Programs of Religious Activities with Youth

P.R.A.Y. Girl Scout News Bulletin

Third Quarter 2006

Welcome to the P.R.A.Y. Girl Scout News Bulletin. This Bulletin is how we share information about the religious awards programs and ways to strengthen relationships with the religious community.

PLAN NOW TO EARN THE “TO SERVE GOD” PATCH

All Girl Scouts promise “to serve God.” The new “TO SERVE GOD” patch for Girl Scouts can help you put the focus on serving God as you kick off the new program year.

Leaders, why not make a presentation to your Troops this fall? Both girls and adults can receive this patch. And by making a presentation now, your girls can set a goal of earning their religious award in time for Girl Scout Sunday/Sabbath in March.

The purpose of the To Serve God patch is to learn about and promote the religious awards programs. The puzzle patch does NOT replace the religious awards. The puzzle patch is worn on the back of the vest or sash (like an event or participation patch). It signifies that the girl has learned about religious awards. Then the hard work of earning the religious award begins. The puzzle patch is worn on the back of the uniform, whereas the religious award is pinned on the front of the uniform below the membership stars. Girls and adults of all faiths may earn this patch. Patches may be ordered online at www.praypub.org.

NEW RESOURCES DISTRIBUTED BY P.R.A.Y.

P.R.A.Y. was pleased to be able to offer two new resources to Girl Scout councils this August. Both resources were made available at no charge to Girl Scout councils that were interested in promoting religious awards.

Religious Awards Presentation Kit – This kit contained sample presentations for Service Units/Neighborhoods as well as for council-wide trainings and Troop presentations. It also came with a poster and a complete set of To Serve God puzzle patches. This kit was free of charge but could only be requested by a Membership staff person.

Religious Awards Kit for Girl Scout Stores – This kit was designed for store personnel to help understand the “who what where” of religious awards from the store’s perspective. The complete kit included a PowerPoint presentation, poster, several brochures, and a set of To Serve God puzzle patches. This resource was free of charge but could only be requested by the store manager.

P.R.A.Y. was pleased with the enthusiasm with which councils responded to these resources. Thank you for promoting religious awards to girls and adults in your councils!

UPDATE ON P.R.A.Y. TRAININGS

Girl Scouts - Lone Star Council, Austin TX - Carol Eker, P.R.A.Y. Relationships Director, visited the Lone Star Council in June. She made presentations to about 45 people at a service unit member conference. The presentations focused on religious recognitions and recruiting in the faith community.

COUNCIL STORES THAT STOCK GOD AND COUNTRY BOOKLETS

P.R.A.Y. offers a Trade Discount to Girl Scout Stores that stock the God and Country booklets for resale. Store Managers may request a copy of the Trade Discount by contacting Joan Walker at joanw@praypub.org or 1-800-933-7729. Here are the councils that currently stock the God and Country booklets:

Cannon Valley - Northfield, MN

Catawba Valley – Hickory, NC

Citrus – Orlando, FL

Cumberland Valley – Nashville, TN

Dogwood Trails – Springfield, MO

Gateway – Jacksonville, FL

Golden Plains – Wichita, KS

Goldenrod – Kearney, NE

Great Valley – Allentown, PA

Lone Star – Austin, TX

Magic Empire – Tulsa, OK

Michigan Trails – Grand Rapids, MI

Mount Magazine – Fort Smith, AR

Northern Pine – Duluth, MN

Northwest Georgia – Atlanta, GA

Penn Laurel – York, PA

Penn’s Woods – Wilkes-Barre, PA

Piedmont Area – Spartanburg, SC

Pine to Prairie – Grand Forks, NC

Red Lands – Oklahoma City, OK

San Diego Imperial – San Diego, CA

San Fernando Valley – Chatsworth, CA

San Jacinto – Houston, TX

Scranton Pocono – Scranton, PA

Seal of Ohio – Columbus, OH

St. Croix Valley – St. Paul, MN

Talus Rock – Johnstown, PA

Tejas – Dallas, TX

Ulster County – Kingston, NY

SECOND QUARTER FOUR-STAR RECIPIENTS

The following individuals were recognized in the second quarter of 2006 for completing all four levels of the God and Country series. Four-Star recipients receive a certificate and letter from CEO Mark Hazlewood congratulating them on their accomplishments.

Central Maryland – Elizabeth Williams

Penn Laurel – Holly Patterson

Tarheel Triad – Elizabeth Hunker

Pines of Carolina – Sarah Tueting

Black Hills – Heather DeHaan

Nyoda – Valerie Stroh, Xana Stroh

Heart of Missouri – Elizabeth Kelsey

ADULT AWARD RECIPIENTS

The adult recognitions are given to adults for outstanding service to young people through service to the faith community and Girl Scouts. During the first quarter of 2006, the following Girl Scout Councils recognized adults for their outstanding service:

Appalachian (Johnson City, TN) – Karen Hayes, Methodist God & Service
Connecticut Trails (North Haven, CT) – Carol Johnson, Episcopal St. George
Cross Timbers (Denton, TX) – Laura Roberts, God and Service
Great Valley (Allentown, PA) – Karen Ebelhauser, UCC God & Service
Greater Minneapolis (Minneapolis, MN) – Kerry Meyer, Presbyterian God & Service
Hemlock (Harrisburg, PA) – Sonia Evans, Lutheran Lamb
Hornet’s Nest (Charlotte, NC) – Debbie Martin, Lutheran Service of Youth
Mississippi Valley (Rock Island, IL) – Pamela Stalnaker, Presbyterian God & Service
Monmouth (Farmingdale, NJ)– Margaret Crow, Methodist God & Service; Elizabeth Heidelberg, Methodist God & Service
Ocean County (Toms River, NJ) – Theresa Peterla, Methodist God & Service
Penn Laurel (York, PA) – Melinda Inners, Methodist God & Service
Pisgah (Asheville, NC) – Vi Terrell, Methodist God & Service
Shawnee (Martinsburg, WV) – Joy Stiles, Presbyterian God & Service
Tarheel Triad (Colfax, NC) – Jodi Farmer, God and Service
Trillium (Pittsburgh, PA) – Ellen Morgan, Lutheran Servant of Youth
Westchester-Putnam (Pleasantville, NY) – Irene Germain, Lutheran Lamb

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