Group: Women's Caucus/Projects/Girl Scouts Free Software Outreach

= Summary =

We will be involved in a 10-week (a single, 1 hour-long session per week) Inkscape course for the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts, in order to introduce girls to free software. We will be running a pilot after-school program in October-November of 2010 in Roslindale, MA at a site called Washington Beech. The girls' age group is 4th & 5th grades into middle school.

During the course, the girls will learn to use Inkscape to compete in a contest to design a logo for the Girl Scouts' [http://www.girlscoutseasternmass.org/programs/fab-factor.html FaB Factor] program. 

The Inkscape course will be part of the FaB Factor program. The program emphasizes courses have three phases:

* discover
* connect
* take action

From the Girl Scouts' website:

"The program focuses on 4 modules:

* "Financial Literacy (Finance and Banking)
* "Health and Fitness (Fit and Beautiful)
* "Leadership (‘F’araohs and Beacons)
* "STEM disciplines (Fractions, Fixtures and Bytes, Beakers)."

Our program is part of the STEM disciplines, specifically 'Fixtures and Bytes' and is meant to give the girls an introduction to the technical sciences.

= Volunteer Agreement Document =

We need to write up a list of the services we will render for the Girl Scouts - Rachael called this a '''Memorandum of Understanding''' document. Here is an example of what this sort of document looks like from the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts' website:

* [http://www.girlscoutseasternmass.org/forms/Agree-Facilitator.pdf Volunteer Agreement: Council Facilitator]

=== Notes from Rachael ===

Here is what Rachael told us the document needs to cover:

* List of services we will render
** what we will provide
** place monetary value on what is being offered
* What we need from the Girl Scouts
** faciltator - danielle
** computers
** access
* Incorporate in MOU - memorandum of understanding

== Volunteer Agreement Document Draft ==

'''Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts agrees to:'''

* Provide a facilitator for the program (Danielle).
* Provide computers for the students to use.
* Provide a computing facility with a projector and whiteboard or chalkboard.
* Identify students eligible for the program and handle the arrangements for their course registration / attendance.
* Provide access to the lab to Máirín Duffy no less than a week in advance of the program start to test the computers available and perform a dry-run of the equipment.
* Provide photo-release forms for the students and allow the FSF Womens' Caucus and Red Hat, Inc. to take photos during the course.

(The following were taken from the example document):
* Provide a position description, volunteer agreement, and letter of appointment.
* Give recognition for time devoted to the position.
* Be receptive to any comments from the volunteer regarding ways in which we might mutually better accomplish our respective tasks.
* Carry liability insurance and supplementary accident insurance as needed.
* Provide ongoing support, guidance and supervision for the position.

'''The Free Software Foundation Womens' Caucus and Red Hat, Inc. agrees to:'''
* Provide 40 USB drives for the Girl Scouts students and facilitators to keep. 
* Pre-load the USB drives with all of the software necessary to complete the course work.
* Provide printed instructional materials for working with the USB drives.
* Provide a 10-week course curriculum using free software (particularly, [http://inkscape.org Inkscape]) for the students to complete.
* Provide printed worksheets and instructions for the course curriculum as required.

(The following were taken from the example document):
*Support the values expressed in the Girl Scout Promise and Law, and adhere to GSEM and GSUSA policies and standards.
* Relate to others with fairness, tolerance, understanding, and sensitivity while working cooperatively with adults - including staff, facilitators, and participants.
* Register as a member of GSUSA and complete a criminal background check.
* Complete required adult learning and training.
* Communicate regularly with the Volunteer Development & Training Department about scheduling, supplies, follow-up, and any concerns about learning sessions or participants.
* Perform volunteer duties to the best of his/her ability.

= Other Opportunities with the Girl Scouts =

* On April 9, 2011, the Girl Scouts have a womens' history program we may want to get involved with.