The Power of Advocacy #5 - Ambassador Journey - Meeting Follow Up -- Take Action (Take 2)

Step 6:  Since my original meeting didn't allow me to really make my pitch.  I am counting this  call as my pitch.  I had GSUSA staff - 3 of them on the call with me.

On December 9, 2013, I had a follow up conversation with GSUSA. I requested this second meeting because my previous one with Ms. Joann Berge, I felt that I was not heard or listened to. So I sent her an agenda and gave her a time frame. I feel that in this meeting I was given the opportunity to speak about my survey and journey plan/idea.

Throughout this phone meeting GSUSA commented on my efforts and leadership, these were the extent on what these comments were about. I was also asked questions on my journey such as “If girls had this journey do you really think that they would go for the Gold Award?” or “Do you think that awards are necessary for older girls after they have received their Gold?” I answered each question with a yes.

The agenda:

Introductions

    - Who

    - Why

        - The lack of Girl outdoor badges, journey's of interest to older girls – therefore NOT doing higher level awards and opportunities

-      Used to be 24 Outdoor Badges, now there is 4 (total in all three levels combined: Cadette, Senior, Ambassador)

-      We need more skill building badges to keep outdoor program/camp pathway a reality at council levels

 Survey Results

          Share and discuss 1739 respondents

          Plan for follow up survey – asking point blank questions – with the intention to be a national survey of girls 4^th grade and “up”

 

Journey Plan – sample STEM in the Outdoor journey idea

Conclusion

    - What will it take to make this reality?

        - Is it money?

        - Is it Council commitment?

    - When can you find out more for me

    - Thank you for your time and help

            I would love comments on

• whether or not you would use an outdoor journey and if you had it for your use,
• would you be more inclined to go for your Gold?
• Also, for those who have earned their Gold, would you be more inclined to do more in Girl Scouts, if you had an “award” of some sort?

 

I plan on creating another survey soon! Look out for it on my blogs and on Facebook.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/CSAGirlScoutsOutdoors/

The Power of Advocacy #7 - Ambassador Journey - - Thank You

Ms. Berg,

I appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to meet with me.

I don't feel I got to talk with you about my survey and the results.  Please review and share with all departments that have girl impact.

It is important to get the girls outside.  Studies across the country back the importance of nature and its connection to academic success.

GSUSA needs to take the lead- councils and girls will follow.  Listen to the girls- ask current members what they want.

I would appreciate a time to actually talk about the survey, and for you to listen to my journey idea and not be told what you think can be done.   I worked hard to put together information and you wouldn't let me share it with you.  Although discouraging- I will continue to pursue.

When is a good time to talk with those who could answer my questions?

1.  What would it take to make this type of journey happen?

2.  Is it money?  If so how much?

I can talk by phone the first two weeks of December on Mondays or Wednesdays.

I look forward to our next discussion.

Sarah Young

Sent from my iPhone

On Nov 25, 2013, at 4:51 PM, "Berg, Joanne" <JBerg@girlscouts.org> wrote:

Dear Sarah:

Thanks so much for coming in today to meet with me and to share your ideas.  Truly appreciated!

Have a great Thanksgiving in New York City!

Regards,

Joanne

Joanne L. Berg

Executive Editor, Girl Experience

Girl Scouts of the USA

420 Fifth Avenue

New York, NY 10018

212-852-5093

The Power of Advocacy #4 - Ambassador Journey - Meeting on Monday 11/25

Identify the big ears and set up a meeting.  Thanks to all the adults who are part of our team -- we have made enough noise.  I have a meeting set.


I thought I would send you an email to let you know where I am on my Ambassador Advocacy Journey.

 

You contacted me during the survey process and expressed interest in being part of phase two.

I hope you have followed the blog and facebook group – to see the sample letters drafted and posted there.  http://journeysummit.blogspot.com/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1412858552265145/

Monday (yes, 4 days away 11/25) – I am meeting with GSUSA to discuss the survey results AND the Outdoor Journey.

If you haven’t already sent your letter – please do.  You can also send a video message.  (I will be encouraging folks to do that during the month of December)

I will be posting the survey results to the blogspot as well - http://journeysummit.blogspot.com/

But, thank you and those who supported this project so far.  We had at least 65 GS Councils and 1739 girls respond to the survey.

Let’s keep telling them what we want!

 

 

The Power of Advocacy #6 - Ambassador Journey - WRITE LETTERS - TELL GSUSA WHAT WE WANT

Prepare Your Pitch
This is part of my pitch and I am asking for your help.

Now is the time for us to take this to the next level.  Below are two different levels. I encourage you to hand write both letters and mail them to Ms. Chavez.  This is a great opportunity for a troop meeting, etc.

Although, I would love to have you send them to me -- and we send them to her together -- I think it is a bigger impact to get a lot of mail.

So send them, but, keep track how many your troop sends.  Then POST it.

Share this anyway you can!
We don't know if they will change - but, let's give it a try.  The Girl VOICE is important.

(Your Return Address)

(Your City, State, Zip)

 

Girl Scouts of USA

420 Fifth Avenue

New York , NY  10018-2798

 

November   , 2013

 

 

Dear Ms. Chavez,

 

            My name is _________________ and I am a (insert program level) Girl Scout.  During my Girl Scout career I have collected fond memories.  Many of which are from Girl Scout camp.

            I feel that Girl Scouts camps are a huge part of what Girl Scouting is to girls.  Just like when you were a girl.  As well as a big part of who I am.  I can’t believe that so many councils are selling their camps.  This is wrong.  I realize that you feel that this is not a GSUSA issue – but, I disagree.

            These camps are closing because of lack of use – this is because councils do not understand the importance of the camp pathway.  And the staff are not supported by GSUSA with camp pathway materials, marketing tools, guidance or even an opportunity to facilitate best practices or popular camps among councils.  The camps aren’t getting used because councils do not know how to program, market and effectively run their camps.

            GSUSA has the responsibility to support councils who lack the training to manage, program and market their camps.

            INSERT YOUR CAMP TESTIMONY – WHY DID YOU LIKE CAMP – LEARN AT CAMP.  IS A CAMP IN YOUR AREA CLOSING?

 

 

 

            Please evaluate the staff and support GSUSA could offer to councils including a place on PEARL that they could post successful camp descriptions, camp outlines and marketing materials.  This would be a low cost, immediate demonstration of support and collaboration amongst councils.

 

Yours In Girl Scouting,

 

(YOUR NAME)

(your email address)

(Your Return Address)

(Your City, State, Zip)

 

Girl Scouts of USA

420 Fifth Avenue

New York , NY  10018-2798

 

November   , 2013

 

 

Dear Ms. Chavez,

 

            My name is ____________________ and I am a (insert program level) Girl Scout.  Currently, the troop pathway includes the Girl Experience handbook and as a )insert program level) – I realize that the Journeys and Badges are very limited at this level.  From middle school – high school there are only 4 outdoor/environmental badges available for us to earn.  The prior edition 2001 copyright had 17. 

            I ask you to bring back the C/S/A outdoor, camping IP’s.  From 1948 to 2001 the number of outdoor activity badges were plenty and available for all kinds of weather and regions of the country.

            The Girl Experience is also limited in the way we earn higher level awards.  Currently, the Journeys offered to not appeal to all girls who are currently in Girl Scouting.  The C/S/A levels should be about leadership retention and GSUSA and councils need to focus on retention.  By offering unique programming and outdoor opportunities is the way Juliette would have wanted us to help develop these skills.

            INSERT YOUR GS story

 

 

 

 

            I ask you to consider the development of a C/S/A outdoor journey.  The cost of this could and should be minimal.  The outdoor outfitters who target women would be willing to sponsor such an initiative.  The manual should ONLY be for the girls and should be available ONLINE only.  This would allow for immediate implementation, reduce initial outlay and the manual can be updated with links regularly.

 

 

Yours In Girl Scouting,

 

(YOUR NAME)

(your email address)

Keep encourging your peers to take the survey!

It's been almost a month since I posted the survey and what I thought was going to be a regional survey, has turned into a national survey.  I would LOVE to get 1200 girls to take the survey.  At that time it is a viable sample.

I am planning to meet with GSUSA staff in 1 month while I am in New York.

I met with my council CEO about an Outdoor STEM Journey and she is very supportive.  So we might end up with a Grassroots project.

If you haven't taken the survey - get all your friends to do it at your next meeting --


https://docs.google.com/forms/d/10Z4X1d446ef105YIILJxqBeXzTqINZbF4sCnmcdLAls/viewform

The Power of Advocacy #3 - Ambassador Journey - Take the Survey

Step 3 - Focus on one realistic angle of their advocacy issue.
Since my issue doesn't have regular research already available -- I am creating my own research.
Take the survey:

 
 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/10Z4X1d446ef105YIILJxqBeXzTqINZbF4sCnmcdLAls/viewform

 

 

 

 

           The survey is up! If you are an Older Girl and you want to see changes, please fill out this survey. The staff and volunteers need to know that we want a say and a voice.

            All of the answers and feedback will be given to the staff so they see just how many girls want to participate and help.

The Power of Advocacy #2 - Ambassador Journey

Step 2:  Tune In – Do some research – zoom in on a specific angle and possible solutions.  See out the root causes.  Where can you learn more?  Trustworthy and unbiased.

 

            When I was 13, I was a part of a group called The Green 13. It was a group of teenagers that were all passionate about one thing, getting kids outdoors. But not only getting them outside, but also showing them that they need to be outside.

            Because research shows, that kids who spend time outdoors are more fit physically and mentally. They are happier and healthier and ready for challenges. And Girl Scouts have conducted and are conducting research on what girls as a whole are interested in. Trying to appeal to them so they join Girl Scouts, whereas there are girls in Girl Scouts, who are not happy with many of the choices being made.

            One of the issues that have come up in my council is that adults are making choices whereas the girl should have. So I have created a survey that asks older Girl Scouts in my council, what they want to see done. As well as, if they would like to participate in a Girl Led Committee that helps make the decisions on what we can do. Girl Scouts was started as Girl Led… lets get it back to that.

 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/10Z4X1d446ef105YIILJxqBeXzTqINZbF4sCnmcdLAls/viewform