Inclusion Corner

Become A Voice For Girls Through Advocacy Network

A grassroots network that provides a collective voice for girls is growing throughout our council and across the nation.

By joining the Girl Scouts Advocacy Network, Girl Scout teens, volunteers, staff, alumnae and friends are working together to champion legislation and educate policy makers about issues affecting girls. Topics of interest include healthy living, increasing girls' involvement in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), financial literacy and leadership

As our 100th anniversary approaches, the network is advocating passage of the Girl Scouts of the USA Centennial Commemorative Coin Act. This legislation will direct the U.S. Mint to produce 350,000 silver coins honoring the achievements of Girl Scouts of the USA and the 50 million women across the nation whose lives have been influenced through Girl Scouting. Girl Scouts of the USA will receive $10 from the sale of each coin to help develop and deliver Girl Scout programs and to fund much-needed renovations at the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace in Savannah.

It only takes a couple of minutes to make your voice heard, too. To join the Girl Scouts Advocacy Network, visit www.GirlScouts4girls.org, click on "Join Now" and complete the brief form. Then click on "Take Action" to authorize an e-mail to your Congressional representatives requesting they support the coin legislation.

For more information about the Girl Scouts Advocacy Network, contact Director of Advocacy and Community Relations Desiree Nash at (619) 610-0774.

No More Ready Troops

The Ready Troop program and patches have been discontinued. Ready Troops were originally designed as a way for troops to let council know they were willing and able to accommodate girls with disabilities. However, the way the current system exists sends the message that only those who want to go "above and beyond" should take girls with disabilities into their troops, as part of an inclusive organization, every troop in this council should be a Ready Troop.

To better serve all girls, committed staff members and volunteers are creating guiding principles regarding inclusion and working with individuals who have disabilities. In the meantime, numerous resources are available, ranging from phone consultations and inclusion libraries in every council's resource center, to online training modules and more. We're committed to supporting our volunteers in this process and welcome feedback and suggestions along the way. We encourage you to check out the new Ability Awareness and Inclusion patch (available at council stores) and requirements.

If you have any questions about disabilities, inclusion, resources or training, please contact Leah McFail at (619) 610-0714 or lmcfail@girlscoutssdi.org.