Girl Scouts seeking a new image

This article caught my eye in a recent philanthropy newsletter I receive -- Girl Scouts is building a new image. My mother was a Girl Scout and, I believe, stayed in it through senior year of high school to receive the Gold Award, its highest honor. I was a Brownie and eventually made it to Girl Scout, collecting a few dozen badges. But somewhere along the way, I became more involved with Rainbow and scouting dropped.

I was in Rainbow before the Internet really had a presence, so I'm somewhat amused to find a website for them. And it looks like they're going for the same thing -- attracting the modern day girl.

Two very different experiences. As I recall, Girl Scouts focused more on skills, particularly outdoor skills, and cookie sales. I remember it being clique-y, painfully so. Aside from visiting Prime Computer in Natick (now I'm showing my age), not a particularly memorable time in my life.

Rainbow was far more tuned into service, especially within your community, which had a much stronger appeal to me and has greatly shaped my passion for volunteerism as an adult. Through Rainbow, I broke out of my shyness (can you believe I ever was?) and learned I was a relatively good leader, a more than capable public speaker, and even found a use for those twelve years of piano lessons. More importantly, I felt like I was continuing a legacy begun by my grandfather, a 32nd degree Mason, and continued by my father, a past Master Mason. Before I reached my majority, I was awarded the Grand Cross, its highest award for service.

Too often, I hear comments that Rainbow, the Masons and their affiliated organizations are cult-like. Au contraire, these organizations have opened up their membership to all. Yes, they're steeped in tradition and a hint of mystery, but the doors that it opened for me as a teenager were incredible.