P.R.A.Y. Girl Scout News Bulletin1st Quarter 2005
Test your knowledge on religious awards!Click here to take a quiz on the religious awards programs. Find out how much you know (or don’t know!) about religious awards.
Target UpdateCarol Eker, Relationships Director for P.R.A.Y., has been making follow-up calls to those Target Councils that have participated in P.R.A.Y. trainings. The following is some of her feedback from these councils.
Girl Scouts - Wilderness Road, (Lexington ,KY) reports that the council has developed a faith community database, purchased 4 display cases for recognitions, developed a handbook for parents that includes religious recognition information, developed a brochure to use with faith communities and information on religious recognitions has been included on the council website.
Girl Scouts of the San Antonio Area, (San Antonio, TX) reports that trainings have been held for membership and program staff within the council, information on religious recognitions has been added to the leaders council handbook, a religious recognition display has been set up in the resource center, an Interfaith Committee has been established and letters have been sent to churches and temples offering free bulletin inserts printed especially for the San Antonio council.
Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital, (Washington, D.C.) has made a number of religious recognition program books of all faiths available to girls and adults at no cost to help them get started. The council’s plans of support of religious recognitions were announced in the Capital NOTES newsletter, an Interfaith Committee has been formed to take action, “All In Good Faith” books have been purchased and display medals have been purchased to aid in the task of carrying out their faith based initiatives.
Girl Scouts of Western Massachusetts, (Leeds, MA) reports that they are “on the move”. They have presented the religious recognitions programs at ministerial meetings and the council has written their faith based initiative plan of work into the council’s plan of work for 2005.
Girl Scout Council of Northwest Georgia, (Atlanta, GA) reports that interest in earning religious recognitions is up. They are building a database of faith communities and contacts and publishing news and names of recipients in the council newsletter.
Girl Scouts Mile Hi Council, (Denver, CO) reports that their plan is going well. There has been an increase in the number of religious recognition program books sold and also an increase in the number of girls earning their recognition. A United Methodist church in a low-income area was targeted and a new troop has been since been established. The church pays for the girl’s uniforms and supplies. They have also targeted an Islamic congregation where the girls are now working on their religious recognitions. Their faith based initiative plan for promotion and relationship building has been built in to the council Plan of Work.
Web Sites Catholic books are available online from the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry. Click here to visit the online store: http://store.nfcym.org/store/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=GSF
The National Jewish Girl Scout Committee provides a ten-year calendar of Jewish Holidays and Festivals. http://www.njgsc.org/Jewish-Calendar-2004-2013.pdf
P.R.A.Y. Announces New Recognition for FOUR STAR Recipients P.R.A.Y. has announced a new recognition for candidates who have earned all four levels of the God and Country Protestant program. These four-star recipients are eligible to receive a certificate and letter of congratulations. A special pin is available at additional cost. Click here if you want to include a news release in your council newsletter.
Revised God and Life Curriculum Now Available from P.R.A.Y. God and Life (for high school students) has been revised and is now available from P.R.A.Y. This is the fourth and final program to be revised in the God and Country Protestant series. Click here for a sample news release for this announcement. The new books are not compatible with the old (i.e., you cannot use an old Counselor Manual with the new Student Workbook). All local council stores were notified of the changes and P.R.A.Y. has offered to swap their old books for new. Click here for more information on the new God and Life program. http://www.praypub.org/god_country/life/god_life1.htm
Display AwardsOne of the easiest ways to promote the religious recognitions is to simply display the awards. The awards may be displayed in a prominent area at the council office or store, or displayed at special council-wide events. P.R.A.Y. makes the religious awards available at a special discounted rate for Girl Scout Councils. Please contact joanw@praypub.org to request a Display Medal Order Form. Adult Award Recipients – third quarter of 2004 The adult recognitions are given to adults for outstanding service to young people through service to the faith community and Girl Scouts. We would like to congratulate the following outstanding adults who received recognition for their service in July, August, and September 2004:
Girl Scout Sunday/Sabbath is the perfect time to recognize your adult leaders who have been active in both Girl Scouting and a religious community. Fax in your nomination to 314-638-7250 while there is still time. Click here for adult award applications.
2004 God and Country Usage ReportsSee how your council is doing. Compare your usage (of the P.R.A.Y. programs) to other councils. We have updated the report with the year-end figures for 2004. Click here to see the God & Country YTD usage report for your council.
P.R.A.Y. would like to give special recognition to the following “Top 10” councils for the year.
P.R.A.Y. would also like to recognize those councils that had at least 50 religious award recipients and experienced more than a 50% growth since 2003. Congratulations!
Note: The fourth quarter recipient reports (for October, November, and December) were sent the first part of January. Please notify Joan Walker at joanw@praypub.org if you are missing this report or need to update your contact information. P.R.A.Y. Training scheduleScheduled trainings: Girl Scouts of Concharty Council - Columbus, GA – January 2005 - Staff & Volunteer Training Girl Scouts-Sooner Council - January 2005 - Follow-up
to Statewide training
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