Free to B. a Leader Patch Program
What is the Free to B. a Leader (FBAL) Patch Program? We developed this program hand-in-hand with staff at AHG, to directly support AHG’s commitment to Girl Leadership, and to complement the AHG Girl Leadership Positions Guide. FBAL helps younger girls, as well as older girls and Adult Leaders, explore and apply the concepts of biblical leadership: loving, lifting and leading UPwards.
- For Younger Girls. By helping them to identify their natural leadership gifts and consider their roles as leaders within their Troop, FBAL supports the biblical truth that youth are not too young to lead (1 Tim. 4:12).
- For Adult Leaders, and Pi-Pa’s interested in greater leadership responsibilities. We give you tools: 1. to delve into God’s expectations for you as Authority Leaders (John 3:30); and 2. to walk your younger girls into roles of leadership within your Troop.
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” ~ 1 Timothy 4:12 (NIV)
“He must become greater, I must become less.” ~John 3:30 (NIV)
Book upon which FBAL is based: Frieda B. and the Finkledee Ink.
Frieda B. longs to become a great writer. So when a man comes to town selling Finkledee Ink – and promising “Just a penful of ink will soon make you a master. To be a great author, why there’s nothing faster!” – she spends every last cent to buy one jar. This is the start of her dream! And she, indeed, writes beautiful stories. But when the ink crashes onto the floor and is gone for good, Frieda’s dreams and confidence crash with it. Ultimately, it is the belief of her teacher and of her good friend, Zilla, that lifts her UP and leads her into believing it never, ever was about the ink. The gift of writing was within her all along.
Free FBAL Printable Resources.
In addition to the book and patches, these free guides provide everything you need to custom-create an FBAL event that’s just right for your Troop. Click on any image or title below to take you to a page where you can fully view and/or print the resource.
Main Guide. Here you’ll find an overview of the FBAL program; discussion topics for the book on which the program is based, Frieda B. and the Finkledee Ink; comprehensive leadership discussion topics; and patch requirements.
Girl Activities & Event Guide. Everything you need to plan and carry-out an FBAL Event for your younger girls: three engaging activities and a host of event-planning guidance. Ideal for a Girl Leadership Retreat kick-off!
Adult Leader and Pi/Pa Activities & Event Guide. We provide all resources for carrying out an event just for your leadership team. Discussions, activities, making plans for an FBAL event for your Troop. A terrific opportunity for your Pi/Pa’s to help lead.
Leadership Activity: Be a Torch-Carrier! Grab 3 flashlights, and carry out this activity with your leadership team. Its interactive approach provides a visual and moving example of how God calls us to lead UPwardly by authentically believing in those whom He calls us to serve.
More to Explore…
FBAL Program Patch and Requirements. To earn a Free to B. a Leader Patch, a girl must: read and discuss Frieda B. and the Finkledee Ink as outlined in the FBAL Main Guide, and complete two of the Girls Guide program activities. FBAL activities assist in helping girls identify appropriate Girl Leadership Positions for their unique gifts. FBAL patches can be purchased in our online Frieda B Store. Patches also are available in the AHGstore.
The Frieda B. series has been named Best Picture Book Series by the National Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards. Each book serves as the foundation for each of the Free to B. Patch Programs created for AHG. Frieda B. Herself is the basis of the Free to B. a Blessing Program. Frieda B. Meets Man in the Moon is the book upon which the Free to B. True Program is based. Frieda B. and the Zillabeast is the foundation for the Frieda B. Kindness Ambassador Program. Frieda B. and the Finkledee Ink provides the backdrop for the Free to B. a Leader Program. Frieda B. A Great Day at the Dog Park is the foundational book for the Free to See with My Heart Program. And Frieda B. Knows It's True... You Are Free to Be YOU is the foundation of the Free to B. Resilient Program.
Signed copies of all Frieda B. books are available to your Troop and families via our AHG Group Sales program. Using our Group Sales Form, your Troop and families can order as many copies as you’d like – and Renata will sign each book! And, we’ll ship them at no charge directly to you. We’ll continue to offer this program as long as Renata is able to keep up with demand. Click here for the printable Group Sales Form.
To purchase all Free to B. Program-related items including all of the Frieda B. books – in hard cover and PowerPoint version – as well as all Program Patches and other supporting products, visit our online Frieda B. Store. We’ll gift all orders of $50 or more with free shipping!
Frieda B. Author Renata Bowers created fictional character Frieda B. to encourage children to dream big and believe they, too, are free to be their own one-of-a-kind, very important story. “We each have this incredibly valuable story, like a lightbulb, inside us,” Renata says. “And so many of us either don’t know it’s there, or believe we’re not good enough or have time enough to light it. The truth is, your story is there, always. All you need to do is dream big and flip the switch. God will guide you through the rest.” Renata co-founded Frieda B., LLC with friend Paula LaJoie to create and provide a growing line of books, products and services designed to encourage and inspire the story within. Interested in bringing Renata to your school or event? Learn more here.
Live Zoom Visits with Renata! Renata would love to Zoom with your Leaders and/or Troop as part of a Free to B. event. Would you like a personal book-reading? A presentation/discussion related to a Free to B. program? Q&A session? She’ll tailor the visit entirely to your needs. Zoom visits are scheduled based on availability. Fees are $50 for 30 minutes, and $75 for 45 minutes. For questions or requests, send us an email at info@FriedaB.com or give us a call at 860.763.0330.
Feel Free to Ask or Share! If you have questions about Frieda B. and/or any of the programs we create for AHG, just give us a holler. Also, we’d love your stories, pictures, ideas on how you made these programs your own. Just send us an email at info@FriedaB.com or call us at 860.763.0330. And you’ll find lots of great uplifting and inspiring information on our Frieda B. Facebook page. Consider friending us at Facebook.com/FriedaBHerself.