Ceremonies

CEREMONIES

THE DOOR
We used this as the opening for our service unit meeting in August. The idea of the ceremony is to inspire leaders to welcome girls into scouting. We made a mock door from two layers of cardboard that could be opened and closed. We pasted pictures of girl scouts from the uniform catalog inside the door way. If you had more time to plan, why not make the pictures be able to be pulled through so each time the door is opened you see another picture?

This Door
This Door is from Maryann Shovestal and found on www.geocities.com/Heartland/grove/6610/CCrecruitment.htm

This door can let people in . . . or it can keep people out.

This door could lie open to more girls in Girl Scouting . . .
or it could be slammed in their faces.

This door could carry a welcome sign . . . or 'Keep Out'
. . . 'Full House'

It can open into the warm light of training sessions . . .
or it can be kept locked and dark.

This door . . . for a girl . . . could open to a great, wide,
wonderful world . . . or it could open to a jail, or a
homeless shelter.

This door opens to only one of every three; two girls are
turned away from the door that opens to adventure . . .
to wholesome experiences . . . to an understanding of
themselves . . . to an appreciation of, and love for, our
Earth.

Doors must be opened for girls. Girls will seldom go up
and knock on a door.

What girls do . . . and what they think . . . should not be
left to chance.

Open that door for just one more. Open that door for
just one more.

OPENINGS -                             FLAG CEREMONIES
   THE DOOR
                                                 INVESTITURE / REDEDICATION
CLOSINGS -
   GREAT THOUGHTS
   PARABLE OF THE                 LEADER RECRUITMENTS
          PENCIL                               A LITTLE GIRL'S EYES
                                                     CALCULATOR TAPE DEMO

GREAT THOUGHTS - Found on http://a_scout.tripod.com/adult.htm#thoughts

This was the closing for August SU. We cut the quotes apart and had random leaders read each quote and ended with the promise.

Girl Scouting is not a world apart, but a part of the world." As we dedicate ourselves today, let us keep in mind ways in which we can make Girl Scouting an even stronger part of our world.

Juliette Low frequently reminded the National Board, when much organizational planning had to be done, "We mustn't lose sight of the girls.The girls must always come first."

Thomas Edison said, "Genius is 99% perspiration and 1% inspiration."

Thank you for loaning me your daughter, For letting her make me smile, Thank you for letting her be a Girl Scout. It's an organization worthwhile" -Author Unknown

"We cannot learn from one another - until we stop shouting at one another; until we speak quietly enough so that our words can be heard as well as our voices." - Richard Nixon

Girls are the only reason for Girl Scouting. Everything in Girl Scouting is designed for their particular needs and interests "You don't have to think about doing the right thing. If you are for the right thing then you will do it without even thinking."
Maya Angelou (I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings)

Girl Scouting is multi-cultural. We not only welcome, but seek, members form all racial, ethnic, religious, and socioeconomic groups.

According to Peter Drucker, often called the founding father of the discipline of management, "The best run organization in the United States is the GirlScouts. Tough, hardworking women can do anything."

Girl Scouting is people, people like you and me, who give their time, their energy, and their love to help prepare today's girl for tomorrow's world.

Let's all join in saying the Girl Scout Promise On my honor, I will try, to
serve God and my Country, to help people at all times, and to live by the Girl
Scout Law

A Little Girl's Eyes (FOR RECRUITMENT)
Author: Unknown

I'd like to be a Brownie
(Her eyes were deepest blue)
I'd like to learn and play and sing,
Like Jane and Ashley do.

I know how to use scissors;
I can cut cloth if I try.
I'm eight years old, a big girl now,
And hardly ever cry.

I gave her the application
And parent participation sheet.
(Her eyes were filled with sunshine
as she left on dancing feet.)

Next day my friend was back again.
No longer wearing the smile she'd had.
I guess I'll skip the Brownies
(Her eyes were dark and sad).

My mom is awfully busy,
She has lots of friends, you see,
She'd never have time for a troop,
She hardly has time for me.

And dad is always working;
He's hardly ever there.
To give them any more to do
Just wouldn't be fair.

She handed back the papers
With the dignity of eight years
And smiling bravely left me,
(Her eyes were filled with tears.)

Do you see your own girl's eyes
As other people may?
How she looks when you're too busy
Or, just haven't the time today?

A girl is such a special gift,
Why won't you realize,
It only takes a little time,
To put sunshine in her eyes.

You say; I'll start tomorrow
But tomorrow is far away.
She's little for such a short time
So won't you start today?

CALCULATOR TAPE DEMO
You need an 8-10 foot long piece of adding machine or calculator tape.
Mark off the tape in ten year increments with 0 at the left end and 100 at the right. Use
large numbers so parents can see from the audience. Roll the tape back up, so that the
100 is in the center of the roll.

For the presentation you will need two helpers to hold the tape in front of you so you can
point at various points on the tape. Start out saying: "With the current advances in
medical technology its very likely that your daughter will live about 100 years."
(Have your helpers unroll the tape in front of you, so the whole time line is visible.)
"Here's a time line of her life. If you're 35 now, statistically, you'll likely live until you're
75 or so, when your daughter will be about 50."(Rip the tape off at the 1/2 way point and
hand the end to your helper. Let the other half fall to the floor -- very important dramatic
effect).
"This represents the years you and your daughter will have together in her lifetime. And
she's probably about 6 or 7 now."
(Rip of the tape slightly below 10 and let that piece fall to the floor. Hand the end to your
helper).
"So here's the time you have left together."
"How old do you suppose your daughter will be when she goes away to college (or you
decide its time for her to be out on her own)? 18 - 20?"
(Rip off the tape someplace in this vicinity. Let that chunk fall to the floor. Hand the end
to your helper).
"This is the amount of time you have left with her at home."
"When she's about 13 - middle school age - her friends start to become a much bigger,
maybe the major, influence in her life."
(If you can -assuming you have/had a teenager - make a comment about how you know
this from experience.)
(Rip off the tape someplace in this vicinity. Let that chunk fall to the floor. Hand the end
to your helper).
(Take the very short piece of tape from your helpers and hold in it front of you, and thank
your helpers.)
"This is the time you have left to be the major shaping force in your daughter's life. You
can show her how important she is to you by becoming involved in Girl Scouting with
her. Girl Scouts is a remarkable opportunity for you and your daughter to share a great
variety of fun, exciting and positive experiences. Experiences that give you the
opportunity to help her grow into an adult that you'll be proud to point to and say: 'That's
my daughter -she's a good person.'"

THE PARABLE OF THE PENCIL

The Pencil Maker took the pencil aside, just before putting him into the box.
There are 5 things you need to know, he told the pencil, before I send you out
into the world. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the
best pencil you can be.

One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be
held in Someone's hand.

Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you'll need it
to become a better pencil.

Three: You will be able to correct mistakes you will make.

Four: The most important part of you will always be what's inside.

And Five: On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No
matter what the condition, you must continue to write.

The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with
purpose in its heart. Now replacing the place of the pencil with you; always
remember them and never forget, and you will become the best person you can
be.

One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be
held in God's hand. And allow other human beings to access you for the many
gifts you possess.

Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, by going
through various problems, but you'll need it to become a stronger person.

Three: You will be able to correct mistakes you might make or grow through
them.

Four: The most important part of you will always be what's on the inside.

And Five: On every surface you walk, you must leave your mark. No matter what
the situation, you must continue to serve God in everything.

By understanding and remembering, let us proceed with our life on this earth
having a meaningful purpose in our heart and a relationship with God daily.