Programs of Religious Activities with Youth

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

Fourth 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.

P.R.A.Y. RESOURCES WELL RECEIVED BY COUNCILS

P.R.A.Y.’s new Religious Awards Presentation Kit has been well received by Girl Scout Councils. The kit contained sample presentations for Service Units/Neighborhoods as well as for council-wide trainings and Troop presentations. It included a poster and a complete set of To Serve God puzzle patches. Here’s what some councils are doing with these kits:

· Central Maryland (Baltimore, MD) – “We have packaged the troop presentation program and made it available in our volunteer resource center. We have made up 100 kits and will have 15 fliers with each kit. (then 500 extra as needed) The kits are only available by request, but we have a very active membership. We are advertising the new availability in our Monthly Volunteer Management.” Sherry Dowdell, Program Specialist

· Piedmont Area (Spartanburg, SC) – Lee Ann Maley, Volunteer Development/Communications Manager, had this to say about the Religious Awards Presentation Kit:

I can't believe how GOOD you guys are! The kit arrived on Friday, just in time for our Leader Kickoff on Saturday! Thank you SO much! Of the approximately 130 volunteers in attendance, we had about 30 attend the religious awards presentation. It was amazing to me to see how many leaders were actually interested in setting up programs for their troops or even for all youth in their churches. I hope their interest will actually translate into active programs. We will keep you updated! Thanks again so much for getting the kit to us. I'm sure many of Saturday's trainees will be using it for service unit and troop presentations!

· Mile Hi (Denver, CO) – Alice Nofziger, Program Executive, reports that she will be sharing the Religious Awards Presentation Kit with their staff. “Thank you for sending the presentation folder. It is so well done and I am excited to share it with our staff.”

· Michigan Capital (Holt, MI) – “The P.R.A.Y. kit was absolutely fabulous. I appreciate all the work you have saved me. I most appreciate getting everything on CD so I can just have copies made and send it out to my trainers. I also want to look at expanding this to our ministerial society. Since everything is canned you have saved me so much work that I can focus more on expanding the program than trying to get the info out. Thank you very much for all your hard work!” Retta Parsons

· Cumberland Valley (Nashville, TN) – Roz Thompson, Faith Partnership Manager, reports that, “Our training staff has gotten involved and we want to Train our Council Trainers. We want to do a “Train the Council Trainers” in January to promote the awards as a summer time activity when troops are at their quietest or on summer vacation. We think summer is a perfect time for parent, child and the church to focus on the religious awards. I would love to get a much larger number of girls on the recipient report this time next year.”

COUNCIL STORES FIND GOD & COUNTRY BOOKLETS IN HIGH DEMAND

· Lone Star (Austin TX) - Store manager Pam Hollingsworth stocked the God and Country booklets for the first time in August and cannot believe how fast they’re flying out the door. “I’m amazed at the demand for these books.” Pam called again in September to restock her inventory. Lone Star was one of the councils selected by P.R.A.Y. to participate in the Faith Based Initiative training last Spring. Participating councils were encouraged to stock booklets as one way to promote awareness of religious awards. According to Pam, this is definitely true: “We have had more questions on religious awards. In fact, we’re stocking the new To Serve God patches because of their interest in these programs.”

· St Croix Valley (St. Paul, MN) – The Girl Scout Store reports that their council has an active interfaith committee. Their volunteers are going out and promoting the awards. The new To Serve God Promotion patch has been drawing a lot of interest. The store is stocking the God and Country booklets for the first time because of this new demand.

· The following Girl Scout stores have recently stocked the God and Country booklets:

Arizona Cactus-Pine (Phoenix, AZ)

Colonial Coast (Chesapeake, VA)

Mid-Continent (Kansas City, MO)

Rio-Grande (El Paso, TX)

River Bluffs (Glen Carbon, IL)

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.

Council Stores Stock New To Serve God Puzzle Patch

The new To Serve God puzzle patch encourages Girl Scouts to focus on their promise “To Serve God.” The following stores are stocking this patch as a service to their members and to promote the religious awards programs.

Arizona Cactus-Pine (Phoenix, AZ)

Lone Star (Austin, TX)

Northwest Georgia (Atlanta, GA)

Old Ninety Six (Mauldin, SC)

Tribal Trails (Logansport, IN)

San Antonio Area (San Antonio, TX)

Former Girl Scout CEO elected to P.R.A.Y. board

The Rev. Dr. Natalie Alford was elected to the P.R.A.Y. National Board of Directors at the P.R.A.Y. Annual Meeting held September 2006. Natalie Alford currently serves as the Senior Pastor-Teacher of Trinity African Methodist Episcopal Church in Middletown, DE. But in October 1999 she was selected as CEO for the Girl Scouts of Genesee Valley, Inc. in West Henrietta, NY. Under her leadership, the Council served five diverse, historic and vibrant counties in upstate New York: Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Orleans and Wyoming counties. She was instrumental in creating non-traditional Girl Scout collaboration with existing community-based organizations and promoted Girl Scouting opportunities cross culturally for “Every Girl, Everywhere.”

Reverend Dr. Natalie P. Alford is committed to a social and liberation ministry. She is known as a motivational speaker-preacher, researcher, and pastor-teacher. She currently serves on several boards, delivers lectures, sermons and facilitates workshops across the United States.

CEO Mark Hazlewood is pleased to welcome Dr. Alford to P.R.A.Y. “The strength of our organization has always been in our Board of Directors and in individuals whose commitment and dedication are critical to our ministry. Natalie Alford brings a whole new dimension to our Board: we look forward to exploring new directions and expanding our ministry.”

P.R.A.Y.’s mission is to foster the Christian growth of children, youth, and families through churches and youth serving agencies. P.R.A.Y. is a not-for-profit organization that oversees the God and Country religious award program and encourages churches to embrace Scouting as youth ministry. Visit the P.R.A.Y. web site at www.praypub.org.

WHAT OTHERS ARE DOING

· Greater Minneapolis (Minneapolis, MN) – Pam Kumpf is heading up a Faith Based Initiative. It started with the archdiocese, which made Girl Scouting a priority and worked to make the Catholic religious awards more prominent among Catholic Girl Scouts. The council is now working to expand the initiative into other faith groups. As part of their Fall Kick Off, the council will be distributing the To Serve God brochure to every family encouraging girls to earn their religious awards.

· Colonial Coast (Chesapeake, VA) – The council has formed a task group to plan and carry out promotional activities for the religious recognitions. They are in the process of identifying church members to act as mentors and/or counselors for girls.

· Utah (Salt Lake City, UT) – The Girl Scouts of Utah had an event called “Celebrating Religious Diversity” in September. Darlyn Robertson, Events, Education and Program Coordinator, made the following report: There were about 100 girls and adults who enjoyed learning about 6 different faiths and how they had similarities in worship, prayer, fasting, charity, and scriptures. It was quite interesting as the participants went around to the different booths and learned about Islam, Baha'i, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon), Jewish, and Roman Catholic faiths. The girls were also taught two songs of peace from the Jewish and Islamic presenters and then sang, "Let there be Peace on Earth". They also showcased the religious awards for these same faiths by displaying the actual awards and books and promoted working on their respective religious awards. We received great press coverage and are planning to do another one next year focusing on different religions. Thank you and your organization for helping us through this by answering our questions when we called many times.

THIRD QUARTER FOUR-STAR RECIPIENTS

Cristina St. Germain is the only Girl Scout who was recognized as a four-star recipient in the third quarter. She completed the God and Me, God and Family, God and Church, and God and Life awards. Congratulations on your achievements, Cristina!

ADULT AWARD RECIPIENTS

Cheryl Weishaar was the only adult in the second quarter who was honored with an adult religious recognition. Cheryl was presented the Lutheran Servant of Youth Award on behalf of Emmaus Lutheran Church and the Girl Scouts- Mile Hi Council. Thank you for your service to girls and young women!

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