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Maximizing Membership Growth: Faith-Based Initiatives for Girl Scout Councils

Learn how to implement Faith-Based Initiatives in your Girl Scout Council to increase membership. Understand the collaboration benefits and new recruiting models. Role of CEOs, COOs, and Program Departments outlined. Important steps and strategies shared.

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Maximizing Membership Growth: Faith-Based Initiatives for Girl Scout Councils

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  1. It Takes a Council toIncrease Membership Targeting the Faith Community Presenter: Mark Hazlewood, P.R.A.Y. CEO

  2. Background on P.R.A.Y. • “Programs of Religious Activities with Youth” • Mission Statement: To foster the Christian growth of children, youth, and families through churches and youth serving agencies.

  3. P.R.A.Y. Mission Statement

  4. Association of Organizations

  5. Denomination Agency conference • We recognize that each organization works independently to impact children, youth, and families

  6. Denomination Agency conference • Our goal is to intentionally work together to impact children, youth, and families • The result is our Faith Based Initiative (FBI) Membership Plans

  7. Faith-Based Initiative • The Faith Based Initiative is a comprehensive plan to BUILD AND STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIPS between Girl Scout Councils and the faith community • It’s all about WHY councils should work with the faith community and HOW to approach them • The goal of the FBI is increased membership

  8. FBI Outline • Why Collaborate? • Faith-Based Awards – what they are, how to use them as membership tools • Cultivating the mindset for approaching the faith community • Selecting the faith groups • Preparing for the call • Today’s webinar “It Takes a Council” will very narrowly focus on only one step of the FBI.

  9. Goal: Understand how all parts of the council have a role in growing membership through the FBI.

  10. FBI Background • Collaborations will benefit the girl, the congregation, and the GS Council • Religious Recognitions can be used not just for spiritual growth, but as a tool for membership growth. • New Recruiting model: • First recruit the congregation (i.e. place to meet, adult leaders) • Then recruit the girls

  11. Board of Directors • Understand how Girl Scouting emphasizes spiritual growth and know the benefits to working with the religious community • Provide support for the FBI • Serve as “cultural informants” – be the door opener to their own faith communities

  12. CEO/COO • Understand how Girl Scouting emphasizes spiritual growth and know the benefits to working with the religious community • Incorporate building relationships with the religious community into Plan of Work • Review the Council Corporate Plan

  13. CEO/COO • Identify which goals in the strategic plan are most appropriate to develop objectives dealing with religious relationships • Assign responsibilities for these objectives to the appropriate groups

  14. Don’t make the mistake of: • Relegating religious awards to “Program” Don’t make the mistake of: • Assigning just one person to work with the faith community

  15. Program Department • Know the difference between My Promise, My Faith and the Religious Recognitions created by the specific faith groups

  16. Program Department • Distribute “To Serve God” brochure to troop leaders

  17. Program Department • Recruit volunteers to make presentations on religious awards • Promote religious awards programs to faith community • Identify resources in the faith community to conduct religious award classes • Encourage faith community to recognize adult Girl Scout leaders for their joint service to Girl Scouting and the religious institution

  18. Program Department • Promote interfaith events to recruit and retain girls (Girl Scout Sunday/Sabbath, 10 commandment hike, weekend retreats) • Submit articles in newsletter listing recipients’ names • Sponsor council-wide recognition ceremony for religious award recipients • Provide letters or certificates congratulating religious award recipients • Include information on religious awards in leaders program handbook • Outdoor program: religious retreats at camp • Older Girl Program: religious awards promotions/workshop as gold award projects

  19. Adult Training • Include faith-based programs in trainings • Include workshop on religious awards programs in council-wide adult training event • Include information on adult recognitions • Display the “To Serve God” poster • Make the “To Serve God” brochure available to volunteers

  20. Council Store • Provide training to store employees on faith based awards (MPMF and Religious Recognitions) • Stock religious booklets • Hang the “To Serve God” poster in store • Make “To Serve God” brochures available

  21. Public Relations • Promote Girl Scouting and the religious community (how Girl Scouting values spiritual growth) • Include articles on religious award recipients in news media • List religious award recipients in newsletter • Publicize Interfaith events (10 commandment hikes, interfaith tours, Girl Scout Sunday Celebrations) • Establish links to P.R.A.Y. web page

  22. Volunteers • Make presentations about the faith based programs at neighborhood or service unit meetings • Set up displays at council workshops, training events, etc. • Coordinate interfaith events • Be the cultural informants or door openers to different faith communities

  23. Resource Center • Display the “To Serve God” poster • Make the “To Serve God” brochure available upon request • Display sample booklets • Post the P.R.A.Y. web site for information on religious awards

  24. Membership / Marketing • Be able to articulate how Girl Scouting can benefit the faith community and help grow their membership • Select religious institutions with which to work • Do your homework • Include religious awards programs in the presentation to the religious institution • Approach ministerial alliances, ecumenical groups, denominational clergy associations - utilize peer to peer recruitment

  25. It Takes a Council to Grow Membership • Top to bottom: everybody has a role

  26. FBI Outline • Why Collaborate? • Cultivating the mindset for approaching the faith community • Faith-Based Awards – what they are, how to use them as membership tools • Selecting the faith groups • Preparing for the call

  27. Summary • The Faith Based Initiative is a comprehensive plan to BUILD AND STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIPS between Girl Scout Councils and the faith community • It’s all about WHY councils should work with the faith community and HOW to approach them • The goal of the FBI is increased membership • The F.B.I. takes the My Promise, My Faith pin and the Religious Recognitions out of programming and leverages them as MEMBERSHIP tools

  28. Questions? • markp@praypub.org • Learning Center: http://www.praypub.org/LearningCenter/webinars.htm • Resources: www.praypub.org/partner_gsusa.htm • Sign up to receive P.R.A.Y. Newsletter Updates: http://www.praypub.org/pubs_main.htm

  29. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION! • Thank you for your interest in partnering with the faith community. • www.praypub.org

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