  10. FBI Background • 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

  11. Board of Directors • 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

  12. CEO/COO • 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

  13. CEO/COO • 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

  14. Don’t make the mistake of: • Relegating religious awards to “Program” Don’t make the mistake of: • Assigning just one person to work with the faith community

  15. Program Department • Know the difference between My Promise, My Faith and the Religious Recognitions created by the specific faith groups

  16. Program Department • Distribute “To Serve God” brochure to troop leaders

  17. Program Department • 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

  18. Program Department • 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

  19. Adult Training • 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

  20. Council Store • 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

  21. Public Relations • 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

  22. Volunteers • 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

  23. Resource Center • 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

  24. Membership / Marketing • 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

  25. It Takes a Council to Grow Membership • Top to bottom: everybody has a role

  26. FBI Outline • Why Collaborate? • Cultivating the mindset for approaching the faith community • Faith-Based Awards – what they are, how to use them as membership tools • Selecting the faith groups • Preparing for the call

  27. Summary • 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

  28. Questions? • markp@praypub.org • 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

  29. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION! • Thank you for your interest in partnering with the faith community. • www.praypub.org

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