Partnerships

Religious Recognitions Information (RRI) Team Script
Sample Presentation about the Religious Recognitions Programs to members of the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A.

The following presentation is written for adult leaders in a variety of settings (neighborhood/service unit meetings, training events, etc.). The presentation starts with an explanation of WHY leaders and girls should be informed about the religious recognitions programs, outlines the steps that a Girl Scout would take to participate in these programs, and concludes by emphasizing the leader’s role in passing this information on to every girl in the troop. It is not enough to explain the religious recognitions programs: you must distribute the Interfaith Quick Reference Chart and explain the importance of the leader’s role in providing this information to girls and their families. To insure the success of your presentation, please take the time to fill out the worksheet/check list.

Presentation on Religious Recognitions Programs for members of Girl Scouts of the U.S.A.

Thank you for allowing us to speak at your meeting. Helping me is _____, and I am _____.

We represent the Religious Recognitions Information Team for our council. We believe that every Girl Scout should know about the religious recognition of her faith, and we are here to talk about these programs.

Every time a girl makes the Girl Scout Promise, she is promising to “serve God.” One way she can “serve God” is to participate in the religious recognition program of her faith and to wear that recognition proudly on her uniform. 

Our role today is to provide information for you to pass on to girls and their families so that they may decide whether or not to participate in the religious recognition program of their faith. We provide information, not religious instruction. Girl Scouting recognizes that religious instruction is the responsibility of parents and religious leaders. But parents first have to know that these programs exist. And as the Girl Scout leader, you are critical in getting information about the religious recognitions to the girls and their families. 

What exactly are “religious recognitions programs?” They are programs that have been created by the national religious organizations/committees, not by the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A.. These programs encourage girls and young women to become more active members in their own religious groups, and they encourage spiritual development by providing specific religious instruction. These programs offer recognitions or pins that are approved for wear on the official Girl Scout uniform.

The Preamble to the Girl Scout Constitution states that “the motivating force in Girl Scouting is a spiritual one” and that Girl Scouts are “united by a belief in God.” Besides providing a spiritual component, religious recognitions programs also promote many of the same values that are integral to Girl Scouting and they help develop positive assets in girls and young women. GSUSA commissioned a study, Girl Scouts: Who We Are, What We Think, and the results found that girls who were members of both Girl Scouting and a religious institution made better moral decisions than girls who were members of just one organization.

Participating in the religious recognitions programs will involve four basic steps for Girl Scouts and their families.

First, the girl must obtain the specific booklet for her religion. This booklet contains information on all the lessons and service projects that she will need to complete. Each Girl Scout needs to have her own booklet to document progress. Some religions also offer adult manuals for counselors and mentors.

Our Girl Scout store stocks several of these books. Call [phone number] to check on which books are available locally. 

[or]

Our Girl Scout store does not stock these books. [or] Our council does not have a store. Parents or guardians will have to purchase books directly from the religious organization. The “Interfaith Quick Reference Chart for Girls and Adults in Girl Scouting” lists the addresses, phone numbers, and web addresses for the different religious organizations. We will provide you with enough charts to distribute to your families so that they will know whom to contact. We also can provide you with a form letter so that you can have your Girl Scouts write and request information for their appropriate program.

Second, parents must review the specific guidelines for their particular program. Some programs require that the girl be an official “member” of the local religious institution, other programs may not. Age/grade requirements also vary from program to program. In addition, each faith group sets its own guidelines as to who may serve as counselor. Some programs require clergy to serve as counselors, other programs allow parents or other family members to serve as counselors. It is the responsibility of the parents/guardians to check the specific guidelines for their particular program.

Third, families should talk to their religious leaders and, if possible, show them the booklet before beginning a program. Many of the religious recognitions programs require that they be completed under the auspices of that religious organization, and many require the signature of the local religious leader. 

Fourth, the girl needs to complete the requirements, obtain the proper signatures, and follow the instructions to order the recognition (these pins will not be available in the Girl Scout store). The recognition should be presented in a meaningful ceremony, preferably in the girl’s religious institution, and can be presented at any time of the year. Remember: Girl Scout Sunday/Sabbath is in March. This would be a perfect time to recognize recipients of the religious recognitions. 

[Our council also tries to recognize these recipients in our newsletter. We need your help. Please fill out the “Council Notification” form to let us know who has earned a religious recognition so that we may include them in the newsletter article.]

Before we go any further, are there any questions about the religious programs for girls?

Adult recognitions are entirely different. Whereas the girls “earn” their recognition, adults are nominated to receive a recognition. Adult recognitions are honors that are given to adults for outstanding service to youth through both a religious institution and Girl Scouting. Recipients of these awards are unaware they are being nominated. If you know of an adult Girl Scout leader who is also active in a religious institution, you could nominate that person for an adult award. Most awards require the completed application form, a resume of the candidate’s qualifications, and letters of recommendation from the religious leader and from the Girl Scout council. Many of these awards also require a minimum number of years of service before a person can be considered, so please check eligibility requirements for specific awards. Again, Girl Scout Sunday/Sabbath would be an appropriate time to present an adult recognition. Plan accordingly: these awards usually go through a review committee and require extra time for processing.

We believe that every Girl Scout should know about the religious recognition of her faith. Our biggest roadblock is the lack of information about these programs. That is why you, as the Girl Scout leader, are so important. What can you do?

First, you can distribute the “To Serve God” brochure to every girl in your Troop. This brochure includes a chart of all the different religious recognitions, it lists their addresses, phone numbers, and if available, their web pages, and it answers some basic questions about the programs. We will provide whatever quantity you need in order to distribute one brochure to every Girl Scout.

Second, you can read the “Frequently Asked Questions about Religious Recognitions Programs.” This brochure will help you answer some of the basic questions that parents might ask you about these programs. We have enough copies to give to everyone here today.

Third, you can keep a record of all troop members who have completed a religious recognition and notify the council of these recipients by filling out the form “Council Notification of Religious Recognition Earned.”

Fourth, you can nominate other Girl Scout leaders who are active in their faith communities to receive an Adult Religious Recognition.

Finally, you can invite the RRI Team to speak at troop events that include parents. We would be happy to speak to your group. Here are the names and address of the RRI Team members. Please keep in mind that we are here to serve as a resource for you. Give us a call to schedule a speaking engagement or to ask questions about a program. We’re here to help.

Are there any questions?

Before we close, we would like to leave you with two key thoughts: First, religious recognitions can have a positive impact on Girl Scouts; and second, as the Girl Scout leader, YOU are the key person in getting information about these programs to your girls and families. Thank you for allowing us to speak to you today. 

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RRI Team Presentation Outline

Introduction of the RRI Team and its objectives:

  • Promote religious recognitions programs 

  • Provide information, not religious instruction 

  • Serve as a resource to Girl Scout leaders 

  • Encourage Girl Scout leaders to inform girls of the religious recognitions programs 

What are “religious recognitions programs?”

  • They are programs created by the national religious organizations/committees

  • They are recognized by GSUSA

  • They include recognitions or pins that are approved for wear on the official Girl Scout uniform

  • They are programs that encourage girls and young women to become more active members in their own religious groups, and they encourage spiritual development by providing specific religious instruction

Why promote Religious Recognitions Programs?

  • The Preamble to the GSUSA Constitution states that “the motivating force in Girl Scouting is a spiritual one” and that Girl Scouts are “united by a belief in God.”

  • Religious recognitions programs can help provide a spiritual component to the Girl Scout program

  • Religious recognitions programs promote many of the same values that are integral to Girl Scouting

  • Religious recognitions programs help develop positive assets in girls and young women 

  • The results of a study commissioned by GSUSA, Girl Scouts: Who We Are, What We Think, found that girls who were members of both Girl Scouting and a religious institution made better moral decisions than girls who were members of just one organization.

Participating in the religious recognitions programs involve four basic steps:

1. The girl must obtain the specific booklet for her religion.

  • Each girl needs her own booklet to document progress.

  • Some religions offer adult manuals for counselors and mentors.

  • Our council stocks several of these religious booklets. Call [phone number] to check on which books are available locally.

[OR]

  • Booklets may be obtained from each religious organization/committee. Their addresses and phone numbers are listed on the “To Serve God” brochure. 

2. Parents should review the program guidelines.

  • Some programs require that the girl be an official “member” of the religious institution.

  • Age/grade requirements vary from program to program.

  • Each faith group sets its own guidelines as to who may serve as counselor. Some programs require clergy to serve as counselors, other programs allow parents or other family members to serve as counselors.

3. Families should talk to their religious leaders and if possible show them the booklet before beginning any program.

  • Most programs require that they be completed under the auspices of that religious organization.

  • Many programs require the signature from the local religious leader.

4. The Girl Scout must complete the requirements, obtain the proper signatures, and follow the instructions to order the recognition or pin.

  • These recognitions are not available in the Girl Scout store.

  • The recognition should be presented in a meaningful ceremony, preferably in the girl’s religious institution.

  • The recognition can be presented at anytime of the year. Girl Scout Sunday/Sabbath in March is a perfect time to recognize recipients.

Are there any questions about the religious programs for girls?

Adult Religious Recognitions are entirely different from the girls’ programs:

  • Adult recognitions are by nomination only: they are honors given to adults for outstanding service to youth through both a religious institution and Girl Scouting. 

  • Recipients are unaware of their nomination.

  • These recognitions are usually submitted to a review committee; extra time is needed for processing.

  • Many recognitions require a minimum number of years of service; check eligibility requirements for specific awards.

  • Most recognitions require the following:

  • Completed application form

  • Resume of the candidate’s activities

  • Letter of recommendation from the Girl Scout council

  • Letter of recommendation from the religious institution

The role of the Girl Scout leader:

  • Distribute the “To Serve God” brochure to every girl in the troop.

  • Use the “FAQ” brochure as a resource to answer parents’ questions.

  • Keep a record of all troop members who have completed a religious recognition.

  • Notify the council of all recipients.

  • Nominate other Girl Scout leaders who are active in their faith communities to receive an Adult Religious Recognition.

  • Invite the RRI Team to speak at troop events that include parents.

Closing

  • Questions?

  • RRI Team members’ names and phone numbers

  • We would like to leave you with two key thoughts:

  • Religious recognitions can have a positive impact on Girl Scouts.

  • As the Girl Scout leader, YOU are the key person in getting information about these programs to your girls and families.

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Presentation Worksheet / Checklist

In scheduling presentations for different groups, be very clear about the purpose of your presentation. Explain that the RRI Team will be presenting information about the religious recognitions, not teaching a religious class. (This would be especially important if you are asked to address a Girl Scout troop.) To ensure the success of your presentation, please take the time to answer the following questions. 

Name of group: 
Contact name and title: 
Phone number of contact: 
Location of meeting: 
Directions to location: 
Date of meeting: 
Time of meeting: 
How much time RRI Team will be allowed to speak: 
Space: If your council has a display of religious recognitions, will you need an extra table or space to set up your display? _____
Size of group (number of participants) _____
Checklist:
___ Presentation (sample script, outline, or training design)
___ Business cards
___ Frequently Asked Questions (one per participant = ________)
___ To Serve God brochure
(enough for each participant to distribute to all girls in their troops = _____)
___ Form Letter for girls to request information 
(one per participant = _____) 
___ Council Notification of Religious Recognition Earned
(one per participant = _____)
___ Sample curriculum booklets
___ Sample adult award nomination forms 
___ Sample pins/recognitions
___ Verify whether your council store stocks any of the religious booklets 

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