Programs of Religious Activities with Youth
P.R.A.Y. Girl Scout News Bulletin
Third Quarter 2008

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.

P.R.A.Y. WILL ATTEND NATIONAL CONVENTION
P.R.A.Y. will have an exhibit at the National Convention in Indianapolis, IN October 30 – November 2, 2008. Please take the time to visit us in the Exhibit Hall. Council professionals can enter a drawing to win a display set of P.R.A.Y. medals (i.e. God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, and God and Life). The medal display can be a key resource in approaching Protestant congregations about collaborating with Girl Scouts. There will be a second drawing for volunteers and girls to win a framed set (all four segments) of the To Serve God Puzzle Patch. The puzzle patch is a program for girls and adults of all faiths. All are welcome to enter the drawing.

THE EAGLE IS HERE
The EAGLE segment of the To Serve God Promotion Patch is now the current segment available in the puzzle patch rotation. Girls who learn about the religious awards and make a commitment may wear the puzzle patch on the back of their vest or sash. The ultimate goal of this patch program is to encourage girls to earn their appropriate religious award (which is worn on the front of the uniform underneath the membership stars).

The puzzle patch is on a four-year rotation to ensure that leaders are making presentations on religious awards every year. Click here for presentation resources.

NEW GIRL SCOUT LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
Girl Scouting is putting new emphasis on leadership development. The new Journey Awards are built on the leadership keys of Discover, Connect, and Take Action, and they ultimately help girls reach “a deeper understanding of what it means to be a leader who makes a difference in the world.” We would propose that the religious awards be an integral part of this new leadership experience. What better way to help a girl Discover her values, Connect with others locally and globally, and Take Action to make the world a better place than her own religious growth series.

According to a study released by the Girl Scout Research Institute in March 2008, girls today want to embrace a leadership style that focuses on “ethics, personal principles, and social change values,” and that they want to be a leader who “stands up for their beliefs and values” and “who tries to change the world for the better.” The religious recognitions programs do just that: the curriculum is created to help girls articulate their values and to encourage them to put their faith into action. Sounds like a perfect fit. Perhaps it’s time to view the religious awards not as optional activities, but as key resources in developing leadership potential.

The study Change It Up! What Girls Say About Redefining Leadership went on to describe the spectrum of leadership aspirations, and it identified five different categories. “Leadership vanguard” was at the high end and it included youth with the highest self-confidence who think of themselves as leaders. “Rejecters” was at the low end with the youth who had the lowest self-confidence, did not think of themselves as leaders, and had no desire to be leaders. It is interesting to note that the demographics for both of these categories include a reference to parental religious involvement: the Leadership Vanguard reports “higher parental religious involvement” and the Rejecters report “lowest parental religious involvement.”

Perhaps the key is parental involvement itself. Within the study, the participants cited mothers as the number one person who influenced them to be a leader. “Although many mothers do not necessarily want their daughters to hold traditional positions of leadership, they do want them to develop and use leadership skills and qualities for their self-empowerment and for the sake of the greater good. Mothers want their daughters to have a positive impact on their spheres of influence.”

What about the 15 outcomes of the new Girl Scout leadership experience? Can the religious awards program help develop these outcomes? Click here for the list.   You can see for yourself.

Girl Scouting and religious awards have been around for a long time. Perhaps it’s time to view them in a new light.

 
UPDATES FROM P.R.A.Y.
  • Four-Star Pin – The Four-Star recognition was implemented by P.R.A.Y. in 2005 to recognize God and Country recipients who have earned all four levels of the series. The recognition is a pin, which can be worn on its own, but the original intent was for the pin to be worn on the ribbon of the God and Life medal. See photo.

     
  • PRICE INCREASE– A new price increase for God and Country recognitions went into effect July 15, 2008. Although P.R.A.Y. has reprinted the books with these new prices, there are many old books still out there. Please refer to the website for current price information . The new downloadable program for electronic registration is the best way to ensure the most up-to-date ordering information. It’s also the fastest: electronic orders submitted by noon CST are processed and shipped the same business day.

     
  • Discover credit card – P.R.A.Y. has recently expanded its credit card service to accept Discover.

     
  • For an easy glimpse of the collaborative resources from P.R.A.Y., click here: http://www.praypub.org/partner_gsusa.htm
     

FOUR-STAR RECIPIENTS
The following individuals were recognized in the second quarter of 2008 for completing all four levels of the God and Country series. Four-Star recipients receive a certificate and letter from P.R.A.Y. CEO Mark Hazlewood congratulating them on their accomplishments.

Second Quarter 2008:

 

  • Central Texas – Sara Beth Purdy (United Methodist)
  • Eastern Missouri – Chelsey Roberts (Lutheran)
  • Hornets Nest – Mackenzie Dabbs (Lutheran), Taylor Hartsell (Lutheran), Kristina Trexler ( Lutheran)
  • Northeast KS & Northwest MO – Katie Light (United Methodist)
  • Western New York – Janelle Veazey (Protestant)
ADULT AWARD RECIPIENTS
The following leaders received special recognition from their congregations for their service to girls and young women through Girl Scouting.

First Quarter 2008:
  • Eastern Oklahoma – Marsha Howard, Presbyterian Celtic Cross Award
  • Glowing Embers – Michele VanAllen, Presbyterian Celtic Cross Award
  • Heart of the Hudson – Darlene Bartley, Presbyterian God and Service Award
  • Hornets Nest – Julie Love, Presbyterian Celtic Cross Award
  • Maine – Patricia Locke, Methodist God and Service Award
  • Nation’s Capital – Gayle Stabo, Lutheran Servant of Youth Award
  • Northwestern Great Lakes – Joni Shavlik, Methodist God and Service Award
  • Shawnee – Callie Dove, Presbyterian God and Service Award
  • Tarheel Triad – Kathy Osborne, Friends Award
  • West Central Florida – Linda Wooldridge, Protestant God and Service Award
For information on adult religious recognitions, visit the P.R.A.Y. web site: http://www.praypub.org/promotional_adultnomination.htm

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