Religious Awards: What Girl Scout Stores Need to Know

1. Religious Awards:What Girl Scout Stores Need to Know

2. Rationale: • The Girl Scout Store is more than a store: it delivers program and support to adult leaders. • Religious awards are more than awards: they are tools for membership growth and program enhancement. • Therefore, council stores that receive training on religious awards are able to impact membership growth and program (besides increasing sales).

3. What do Girl Scout Stores Need to Know about Religious Awards? • What religious awards are • What to tell customers on how to get started on these programs • Promotions that may impact the store • What resources to make available in the store

4. What are Religious Awards? • Religious awards are created by National Religious Organizations for their youth • Each religion creates its own program, designs its emblem, and establishes its own guidelines. • Continued

5. What are Religious Awards?(continued) • Awards are reviewed by GSUSA • Awards recognized by GSUSA may be worn on the official uniform • Continued

6. What are Religious Awards?(continued) • Adult recognitions are by nomination only. • Adult awards usually require a minimum number of years of service. • Most nomination forms are available online. Visit www.praypub.org.

7. Religious Awards as a Program Piece • Religious awards help Girl Scouts fulfill their promise “to Serve God” • Programs share many of the integral values of Girl Scouts • Programs provide opportunities for Girl Scouts to reinforce and internalize the values learned in Girl Scouting and relate them to their faith

8. Religious Emblems as a Membership Piece • Religious awards can be the “foot in the door” to many congregations and provide first exposure to GSUSA • Awards can target diverse communities • Awards can increase adult tenure • Awards can be used as outreach to the community

9. What to tell Customers? • How to get started on the religious awards programs • Where the insignia is worn on the uniform • How to promote religious awards to their Troops

10. What to tell Customers:How to Get Started • Step 1: Girl Scouts must get the specific booklet for their religion • The To Serve God chart shows the contact information for all religions • Our store stocks some booklets • Each Girl Scout must have their own booklet to document progress

11. What to tell Customers:How to Get Started • Step 2: Parents must review the program guidelines • Age/grade requirements differ from program to program • Each program sets its own guidelines as to who may serve as counselor.

12. What to tell Customers:How to Get Started • Step 3: Meet with your clergy and show them the booklet before beginning any program • Most programs require the signature of the local religious leader.

13. What to tell Customers:How to Get Started • Step 4: Complete the requirements, obtain the proper signatures, and order the award • Awards are NOT available in council Girl Scout stores: Follow the instructions in your booklet

14. What to tell Customers:Where the Award is Worn • The award is centered below the membership stars on the right side of the vest or sash, or worn on the right side of the blouse level with the Girl Scout membership pin.

15. What to tell Customers:How to Promote Religious Awards • Make a presentation to your Troop • Sample scripts are available at www.praypub.org • Earn the To Serve God Promotion Patch by making a presentation

16. Promotions that may impact the store: P.R.A.Y.’s To Serve God Puzzle Patch

17. Promotions that may impact the store: P.R.A.Y.’s To Serve God Puzzle Patch • Four-segment puzzle patch recognizes adults and girls who promote religious awards • Rationale: Provide incentive for adult leaders to promote religious awards. • This is a participation patch only! The goal is for the Girl Scout to earn the religious award of their own faith.

18. Promotions that may impact the store: P.R.A.Y.’s To Serve God Puzzle Patch • The puzzle patch is worn on the back of the vest or sash. • Only one segment is available in any given year. • Both girls and adults are eligible. • Participants must attend or coordinate a presentation about religious awards and make a commitment To Serve God to earn this patch.

19. Promotions that may impact the store: P.R.A.Y.’s To Serve God Puzzle Patch • Stores should: • Be prepared to answer questions about the To Serve God Puzzle Patch • Expect more inquiries into the religious awards programs • Direct leaders to resources that can help them promote religious awards

20. Resources to Make Available in the Girl Scout Store • Religious Awards Booklets • The God and Country Protestant booklets are available from P.R.A.Y. at a special discount for re-sale in your store • Other national religious organizations may allow Girl Scout stores to stock their booklets • Puzzle Patch • The To Serve God Puzzle Patch is available from P.R.A.Y. for re-sale in your store

21. Resources to Make Available in the Girl Scout Store • To Serve God Quick Reference Chart - use this as your key resource: laminate one and keep a supply on hand • Poster - Hang the poster on a wall

22. Resources to Make Available in the Girl Scout Store • To Serve God Puzzle Patch Brochure

23. Resources to Make Available in the Girl Scout Store • Contact information for P.R.A.Y. • 1-800-933-7729 • www.praypub.org • P.R.A.Y. is a resource on religious awards and how to promote them

24. Thank you! • To Serve God is at the heart of the Girl Scout movement. Thank you for promoting it! • Want to test your knowledge of religious awards? Continue to the next slide!

25. Question 1:True or False? • Customers may find religious awards booklets and medals in the Girl Scout Store. • False. Stores may stock the booklets, but not the medals. The awards come from the national religious committees, not the Girl Scout store.

26. Question 2:True or False? • Religious awards booklets are in the Girl Scout store because they are programs created by GSUSA. • False. Religious awards programs are created by the national religious organizations, not by GSUSA. They’re in the Girl Scout store because GSUSA has approved of them.

27. Question 3:True or False? • Adult religious recognitions are not work/study programs like the youth awards. • True. The youth awards can be “earned” whereas the adult religious recognitions are by nomination only.

28. Question 4:True or False? • A Girl Scout can earn more than one religious award. • True. Girl Scouts are encouraged to earn all levels of their religious awards program.

29. Question 5:True or False? • The To Serve God Promotion Patch is an interfaith patch. • True. The To Serve God Promotion Patch is for all faiths.

30. Question 6:True or False? • The To Serve God Promotion Patch can only be earned by adults who make presentations on the religious awards. • False. Youth members may also earn this patch by learning about religious awards and making a commitment.

31. Question 7: • What are the 4 steps to participating in a religious award program? • 1-Get the appropriate book for your faith. 2-Review the guidelines. 3-Meet with your clergy. 4-Complete the requirements, obtain signatures, and order the award.

32. Question 8: • Where is the award worn on the uniform? • Below the membership stars

33. Question 9: • How do you earn the To Serve God promotion patch? • Learn about religious awards and make a commitment To Serve God.

34. Question 10: • What are some of the resources that are available for leaders who want to make presentations on the religious awards programs? • Sample scripts, handouts, charts and other resources are available at www.praypub.org.

35. Question 11: • Who can you call if you have questions on religious awards? • P.R.A.Y. @ 1-800-933-7729