September 2005 Volume 31 Issue 8  

Leaders' TIPS

With Beth Watkins

“To Help People at all times…”
     When you say the Girl Scout Promise, do you think about the words? Do your girls understand what they are saying? We promise, every time we recite it, “to help people at all times.” Do we teach our girls what that means?
     From the very start of the Girl Scouting movement in 1912, helping others has been an important part of the program. In the 1913 Handbook for Girl Scouts, How Girls Can Help Their Country, “to help other people at all times” was the second part of the original Girl Scout Promise. Helping others, or service, is also called a “Good Turn” and the slogan of Girl Scouts is still, “Do a Good Turn Daily.” It may be fun to find out what a Brownie thinks a good turn is before you explain it to her. An old tradition is that a Brownie pin is placed upside down on the new Brownie Girl Scout’s uniform, and she must do a “good turn” to turn it upright.
     In Juliette Low’s day, and referenced in the 1913 handbook book, “tie a knot that you will have to untie every night, and before you go to sleep think who you did your good turn for that day.” Maybe that’s a good idea. Lengths of cord or maybe a bandana, tied daily in a square knot, would be a good way for the girls to remember to do service everyday.
    Service given must be just that, a gift. As Juliette Low said, “you must accept nothing for doing it but thanks.” We should let the girls know they are not to be paid for their service. Not all service should have the “service hours completed” idea behind it. Girls should be doing service for the joy of helping others. Yes, they may receive a badge, try-It, or interest project because of the service completed, but that should be a fringe benefit, not the reason for service.
Who should do service? Everyone should always be on the look out for how she can help others. It could be as small as helping someone with their groceries, or sweeping someone’s sidewalk. Or, it could be as large as a drive for school clothes for flood victims. Making cards for soldiers, helping a Brownie earn her first try-it, or singing Halloween carols at the local retirement center are also ways of service to others. Don’t let the idea of service scare you, small things done for others without regard for compensation is service. Teach your girls to serve others. It’s the Girl Scout way.

So What Can We Do?
     Are you out of ideas for good service projects? The first place to look is at your service unit meeting. Network with other leaders and find out what great projects they did. Sometimes the
greatest ideas come from simple things. Handing out water at the local fun run, planting flowers at your meeting place, collecting

dog food for the SPCA, or helping with the Daisy Girl Scout troop in your school, are all ideas that troops have done.
     There are always reports of troops doing cool projects highlighted in The Golden Link. The Red Cross always has projects that need to be done, the Army Corps of Engineers has tree seedlings they want planted, and the USO has needs. Every branch of the armed forces has a department that handles the family left at home when a soldier goes overseas. These families need support from people in their hometowns. Cards and pictures can be made and sent to the VA hospital in Houston, or to Fort Sam Houston hospital in San Antonio. There are veterans groups that ask for grooming supplies for their patients/residents.
     Do your girls like going to the bear building stores? Have you ever considered having them make the animals and then having them donate the bears, bunnies, etc. to the local EMS or police department? A cuddly animal is a great help to a child in crisis. By donating them, your girls have had the fun of making them, and the joy of giving them to someone that needs them.
     Can you do service for Girl Scouts? Of course you can! There are always small projects needed at our camps. Just contact the rangers and ask what needs to be done while your troop is at camp. Perhaps another troop or council has a crisis in their area. See how you can help. It may be cards of support or a collection of supplies.
     Local service units need help with events for younger girls, and most units have service unit projects each year. Ask at your meetings.
     Service is everywhere. Just open your eyes and you will see a need. Then let your girls decide how they can help and “do a good turn daily.” You’ll be glad you did.