October 2004 Volume 30 Issue 9  

Membership
Girl Scouting: For every girl, everywhere

Membership Staff
Vice President - Membership
Carolyn Johnson

Directors
Gladys Birdwell
Sandee Williams

Team Leaders
Kathy Denton
Tracy Gillin
Deepa Seetepalli
Karyn Smith
Pam Soles
Nina Williams
Sue Zingleman

Membership Managers
Alex DeReinzi
Stephanie Finleon
Lynn Flournoy
Dawn Francis
Gina Galloway
Cecilia Garcia
Gloria Gracia Johnson
Milly Garzon
JoAnna Harris
Sheila Hauser
Laura Hernadez
Selina Howard
Sandra Johnson
Elizabeth Leas
Alicia McWilliams
Parina Paripoonnanonda
Wendy Rea
Juana Rhoden
Donna Robinson
Maria Roldan
Abby Sibley
Jamie Stiyer
Theresa Thomas
Celia Valles
Purvi Zaver

Cate Teague, Administrative Assistant
Linda Pharris, Departmental Assistant
Jean Rhoden, Secretary

713-292-0300

Girl Scouts can explore religion through religious awards

by Virgina Reed
In the very early days of Girl Scouting and in her wisdom, the founder of the Girl Scout Movement, Juliette Low, presented her program to church leaders for their enlightenment and support. They soon saw the value of such a program and after careful examination declared her program to be as fine in practice as it was in theory. This was a perfect introduction to encouraging girls to keep that first part of the Promise, "to serve God," each according to her own religious persuasions.
As years went on, many faith communities wrote programs for their own faith members until today, there are many programs for girls on all levels from Brownies to Seniors. These are called Religious Recognitions or Religious Awards. Girl Scouting encourages each girl to become a stronger member of her own faith and recognizes that religious instruction is the right and responsibility of parents 		and religious leaders. Therefore, these programs are administered by the religious groups themselves in a setting conducive to promoting spiritual development.
That is why they are not worked on in troop meetings even when all the girls are of the same faith. Girl Scout program and religious activities can and do bolster and support each other. Girl Scouting respects these activities to such a degree that the recipient is permitted to wear her medal on her uniform. This is a special honor. Clergy of various faith groups extend themselves to participate in religious services where they present the girls with their medals.
This is a good example of collaborating partners. As the new school and Girl Scout year is underway, why not look into the many programs available and encourage the girls and their parents to explore these activities developed by the faith communities. They could be a 		refreshing setting countering the many negative influences which are all too available to youth in today's complex world.
Along with the many phases of the Girl Scout program, these independent programs tie in with the 40 Developmental Assets as defined by Search Institute (www.search-institute.org) Some of these programs are available in the Girl Scout shops and there are handouts giving information on how to procure others. There is even a suggested script which leaders can use to present the programs to parents. You can call your nearest shop for prices and availability and other information.
The wisdom of Juliette Low didn't end in the early days of our movement; it will continue as we work in all ways to reach out to every girl everywhere and to help girls grow strong, mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually, each in her own way.