One of the problems, I believe, is that analysis tends to look at these groups as a totally new phenomena that has created a completely new method of organization and networking. Analysis, as Mr. Gerenstein-Ross notes, is hindered by the fact that they are "clandestine", meaning that parts of their operations are hidden so that analysts are unable to see what or how they are doing it. Which is true to a point, but tends to ignore the fact that we do know how other organizations work and that there has been a great deal of work, even open source, that does indicate parts of the organization.
From that I am suggesting that we can, indeed, know how they operate even if we don't always know what individual is doing what part of the operation at what time. This also goes towards the discussion of trying to determine "who is Al Qaeda". Keeping in mind, al Qaeda is a very limited and limiting term for the entire enterprise and I do mean "enterprise" in the same manner we evaluate "criminal enterprises". That this is much bigger than a few men in Pakistan organizing activities in far away places or trying to influence those activities, depending on whether the individual analyst views the entire enterprise as some how disconnected or competing with any other group.
Stepping back from that for a moment, I want to think about how groups form because this is important to the question of "who is" as much as any idea of whether "Al Qaeda" is a leadership group with hierarchic activities and control of any other group. It's also imperative to step away from the whole "terrorist organization" framing of this issue and come back to the reality of every day human interaction and social organizations.
How does anyone start a movement or a group that is not terrorist/jihad related?
For instance, something completely benign: starting a Girl Scout Troop.
It may be that a local person may decide to start a similar, ad hoc group, imagining that they do not have to be part of THE Girl Scouts in order to do many of the things that the Girl Scouts do. This intrepid self starter may know how to do arts and crafts, go camping and generally be able to organize several local girls into a small group.
Such an individual could also go on line and find many materials for the Girl Scouts, their mission statements, core ideas and even purchase uniforms and patches without ever having contacted the Girl Scouts directly, but the group will still not BE the Girl Scouts. More so, without ever having been a Girl Scout, gone to their leadership training or camps, this group would very likely be significantly different, creating their own mission statement, organizational structure, activities and over all behavior of the group depending on the leader's and members focus, experiences and personal interests.
Equally important would be the reception of any local young girls who might like to join such a group. The first question arising from that group is, why not just join the Girl Scouts? The Girl Scouts are already a recognized group, have significant branding, available support structures and camps to learn how to be a Girl Scout. Plus, they already have a well established funding program and network that provides things like training materials, hand books and the famous cookie sales that not only raise money for the larger Girl Scout organization, but allows the local groups to keep some of the funds for their local activities. It is also used to pay for camps as well as provide assistance for Girl Scouts to attend these camps.
Of course, local Girl Scout groups still have to provide most of their own funding locally, raising money through local activities, friends, families and other local philanthropic organizations. They buy their own uniforms and many of their own craft materials, pay for their own locally organized field trips and so on. Yet, there is still considerable value of the materials, training and camps that the main fund raising for the larger organization through cookie sales provides for many local troops.
Any local group that decided to fore go this association would be completely on it's own in regards to funding, materials and support and may find its little troop quickly disintegrating. Particularly if there is an actual Girl Scout Troop in the vicinity where members of the ad hoc group may peel off and decide to join the larger, better organized, supported and recognized group. The ad hoc group may remain for a time after that, but they will become smaller and smaller, their activities limited by their funding, the time any leader wants to give to the group and their skills or capabilities.
Getting back to the central question, why not just BE the Girl Scouts?
In many cases, the intrepid troop leader may look around for troops that already exist in the area to join, but anyone who was already imagining starting her own ad hoc group has likely already considered this and may have rejected it for several reasons. The distance to that group's area, the area itself or possibly having visited with that group, doesn't like the general dynamics of the troop or the troop leader. Believe me, this does happen. Or, simply, she may want to be her own troop leader for personal reasons and believe they have enough interested girls in the immediate vicinity to form their own troop.
It should be noted that this intrepid Leader may not be new to the Girl Scout way. It is often the case that either due to differences with the leadership of an existing troop her scout is a member of, because the Leader and her Scout may have moved to a new area without a troop or because she might know of other girls in their immediate area that are interested in forming a troop, but do not want to join a troop that is further away that leads to the idea of starting her own troop.
The erstwhile hopeful troop leader will then contact either the Girl Scout Council in the area or the national headquarters and make inquiries as to what it would take to join the Girl Scouts and create their own troop. The hopeful leader may be directed there either through their own research or by having contact with another troop leader who has the contact numbers and names for the regional or central council. Contacting the regional council, the hopeful troop leader will first be directed back to already existing troops in the area with the suggesting that they should join that group.
This is for several reasons. First, for purposes of control. As much as the Girl Scouts would like to have as many members as possible, they must also control the image and brand of the Girl Scouts. Well established and long standing troops are more likely to have had more training, interaction and camp time where they have learned to BE Girl Scouts and troop leaders. This insures that all new Girl Scouts will learn to be Girl Scouts the Girl Scout Way from other already indoctrinated Girl Scouts.
There is also the matter of funding for local troops. As noted, while the larger organization provides some materials and funding for organizational activities and under-writes the costs for items like uninforms, patches and Girl Scout Camps, the local troops have to provide much of their own funding for local activities and purchase of materials and uniforms, even if they do get the Girl Scout discounted or under-written price. Thus, the more members in a troop, the more that cost of activities is disseminated across a wider membership who can then tap their family members, friends and neighbors for funding (the usual sources for the local troops as well as for the larger Girl Scout Organization).
Also, that provides more Girl Scouts for that troop who can do the larger fund raising activities like selling thousands of boxes of cookies. That means that the funds that the troops get to keep from the sale of these cookies has fewer places to be allocated, meaning more funds for a single troop to use for their local activities, creating a better Girl Scout experience for a wider contingent of Scouts.
Let us say, for the various reasons listed, the intrepid Leader decides that they do not want to join or remain in an established troop and petitions the local council to be accepted as a separate troop. The Council will require references, a background check and a personal interview to insure that the hopeful leader meets their standards, will not harm the organization or any of the Scouts they will be over seeing. This interview may be arranged by having the hopeful leader come to the regional council or the regional council may send a member to the leader to conduct it at their convenience.
They will also explain the criteria for creating such a troop which includes having the requisite number of girls in the neighborhood who would join to create this troop. The Council will then evaluate, again, the request to create a separate troop against the existing troops in the area. Largely because they do not want to create a competitive troop that would harm any already existing troops' membership or funding. Over saturation can be as bad as having too few members.
The Council may indicate that the Intrepid Leader must have ten girls to start a new troop. If the intrepid Leader only has six, she will have to go find another four girls who will sign up to be a member of the troop. While these may be girls from an existing troop, generally the Council requires that entirely new girls be recruited in order to refrain from raiding and degrading an existing troops.
This might not only create a tangential problem for existing troops, but also may create a harmful rivalry between the new troop and the existing troops that would undermine the entire premise of the Girl Scouts which is to support all girls in their personal and inter-personal growth through a network of Girl Scouts and activities. Girl empowerment.
Having met the requirements for number of girls to join the troop as well as cleared the background check and references, the new Leader will be required to attend orientation and training sessions through the regional leadership including leadership camps. Even if this can't be arranged immediately, she may be assigned a mentor such as a local member of the regional council or a leader from an existing troop. The new Leader may also be encouraged to visit the other troops to observe how that troop is organized, run and absorb the Girl Scout way. Additionally, through invitation or pre-arranged scheduling, the new Leader's mentor may appear and/or provide consultation through other means on how to organize and run their new troop.
Eventually, however, the new Leader will be required to attend training classes and seminars in order to insure they are leading Girl Scout troops the Girl Scout way. There are also "service units" who are not necessarily part of any leadership hierarchy, may include members of the Council, other local troop leaders and volunteers who are available to provide assistance and mentoring to the troop leader. Further, the Leaders of all the troops in a specific area are encouraged to network and get together with each other to share experiences and exchange ideas. These meetings are encouraged to be physical, but they can also call each other, email and other forms of contact outside of any regularly scheduled meetings.
The Girl Scouts provide a plethora of materials, books, pamphlets, the Girl Scout magazine, as well as online forums where the Leaders, as well as Girl Scouts themselves, can join, share information, express concerns or issues, or relay good news about their troops' activities. This provides another layer of support and re-enforcement of the Girl Scout way. Thus, while a Girl Scout Leader and her troops may be relatively autonomous on a day to day, troop meeting to troop meeting basis, organizing most of the troops regular activities, she and her troops remain connected to the local, regional, national and international organization and leadership.
While many of the activities that the local troop does is determined by the Scout Leader, the over all goals and ideas of the Girl Scouts are laid out in books and activity lists. The local troops can choose to do most of those activities at their leisure based on local conditions and schedules, but they must conform or support building the Girl Scout the Girl Scout Way including learning about honesty, integrity, civic duties, educational activities and so forth, but, most importantly building character and relations with other girls.
Girl Scouts are also encouraged to serve as mentors for the younger Scouts in their troop as well as peers in their community. Peer to peer interaction helps spread the Girl Scout ideas and drives additional recruitment to the Girl Scouts. The troop Leader may also invite outside speakers or even members of the local Council to join the troop for the day, teach them a new skill or talk about all things Girl Scout.
The national and regional councils have scheduled events throughout the year which they expect the local troops to participate in whether funding drives, specific civic events (Earth Day where the troops may be encouraged to go clean up a park) and Girl Scout camps. Not all Girl Scouts can go to camp. Those that do learn new skills, network with other girls and are further taught the Girl Scout way. They then return to their local troop where they can share their experiences and teach these same skills and ideas to the other scouts in their troop.
Camp supervisors are trusted, long term members of the regional or national Council while counselors that over see the many groups at camp are either current troop leaders, long time Girl Scout volunteers or former Girl Scouts who volunteer their time in order to remain connected to the organization and it's ideas. Troop leaders are also expected to attend leadership training and seminars throughout the year as well as participate in various forums. All of which is designed to insure that anyone associated with the Girl Scouts, even though they are relatively autonomous in their regular troop activities, continues to represent the Girl Scouts and do things the Girl Scout Way.
Other things we know about the Girl Scouts:
The list of ways in which the Girl Scouts act to proliferate their organization, the Girl Scout Way, develop networks of support and funding is lengthy and even this commentary only scratches the surface of the various activities and ideas of the Girl Scouts. Fortunately, the Girl Scouts are not a militant group although some who have been swarmed by Girl Scouts to buy cookies might think differently.
The point of this exercise was to take away the fog and fear of "terrorism", "terrorist organizations" and their clandestine nature and place them more firmly in the realm of the known and understood. Where we do understand how networks work, groups proliferate, transmit their ideas, skill sets and experiences and cooperate to achieve over all movement and organizational goals.
Returning to the original premise of the post, we should be able to understand that, yes, local and ad hoc groups can appear organically, but they are unlikely to remain independent. Further, ideas may be transmitted, but, in order for an organization to actually mirror and proliferate the ideas and ways of the originating group, it requires sustained connections, interactions and support. Other wise the group not only develops its own character and ideas significantly different than the originating organization, but is also more likely to fail than connected and supported groups.
The next post on Global Islamic Jihad will be reviewing how we can understand the likely leadership structure, general framework and behavior of the organization as a networked social movement.
From that I am suggesting that we can, indeed, know how they operate even if we don't always know what individual is doing what part of the operation at what time. This also goes towards the discussion of trying to determine "who is Al Qaeda". Keeping in mind, al Qaeda is a very limited and limiting term for the entire enterprise and I do mean "enterprise" in the same manner we evaluate "criminal enterprises". That this is much bigger than a few men in Pakistan organizing activities in far away places or trying to influence those activities, depending on whether the individual analyst views the entire enterprise as some how disconnected or competing with any other group.
Stepping back from that for a moment, I want to think about how groups form because this is important to the question of "who is" as much as any idea of whether "Al Qaeda" is a leadership group with hierarchic activities and control of any other group. It's also imperative to step away from the whole "terrorist organization" framing of this issue and come back to the reality of every day human interaction and social organizations.
How does anyone start a movement or a group that is not terrorist/jihad related?
For instance, something completely benign: starting a Girl Scout Troop.
It may be that a local person may decide to start a similar, ad hoc group, imagining that they do not have to be part of THE Girl Scouts in order to do many of the things that the Girl Scouts do. This intrepid self starter may know how to do arts and crafts, go camping and generally be able to organize several local girls into a small group.
Such an individual could also go on line and find many materials for the Girl Scouts, their mission statements, core ideas and even purchase uniforms and patches without ever having contacted the Girl Scouts directly, but the group will still not BE the Girl Scouts. More so, without ever having been a Girl Scout, gone to their leadership training or camps, this group would very likely be significantly different, creating their own mission statement, organizational structure, activities and over all behavior of the group depending on the leader's and members focus, experiences and personal interests.
Equally important would be the reception of any local young girls who might like to join such a group. The first question arising from that group is, why not just join the Girl Scouts? The Girl Scouts are already a recognized group, have significant branding, available support structures and camps to learn how to be a Girl Scout. Plus, they already have a well established funding program and network that provides things like training materials, hand books and the famous cookie sales that not only raise money for the larger Girl Scout organization, but allows the local groups to keep some of the funds for their local activities. It is also used to pay for camps as well as provide assistance for Girl Scouts to attend these camps.
Of course, local Girl Scout groups still have to provide most of their own funding locally, raising money through local activities, friends, families and other local philanthropic organizations. They buy their own uniforms and many of their own craft materials, pay for their own locally organized field trips and so on. Yet, there is still considerable value of the materials, training and camps that the main fund raising for the larger organization through cookie sales provides for many local troops.
Any local group that decided to fore go this association would be completely on it's own in regards to funding, materials and support and may find its little troop quickly disintegrating. Particularly if there is an actual Girl Scout Troop in the vicinity where members of the ad hoc group may peel off and decide to join the larger, better organized, supported and recognized group. The ad hoc group may remain for a time after that, but they will become smaller and smaller, their activities limited by their funding, the time any leader wants to give to the group and their skills or capabilities.
Getting back to the central question, why not just BE the Girl Scouts?
In many cases, the intrepid troop leader may look around for troops that already exist in the area to join, but anyone who was already imagining starting her own ad hoc group has likely already considered this and may have rejected it for several reasons. The distance to that group's area, the area itself or possibly having visited with that group, doesn't like the general dynamics of the troop or the troop leader. Believe me, this does happen. Or, simply, she may want to be her own troop leader for personal reasons and believe they have enough interested girls in the immediate vicinity to form their own troop.
It should be noted that this intrepid Leader may not be new to the Girl Scout way. It is often the case that either due to differences with the leadership of an existing troop her scout is a member of, because the Leader and her Scout may have moved to a new area without a troop or because she might know of other girls in their immediate area that are interested in forming a troop, but do not want to join a troop that is further away that leads to the idea of starting her own troop.
The erstwhile hopeful troop leader will then contact either the Girl Scout Council in the area or the national headquarters and make inquiries as to what it would take to join the Girl Scouts and create their own troop. The hopeful leader may be directed there either through their own research or by having contact with another troop leader who has the contact numbers and names for the regional or central council. Contacting the regional council, the hopeful troop leader will first be directed back to already existing troops in the area with the suggesting that they should join that group.
This is for several reasons. First, for purposes of control. As much as the Girl Scouts would like to have as many members as possible, they must also control the image and brand of the Girl Scouts. Well established and long standing troops are more likely to have had more training, interaction and camp time where they have learned to BE Girl Scouts and troop leaders. This insures that all new Girl Scouts will learn to be Girl Scouts the Girl Scout Way from other already indoctrinated Girl Scouts.
There is also the matter of funding for local troops. As noted, while the larger organization provides some materials and funding for organizational activities and under-writes the costs for items like uninforms, patches and Girl Scout Camps, the local troops have to provide much of their own funding for local activities and purchase of materials and uniforms, even if they do get the Girl Scout discounted or under-written price. Thus, the more members in a troop, the more that cost of activities is disseminated across a wider membership who can then tap their family members, friends and neighbors for funding (the usual sources for the local troops as well as for the larger Girl Scout Organization).
Also, that provides more Girl Scouts for that troop who can do the larger fund raising activities like selling thousands of boxes of cookies. That means that the funds that the troops get to keep from the sale of these cookies has fewer places to be allocated, meaning more funds for a single troop to use for their local activities, creating a better Girl Scout experience for a wider contingent of Scouts.
Let us say, for the various reasons listed, the intrepid Leader decides that they do not want to join or remain in an established troop and petitions the local council to be accepted as a separate troop. The Council will require references, a background check and a personal interview to insure that the hopeful leader meets their standards, will not harm the organization or any of the Scouts they will be over seeing. This interview may be arranged by having the hopeful leader come to the regional council or the regional council may send a member to the leader to conduct it at their convenience.
They will also explain the criteria for creating such a troop which includes having the requisite number of girls in the neighborhood who would join to create this troop. The Council will then evaluate, again, the request to create a separate troop against the existing troops in the area. Largely because they do not want to create a competitive troop that would harm any already existing troops' membership or funding. Over saturation can be as bad as having too few members.
The Council may indicate that the Intrepid Leader must have ten girls to start a new troop. If the intrepid Leader only has six, she will have to go find another four girls who will sign up to be a member of the troop. While these may be girls from an existing troop, generally the Council requires that entirely new girls be recruited in order to refrain from raiding and degrading an existing troops.
This might not only create a tangential problem for existing troops, but also may create a harmful rivalry between the new troop and the existing troops that would undermine the entire premise of the Girl Scouts which is to support all girls in their personal and inter-personal growth through a network of Girl Scouts and activities. Girl empowerment.
Having met the requirements for number of girls to join the troop as well as cleared the background check and references, the new Leader will be required to attend orientation and training sessions through the regional leadership including leadership camps. Even if this can't be arranged immediately, she may be assigned a mentor such as a local member of the regional council or a leader from an existing troop. The new Leader may also be encouraged to visit the other troops to observe how that troop is organized, run and absorb the Girl Scout way. Additionally, through invitation or pre-arranged scheduling, the new Leader's mentor may appear and/or provide consultation through other means on how to organize and run their new troop.
Eventually, however, the new Leader will be required to attend training classes and seminars in order to insure they are leading Girl Scout troops the Girl Scout way. There are also "service units" who are not necessarily part of any leadership hierarchy, may include members of the Council, other local troop leaders and volunteers who are available to provide assistance and mentoring to the troop leader. Further, the Leaders of all the troops in a specific area are encouraged to network and get together with each other to share experiences and exchange ideas. These meetings are encouraged to be physical, but they can also call each other, email and other forms of contact outside of any regularly scheduled meetings.
The Girl Scouts provide a plethora of materials, books, pamphlets, the Girl Scout magazine, as well as online forums where the Leaders, as well as Girl Scouts themselves, can join, share information, express concerns or issues, or relay good news about their troops' activities. This provides another layer of support and re-enforcement of the Girl Scout way. Thus, while a Girl Scout Leader and her troops may be relatively autonomous on a day to day, troop meeting to troop meeting basis, organizing most of the troops regular activities, she and her troops remain connected to the local, regional, national and international organization and leadership.
While many of the activities that the local troop does is determined by the Scout Leader, the over all goals and ideas of the Girl Scouts are laid out in books and activity lists. The local troops can choose to do most of those activities at their leisure based on local conditions and schedules, but they must conform or support building the Girl Scout the Girl Scout Way including learning about honesty, integrity, civic duties, educational activities and so forth, but, most importantly building character and relations with other girls.
Girl Scouts are also encouraged to serve as mentors for the younger Scouts in their troop as well as peers in their community. Peer to peer interaction helps spread the Girl Scout ideas and drives additional recruitment to the Girl Scouts. The troop Leader may also invite outside speakers or even members of the local Council to join the troop for the day, teach them a new skill or talk about all things Girl Scout.
The national and regional councils have scheduled events throughout the year which they expect the local troops to participate in whether funding drives, specific civic events (Earth Day where the troops may be encouraged to go clean up a park) and Girl Scout camps. Not all Girl Scouts can go to camp. Those that do learn new skills, network with other girls and are further taught the Girl Scout way. They then return to their local troop where they can share their experiences and teach these same skills and ideas to the other scouts in their troop.
Camp supervisors are trusted, long term members of the regional or national Council while counselors that over see the many groups at camp are either current troop leaders, long time Girl Scout volunteers or former Girl Scouts who volunteer their time in order to remain connected to the organization and it's ideas. Troop leaders are also expected to attend leadership training and seminars throughout the year as well as participate in various forums. All of which is designed to insure that anyone associated with the Girl Scouts, even though they are relatively autonomous in their regular troop activities, continues to represent the Girl Scouts and do things the Girl Scout Way.
Other things we know about the Girl Scouts:
- Local groups may spin up and mirror the Girl Scouts, but they will not be the Girl Scouts or proliferate the Girl Scout Way.
- Local groups may use Girl Scout ideas and materials, but are likely to deviate in significant and fundamental ways, ideas and activities due to the character, experiences and general capabilities of the leadership, local support network or the troops themselves. (Because, really, if they wanted to be the Girl Scouts, they would have just joined the Girl Scouts).
- Local groups that do not have the support network, recognition of or funding of the Girl Scouts are unlikely to survive as an ad hoc group over the long run or will remain a small and relatively ineffective group.
- Any local group that wants to be like the Girl Scouts are likely to simply join the Girl Scouts because it already exists, has brand recognition, established culture, ideas, activities, materials, training, camps and funding programs.
- The Girl Scouts want to control their brand and ideas, so while a group can spin up and look like the Girl Scouts, if they try to claim relationship to the Girl Scouts or mirror it too closely without being a recognized Girl Scout group, that group may find themselves in direct confrontation with the Girl Scouts.
- Local ad hoc groups that spin up and then find themselves unable to meet their original goals, in need of support or because they decide that being a Girl Scout troop is better can petition the Girl Scout Council to become a Girl Scout troop. They will, however, be vetted, required to do the training, participate in Girl Scout activities and learn to do things the Girl Scout Way.
- Any girl can join the Girl Scouts and a local troop, but these troops are most often made up of family, friends and neighbors that the girls know. As another girl joins, their relationships with family, friends and neighbors create a widening pool of potential recruits to the Girl Scouts.
- While any girl can join the Girl Scouts at the troop level, not anyone can just declare themselves a leader and create a troop of Girl Scouts. Leadership is vetted, required to do regular training, provided a mentor and introduced to a network of support that routinely re-enforces the Girl Scout Way.
- A local troop of Girl Scouts and their Leader are relatively autonomous when it comes to planning their meetings and activities, but the Girl Scouts leadership provides a calendar of activities that troops are expected to participate in if and when they can.
- While a local troop is relatively autonomous, the Girl Scout Council provides a broad list of programs, material and projects meant to educate and re-enforce The Girl Scout Way. Local leadership chooses which programs, material and projects to introduce at what time to their troops based on the stage of troop development, age, abilities and experience of their Scouts.
- Girl Scouts go to Girl Scout camp to learn more about being a Girl Scout. These camps are local, regional, national and international. The Girl Scout's ability to go to these camps depends on abilities, stage of her Girl Scout development and funding available. They are recommended by their troop leaders, the local Council and then must be selected by the national or international Council as a candidate for the national and international camps.
- Going to Girl Scout camp is not mandatory, but is encouraged in order to build a better Girl Scout and cement bonds with the Girl Scout Organization and other Girl Scouts (building a support network).
- Girl Scouts who go to camp come back and share their experiences with other Girl Scouts in their troops, sharing new skills and re-enforcing the Girl Scout Way.
- The Girl Scouts have developed a wide range of support networks for the local troop leaders to tap into (Service Units), get assistance for problem solving, help lead the troop in a specific activity or outing, come and teach a skill or lecture on an aspect of The Girl Scout Way.
- The Service Unit is made up of members of the local, regional and national Councils, other troop leaders and volunteers who are often former Girl Scouts or leaders.
- The Service Unit is not a leadership council and does not provide direct orders or direct the local troops' regular activities although this network may provide information, suggestions and generally push the local troops and leadership to participate in activities, fund raising and general adherence to The Girl Scout Way.
- The National and International Council of the Girl Scouts has a defined leadership that is responsible for over seeing the general activities, funding and organization of the Girl Scouts. The Council also includes a number of volunteers as well as interested philanthropists that are not members of the Girl Scouts or part of the leadership team, but assist the Council in these activities, obtaining funding and donations, arranging for printing of materials, public relations, communications, training and the development of programs.
- The regional and local Councils also have defined leadership elements who's job it is to over see these critical aspects of the Girl Scouts in their area. They are also assisted by volunteers and local interested parties or groups.
- Leadership elements include a president, vice president, treasurer and various secretaries. However, The Girl Scout way is to empower all Girls so the Council itself acts as just that where all opinions and ideas are important, shared and discussed. No one sees the line or hierarchy of leadership as immutable, only the idea of the Girl Scouts and The Girl Scout Way, even if top elements of leadership do not change as frequently as in regional or local councils or at the troop leader level.
- While the Leadership Councils over see the general funding, organization and day to day business of the Girl Scouts at the international, national and regional levels, they do not direct, order or control the daily activities of the Girl Scout troops at the local level. They rely on their ideas, materials, training and support networks to transmit information and generally guide the troops to do Girl Scout activities.
- This network of support though is a powerful tool and can be used by the National and International Councils to put out a call to participate in greater organized activities or suggest local activities the local troops should participate in.
- The ability to provide funding, organization and expertise through the network of councils, service units and other local groups gives the calls from the upper leadership council of the organization for cross organization and large scale activities more weight.
- Even though the national and international Councils can't order local troops to participate, they know when they put out the call that many or enough of these troops will respond and participate, helping the larger Girl Scout organization reach it's goals.
- Being aware of the limitations in their ability to direct as well as the limitations of the various troops due to leadership, size, funding, skills and experience, these calls for larger activities and participation are carefully calibrated to those things that the National Council can insure will be successful such as cookie sales, camps and general civic activities (Earth Day, etc)
- Large scale and cross organization activities, however, are organized and funded by the national and international Council such as camps, international conferences with other organizations, funding and donation drives as well as national or international activities.
- Where general organization and direction might be provided by the upper council, organizing to participate is left at the local troop level including most of their own funding from their own members, relationships or other local philanthropic groups.
- Local troops can request assistance, materials and funding from the regional and upper council in order to participate or carry out these activities if they lack the resources themselves and where these upper councils believe the activity is imperative to the over all organization and mission of the Girl Scouts.
- Girl Scouts participate as a group in local activities and events not related to Girl Scouts in order to show their presence, their importance and relationship to the community and as opportunities to connect, create interest and recruit future scouts for their troop or the Girl Scouts in general.
- Girl Scout troops are Girl Scout troops, identify themselves as Girl Scouts and are recognized as Girl Scouts by the National Council and given identification numbers (troop 4009). However, the local troops often choose another name to identify their group, location, general ideas, make up or focus of the troop such as "The Darren Heights Daisies", "12th Street Cookie Monsters" or "Panda Pals Troop".
- This local designation is encouraged by the Girl Scout Council to help develop cohesion at the local troop level among the girls so that they not only consider themselves Girl Scouts, but Girls working together in their community, supporting each other locally and that the local community can distinguish them from all other Girl Scout troops, engendering local support.
- This is also encouraged at the regional, national and international camps where the Scouts are grouped together and choose a name and a logo or icon to represent their group. This cements bonding and creates a larger, more connected network over time. Girl Scouts make friendships at camp that can last a lifetime and prove a vital support network during their time as a Girl Scout and into the future.
- For the most part, unless someone in the community has a family member in the local troop or volunteering, the presence of a Girl Scout troop may go generally unnoticed and unremarked. The community knows they are there, but the troop does not impact daily life in the community accept when the Girl Scouts do one of their activities like cookie sales or other fund raising, participating in community events (where Girl Scouts are encouraged to dress like a Girl Scout, carry their banners or otherwise indicate their Girl Scout connections) or when the Girl Scouts are coming and going from scouting activities.
- While the Girl Scout uniform is encouraged to show affiliation, commitment to the Girl Scouts and generally make the Girl Scouts known within the community, Girl Scouts do not always wear all of the uniform or badges. Because not all of the scouts in a troop can afford to purchase the entire uniform or all of the accoutrements. Some troops may decide their group will only wear the vest or sash or a badge or none at all, where their association as a Girl Scout troop is only represented by the Girl Scout banner hanging where they meet or other representative paraphernalia.
- This may lead to difficulty within the community in identifying who exactly is a member of the Girl Scouts unless they have direct relationship with them or have directly interacted with a scout or the troop. The most active groups, however, maintain an active, visible presence in the community and are more likely to be known as members of a troop and the Girl Scouts organization.
- Some of the largest funding for Girl Scouts comes from Girl Scout cookie drives. People buy Girl Scout cookies for many reasons: because they like the Girl Scouts and want to support their projects and ideas; because Girl Scout cookies are good; because everybody else is buying Girl Scout cookie;s and sometimes it's just easier to buy the cookies and send the Girl Scouts on their way even if people know that they'll keep coming back over and over again asking them to buy more cookies. People who don't buy cookies but have family members, friends or neighbors who do or who have girls in the Girl Scouts may be criticized for not supporting the Girl Scouts and find their character diminished in the eyes of their neighbors, family and friends.
The list of ways in which the Girl Scouts act to proliferate their organization, the Girl Scout Way, develop networks of support and funding is lengthy and even this commentary only scratches the surface of the various activities and ideas of the Girl Scouts. Fortunately, the Girl Scouts are not a militant group although some who have been swarmed by Girl Scouts to buy cookies might think differently.
The point of this exercise was to take away the fog and fear of "terrorism", "terrorist organizations" and their clandestine nature and place them more firmly in the realm of the known and understood. Where we do understand how networks work, groups proliferate, transmit their ideas, skill sets and experiences and cooperate to achieve over all movement and organizational goals.
Returning to the original premise of the post, we should be able to understand that, yes, local and ad hoc groups can appear organically, but they are unlikely to remain independent. Further, ideas may be transmitted, but, in order for an organization to actually mirror and proliferate the ideas and ways of the originating group, it requires sustained connections, interactions and support. Other wise the group not only develops its own character and ideas significantly different than the originating organization, but is also more likely to fail than connected and supported groups.
The next post on Global Islamic Jihad will be reviewing how we can understand the likely leadership structure, general framework and behavior of the organization as a networked social movement.
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