Girl Scouts - In These Days

(This is the second installment in a series of posts on Girl Scouts. More to come as I gather information and reflect on it.  I work slowly these days.)

In 2004 in Texas, several communities boycotted Girl Scout cookie sales, culminating in the local council severing ties and no longer co-sponsoring an annual event as it had previously done with Planned Parenthood.

Shortly afterward the then-CEO of the Girl Scouts, Kathy Cloninger, was interviewed on NBC’s "Today" show.  She said:  "The Girl Scouts in Waco, Texas, really made a decision based on local community context, they decided that in this particular situation that it would be in the best interest of girls and their families to discontinue the relationship with Planned Parenthood." Subsequently she noted, "We partner with many organizations. We have relationships with our church communities, with YWCAs, and with Planned Parenthood organizations across the country, to bring information-based sex education programs to girls." 

Um, gulp.

Following this turmoil, a group called STOPP (Stop Planned Parenthood) conducted a survey of the then 300+ Girl Scout councils across the U.S. After several months, STOPP reported that 20% of Girl Scout councils admitted to having a relationship with Planned Parenthood. Some councils said they have no working relationships with Planned Parenthood, while the majority did not respond to the survey. 

A "relationship" with Planned Parenthood was defined as any of the following:
Any troop in the council inviting PP to speak.
Having scouts attend PP events to earn a badge.
Co-sponsor Planned Parenthood event.
Co-sponsor, with PP, a third-party event.
Promotion of a PP event or event with PP participation.
PP execs/board members serving on GS board.
Giving award to PP executive.


What a mess! It really looks like local leadership sets the tone on this issue. 

Meanwhile, the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM), which has been overseeing "Catholic religious recognition programs serving Girl Scout and Camp Fire units" (i.e., badges, pins, etc) since the early 1980's has said:
"Many Catholic Girl Scout leaders are feeling torn between their commitment to Girl Scouting and their commitment to their Catholic teachings because of the real or perceived relationship between GSUSA and organizations like Planned Parenthood. The NFCYM approach to this complex issue has been one of engagement, rather than detachment or withdrawal. NFCYM... needs to stay connected to GSUSA not only because thousands of Catholic girls and Catholic adult leaders are involved in scouting, but because Girl Scouting—like Boy Scouting—provides excellent character development for young people through their programs. NFCYM can only influence secular organizations by staying in relationship with them . . . by being at the table."

Ah, the very question that occurred to me! Withdrawal, boycott, or engagement, dialogue. The Youth Ministers play on the national stage, so their responsibility has a different scope than mine, as a parent dealing with my daughter, one particular potential Girl Scout at the moment.  But the question is the same.

Of course, my husband framed the debate in an entirely different way.  "This is Monkey1 we are dealing with. She may go to four meetings and decide it is boring." 
Like ballet. Like swim team. Like cello lessons.
Although she has begged me in the past, "When am I old enough to be a Girl Scout?" (all three of her girl first-cousins are in or have been in Girl Scouts, and two of her aunts are leaders -- I need to talk to them  next), when I told Monkey1 about a Daisy Girl Scout troop forming for her age with lots of her classmates, she just kinda shrugged.  Girl Scouts may be something that Mom is more excited about than daughter.