NEW OPPORTUNITIES THE JOB OFFERS FOR DEFENSE SERVICE The leader’s job has new opportunities for service today. These include: 1. Opportunities to help girls: a. Who are left increasingly to their own devices (or may be in the future) by families pulled into defense activities. The troop offers new interests to them that they can enjoy when alone. b. Who have new burdens to carry at home (or may have in the future). The troop trains girls in the easiest and best ways to do such tasks as homemaking, caring for little children, helping shut-ins and old people. c. Who are new to the community (moved about with families affected by industrial or military defense). The troop offers companionship, adventure, and security. d. Who are refugees or evacuees from war-torn countries. The troop offers these girls hospitality, and shows them the opportunities and responsibilities of their new country. e. Who are becoming suspicious (or are in danger of becoming so) of nationalities other than their own. The troop brings girls in contact with a variety of nationalities, races, and creeds, and fosters appreciation of their contributions to world culture and the building of America. f. Who have been deprived of usual sources of entertainment and spending money (or may be in the future). The troop develops resourcefulness and self-reliance. g. Who are in danger of being deprived of their normal recreation and childhood fun. The troop gives girls the recreation which is the right of every child. h. Who are worried and depressed by world events and the attitudes of adults. The troop offers release from strain and from adult pressures. i. Who are exposed to regimentation. In the troop, girls learn that regimentation in a democracy is used only for purposes of physical defense and physical unity, and that respect for and harmonizing of differences is in all other cases the democratic way. j. Who are forced to economize because of increased prices and taxes and/or decreased income. Girl Scouting teaches thrift through the wise choice of food, clothing, etc. 2. Opportunities to help the defense program today: a. By helping girls to serve such agencies as the Red Cross, Bundles for Britain, U. S. O., etc., thus putting twenty pairs of hands to work. The Girl Scout Service Bureaus and Senior Service Scout units facilitate this service. b. By training girls in thrift in defense materials. c. By training girls in health, nutrition, and recreation. d. By training girls in activities that will release adults for the defense program. e. By guiding girls in whatever service they render in defense areas and in military cantonments so their services will be appropriate to their age and ability. 3. Opportunities to prepare for war emergencies: a. By training girls in emergency skills, such as first aid, living simply out of doors, helping others in distress, and entertaining those who are afraid. b. By training girls in emergency methods and organization, such as disciplined teamwork, efficient movements of groups, cooking in quantity, and democratic leadership. c. By training girls in emergency attitudes, such as calmness, patience, cooperativeness, fearlessness, sharing responsibilities according to ability. 4 4. Opportunities to prepare for the future of the Republic: a. By demonstrating democratic attitudes in everything the troop does: freedom and personal responsibility, how to lead and how to follow, appreciation and harmonizing of differences. b. By demonstrating democratic organization: representation, functions of majority and minority groups, open discussion, joint decision and responsibility. c. By convincing girls through practice that democracy works and is satisfying. Only those so convinced will withstand the present onslaught, and preserve and build in the future a democratic way of life. THE PART THE COMMUNITY CAN PLAY The Girl Scout program is definitely a realistic program designed to fit girls into the world they must live in, now and later. Therefore, leaders need the cooperation of the community in their attempts to widen horizons for the girls and to make the troop experiences something they can use every day of their lives. The community can supply assistant leaders, program specialists, and troop committee members; can give meeting places; can open its parks, highways, and homes; can give money and transportation; and can make available equipment, such as a work-bench, a kitchen, an easel, and a camping site. New people in the community can become part of it by leading a troop, serving on a troop committee, sharing their hobbies. USE THIS SPACE TO LIST YOUR SPECIFIC LOCAL NEEDS 5