It has been said that the Girl
Scout program is the Promise, the Law, and the Four B’s.
The Program is not about which awards you earn, nor has it
ever been.
Did you know that the military advances girls a rank
if they have earned the Gold Award? That college and scholarship
applications have a space for honors earned? That employers
ask about the Gold Award?
Awards show evidence of leadership, service, and commitment.
Because the Gold Award has to be approved by an outside committee,
it means more than a simple letter of recommendation.
Why do companies give bonuses for a job well done? Why
do businesses recognize outstanding employees with plaques,
notices in the newspaper, or certificates of achievement?
Why is there a Girl Scout Leader/Advisor Appreciation Day?
Could it be because this recognition inspires others?
People like being recognized for the work they do. Businesses
and Girl Scouts have found that such tangible awards improve
morale. It is not necessary for a girl to earn awards to have
a great Girl Scout experience. Choosing to earn an award is
an option. However, receiving a recognition when you earn
an award is not optional. The awards are important to girls
who choose to earn them and the recognition given for the
award (the badge, pin, or charm) is important.
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THE NUMBERS
We Girl Scout volunteers are repeatedly asked about “the
numbers.”
How many new Daisies, Brownies, Juniors, Cadettes, and Senior
Girl Scouts
have we recruited?
How many new troops have we formed?
How many hours of service have we performed?
How many badges have our girls earned?
How many leaders and other adult volunteers have we retained?
How many girls have earned their Bronze, Silver, or Gold
Award?
The answer should be...
ONE
It only takes
ONE girl to bridge to the next age level,
or
ONE girl to become a Girl Scout, with the
help of
ONE adult volunteer. That
ONE Girl Scout helps her community
ONE good deed at a time, and builds her
nation with every
ONE hour of volunteer service. She will
be awarded
ONE badge every time she completes
ONE, and she will have had
ONE special Court of Awards for every
ONE Bronze and Silver she earns. With all
this, she could be the
ONE in her community who earns her Gold
Award
ONE very memorable year.
So...When you get bogged down by the numbers, remember the
ONE reason we are all here.
And no matter how many girl and adult members we have added,
How many volunteer hours we put in,
How many badges and awards get earned,
All of this gets done
ONE girl and
ONE adult at a time.
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 Obviously,
Girl Scouts means something to these older girls and is an
important part of their lives. At some point, being a member
of an organization or group means something different in terms
of involvement and participation than it does at other times.
One of the valuable contributions these older girls make is
showing the younger girls and their parents how important
traditions and Girl Scout activities can be, and that the
Girl Scout Program is flexible enough to accommodate their
needs and interests as they move from kindergarten through
high school.
The main point is that each girl benefits differently from
Girl Scouts. The girls have to learn how to create balance
in their lives. If being a Girl Scout means to them participating
in the one event that is important to them and has the most
meaning (for example: a sense of community, tradition, all
girl environment, social opportunities and supportive adults)
then it is well worth the time to help make it happen.
One way that we can all help is to contribute
to the Family Partnership Annual Giving Campaign.
Thank you in advance for your participation and support of
the Family Partnership Annual Giving Campaign.
Julie and Martin Ullrich
Co-Chairs of Family Partnership Campaign |