Religious Awards:

What Girl Scout Stores Need to Know

Rationale:

The Girl Scout Store is more than a The Girl Scout Store is more than a store: it delivers program and support store: it delivers program and support to adult leaders.to adult leaders.

Religious awards are more than Religious awards are more than awards: they are tools for membership awards: they are tools for membership growth and program enhancement.growth and program enhancement.

Therefore, council stores that receive Therefore, council stores that receive training on religious awards are able to training on religious awards are able to impact membership growth and impact membership growth and program (besides increasing sales).program (besides increasing sales).

What do Girl Scout Stores Need to Know about Religious Awards?

What religious awards areWhat religious awards are What to tell customers on how to What to tell customers on how to

get started on these programsget started on these programs Promotions that may impact the Promotions that may impact the

storestore What resources to make available in What resources to make available in

the storethe store

What are Religious Awards?

Religious awards are created by Religious awards are created by National Religious Organizations for National Religious Organizations for their youth their youth

Each religion creates its own Each religion creates its own program, designs its emblem, and program, designs its emblem, and establishes its own guidelines.establishes its own guidelines.

ContinuedContinued

What are Religious Awards?(continued)

Awards are reviewed by GSUSA Awards are reviewed by GSUSA Awards recognized by GSUSA may Awards recognized by GSUSA may

be worn on the official uniformbe worn on the official uniform ContinuedContinued

What are Religious Awards?(continued)

Adult recognitions are by Adult recognitions are by nomination only.nomination only.

Adult awards usually require a Adult awards usually require a minimum number of years of minimum number of years of service.service.

Most nomination forms are available Most nomination forms are available online. Visit www.praypub.org.online. Visit www.praypub.org.

Religious Awards as a Program Piece

Religious awards help Girl Scouts fulfill Religious awards help Girl Scouts fulfill their promise “to Serve God”their promise “to Serve God”

Programs share many of the integral Programs share many of the integral values of Girl Scoutsvalues of Girl Scouts

Programs provide opportunities for Girl Programs provide opportunities for Girl Scouts to reinforce and internalize the Scouts to reinforce and internalize the values learned in Girl Scouting and relate values learned in Girl Scouting and relate them to their faiththem to their faith

Religious Emblems as a Membership Piece

Religious awards can be the “foot in the Religious awards can be the “foot in the door” to many congregations and door” to many congregations and provide first exposure to GSUSAprovide first exposure to GSUSA

Awards can target diverse communities Awards can target diverse communities Awards can increase adult tenure Awards can increase adult tenure Awards can be used as outreach to the Awards can be used as outreach to the

communitycommunity

What to tell Customers?

How to get started on the religious How to get started on the religious awards programsawards programs

Where the insignia is worn on the Where the insignia is worn on the uniformuniform

How to promote religious awards to How to promote religious awards to their Troopstheir Troops

What to tell Customers:How to Get Started

Step 1: Girl Scouts must get the Step 1: Girl Scouts must get the specific booklet for their religionspecific booklet for their religion The To Serve God chart shows the The To Serve God chart shows the

contact information for all religionscontact information for all religions Our store stocks some bookletsOur store stocks some booklets Each Girl Scout must have their Each Girl Scout must have their

own booklet to document progressown booklet to document progress

What to tell Customers:How to Get Started

Step 2: Parents must review the Step 2: Parents must review the program guidelinesprogram guidelines Age/grade requirements differ Age/grade requirements differ

from program to programfrom program to program Each program sets its own Each program sets its own

guidelines as to who may serve as guidelines as to who may serve as counselor.counselor.

What to tell Customers:How to Get Started

Step 3: Meet with your clergy and Step 3: Meet with your clergy and show them the booklet before show them the booklet before beginning any programbeginning any program Most programs require the Most programs require the

signature of the local religious signature of the local religious leader.leader.

What to tell Customers:How to Get Started

Step 4: Complete the requirements, Step 4: Complete the requirements, obtain the proper signatures, and obtain the proper signatures, and order the awardorder the award Awards are NOT available in Awards are NOT available in

council Girl Scout stores: Follow council Girl Scout stores: Follow the instructions in your bookletthe instructions in your booklet

What to tell Customers:Where the Award is Worn

The award is centered below the The award is centered below the membership stars on the right side membership stars on the right side of the vest or sash, or worn on the of the vest or sash, or worn on the right side of the blouse level with right side of the blouse level with the Girl Scout membership pin.the Girl Scout membership pin.

What to tell Customers:How to Promote Religious Awards

Make a presentation to your TroopMake a presentation to your Troop Sample scripts are available at Sample scripts are available at

www.praypub.orgwww.praypub.org Earn the To Serve God Promotion Earn the To Serve God Promotion

Patch by making a presentationPatch by making a presentation

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

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

Four-segment puzzle patch recognizes Four-segment puzzle patch recognizes adults and girls who promote religious adults and girls who promote religious awardsawards

Rationale: Provide incentive for adult Rationale: Provide incentive for adult leaders to promote religious awards.leaders to promote religious awards.

This is a participation patch only! The This is a participation patch only! The goal is for the Girl Scout to earn the goal is for the Girl Scout to earn the religious award of their own faith.religious award of their own faith.

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 The puzzle patch is worn on the back of the vest or sash.vest or sash.

Only one segment is available in any given Only one segment is available in any given year. year.

Both girls and adults are eligible.Both girls and adults are eligible. Participants must attend or coordinate a Participants must attend or coordinate a

presentation about religious awards and make presentation about religious awards and make a commitment To Serve God to earn this patch.a commitment To Serve God to earn this patch.

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

Stores should:Stores should: Be prepared to answer questions Be prepared to answer questions

about the To Serve God Puzzle Patchabout the To Serve God Puzzle Patch Expect more inquiries into the Expect more inquiries into the

religious awards programsreligious awards programs Direct leaders to resources that can Direct leaders to resources that can

help them promote religious awardshelp them promote religious awards

Resources to Make Available in the Girl Scout Store

Religious Awards Booklets 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 storeThe 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 bookletsOther national religious organizations may allow Girl Scout stores to stock their booklets

Puzzle PatchPuzzle Patch The To Serve God Puzzle Patch is available from P.R.A.Y. for re-sale in your storeThe To Serve God Puzzle Patch is available from P.R.A.Y. for re-sale in your store

Resources to Make Available in the Girl Scout Store

To Serve God Quick To Serve God Quick Reference Chart - Reference Chart - use this as your key use this as your key resource: laminate resource: laminate one and keep a one and keep a supply on handsupply on hand

Poster - Hang the Poster - Hang the poster on a wallposter on a wall

Resources to Make Available in the Girl Scout Store

To Serve God Puzzle Patch BrochureTo Serve God Puzzle Patch Brochure

Resources to Make Available in the Girl Scout Store

Contact information for P.R.A.Y. Contact information for P.R.A.Y. 1-800-933-77291-800-933-7729 www.praypub.orgwww.praypub.org P.R.A.Y. is a resource on religious P.R.A.Y. is a resource on religious

awards and how to promote themawards and how to promote them

Thank you!

To Serve God is at the heart of the To Serve God is at the heart of the Girl Scout movement. Thank you for Girl Scout movement. Thank you for promoting it!promoting it!

Want to test your knowledge of Want to test your knowledge of religious awards? Continue to the religious awards? Continue to the next slide!next slide!

Question 1:True or False?

Customers may find religious Customers may find religious awards booklets and medals in the awards booklets and medals in the Girl Scout Store.Girl Scout Store.

False. False. Stores may stock the booklets, Stores may stock the booklets, but not the medals. The awards come but not the medals. The awards come from the national religious committees, from the national religious committees, not the Girl Scout store.not the Girl Scout store.

Question 2:True or False?

Religious awards booklets are in the Religious awards booklets are in the Girl Scout store because they are Girl Scout store because they are programs created by GSUSA.programs created by GSUSA.

False.False. Religious awards programs are Religious awards programs are created by the national religious created by the national religious organizations, not by GSUSA. They’re in organizations, not by GSUSA. They’re in the Girl Scout store because GSUSA has the Girl Scout store because GSUSA has approved of them.approved of them.

Question 3:True or False?

Adult religious recognitions are not Adult religious recognitions are not work/study programs like the youth work/study programs like the youth awards.awards.

True.True. The youth awards can be The youth awards can be “earned” whereas the adult religious “earned” whereas the adult religious recognitions are by nomination only. recognitions are by nomination only.

Question 4:True or False?

A Girl Scout can earn more than one A Girl Scout can earn more than one religious award.religious award.

True.True. Girl Scouts are encouraged to Girl Scouts are encouraged to earn all levels of their religious earn all levels of their religious awards program. awards program.

Question 5:True or False?

The To Serve God Promotion Patch The To Serve God Promotion Patch is an interfaith patch.is an interfaith patch.

True.True. The To Serve God Promotion The To Serve God Promotion Patch is for all faiths. Patch is for all faiths.

Question 6:True or False?

The To Serve God Promotion Patch The To Serve God Promotion Patch can only be earned by adults who can only be earned by adults who make presentations on the religious make presentations on the religious awards.awards.

False.False. Youth members may also Youth members may also earn this patch by learning about earn this patch by learning about religious awards and making a religious awards and making a commitment.commitment.

Question 7:

What are the 4 steps to participating What are the 4 steps to participating in a religious award program?in a religious award program?

1-Get the appropriate book for your 1-Get the appropriate book for your faith. 2-Review the guidelines. 3-Meet faith. 2-Review the guidelines. 3-Meet with your clergy. 4-Complete the with your clergy. 4-Complete the requirements, obtain signatures, and requirements, obtain signatures, and order the award. order the award.

Question 8:

Where is the award worn on the Where is the award worn on the uniform?uniform?

Below the membership starsBelow the membership stars

Question 9:

How do you earn the To Serve God How do you earn the To Serve God promotion patch?promotion patch?

Learn about religious awards and Learn about religious awards and make a commitment To Serve God. make a commitment To Serve God.

Question 10:

What are some of the resources that What are some of the resources that are available for leaders who want are available for leaders who want to make presentations on the to make presentations on the religious awards programs?religious awards programs?

Sample scripts, handouts, charts Sample scripts, handouts, charts and other resources are available at and other resources are available at www.praypub.org. www.praypub.org.

Question 11:

Who can you call if you have Who can you call if you have questions on religious awards?questions on religious awards?

P.R.A.Y. @ 1-800-933-7729P.R.A.Y. @ 1-800-933-7729