It Takes a Council toIncrease Membership

Targeting the Faith Community

Presenter: Mark Hazlewood, P.R.A.Y. CEO

“Programs of Religious Activities with Youth” Mission Statement:

To foster the Christian growth of children, youth, and families through churches and youth serving agencies.

Background on P.R.A.Y.

Children, Youth, and Families are

Brought to Christ

The P.R.A.Y. Award

Adult Recognitions

Churches and Youth Agencies

Collaborate Together

FBI Membership

Plans

Religious Emblems Promotion

P.R.A.Y. Mission Statement

P.R.A.Y. OfficeThe P.R.A.Y. Award Other Programs

Board of DirectorsElected by Membership at Annual Meeting

P.R.A.Y. Denominations Youth Agencies

Association of Organizations

ChildrenYouth

Families

Youth Agencie

s

P.R.A.Y. Churches

We recognize that each organization works independently to impact children, youth, and families

Denomination Agency conference

ChildrenYouth

Families

Churches

P.R.A.Y. Youth Agencies

Our goal is to intentionally work together to impact children, youth, and families

The result is our Faith Based Initiative (FBI) Membership Plans

Denomination Agency conference

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

Faith-Based Initiative

FBI Outline1. Why Collaborate?2. Faith-Based Awards – what they are, how to use them as

membership tools3. Cultivating the mindset for approaching the faith

community4. Selecting the faith groups5. Preparing for the call

Today’s webinar “It Takes a Council” will very narrowly focus on only one step of the FBI.

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

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

FBI Background

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

Board of Directors

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

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

CEO/COO

Relegating religious awards to “Program”

Don’t make the mistake of: Assigning just one person to work with the faith

community

Don’t make the mistake of:

Know the difference between My Promise, My Faith and the Religious Recognitions created by the specific faith groups

Program Department

Distribute “To Serve God” brochure to troop leaders

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

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

Program Department

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

Adult Training

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

Council Store

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

Public Relations

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

Volunteers

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

Resource Center

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

Membership / Marketing

Top to bottom: everybody has a role

It Takes a Council to Grow Membership

1. Why Collaborate?2. Cultivating the mindset for approaching the faith community3. Faith-Based Awards – what they are, how to use them as

membership tools4. Selecting the faith groups5. Preparing for the call

FBI Outline

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

markp@praypub.org

Learning Center: http://www.praypub.org/LearningCenter/webinars.htm

Resources: www.praypub.org/partner_gsusa.htm

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Questions?

Thank you for your interest in partnering with the faith community.

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION!