Idea of the Month - January 2008
NETWORKING
Pam McElvain, Kansas State President
How can we fulfill our ESA goals of membership growth, providing leadership training, and bring about ESA awareness? We’ve discussed teaming with other organizations to increase ESA awareness. How do we go about doing that?
An August 2007 issue of Reader’s Digest included an article, Head of the Troops, on Kathy Cloninger, Girl Scouts of the USA CEO. The article focused on Kathy’s vision:
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Focus the Girl Scout program on leadership development and provable outcomes that benefit girls, families and communities;
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Overhaul outdated volunteer systems and widens the volunteer base;
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Revitalize the Girl Scout brand as "the" premier leadership experience for girls;
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Build a culture of philanthropy and models how to raise funds for girls;
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Streamline corporate structure and governance, and realigns Girl Scout councils into high-capacity, high-performance councils that more effectively deliver the Girl Scout program;
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Champion diversity and pluralism.
Doesn't this sound similar to what ESA is all about?
Imagine what would be if we made connections with Girl Scout Troops, invite them to our leadership workshops, encourage them to help us choose effective leadership workshops. Invite these young ladies to assist with fundraisers. Work on community events as a team.
As we involve the Girls Scouts, we are not only presenting ESA to these young girls, but we're presenting it to these girls’ mothers, aunts, family friends, etc. Girl Scouts of the USA has 2.8 million young members, along with a million volunteers, 400 professionals and 40 National Board Members.
Imagine!