Service Unit Community Relations Playbook

The Service Unit Community Relations Coordinator
helps the council spread the good news
about all the great things
Girl Scouts and volunteers are doing in their community
with their local media outlets.
Our Mission:
Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence,
and character, who make the world a better place.
Honesty
You are a trusted representative of your service unit and of Girl Scouts.
If you strive to make honest and ethical decisions, your team will too.
Ability to Delegate
Where there is trust, there is strength! The ability to delegate tasks to
appropriate team members is one of the greatest skills you can have.
Communication
Be clear and be knowledgable about what you want done or the information you wish to convey. If you can’t explain it, they can’t understand it.
Sense of Humor
Always try to find the smiles inside the struggles! If you strive to find the
“punny” and positive side of any situation, your teammates will too!
Confidence
When setbacks occur, help assure everyone that everything is going to
be OK. Be a source of encouragement and calm during life’s little storms.
Commitment
Lead by example. If you expect your team to work hard and give of their
time and talents, always do your best to do the same.
Positive Attitude
Help keep your team focused on the goals ahead by keeping a smile on
your face and in your voice. Positive energy produces positive results!
Creativity
Problems don’t always have clear solutions and sometimes the best
ideas take a little time to find. Always try to think outside the box!
Ability to Inspire
Motivation is key to achieving your goals. Keep everyone’s spirits high by
appreciating hard work and recognizing team members’ strengths.
Intuition
Use your best judgment. Trust your gut. When there is no roadmap telling
you where to go or how to proceed, trust yourself and trust your team.
GSHS Service Unit Team Member Playbook
COMMUNITY RELATIONS
COORDINATOR
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction................................................................................................................ 1
Council Information..................................................................................................2
Council History...........................................................................................................3
Council Jurisdiction................................................................................................. 4
Girl Scout Messages..................................................................................................5
Working with the Media............................................................................................5
Tips for Writing.......................................................................................................... 6
Girl Scout Style Guide Snap Shot......................................................................... 6
Sample Press Release..............................................................................................7
Sample Feature Story.............................................................................................. 8
Sample Media Alert.................................................................................................. 8
Sample Cutline.......................................................................................................... 9
Photography Tips..................................................................................................... 9
Girl Scout Logo Guidelines...................................................................................10
T-Shirt Guidelines for Troops or Service Units................................................11
Social Media Guidelines......................................................................................... 12
Specific Guidelines for Using Social Media Platforms.................................. 13
Websites and Social Media Platforms......................................................... 14-15
Guidelines for Girl Scout Troops & Service Unit Websites....................16-18
Brand Guidelines.....................................................................................................18
Girl Scouts Heart of the South Public Relations Activities........................20
Public Relations Activity Reporting Form....................................................... 23
SERVICE UNIT
COMMUNITY RELATIONS
COORDINATOR
POSITION DESCRIPTION
The basic job description for the Service Unit Community Relations Coordinator is outlined below. We would like
for you to be the first line of contact regarding the following action items for your service unit and its troops.
• Coordinate service unit publicity and media coverage efforts with council Marketing and Communications
Department.
• Develop, coordinate and manage social media pages, platforms, etc. for the service unit and include
council communications staff as administrators.
• Assist service unit team members with marketing related to programs, events, recruitment, etc.
• Submit published pictures and information related to service unit and troop happenings to council
Marketing and Communications Department.
• Be knowledgeable and provide guidance to service team and troops on Girl Scout branding and
logo standards.
• Design flyers and advertising materials as needed and/or in collaboration with other service team
members.
• Communicate and build relationships with local media outlets to promote Girl Scouts and increase
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visibility across service unit.
Promote and encourage volunteers to submit information for media release in your community.
Ensure that service unit publicity reflects the diversity of Girl Scouting in the area.
Stay abreast of any newsworthy happenings in your community.
Submit information and digital photographs to the Girl Scout council for highlighting in GSHS publications.
Submit information for council approval before seeking media coverage and/or publication.
Thank you.
It is with the support of our volunteers like you that we are able to share all the
great things our girls are doing in Girl Scouts.
Local connections.
Remember, you are the point person in the service unit to send news releases or information to
the local media in your community. Make sure that
everyone knows that all publicity should go through
you. The last thing you want is for a reporter to get
multiple emails about the same story.
The role of the Service Unit Community Relations
Coordinator is to help the council spread the good
news about all the great things that Girl Scouts and
volunteers are doing in their community to their local
media outlets.
Stay connected. You should be informed about
events that are newsworthy, such as community service projects, Girl Scout recruitment events, volunteer opportunities, cookie program dates.
Tell us more.
You also act as the local eyes and ears of the council
so we can share your news council-wide, or even
nation-wide. How great would it be to see your girls
recognized on the GSUSA website?
A good way to know what is going on is to attend as
many service unit meetings as possible. People often
casually mention something that could be a great
story to share.
We love hearing about what girls and adults are
doing in Girl Scouts. Send us stories, pictures and
video! We can share on the council’s website, publications, postcards, email blasts and social media
sites.
Try to get real news in the paper. Readers of your
local paper would be much more interested to read
about a canned food drive taking place than minutes
from your last service unit meeting. Send information
you think others would be interested to read.
Send to [email protected]
Working together.
Newspapers often are looking for feature story ideas,
or a more in-depth story into a bigger topic. For
example, a grandmother, mother and girl who all are
currently involved in Girl Scouting and can give three
different perspectives of the value of Girl Scouting.
The council Marketing and Communications Department will handle contacting radio and television
media on stories and other activities.
We will also manage public service announcement
requests and creation of radio or television spots.
If you think a feature story idea may have a wider
appeal to other service units please contact Jenny
Jones, Sr. Director of Community Engagement and
Marketing for assistance.
If you have an event and are looking for a television
station to attend, please give us enough advanced
notice so we can contact our partners at the television stations. We cannot guarantee they will attend,
but we are more than happy to make the ask.
Before you send. Email Jenny Jones if you are
working on a feature story with your local paper. She
can provide quotes, pictures and additional council
information for the reporter.
Speak in one voice. Prior to submitting any written
stories, or photos with bylines, or captions, email
it to Jenny Jones to make sure that we all are using
the same wording, and to help with any grammatical
errors.
Contact: Jenny Jones
Sr. Director of Community Engagement and Marketing
[email protected]
662-350-6041
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COUNCIL INFORMATION
Regional Service Centers and Camp Properties
www.girlscoutshs.org
800-624-4815
Memphis Regional Service Center & Council Shop
Headquarters
717 South White Station Rd Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 240246
Suite 2
Memphis, TN 38124-0246
Memphis, TN 38117
Phone: 901-767-1440
Fax: 901-797-2183
Hours of Operation:
Monday-Friday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Council Shop is closed from 11 a.m. to noon.
First Saturday - Open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Camp Tik-A-Witha
www.girlscoutshs.org/camptik-a-witha
365 County Road 117
Van Vleet, MS 38877
Camp Tik-A-Witha resides on 310 beautiful acres
that adjoin the Tombigbee National Forest in Van
Vleet, MS. The camp features a 20-acre lake where
campers can canoe, kayak, swim and play on the
large inflatable water toys. An in ground swimming
pool with two slides and a diving board is also available. Camp Tik-A-Witha can accommodate 150
people in a variety of camping options that range
from platform tents to cabins and has five lodges.
Kamp Kiwani
www.girlscoutshs.org/kampkiwani
1800 Sandy Springs Lane
Middleton, TN 38052
Jackson Regional Service Center & Council Shop
1007 Old Humboldt Road
Jackson, TN 38305
Phone: 731-668-1122
Fax: 731-661-0011
Girl Scout Kamp Kiwani resides on 1,250 wooded
acres and boasts of Lake Okalowa, a 70-acre lake
where campers can canoe, kayak, swim and play on
the large inflatable water toy. Complete with horses
and other exciting camp amenities and activities,
Kamp Kiwani is Girl Scouts Heart of the South’s
largest camp. It can accommodate 237 people in six
units, one lodge and Sandy Springs Ranch. Each of
the six units feature 4, four person, screened cabins,
a unit house and shower house.
Hours of Operation:
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.,
Office closed from 11 a.m. to noon for lunch
Tupelo Regional Service Center & Council Shop
1140 West Main Street
Tupelo, MS 38801
Mailing Address:
Phone: 662-844-7577
P.O. Box 1087
Fax: 662-840-1671
Tupelo, MS 38802
Camp Fisherville:
www.girlscoutshs.org/campfisherville
Hours of Operation:
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Office closed from 11 a.m. to noon for lunch
Camp Fisherville is situated in Fisherville, TN on 72
pristine acres. The varying landscape features a
small pond, open field and wooded areas perfect for
camping. The heated lodge has a large main room
with a fireplace and full kitchen. The lodge is newly
renovated bathrooms, kitchen as well as a sleeping
area. The back porch boast bunk beds that the girls
will enjoy during their overnight. The Cookie Pavilion
is located at the opposite end of the camp and is
designated for day use for groups camping with their
own tents. The pavilion contains a fireplace, picnic
tables and two bathrooms with flush toilets and
showers. Activities supported by the camp include
hiking, archery, canoeing, and backpacking.
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COUNCIL HISTORY
Girl Scouts Heart of the South had its earliest beginnings in 1916 when troops began to meet in the MidSouth area. Word spread quickly throughout Western
Tennessee and Northern Mississippi as troops began
to take part in this wonderful new opportunity for girls.
There were lone troops throughout the area for several
years before any local councils were officially chartered. Council records document activities by these
varying troops that include summer Day Camps, and
overnights.
Girl Scout Council of the Mid-South was incorporated
in 1935 to serve Memphis and Shelby County, TN. By
1954, the council had grown to serve the counties of
Fayette, Lauderdale, Shelby and Tipton, Tennessee,
Crittenden County, Arkansas; and DeSoto, Marshall,
Panola, Tate and Tunica counties in Mississippi.
The council office was first located in the Community Center at Second and Madison and in the home
of Mrs. R. J. Lilley. The Lee Lumber Company built a
model home at the Fairgrounds and the Girl Scouts
were allowed to use the house as their headquarters.
Of course, when the Fair was held, they moved out and
returned when the festivities were over. For 23 years,
Bry’s Department Store furnished the council with free
office space. In 1969, the council office was moved to
Dorrie Lane where it remained until December of 2001
when it was relocated to Kirby Parkway.
Girl Scouts of Northeast Mississippi Council was incorporated in 1947 as the Prairie Girl Scout Association
and originally served the Mississippi counties of Lowndes, Oktibbeha, Clay, Noxubee, Monroe and Winston.
Headquarters were originally located in Columbus,
MS with office space given rent-free by the city at the
National Guard Armory. Lee County was added to the
jurisdiction in 1948 and by 1964, the council added
Chickasaw, Itawamba, Choctaw, Union, Attala, Pontotoc, Webster, Alcorn, Tippah, Benton, Prentiss, and
Tishomingo counties.
for Special Children. Maintaining a Columbus Service
Center, the council office was moved to Tupelo in 1979
and additional service centers were added in Corinth
and Starkville.
Girl Scouts of Reelfoot Council was chartered on January 3, 1959 to serve girls in 18 counties of West Tennessee. Paris, TN had the first known Girl Scout troop
in this jurisdiction in 1925. Madison County was the first
county to have an official formation and the jurisdiction grew to include the counties of Benton, Carroll,
Chester, Crockett, Decatur, Dyer, Gibson, Hardeman,
Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Henry, Lake, Lauderdale,
McNairy, Obion, and Weakley.
The original headquarters, built for Girl Scouts by the
Veterans of Foreign Wars, was referred to as the “Little
House” on Lane Avenue in Jackson, TN and the lot was
purchased in 1950 for $100 which was donated by Mr.
Mack Morris.
Girl Scout Council of Northwest Mississippi was chartered on December 15, 1959 to serve the counties of
Bolivar, Carroll, Calhoun, Coahoma, Grenada, Holmes,
Humphrey, Issaquena, Lafayette, Leflore, Montgomery,
Quitman, Sharkey, Sunflower, Tallahatchie, Washington,
and Yalobusha in Mississippi. The council office was
headquartered in Greenwood. When the council was
organized, it served 77 troops and 1192 girls.
Girl Scouts Heart of the South was born from the merger of the Mid-South, Northeast Mississippi, Reelfoot
and Northwest Mississippi Girl Scout Councils in June
of 2008.
Girl Scouts Heart of the South covers 59 counties in
north Mississippi, west Tennessee, and Crittenden
County, Arkansas.
Mrs. Elizabeth Gwin was Executive Director for the
council from 19 60 until 1974 and established a resident
camp program for children with special needs in 1975
which continues today as the Elizabeth Gwin Session
The council serves over 9,300 girls through the help
of 3,100 dedicated adult members and 42 staff members, three camp properties and four owned or leased
regional service centers.
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COUNCIL
JURISDICTION
Girl Scouts Heart of the South covers 59 counties in north Mississippi, west Tennessee, and
Crittenden County, Arkansas.
The council serves over 9,300 girls through the
help of 3,100 dedicate adult members and 35
staff members, three camp properties and four
owned or leased regional service centers.
The headquarters are located in Memphis, Tennessee at 717 S. White Station Road.
Arkansas Counties:
Crittenden
Mississippi Counties:
Tennessee Counties:
Alcorn
Benton
Bolivar
Calhoun
Carroll
Chickasaw
Choctaw
Clay
Coahoma
Desoto
Grenada
Holmes
Itawamba
Lafayette
Lee
Leflore
Lowndes
Marshall
Monroe
Montgomery
Noxubee
Benton
Carroll
Chester
Crockett
Decatur
Dyer
Fayette
Gibson
Hardeman
Hardin
Haywood
Henderson
Henry
Lake
Lauderdale
Madison
McNairy
Obion
Shelby
Tipton
Weakley
Oktibbeha
Panola
Pontotoc
Prentiss
Quitman
Sunflower
Tallahatchie
Tate
Tippah
Tishomingo
Tunica
Union
Washington
Webster
Winston
Yalobusha
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GIRL SCOUT MESSAGES
• The Girl Scout Mission: Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world
a better place.
• The Girl Scout Leadership Experience teaches girls to Discover the world around them; Connect with oth•
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ers; and Take Action to make a difference.
Character, conduct and community service are core qualities of Girl Scouting.
Girl Scouting is an asset to the community. Through leadership and service, its members enrich the lives
of those around them.
Girl Scouts discover fun, friendship and the power of girls together.
Girl Scouts is for every girl, everywhere. Girl Scouting is multicultural. Girl Scouts not only welcomes but
seeks members from all racial, ethnic, cultural, religious and socioeconomic groups.
Girl Scouting is based on a code of values, expressed in the Promise and Law, which every girl can understand and apply in her everyday life.
Girl Scouts of the USA is the world’s largest organization for girls.
Girl Scouting is international. As part of a worldwide movement for girls, with members in 145 countries,
this sisterhood builds global understanding.
Adults make Girl Scouting possible and gain personal satisfaction and growth by helping girls develop.
This is from Communications in Girl Scouting.
WORKING WITH THE MEDIA
Find out who your contact at the newspaper
will be. Be sure to find a contact person for each of
Ask about deadlines. Newspapers and other me-
the newspapers, including shoppers, in your community. If you have never met this person please take time
to visit with the person and introduce yourself to him or
her.
Always speak to the same person if possible.
This helps build a relationship and establishes a steady
contact for not only you but for the media representative. It helps them to put a face to a name. Ask that
contact for an alternative person to speak to in case
they are out, such as an editor.
dia operate on tight deadlines. If you have the information to them on time it makes it much easier for them
to get it in.
In some papers the notice may be able to run in more
than one spot ask about other parts of the paper that
can use the information.
When cookie time comes, take them a box of Girl Scout
Cookies. It serves as a reminder and as a thank you all
in one.
Find out how they like to receive the news
and what type of information best suits their
newspaper. Ask for their email address and if they
prefer to receive text within the body of an email or as
attachments.
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TIPS FOR WRITING
1. Get the most important information out there
first. Writers like to have the basic information
of who, what, when, where, why and how where
they can find it. Make it easier for them. When
writing a news release put the reason you are
sending them the information at the top of the
page then work in the other information.
2. If you are just sending them a meeting or event
notice be sure to put the time, place, date and
contact name.
3. If at all possible type the information. If you
handwrite the information make it neat and
easy to read. Also be sure to put a contact
name and phone number on the release in
case there are any questions or they are not
able to read something.
4. Ask your community paper if they have a
specific form they would like for you to follow
when sending in news releases or public service announcements.
5. If the information is for a feature story at the
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end of the story be sure to put the phone
number of the person featured in the story
in case they want to do their own story. Remember the newspaper may want to do its
own story and use your information for background. That’s OK. The main thing is getting
the story about the Girl Scouts out in the
community.
Once you write your story be sure to check it
for accuracy and then send it to Jenny Jones,
[email protected] for help proof
reading. Newspapers and other media outlets
will go with what you have down. Make sure it is
correct before you send it.
If you send out information and it has more
than one page to the release, put “more” at
the bottom of the first page.
Take, mail, e-mail or fax the news release to
your contact.
Wait a few days then follow up with a phone
call to see if they received the information and
if there is anything else you can do for them.
GIRL SCOUT STYLE GUIDE
SNAPSHOT
• Girl Scouts of the USA – abbreviations are in order of preference of use: Girl Scouts of the USA, Girl Scouts
USA, GSUSA; be consistent throughout your document
• Girl Scouts Heart of the South – GSHS (only use on Girl Scout-only collateral); not GSHOTS
• Council Properties:
Camps
Regional Service Centers
Camp Fisherville
Corinth Regional Service Center
Camp Tik-A-Witha
Jackson Regional Service Center
Kamp Kiwani
Memphis Regional Service Center
Tupelo Regional Service Center
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Annual membership dues; not registration fee or membership fee
Girl Scout with award names (e.g. Girl Scout Gold Award, Girl Scout Silver Award, Girl Scout Bronze Award)•
Girl Scout Cookie Program ; not Cookie Sale
Girl Scouts or Girl Scouting ; never scout, scouts or scouting
Girl Scout grade levels ; not program levels or age levels
Girl Scout Junior ; not Junior Girl Scout (same for all grade levels; puts focus on Girl Scouts instead of grade
level)
• Service unit and troop numbers: Spell out service unit/troop with the numeric number and do not use the
# sign (e.g. Troop 12689, Cordova Service Unit)
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SAMPLE PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: KIMBERLY CRAFTON
GIRL SCOUTS HEART OF THE SOUTH
901-334-3461
[email protected]
GIRL SCOUT TROOPS PARTICIPATE IN MLGW’S “A-BLAZING MODEL SOLAR CAR RACE”
Memphis, TN – Girl Scout Troops 10103 (Collierville) and 13361 (Cordova) took home top honors in MLGW’s
“A-Blazing Model Solar Car Race” held on the Beale Street Landing Parking Garage roof top Saturday, August
16, 2014. The object of the competition was to design and build a vehicle powered strictly by solar power using recycled materials and a special kit containing a solar panel and motor (made available through MLGW).
Participants were instructed to use the kits along with various recycled materials to design and construct a
vehicle to race on a 20-meter course. After a series of head-to-head elimination rounds, Girl Scout Troop
10103 from Collierville won first place in the Middle School Division with their car, “Samoa Fun.”
Awards were also presented for speed and design. Girl Scout Troop 13361 from Cordova won first place
overall in the “Best Use of Recycled Materials” category with their entry. The Cordova girls were thrilled to be
honored for their creativity but said they are excited for next year’s event where they hope to build a vehicle
that takes top honors for design and wins the race as well!
The Girl Scouts Heart of the South council was a proud partner of the event along with the Chickasaw Council of the Boy Scouts of America, The University of Memphis, Christian Brothers University and The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).
Girl Scouts encourages troops to participate in this and similar events in order to engage girls in STEM (Science/Technology/Engineering/Math) related activities. Studies show that, “Expertise in STEM fields promotes inventiveness, scientific discovery, and efficiency in the way things are done, while also opening up
new job and economic opportunities…STEM jobs require technical expertise, specialized training or higher
education,1” and Girl Scouts seeks to foster opportunities for girls to succeed at the highest possible level.
The mission of Girl Scouting is to build girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a
better place. Girl Scouts Heart of the South encompasses 59 counties in east Arkansas, north Mississippi
and west Tennessee. The headquarters are located in Memphis, TN and regional service centers are located in Jackson, TN, Tupelo, MS, and Corinth, MS. To find out more, visit them online at www.girlscoutshs.org.
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Girl Scout Research Institute. 2012. Generation STEM: What Girls Say about Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. New York, NY: Girl Scouts of
the USA.
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SAMPLE FEATURE STORY
A sample of an activity that may draw some media attention would be to throw a birthday party
for Juliette Gordon Low, founder of Girl Scouts in the United States. Since her birthday is on Halloween maybe have the birthday party instead. Get a cake and have party favors that have a Girl
Scout theme. This activity gives the girls and the community a chance to learn more about the
founder of the organization.
Another suggestion would be to host the birthday party at a nursing or assisted living home.
Donate gifts to residents at the nursing home. Since both Halloween and the birthday are on the
same day you could have a camp fire, following city regulations on such things, make s’mores
instead of going trick or treating. Girl Scouts can also hold Halloween parties or Fall Festivals for
children in need, such as children at a local shelter.
SAMPLE MEDIA ALERT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: KIMBERLY CRAFTON
AUGUST 22, 2014
GIRL SCOUTS HEART OF THE SOUTH
GIRL SCOUTS “DO A GOOD TURN DAILY” ONE TO EAT, ONE TO TREAT
– A PAY IT FORWARD INITIATIVE OF GIRL SCOUTS HEART OF THE SOUTH
What & Why: Staff members of the Girl Scouts Heart of the South council will travel to various locations throughout the council jurisdiction and hand out free boxes of
Girl Scout cookies to strangers. Each recipient will receive two boxes of cookies
labeled with a special “Do a Good Turn Daily” sticker. The initiative encourages people to keep one as a treat for themselves and to pass the other along to
brighten someone else’s day.
Locations will be publicized throughout the day via social media using the
hashtag #goodturn.
The project aims to promote Girl Scouts’ efforts to “Do a Good Turn Daily” and
encourages others to do the same. Who:
Girl Scouts Heart of the South council staff members.
When:
Wednesday, September 3. Times throughout the day.
Where:
Various locations throughout the Memphis, TN, Jackson, TN, and Tupelo, MS
Contact:
Kimberly Crafton (901) 334-3461 or [email protected].
~8~
SAMPLE CUTLINE
A cutline is the basic information of what is happening in a photograph - the who, what, when, where, why and how of what is
being shown in the photo.
Identify people in the picture from left to right. Make sure their
names are spelled correctly and they have the right title with
their name.
EXAMPLE: Girl Scout Gold Award recipient Anna Jones
(right) pins her advisor, and mother, Carol Jones,
on Saturday, April 26 at the Girl Scouts Heart of
the South Annual Meeting in Tupelo, MS.
PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS
Photographers at newspapers sometimes are in search of
feature photos. If you know of a neat photo idea contact your
paper in advance and let them know what is going on. Be sure to
give them all of the important information, such as when and where the photo is being taken. Give them a contact
name and let them know you will help any way you can. Remember: Give them advance notice before the event.
If you send a photograph to a newspaper here are a couple of guidelines to help you.
1. Make sure the photograph, whether it is color or black and white, is a good clear shot. If it is fuzzy the photograph may look worse after it goes through the printing process at the paper.
2. Try to have no more than six people in the photograph. When there are too many people in a photograph it
makes it hard to identify everyone in the photograph. Most papers will request first and last names in order
of appearance.
3. When sending in a photograph, be sure to include a cutline or caption. Keep it brief. Be sure somewhere
on the sheet of information you put a contact name in case they have any additional questions about the
photo.
4. If you are sending more than one photo make sure you have the correct cutline attached to the correct
photo. One tip might be to put a number or a slug name on the back of the photo or as the file name then
put it on the corresponding cutline.
5. Action photos draw more attention than grips and grins. Keep that in mind when taking a photo. We know
there are times when these photographs are necessary but please try to keep them to a minimum.
*Please also see “Publicity Release Policy and Guidelines” (p 19)
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GIRL SCOUT LOGO GUIDELINES
• The Girl Scout logo, or otherwise known as a service mark, is composed of two parts, the Profile (the
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Trefoil with three faces) and the logotype (the words “Girl Scouts”). The Profile and/or solid Trefoil
(solid image without the faces) may be used independently of the mark.
However, the text may only be used with the Profile. No registration
mark (®) is required
Volunteers, troops, members are allowed to use the service mark,
Trefoil and Profile to promote Girl Scouting on tee-shirts, websites,
posters, flyers, etc. Click on the link (www.girlscoutshs.org/logoguidelines), or images (above right, below right & below), right click and select
“Save Image As...” and save to your computer.
The service mark, Trefoil or Profile cannot be used for any commercial
purposes. If you wish to create something for-profit, please email Kristen Posey Russell, Director of Communications and Creative Services,
“Profiles”
[email protected] for a list of GSUSA Licensed
Vendors.
If speaking to a Girl Scout audience, then the service mark may be abbreviated to familiar initials
“GS”.
The service mark cannot be stretched, altered, redrawn or modified.
The logotype must remain in the same proportion to the Trefoil. Use of
the symbol without the logotype and the use of the service mark as a
design element is not permitted.
For print, the preferred color treatment for the Girl Scout service mark
is Girl Scout green (PMS 355).The service mark can ONLY be printed in
white, black or Girl Scout green.
For the web, Girl Scout green, white or black is required. Please try to get
as close as possible to the Pantone colors listed for print.
The service mark may not be used as part of a design or be the subject
of a wallpaper pattern. When using the service mark on a website, it may “Trefoil”
not flash, blink, or change colors in any way; it may not be used as an icon or button, and it may not be
animated.
The service mark is always placed on the left third of the page with at one “g” of clearance space
around it to make it stand out prominently.
2015-2016 tagline is “I Can’t Wait to... “
“Service mark”
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T-SHIRT GUIDELINES FOR TROOPS
OR SERVICE UNITS
Girl Scouts of the USA identifies and works with
licensed vendors who sign an extensive contract that
address concerns such as product safety, consumer
product guidelines (e.g., lead and toxin-free ink/paint),
labor law compliance (e.g., materials sourced only from
companies free of child labor), testing requirements
and regulations, product liability insurance, quality
and workmanship, and product and graphic guidelines
(e.g., trademarked logo, images consistent with Girl
Scout safety standards, etc.). Additionally, as with all
trademarked logos, vendors who print items for resale
or fee-based events must pay royalties to the organization – in this case, GSUSA.
The bottom line is: If a troop wants to make a T-shirt,
but won't be selling it, they can! The name "Girl
Scouts", "GSUSA" and/or any service marks (like the
Trefoil) can be used on merchandise, like tee shirts.
"We just want troop tee-shirts for everyone to wear."
Great!
• T-shirt designs must be approved by council's
•
•
When designing service unit/troop t-shirts or other
products for your troop or an event for which no fee is
being charged, the following guideline applies:
• The item is not being sold to anyone for profit
(including parents and/or volunteers).
• Example: If the shirts cost $5.50 to produce each shirt, then you can collect $5.50
per shirt. You cannot charge $10 to make a
profit, or raise money from these items.
• The item will not be sold at an event where a
participant fee is charged
• Create your own branded design to be approved by the council marketing and communications department before printing
• The item must include "Girl Scout Troop/Service Area XXXXX" or "Girl Scouts Heart of the
South Troop/Service Area XXXXX"
• If you are using the council service mark, the
trefoil or the profile, these logos must remain in
green, black or white
~ 11 ~
•
•
•
•
marketing and communication department
prior to printing
• Email your design to Kristen Posey
Russell, Director of Communications
and Creative Services for approval.
[email protected]
• Include information about how the shirt will
be used, if you need any logos or service
marks for your printer and printer contact
information
Download the Vendor Checklist, http://
girlscoutshs.org/assets/1467/gshs_checklist_for_non-licensed_vendors.pdf, and ask
the vendor to sign and verify that it is in compliance with all that is listed. Fax back to Kristen
Posey Russell at 901.797.2183 with a copy of
your design
In all cases, it is NOT acceptable to:
• Create a design and send it or take it to a
non-licensed vendor for printing without
approval from the GSHS marketing and
communications department
• Allow a non-licensed vendor to create a
design and print product without approval
from the GSHS marketing and communications department
What if I want to charge for the shirts, or the
event?
When designing service unit/troop t-shirts or
other products (e.g., tote bags, bandanas, water bottles, etc.) for an event for which a fee is
being charged, or a fee is charged for the item,
a licensed vendor must be used. The following
options are available:
Design Your Own: select or create a t-shirt
design from the GSUSA Girl Scout Studio Gallery at http://www.mygsds.com/. You will be
allowed to order online from the website.
Work with Licensed Vendor: create your own
branded design to be approved by the council
marketing and communications department
for printing through a licensed vendor.
SOCIAL MEDIA GUIDELINES
The term ‘social media’ refers to tools that allow the sharing of information and creation of communities through
online networks or people. It is a method to have two way conversations online. Some of the most common types
of social media include social networking sites (Facebook), microblogging sites (Twitter), forums, blogs and content-sharing services (YouTube).
Girl Scouts Heart of the South is continuously managing and developing a social media presence.. The goal of
our social media presence is to recruit potential Girl Scouts, volunteers and donors, as well as to retain current
membership. The use of social media enhances the visibility of our council as a united front—reaching out to the
community and media regarding council activities, events and more. We continue to strengthen the mission of
building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.
Social Media Etiquette
Below are some general tips to remember when using
social media.
• Be honest and fair Be transparent about your
role as a Girl Scouts Heart of the South volunteer when communicating about Girl Scout-related issues online.
• Be friendly, helpful, considerate and caring
Treat others as you want to be treated. Don’t
use social media to attack or speak negatively of
other volunteers, troop members, the council or
staff. This reflects poorly on the entire Girl Scout
organization. If you have a question, concern or
opinion, contact the council directly by phone or
personal email.
• Be courageous and strong Careful monitoring
of social media is important in maintaining a
positive image of Girl Scouts Heart of the South.
If you see posts, comments or behavior that
concern you, please notify the GSHS Marketing
& Communications department. Don’t be afraid
to speak up or ask questions.
• Be responsible for what you say and do
Remember that what you post online will be
around for a long time (think of it as your online
carbon footprint), and nothing is really “private”
anymore. Use discretion and if you have questions about whether or not you should post
something, ask the GSHS Marketing & Communications department.
• Respect yourself and others Respect other
people’s privacy and your own personal boundaries by using discretion when choosing to accept or invite a fellow volunteer and/or parents
as your Facebook “friend” on your personal
Facebook page or who you follow on Twitter.
(For the service unit or troop Facebook page,
~ 12 ~
•
•
•
•
•
the privacy settings will give you the ability to
give permission to only those who are involved
with the service unit or troop.)
Respect authority Girl Scouts Heart of the
South reserves the right to block or delete any
postings, administrators or group members or
to restrict volunteer access to social media sites
within council control. Also, if you are contacted by a member of the media through a social
media site and asked to comment on an issue,
please refer them to Jenny Jones, Senior Director of Marketing and Community Engagement at
662.350.6041.
Use resources wisely Your time is a valuable
resource and your social media activities should
not interfere with your volunteer commitments.
Make the world a better place and be a sister
to every Girl Scout This is true regardless of
how you are communicating.
Be mindful of how you look and act by living
the Girl Scout Promise and Law Your online
presence can reflect positively or negatively on
Girl Scouts Heart of the South. Be wary of your
actions captured via images, posts or comments. It is always recommended to set your
personal Facebook profile to “private” (only your
Facebook friends can see it), especially if you
have Girl Scouts Heart of the South listed as an
organization that you volunteer for or represent.
Please remember that your Facebook profile
picture can always be viewed publicly, so use
discretion when choosing how the world sees
you.
Deliver effective and deliberate communication to internal and external customers
Respond to questions and concerns in a timely
manner. Be a valuable resource for information.
SPECIFIC GUIDELINES FOR USING
SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS
This next section outlines guidelines to use when creating a Girl Scout account, whether it is for your service unit
or troop.
• Adult responsibility Before you begin developing a social media platform for your service unit
and/or troop, you should designate one adult
who will be responsible for monitoring the platform so members communicate effectively and
follow the guidelines stated below.
• Identifying members
• If you wish to post Girl Scouts’ names, use
first names only. Do not identify by name
any Girl Scouts pictured in any photos you
post online.
• Only identify the schools, addresses, phone
numbers or email addresses of adult Girl
Scout members in a closed, private group.
• Only list the address or location of any Girl
Scout meeting or activity in a closed, private
group.
• Identify trip or event locations after they
have occurred.
• Content Remember that anything posted is a
reflection of Girl Scouts Heart of the South and
GSUSA, so please be cautious when selecting
content.
• Girl use Speak with the girls in your troop or
service unit and make sure they understand the
importance of preserving the Girl Scout image
online. Encourage them to use good judgment
and discretion when posting online.
• Make sure you and the girls have taken the
GSUSA’s Internet Safety Pledge. Girl Scouts
13 years and older may use social media
after they have reviewed this document
with their parents and signed the pledge
form. You can also find more online safety
information in the Girl Scout Junior Amaze
Journey.
~ 13 ~
• Hyperlinks Consider hyperlinks with care. If
you link to another from your website or social
media platform, make sure that page’s content
is consistent with Girl Scout values and does not
contain inappropriate or controversial material.
• Advertising and product sales Do not sell
advertising on your site, either in text or graphic
format. This includes banner ads, skyscraper
ads, sponsored links, etc. The sale of advertising
creates an implied relationship between Girl
Scouts and the goods or services advertised,
and are not permitted.
• Infractions If you are contacted by Girl Scouts
Heart of the South or GSUSA and asked to
remove any content or links from your website
or social media platform, please comply with
that request. If you find a Girl Scout website
or social media platform that is in violation of
these guidelines, please contact Director of
Communications and Creative Services, Kristen.
[email protected]. Please describe the violation in detail and provide the web
address. We expect all who participate in social
media on behalf of Girl Scouts Heart of the
South (or in relation to Girl Scouts Heart of the
South) to understand and follow these guidelines. These guidelines will continue to evolve as
social media evolves and new technologies and
tools are added.
WEBSITES & SOCIAL MEDIA
PLATFORMS
All service units in Girl Scouts Heart of the South are encouraged to share information with their volunteers via
a service unit website or other social media platform. The purpose is to enhance the communication between
service unit members and volunteers, which will enrich the experience for girl and adult members. Girl Scout
troop leaders will also find these effective resources to enhance communications with parents. Once you have
created a site, we encourage you to share it with Kristen Posey Russell, Director of Communications and Creative
Services.
The next section of these guidelines gives specific information on how to start Facebook and Twitter accounts.
Other platforms such as Google or Scoutlander may also be used. Each service unit is encouraged to discuss
which medium would be most effective for their own use. We are not endorsing a specific product, but giving
information so Girl Scout members may use social media effectively.
Facebook - Girl Scouts Heart of the South
We are posting regular status updates, pictures, links
and more on our Girl Scouts Heart of the South Facebook page. We also invite our fans to participate in discussions and share information. To “Like” us—Search
for “Girl Scouts Heart of the South” in the Facebook
search bar. When you find us, simply click the “Like”
button.
Best practices for Facebook:
• Update your status regularly
• Brighten your profile with photos and videos
• Join groups and networks
• Write on friends’ walls
• “Like” pages, share links with friends and organize events
Creating a Closed Facebook Group
The first step is to create your own Facebook account,
if you have not done so already. If you do not have a
Facebook account, you can create one at www.facebook.com. It’s very simple and takes only a few minutes.
To create a group, take the following steps:
1. At the “home” page on your Facebook account,
on the left side column, there is a menu item
called “Create a Group.” Click on that option.
A box will appear on your screen for creating a
group.
2. Choose your group name. This should be the
name of your service unit (or your troop if you
are creating a group page for your troop). For
example: Tipton Service Unit 449. Please do not
include “Girl Scouts Heart of the South” in your
group name
3. You can now add other service unit members
to the group who also have Facebook accounts.
Please make sure to add only service unit members and Girl Scouts Heart of the South staff.
4. Pull down the menu labeled “privacy.” Your options will be Open, Closed or Secret. Select the
“Closed” option. This ensures that only members of the group will see the information posted
in the group page.
5. Click “create” and you’re finished.
6. If you choose to add a profile picture, the Girl
Scout Trefoil is a graphic you can use.
Things you can do with a closed Facebook group
• Post messages
• Post photos
• Create an event on the calendar and get RSVP
via a “yes,” “no” or “maybe” response
• Post links to other sites
• Post videos
• Create documents on Facebook
• Chat with group members
In a closed group, any member can invite other members to join, as long as they are Facebook friends.
Remember to protect everyone’s privacy by only
inviting adult members of Girl Scouts. The creator of
the closed group is the administrator by default. For
that reason, we encourage our volunteers to create
the closed group. It is a good practice to have more
than one administrator, so that the responsibility of the
account can be shared.
You will need to invite council staff to be a member
of the group so we can share important updates and
information.
~ 14 ~
Twitter—Girl Scouts Heart of the South
We are posting 140 character tweets from our Twitter
account @GirlScoutsHS.
Create a Twitter Account
1. To create a Twitter account visit: www.twitter.
com and click on “Sign Up.”
2. Full Name—Use your real name. It will appear on
your public profile.
3. Username—This is your “handle” on Twitter. (Ex:
Ours is GirlScoutsHS.) It can be your name (ex:
JaneSmith25), or something that is “you” (ex:
CookieFan18). Use your service unit name and
number or an abbreviation of the name, when
creating a Twitter account for your service unit.
When creating your username, be mindful that
user names count as a part of the 140 character
limit.
4. Password—You will need a password to sign in to
your account.
5. Terms of service—Agree to these. You are agreeing to not spam other users. Click “create account.”
The basics of Twitter are to:
• Follow relevant accounts
• Post tweets
• Retweet posts you like and want to share
Remember that people like the human touch and will
appreciate posts with your thoughts and experiences
more than you think. They also like it when you say ‘hi’
and respond to their comments.
Best practices for Twitter:
• Build relationships on Twitter
• Listen for comments about Girl Scouts
• Respond to comments and queries
• Ask questions
• Post links to things people would find interesting
• Retweet messages you would like to share
• Use a friendly, casual tone
• Don’t spam people
Once your account is created, you will see an account
page where you can fill in more information about yourself. Please do this.
Before finishing, be sure to click on the “Picture” tab
and upload a photo of yourself. A head shot is the best
idea. Use the Girl Scout Trefoil for a service unit.
~ 15 ~
GUIDELINES FOR GIRL SCOUT TROOP
& SERVICE UNIT WEBSITES
Nearly all Girl Scout members surf the web regularly and many Girl Scout Troops and Girl Scout Service Units are
designing their own web pages. Websites and the information they contain may be viewed by anyone, anywhere!
Ensuring the health and safety of girls is the cornerstone of the Girl Scout Movement; therefore Girl Scouts Heart
of the South provides the following guidelines and information.
ADULT RESPONSIBILITY
WEBSITE CONTENT
This person will need to contact the council to let them
know of the website’s existence. Please email direct
link to website to Kristen Posey-Russell, Director of
Communications and Creative Services.
[email protected]
Make sure that the girls and adults in your Girl Scout
Troop or Service Unit who may be contributing content to the site realize that this is a Girl Scout website, not a personal website, and that everything
they contribute must be scrutinized carefully by the
Designated Adult (see Adult Responsibility) before it
is uploaded, both for appropriateness of content and
for safety/security of Girl Scouts Heart of the South
members. References to race, color, religion, age
(except when referring to girl program grade levels),
sex, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status,
learning disability, physical or mental disability, ancestry, genetic information, and any other protected class
status, as well as political and personal opinions, have
no place on a Girl Scout web page.
Before you begin developing a Girl Scout website,
you must first designate one (1) adult who will be the
primary volunteer responsible for managing the website. This person will be responsible for monitoring the
website so that it meets the guidelines below.
WEBSITE IDENTIFICATION
All troop or service unit websites must identify themselves by including “Girl Scout Troop/Service Area
XXXXX” or “Girl Scouts Heart of the South Troop/
Service Area XXXXX” to let a viewer easily identify the
troop, service unit and council.
IDENTIFYING MEMBERS ONLINE
If you wish to post Girl Scouts’ names on the website,
first names are recommended and you should not use
a girl’s entire name.
Never identify personal addresses of Girl Scouts, however you may list your recruitment events.
If you must include contact information, create a generic email address (such as “GSTroop11223@yahoo.
com”) to which communications may be sent that will
effectively hide any individual identity within the Girl
Scout Troop or Service Unit. Make sure you respond to
emails in a timely fashion, usually within 24-48 hours.
Never post photos without permission. A signed Girl
Scout Membership Form includes permission for photos to be used for Girl Scout purposes, but we strongly
suggest you collect Publicity Release Forms for each
person pictured on your website for your own records.
For more information on the GSHS Publicity Release
Policy and Publicity Release forms, click here.
(www.girlscoutshs.org/publicityreleasepolicy)
Remember that anything you place on your website is
a reflection of Girl Scouts Heart of the South and GSUSA, so be cautious in selecting content. Ask yourself,
what information would be appropriate for a stranger
to see on your site?
GIRL USE
Speak with the girls in your Girl Scout Troop or Service
Unit and make sure that they understand the importance of preserving the Girl Scout image online. Don’t
allow them to post content on any page, forum, blog or
chat room on behalf of the Girl Scout Troop or Service
Unit without examining the content first, and encourage them to use good judgment and discretion in
choosing what they post on their own websites.
Have Girl Scouts fill out the Internet Safety Pledge,
available by clicking here, and discuss online safety
with them. Make sure the Girl Scouts understand the
potential dangers of using the Internet, and educate
them about not sharing personal information, photos,
contact information, etc. with strangers online.
~ 16 ~
COMMUNICATION WITH
PARENTS/GUARDIANS
WEBSITE GUIDELINE INFRACTIONS
HYPERLINKS
If you find that a Girl Scout website is in violation of any
of the Girl Scout Website Guidelines, email Girl Scouts
Heart of the South Director of Communications and
Creative Services, Kristen.Posey-Russell@girlscoutshs.
org. Please describe the violation in detail in the email
and include the URL of the website in question.
Invite parents/guardians to contact you if they have any
concerns regarding the content of your website, and be
understanding and flexible in dealing with any content
that raises concerns.
Consider hyperlinks with care. If you link to another
webpage from your website, make sure that the webpage’s content is consistent with Girl Scout values and
doesn’t contain inappropriate or controversial material.
Remember, anything you link to will be associated with
your website, even if you did not create the objectionable content.
In some cases, websites require permission to link to
them, so obtain any necessary permission according
to the particular website’s guidelines before linking to
the website. You may link to the Girl Scouts Heart of the
South site (www.girlscoutshs.org) and Girl Scouts of the
USA (www.girlscouts.org) from your Girl Scout Troop or
Service Unit webpage if you choose.
SOCIAL NETWORKING WEBSITES
If your website is hosted by Facebook or another social
networking site, exercise extreme caution in placing
other users on your “friend list.” Just as with external
website links, you must examine the profiles of other
users before permitting the “friend” connection and
make sure to avoid any questionable or controversial
content on the other users’ sites. Do not add users to
your “friend list” if you do not know them. Whenever
possible, set your profile to private so that only those
on your “friend list” may view it.
ADVERTISING AND PRODUCT SALES
Do not sell advertising on your site, either in text or
graphic format. This includes banner ads, skyscraper ads, sponsored links, etc. The sale of advertising
creates an implied relationship between Girl Scouts
and the goods or services advertised and cannot be
permitted.
Girls and adults may post notices on websites alerting
their communities about Girl Scout Cookie Sales or
Fall MagNut Sales. However, orders may not be taken
on-line.
If Girl Scouts Heart of the South or GSUSA contacts
you and requests that any content or links on your
website be removed or altered in accordance with
their guidelines, it is required that you comply with the
request.
BRANDING AND MESSAGING
Make sure that you follow all Girl Scouts Heart of the
South and GSUSA branding and messaging guidelines
when creating the content of your website, and observe copyright restrictions and guidelines for use of
the Girl Scout service mark and other materials. Click
here for Girl Scouts Heart of the South Branding Guidelines. (www.girlscoutshs.org/brandguidelines)
TRADEMARKS AND COPYRIGHTS
A group website may not use copyrighted designs, text,
graphics or trademarked symbols without specific
permission from the copyright or trademark holder.
The basic principle is: If it is not yours, don’t use it. This
rule applies to copyrights and trademarks held by Girl
Scouts Heart of the South and GSUSA, as well.
• Trademarks owned by GSUSA include:
• The Girl Scout Service Mark
• The words Girl Scout Daisy, Girl Scout Brownie,
Girl Scout Junior, Girl Scout Cadette, Girl Scout
Senior, Girl Scout Ambassador, Girl Scouts, Girl
Scouting, Girl Scout Cookies, Girl Scout Journeys, and the Girl Scout Leadership Experience
All trademarks must be used in accordance with guidelines for their use. Click here to read the Girl Scouts
Heart of the South Branding Guidelines, and click here
to read the Guidelines for Use of the Girl Scout Service
Mark.
You may not use illustrations, photographs or other
graphics taken from Leader Magazine, the Girl Scout
Journey Books, or other Girl Scout handbooks/publications on your website without the express written
permission of GSUSA. This includes official Girl Scout
insignia such as images of Girl Scout Brownie Try-Its,
Girl Scout Junior Badges, Girl Scout Interest Project
(Continued on next page)
~ 17 ~
(Continued from previous page)
Awards, the Girl Scout Gold Award, etc. All
of these images are the copyrighted property of GSUSA and/or the artist. In order
to obtain permission, you must contact
GSUSA at [email protected].
You may not post Girl Scout songs, stories,
poetry or articles on your website unless
you have first determined that they are not
copyrighted by another party or by GSUSA.
If the materials are copyrighted, you can
request permission for their use from the
owner, author or publisher of the materials, but do not use the materials until the
permission has been granted in writing. For
songs, please note that copyrights cover
both the words and the music, so neither
can be used if the song is copyrighted and
you do not have permission to use it.
You may not post copyrighted videos on
your website without written permission
from the creator or owner of the videos.
BRAND GUIDELINES
What is a brand?
A brand is more than just a logo or a tagline. It is the market’s impression of the organization and how customers experience the
organization, regardless of what we tell them. A brand, according
to the Non-Profit Times, is a reflection of everything associated
with an organization: quality of its work, reputation, staff, leadership, culture, core values, programs, services and products.
The Girl Scout Service Mark is simply the banner of our brand;
branding is the responsibility of everyone in the organization,
from the youngest Girl Scout Daisy to Girl Scouts Heart of the
South’s Board Chair - YOU are the brand!
Many people see Girl Scouts and think “cookies, camping, and
crafts.” It is our responsibility as Girl Scouts to educate others
about the key components of “cookies, camping, and crafts” (and
the rest of our outstanding offerings) as the means by which girls
develop leadership abilities, learn life and business skills, grow as
individuals and make the world a better place!
To communicate effectively and convey the correct perception
of Girl Scouts, we must adhere to consistent messaging in all of
our communications. For example, the word “troop” can mean
a number of things (military troops, Boy Scouts, TV shows, etc.),
but in Girl Scouts, it means something very specific. Therefore,
when communicating with external audiences, we must make
sure to use the words “Girl Scout” before the word “Troop” (i.e.,
Girl Scout Troop) to make the distinction clear. The same is true
for other terms that help to define who we are. Using complete
and consistent terms and grammar reinforces the Girl Scout brand and reminds the audience of who we are and
what we do.
Using the phrase “no copyright infringement is intended” (or similar wording) on
your website DOES NOT mean that you
can upload copyrighted or trademarked
material without permission. All necessary
permission must be obtained, or the material cannot be posted on your website.
With that in mind, please adhere to the messaging guidelines and use the following phrases when communicating
about Girl Scouts, both internally and externally:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Girl Scouts Heart of the South (GSHS)
Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA)
Girl Scouts
Girl Scouting
Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE)
Girl Scout Journeys
Girl Scout Cookie Program (NOT “cookie sale”)
Girl Scout Service Unit (GSSU)
Girl Scout Troop
Girl Scout Leader
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Girl Scout Daisy
Girl Scout Brownie
Girl Scout Junior
Girl Scout Cadette
Girl Scout Senior
Girl Scout Ambassador
Girl Scout Gold Award
Girl Scout Silver Award
Girl Scout Bronze Award
And always remember, YOU ARE THE BRAND!
~ 18 ~
PUBLICITY RELEASE POLICY &
GUIDELINES
MEMBERS
By signing the Girl Scouts Heart of the South Membership Form - either for yourself or on behalf of a minor in your
custody - you have consented that the videotapes, photographs, motion picture film, and/or electronic images
in which you and/or the minor appear; and/or audio recordings made of your voice(s); and/or transcripts/quotes
of your spoken or written words; may be used by Girl Scouts of Heart of the South (GSHS), Girl Scouts of the USA,
and the United Way-and their assigns or successors-in whatever way they desire.
Furthermore, you have consented that such photographs, films, recordings, transcripts, and electronic images,
and the plates, tapes, and/or software from which they are made, shall be the property of GSHS, and they shall
have the right to sell, duplicate, reproduce, and make other uses of such photographs, films, recordings, electronic images, transcripts, plates, tapes, and software as they may desire free and clear of any claim whatever on your
part.
If you checked the "I wish to opt out at this time" portion of the Media Permission section, please inform volunteers, staff or council representatives that you do not wish to be photographed or recorded.
NON-MEMBERS
If you wish to use photographs for publicity purposes (including your Girl Scout Troop or Service Unit website),
you must obtain a Publicity Release Form for each non-member pictured in the photographs you plan to use.
Publicity Release Forms for adults can be downloaded, http://girlscoutshs.org/assets/1467/2014_publicity_release_for_adults.pdf
Publicity Release Forms for minors can be downloaded, http://girlscoutshs.org/assets/1467/2011_publicity_release_for_minors.pdf
Please keep the signed forms in your possession, and do not post or share any images until AFTER you have obtained all of the necessary releases for all of the non-members in the images.
Thank you
for your help in maintaining
the proud Girl Scout reputation!
Have questions or design ideas (t-shirts, flyers, websites, etc.)?
Contact Girl Scouts Heart of the South Director of
Communications and Creative Services,
Kristen Posey Russell at
[email protected]
~ 19 ~
GIRL SCOUTS HEART OF THE SOUTH
PUBLIC RELATIONS ACTIVITIES
The public impression of Girl Scouting is affected by the activities of everyone involved with Girl Scouting. All Girl
Scouts, from the youngest Daisy to the oldest Girl Scout adult represent the Girl Scout movement, not just themselves.
Girl Scouting would not be possible without our wonderful volunteers. Local volunteers who live and work in the
communities they serve are the best connection to local newspapers and media. In order to spread the word
about Girl Scouting, Girl Scouts Heart of the South needs volunteers to help garner coverage and visibility for
the wonderful activities and events that Girl Scouts participate in. Service Units are encouraged to take advantage of this great opportunity to promote Girl Scouting and be recognized for their efforts in the process.
Successful Service Units will be recongized by the council each year for their public relations and visibility efforts!
Please see the Public Relations Activity Suggestions listed below for ideas on how to mount successful public
relations campaigns and then report those efforts back to the council.
Public Relations Activity Suggestions
1. Have at least 3 pictures or stories published in your local newspaper of Girl Scouts in your Troop or Service
Unit participating in an activity. (These pictures or stories must be in addition to and/or separate from any
coverage submitted by the council.) All areas should submit their information to the Marketing and Communications Department for submissions into local newspapers and television stations. However, you may make
submission to local newspapers on your own.
2. Host one event for Girl Scout Week, Be Your Best Day, Girl Scout Sunday, Thinking Day or Juliette Gordon
Lowe’s Birthday. Be sure to set up the event in your Service Unit or Troop at least 3 months in advance. You
should seek media coverage at least two to three weeks prior to the event.
3. Create a Girl Scout display and place it in a prominent place, like a library, school, church or community center. It must stay up and have visibility for at least one week.
4. Submit at least 5 pictures or stories throughout the year for consideration in Council publications including
facebook, GS Weekly Update, etc. You will receive credit towards the reward regardless if it’s printed or not.
They should be action photos (photos where the girls are actually involved in something, not just posing).
5. Submit an action picture to your local paper and Girl Scouts Heart of the South as girls participate in booth
sales during the cookie sale. On the information sheet explain what the girls plan to do with their earned profit.
6. Make a banner or poster to put in a prominent place honoring a special Girl Scout event(s), such as those
mentioned above in item #2.
7. Obtain publicity through newspaper, radio, school or other form of media for a service project. A service project is a good deed for the community or other worthy causes such as another organization, helping your town
out with something they need, landscaping a school, etc. If the service project is for another organization,
partnership, and they print the information in their newsletter, church bulletin, etc. Send a copy with information sheet and photos for proof of project. Girl Scouts are not allowed to raise money for other organizations.
Service Projects cannot be fundraisers
8. Update Girl Scout resource books, brochures and Girl Scout information in your local library, Chamber of
Commerce, City Hall, or church. Place current handbooks along with other Girl Scout information there. It’s
your responsibility to continue checking back with the business/organization or church to see if they need
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more information throughout the year. Materials such as brochures may be picked up at your closest Girl
Scout Service Center.
9. Participate in a community activity in uniform or Girl Scout T-shirt such as festivals and community events,
church socials, and other organizational events.
10. Host an event with the intent of recruiting new girls and adults. This can be at the Troop or Service Unit level.
Example, have a recruiting booth at a local fair or school. Obtain media coverage and stress the need for adult
volunteers. Also, let your Membership Manager know your plans.
11. Find 5 different locations in your area to place Girl Scout general information (10 to 20 per location). Your local
Chamber of Commerce can help find these locations. Brochures are available through your closest Girl Scout
Service Center. Examples: churches, doctors’ offices, realtors’ offices or local restaurants. List the location on
the reporting form.
12. Promote Girl Scout events such as Girl Scout Week, Thinking Day, etc. on community bulletin boards. Take a
picture of the bulletin board and include with information sheet. Special flyers displayed in these areas also
count, include flyers in displays. Most local Wal-Mart Stores have bulletin boards.
13. Participate in a flag ceremony for another organization such as P.T.A.’s, Civitans, a local sporting event, city or
council meeting etc. as Girl Scouts in uniform or T-shirt and submit a picture.
14. Serve as hosts at an event for another organization and submit a picture of the girls at the event. Your P.R.
representative can call local organizations early in the year and let them know that they are interesting in serving at an event. P.T.A. Meetings and United Way luncheons are excellent opportunities. You may offer to help
serve snacks, help with setup, help seat people, etc.
15. Obtain a feature story in your local newspaper about girl and adult recipients of awards, honors or participants in Council-sponsored trips. Some examples are Silver and Gold Awards, Outstanding Leader, etc.
16. Submit copies of any publication your GS Troop or Service Unit received publicity or mention in such as
church newsletters, bulletins, etc.
17. Gather and donate food or other items to the needy during Thanksgiving or Christmas and make photos.
18. Participate in a community service project in uniform or T-shirts and submit pictures of the event. Get pictures of the girls with the people they are helping (action shots). Example: help plant a flower garden at a
senior citizens home, etc.
19. Submit a picture of adults in your Troop or Service Unit attending a Council-wide training or of Troops participating in a Council-wide event.
20. Assist Girl Scout Service Center during a special P.R. campaign or large council events and festivals. Information on such special campaigns will be sent as events occur. Distribute posters, flyers or other information to
area businesses to display in windows promoting Girl Scouting (your girls can help make these). Distribute to
youth organizations, dance studios, schools, etc.
21. Other-please explain activity and specify why you should get credit for the activity.
Be sure to let us know!
Keep notes and copies of the publicity you receive each year!
Fill out the Reporting Form (found on page 23) by March 30th and mail or email it to Jenny Jones at:
[email protected]
or Girl Scouts Heart of the South, Attn: Jenny Jones, PO Box 1087, Tupelo, MS 38802
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PUBLIC RELATIONS ACTIVITY
REPORTING FORM
Please fill out the form each year and submit by March 30th.
Service UnitGirl Scout Troop #
P.R. Activity # (s)
(If applicable, these numbers would corresond to the numbers on the list of suggested P.R. Activities.)
Contact Person Daytime Phone #
Email
Describe the Service Unit’s P.R. Activities from this year: ( please print or type)
(Attach additional
if needed.)
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