Why won't the local scout leaders ever get back to my family on my daughter being in Girl Scouts?

Question

My daughter just wants to be a Girl Scout SOOO bad. She is an excellent student and well behaved at school.

First we signed the permission slip for info last year when it was given, sent it in. Then we received NOTHING except another letter from the local Girl Scouts asking us if we wanted info on it. We sent that in. We watched all year as our daughter's friends talked about how much they love being in Girl Scouts! Our daughter's heart was broken. We called the teacher; we found out which scout leader we had to speak with, we left messages (kind, low key ones, not anxious or bitchy ones) asking for info on this and how to get her in. We received nothing. We then called the regional office? and were told it was up to the scout master and that if there were "too many" she might be rejected and have to go to another troop. That person said she would take care of it and send in the info needed to get our daughter started in Girl Scouts. Said she would send the info to

our daughter's teacher. But NOTHING. The lady had said it would be the second time she tried to send it through the teacher, by the way. The local scout leader at one point called and said she tried to call one time, but couldn't get through coz our number supposedly was disconnected, but it never was. And it also was never always busy. She just didn't want to let our daughter in.

Why can't our daughter participate in this too? We are not well off people, she is an excellent student and deserves the chance to learn all these skills and earn her scholarships and whatnot. Is there some way to bypass these people and get into a troop??? And is it legal they do this? What is going on, what can we do.

This year she will be in coz she is so excited and HURT she has not been allowed in. Unfortunately she has overheard my spouse and I discussing one time why we think we're given the runaround and that hurt her self esteem, I think. This is really getting to her. It angers me. I really don't care about Girl Scouts myself, but it's the principle of the thing, and it's something she is actually interested in....

Can't start one myself. Not a Christian...and...I'm gay.

Come on, Esme, she was a first grader last year.... And she is more upright than most of the Christian kids who live around here. Oh well. Maybe the Boy Scouts?

She LOVES God, as do all my children. I love God too, just am going through a hard time with him now.... But what I go through with God is separate from my children's love for God. I even take them to church and let them go to church with other adults.

Heather, I'm not "out" but some of the people in my community can tell or know and do not like me for it. They also don't like that I was poorer last year, that I'm not from their community, not from their gene pool.... Get what I'm saying. :( It's a small place.... But...you all have said great things. And I thank you.

Answer 1

"Can't start one myself. Not a Christian...and...I'm gay."

I think you're confusing Boy Scouts with Girl Scouts - two entirely separate entities with different rules. GS allows leaders without inquiry into their sex or religious lives (the GS Promise does include "to serve God" but if you believe in another higher power, you can use that word in place of "God" for example).

If your daughter has friends in the troop, can you talk to some of their parents about this? I'm a GS Leader, and have had several girls join my troop who were friends of current members. (Honestly, I was always looking for MORE girls to join the troop!)

There is also an option to be a "Juliette" - which is an independently registered Girl Scout (a girl without a troop). This lets you register for and attend Council-wide events (how much and what they do depends on the Council, but almost all of them now have websites so you can go sneak a peek at their schedule - even if they don't have the 2007-2008 info up yet, you'll get an idea from last year's events). She can also work on Badges (or Try Its, etc.) at home, can attend camp, can wear the uniform (different Councils have totally different rules on whether and how Juliettes can sell GS Cookies).

A good way to get into a troop is to offer to fulfill a volunteer position (as noted above, yes, you CAN be a GS volunteer!) within the troop - just be sure you follow through, because lots of leaders have nightmare stories about being told all sorts of things like that only to be deserted once the girl joins.

(Something to bear in mind about GS is that no two troops are the same - the ideal of Girl Scouts is to be a girl-driven organization, so the girls in the troop are meant to pick the direction the troop takes. So if one troop doesn't feel right for your family, or one focuses on certain things you don't feel comfortable with, don't write off the whole organization!)

Answer 2

Troops get full. There is an ongoing need for new leaders - this year in our area we had two troops fold and and another two merge because the leaders couldn't get a co leader to help run the troop.

I haven't had great luck in using teachers as conduits for non school information. So I am not surprised that that did not work.

As for the phone calls, I wasn't there, but I've had my share of garbled messages with unintelligible numbers.

Really, if you want a troop, call and ask the council for a list of girls on the waiting list. Then call the parents and start your own. With enough help, you'll all have a blast.

Answer 3

Cub Scouts

Answer 4

Gay? Lesbian? The Girl Scouts are not connected in any way with the Boy Scouts of America...and, based on my checking, have a less restrictive attitude toward GLTB people. Do some checking on that.

I wish I knew the other answers you seek, but I don't. I can't imagine a Girl Scout Troop being in the position that they will say, "We don't have room for your daughter." Keep pressing and check around for troops that actually want to serve young people regardless of who they or their parents are.

Answer 5

Wow, I've never heard of anyone keeping a kid out of Girl Scouts. I used to be a leader (all five of my daughters are or have been girl scouts) and I can tell you that leaders tend to be very busy people who are already overcommitted. If you can find out when the meetings are, show up at the end of the meeting and ask to speak to the leader for a few minutes.

However, I have to wonder how you or your daughter would feel about 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."

We do take that promise mighty MIGHTY seriously. Do you really want your daughter to promise ON HER HONOR to serve God?

Answer 6

Try another extra-curricular activity. GS does not have a monopoly on girl activities. Does your community have campfire, Boys & Girls club, horseback club, sierra club, hunting and fishing club, ballet, theater, astronomy? Give one of them a try. GSUSA is only a small group, perhaps they feel they don't need your family's support. You can write a letter to the national office at
Girl Scouts of the USA
420 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10018-2798
and ask them why your daughter isn't welcome in one of their troops. Send the letter registered return. You should get a reply.

Keep on Scoutin'

Answer 7

Girl scouts has nothing to do with school. Don't blame the teacher. Find another troop or start one yourself.

Answer 8

show up at a meeting, ask the troop leader.
they might have a limit on total kids, or child to leader ratio issues, which you could solve by voulenteering. either way to not get back to you is rude.
good luck

Answer 9

They're probably still checking to make sure she is not a lesbian. You must remember all that mess a few years ago on the national news, that as a private organization (Corporation) the Scouts could indeed discriminate against homosexual children. That appears to be a major prerequisite for that business.

That's the only thing I can think of. Best of luck for her once she proves herself, I'm sure there will be no problem.

Answer 10

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