Today is the start of Girl Scout cookie season.  For almost 100 years, Girl Scouts, with the enthusiastic support of their families and communities, have knocked on doors, set up sales tables at stores and community events and hawked thin mints.The $700 million Girl Scout Cookie Program is the largest girl-led business in the country and generates immeasurable benefits for girls, their councils, and their communities.

I admit I was a girl scout.  And for those of you who know me, it will come as no surprise that I was determined to sell more cookies than any of the other girls.  I went up and down my street, knocking on doors for orders.  I called all my relatives and perfected my telemarketing skills.  I asked my dad to get his co-workers to buy from me. And he said NO!  But he did offer to take me to work so I could ask for the order.  I worked hard and  sold hundreds of boxes and was sure I’d win the Cookie title.

Well as it turns out, I didn’t.  Some little girl named Susie did.  She lived down the street from me and I never saw her ask any of our neighbors to buy cookies.  I assked her how she did it and she said it was easy-her mom and dad got all the orders for her.  I was mad and didn’t think it was fair and complained to my dad about it.  He told me life wasn’t fair, never would be, but that I’d really won, and I’d appreciate it some day when I realized that I had gotten much more out of it than Susie had.  Not what a 9 year old girl wants to hear.  So I’m sure I sulked around for a while, until something else captured my attention.

But now many years later, I get it.  My dad was right- I had won! I’d learned how to set a goal, prospect customers, perfect my sales pitch, work on my organizational skills, plan the logistics of delivery, handle money, make change and enjoy quite a few cookies, too!

And that’s why I implore you to only buy cookies from Girl Scouts.  I know there are many well intentioned parents  that want to help their daughters, and help support the troops so they can put on all the programs they have scheduled; but please help them by letting them sell!

In a recent study by the Girl Scouts Heart of the South, they documented  skills the  Girl Scout Cookie Program teaches, which  girls can apply to everyday life:

• 85% increased their money management skills as they developed budgets, took cookie orders and handled customers’ money.
• 83% developed business ethics, learning to fulfill promises to customers and considering how best to contribute to their communities with their earnings.
• 80% set goals and created objectives to reach them.
• 77% made important decisions, learning to work as a team to develop a business plan, deciding when and where to sell cookies, and determining what to do with the money they earn.
• 75% developed people skills, learning to talk to, listen to and work with different kinds of people.

Many successful businesswomen and community leaders say they got their start selling Girl Scout Cookies.  So when your local Girl Scouts come calling with this year’s best-selling cookies, remember you’re saying hello to tomorrow’s business leaders.

The Cookies:

COOKIE VARIETIES – $4.00/BOX

Thin Mints–Little Brownie’s extra thin, extra minty Thin Mints are covered in a luscious chocolaty coating and made with real, natural oil of peppermint, not artificial flavoring, to create the nation’s number one best-selling Girl Scout cookie.

Samoas–The original Samoas are of such high quality they sometimes outsell even Thin Mints in some councils. Little Brownie makes and mixes their own homemade caramel in copper kettles and uses sweet, crunchy toasted coconut. Bottom covered and striped in dark chocolaty coating, Samoas are truly America’s most deliciously different cookie!

Tagalongs–Tagalongs are made with a special blend of rich, creamy peanut butter completely covered in rich milk-chocolaty coating for a creative combination of America’s two most popular flavors. It’s no wonder Tagalongs never last long in many households.

Do-si-dos –Do-si-dos are oatmeal peanut butter sandwich cookies with a natural blend of wholesome ingredients. Little Brownie uses baby rolled oats, never flaked oats. Many customers fondly call Do-si-dos the “Official Breakfast Cookie.”

Trefoils–Little Brownie’s Trefoil cookies have a rich, buttery flavor and a classic shortbread aroma that delights Girl Scout cookie fans of all ages.

Savannah Smiles – This lemon wedge cookie is cool and crisp, with just the right number of lemon chips to deliver tiny bursts of flavor. And, when you hold it right, you’ll quickly be reminded of that world-famous “Brownie Smile.”

Did you know that Girl Scout cookies have?

• No high fructose corn syrup
• No trans fats
• No hydrogenated oils in five varieties
• 100 percent real cocoa
• Nutritious whole grain oats
• Two nut-free varieties: Trefoils and Thin Mints contain no peanuts or tree nuts
  

All of the proceeds from the cookie sale—every penny—stays within our community to benefit local girls. Girl Scout troops use the money for field trips and community service projects.