Go Girl, GOVERN Patch Program

Complete the activities under Discover and Connect, and your choice of one activity under Take Action section.

DISCOVER

Visit the Long Island Women's Agenda website, www.LIWA.org to learn about the organization (following guidelines for internet safety), or look at material that has been downloaded from the site. Discuss the meaning of "nonpartisan" and "advocacy". Review the list of member organizations and find out about some of the issues they are concerned with. Make a list of issues that also concern you and/or your Girl Scout Troop.

AND

Look at a list of elected officials in your area to see how many women are in office. Choose one you would like to know more about and visit her web site or search online news sources to find out what she has done in connection with one or more of the issues you are concerned about.

CONNECT

Write a letter to the elected official of your choice talking about some of the issues you are concerned about and asking to meet with the official to discuss the issues. Prepare a list of questions or discussion topics.

AND

Visit the official of your choice (or communicate in another way) to:

* Talk about your issues and whether they are governed by local officials, state officials, and federal officials. Which of your issues do local officials have most control over?
* Interview the official about how she got her start in politics. Why is she in office? What is her biggest concern?
* Bring a poster about the importance of voting and of learning about government to present to the official on your visit.

TAKE ACTION

Create a display about the importance of voting and learning about government for your school, local library or other public place.

OR

Bring attention to your cause: Take pictures of your visit. Send them to the local newspapers with a paragraph on why you went to visit the official and what you discussed. Also remember to send a copy of your article and pictures to Marketing Department, Girl Scouts of Nassau County, 110 Ring Road West, Garden City, NY 11530.

*Note to leaders: Be sure to have parent permission for photos on file for each girl in your pictures.

OR

Choose another way to take action in the issues you consider important.

Go Girl. GOVERN: Notes to Leaders

The Go Girl, GOVERN Patch Program is sponsored by the Long Island Women's Agenda (LIWA) in conjunction with Girl Scouts of Nassau County, Inc. Its purpose is to encourage girls to learn about the role of women in government and foster awareness of government as a future career choice.

The Long Island Women's Agenda is providing a limited number of free patches. Once the supply is exhausted, patches will also be available for purchase at a nominal fee. To receive patches, complete the Evaluation Form bring it to the Girl Scout Shop when picking up your troop/group patches. If you use this program and do not wish to receive the patches, please mail the Evaluation Form to Information Management at the Girl Scout Service Center .

Please remember to review guidelines for Internet Safety with girls before undertaking activities that involve the internet.

If you have questions about the patch, please email Joyce Wagner, Director, Collaborative and Volunteer Services at wagnerj@gsnc.org or call at 516.741.2550 ext. 225.

Resources

Girls Guide to Girl Scouting for the appropriate level

County and/or Telephone Directories for listing of government officials

Government websites (local, county, state, national) for information about elected officials, including short biographies

The website of the official of your choice

Long Island Women's Agenda website: www.liwa.org for list of member organizations and information on advocacy.