What is a Girl Advocate?
Each year, up to four girls will be chosen to serve as Girl Advocates (GA’s) on Girl Scouts of Hawai`i’s Board of Directors. As GA’s, they are expected to represent and be a voice for their peers through attendance in board meetings, active participation in board discussions, and various presentations to board members. Apply to be a Girl Advocate (link).
What you’ll get
Throughout their one-year term, GA’s can expect to sharpen their business acumen while developing leadership skills through the three keys (Discover, Connect, Take Action) as part of this unique opportunity. They can also utilize their experience as a GA in working toward their Silver and/or Gold Torch Award as well as a few other badges on their own time.
Discover
- Realize your personal strengths and use them to make unique contributions to teamwork.
- Meet various influential leaders in the community.
- Discover that you can have a voice in the decision-making process of an organization.
- Learn first-hand the inner workings of running a business.
Connect
- Learn to intentionally use your personal strengths to complement the strengths of others and make a team function well.
- Build relationships with a board member and experienced Girl Advocates who will serve as your guides.
- Reflect on your experience to help introduce and orient new Girl Advocates to the board.
Take Action
- Actively use your personal strengths in tandem with those of others to effectively lead.
- Realize your ability to directly influence the direction of Girl Scouts of Hawai`i.
- Use your voice as you play an integral role in selecting the next candidates to serve as Girl Advocates.
Requirements and expectations
Though each GA is required to serve only one, one-year term, application is open to returning GA’s. Returning GA’s have the opportunity to guide new Girl Advocates and gain a deeper understanding of their role on the board. At a minimum, girls applying to be Girl Advocates must meet the following criteria:
- Is a current Girl Scout and has been a Girl Scout for at least five consecutive years.
- Is in ninth, tenth or eleventh grade (returning GA’s can be in twelfth grade) and had a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in the last school year.
- Has received, is in the process of or intends to pursue her Gold Award.
- Is able to commit to attend a certain amount of board meetings and events as outlined on the application.
The selection process
The selection process runs from February through April. Below is a timeline to give you a better idea of what you’ll need to do to make time to apply. Please note that this schedule is tentative and may change.
- February: Applications open. Apply to be a Girl Advocate (link).
- March: Applications due by Tuesday, March 10, 2015, at 5:00 p.m.
- March: Applications reviewed by Selection Committee.
- Late March-Early April: Girls notified if they are nominated to be a Girl Advocate. If not, girls are encouraged to use the feedback provided to re-apply the following year.
- April: Nominated GA’s are up for election at the Annual Meeting.
The ideal candidate
The ideal candidate is passionate about Girl Scouts because it has made a difference in her life in some way. She can identify how Girl Scouts makes a difference in the lives of girls, is confident in her beliefs and abilities, and can articulate her thoughts while remaining eager to learn from both her peers and other board members. She is also actively involved in various aspects and programs of Girl Scouts and has a desire to give back to her community to make the world a better place.
How do I apply?
1. Download the School Agreement Form. After completing the information on the form (either write legibly in blue or black ink or type in the information and then print it), get it signed by the appropriate representative from your school. Once it is signed, scan the form to your computer. You are responsible for determining who the appropriate representative is. Please read the form for details.
2. Compile your report card(s) from the last school year. Scan these documents to your computer. We ask that all applicants have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in the last school year. If you do not meet this requirement, there will be a section on the application where you can explain your reasons for not meeting this requirement.
3. Email your completed School Agreement Form and appropriate report card(s) in a single email to [email protected] before submitting your application. Please note that if you do not email both documents in one email and/or before submitting your application form, the applicant will not be considered. For this reason, please read all instructions carefully before submitting anything.
4. Read through the Girl Advocate Application Form (online), including all instructions. If you have already completed steps 1-4, you may begin your application. Please note that we will only accept one application per applicant. For this reason, please read all instructions carefully before submitting anything.
5. Submit your application by Tuesday, March 10, 2015, at 5:00 p.m.
You will be contacted regarding the status of your application after the deadline. Should you have any questions, please contact Jenn Gire via email or phone (808-675-5535). Thank you for your application!
Forms and other important documents:
School Agreement Form
Girl Advocate Application Form (online)
