Girl Scout sets record for cookie sales ... 17,323 boxes

Why didn't I see many Girl Scouts selling cookies around here? I would have bought a box, or two, or twenty...

Little girl, you will be rich one day. A salesman, or woman: always gets paid.

I am proud of you.

wondering wrote:

Why didn't I see many Girl Scouts selling cookies around here? I would have bought a box, or two, or twenty...

Good going girls!!!

wondering wrote:

Why didn't I see many Girl Scouts selling cookies around here? I would have bought a box, or two, or twenty...

Because scouting in South Florida has a black eye at the hands of the Miami-Dade and Broward school boards and United Way agencies. Though not tageted spcifically like the Boy Scouts (thank you Lois Wexler), the Girl Scouts chose a low profile.

Cookie sales were going on, but many done through pre-sales. There were some booths set up around Broward, but I didn't see many.

I did however contribute my fair share to several GS troops. Man those cookies are addictive.

Pre-sales aren't done down here like up north. The troops are not supposed to sell until the cookies arrive and then only a couple of weeks. As for not seeing as many girls out and about - door-to-door sales aren't as popular as they once were, booths have taken over as the biggest way to sell. But, thanks to some not so Girl Scout like troop, many stores did not allow cookie booths to be set up in front of their doors this year so the booth numbers were down also. Anyway, congratulations to this scout. Job well done!

My mother has been involved in Girl Scouts for almost 40 years. My sisters are also, as is my neice. Most of the times you can find the cookies being in front of grocery stores during their seasons. If you want to find out more about when and where to find cookies feal free to contact your local G.S County headquaters. Usually the sales go on around about Febuary/ March ( not sure exactly). I remember as a young boy when Mom was a troop leader of having several 100's of cases in the living room at that time of year. Cookie sales are their #1 fundraiser. It's a great organization. Usually about 25% of the money raised goes to the individual troops, and adventually to help pay for trips and activities that they do. They also have gotten away from going door-to-door because of the safety factor.

wondering wrote:

Why didn't I see many Girl Scouts selling cookies around here? I would have bought a box, or two, or twenty...

LOL they camped outside my store, the temptation was too much to handle plenty for me. I think I bought about 10 boxes over the short time they were there myself.

Well it sure beats licorice and candy bars to snack on which is about all I get where I work among other sweet choices geared for smaller kids to teens.

Was a nice break away from the usual stuff I face daily.

The added bonus- I used to be a girl scout so I know what these girls are about and that they were really trying hard to raise some money for the troop and that made me want to help all the more.

Can I still get a case of Tagalongs?

they should sell them all year!!!!!!!!!!luv em

My wife is a troop leader. My daughters are both scouts. I am very proud of them and the effort they put into selling cookies. In West boca booths are normally set up in front of Publix, CVS, Wahlgreens and Sports Authority. Next year come by any Saturday and help the girls out.

wondering wrote:

Why didn't I see many Girl Scouts selling cookies around here? I would have bought a box, or two, or twenty...

You'd just have to look in the right places. I'm a troop leader and staffed 8 or 9 of our 13 cookie booth locations. We were at Publix a lot.

The girl mentioned in the article also had an advantage over the girls in our area. They sell the cookies for MONTHS, not the 2-3 weeks that we sell cookies in our area. I have an issue with that.

3rd gen native wrote:

<quoted text>
You'd just have to look in the right places. I'm a troop leader and staffed 8 or 9 of our 13 cookie booth locations. We were at Publix a lot.
The girl mentioned in the article also had an advantage over the girls in our area. They sell the cookies for MONTHS, not the 2-3 weeks that we sell cookies in our area. I have an issue with that.

I agree. They need to all be on the same level playing field. I also have a problem with parents involvement of selling. Many take them to work and sell to colleagues and employees. I thought the idea was to have the girl sell the cookies. Parents shouldn't be involved other than to drive.

Troop Leader wrote:

Pre-sales aren't done down here like up north. The troops are not supposed to sell until the cookies arrive and then only a couple of weeks. As for not seeing as many girls out and about - door-to-door sales aren't as popular as they once were, booths have taken over as the biggest way to sell. But, thanks to some not so Girl Scout like troop, many stores did not allow cookie booths to be set up in front of their doors this year so the booth numbers were down also. Anyway, congratulations to this scout. Job well done!

Miami-Dade (where I work) does pre sales. Broward (where I live) does not.
I buy from four different 'moms' taking orders for their daughters at my office. Then when the actual cookies come in, I buy from various neighbors and troops set up outside Publix or Best Buy etc. 15-20 boxes in my house is not uncommon.

Support Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America.

Government Foe wrote:

<quoted text>
I agree. They need to all be on the same level playing field. I also have a problem with parents involvement of selling. Many take them to work and sell to colleagues and employees. I thought the idea was to have the girl sell the cookies. Parents shouldn't be involved other than to drive.

If that were the case, then fundraisers everywhere would suffer. Take for example alll of the fundraisers that are done in public school. They're done with the expectation that the parents are involved and making sales themselves.

I'll admit, I sold boxes of cookies at various locations in both my office and my office building. The bank branch in my building...let's just say they're addicts.:) But they were VERY good for business. Then again, being a troop leader, I did have expectations of selling them.

The bank told me for next year's sale to bring in an order card early and they'd hook me up.:)

Native born wrote:

<quoted text>
Miami-Dade (where I work) does pre sales. Broward (where I live) does not.
I buy from four different 'moms' taking orders for their daughters at my office. Then when the actual cookies come in, I buy from various neighbors and troops set up outside Publix or Best Buy etc. 15-20 boxes in my house is not uncommon.
Support Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America.

Regarding Palm Beach, they were telling us not to do pre-sales. Meaning, cookies could not leave your possession until the day of the sale. But we were able to go around and take orders.

3rd gen native wrote:

<quoted text>
If that were the case, then fundraisers everywhere would suffer. Take for example alll of the fundraisers that are done in public school. They're done with the expectation that the parents are involved and making sales themselves.
I'll admit, I sold boxes of cookies at various locations in both my office and my office building. The bank branch in my building...let's just say they're addicts.:) But they were VERY good for business. Then again, being a troop leader, I did have expectations of selling them.
The bank told me for next year's sale to bring in an order card early and they'd hook me up.:)

That may be the case but it still doesn't make it right, IMO. I have little knowledge about the foundation of the Girl Scouts regarding it's general direction, but I would believe initiating parents to do a task they should do them self doesn't promote and/or limits nurturing, social skills, confidence, leadership ability and general overall growth, just to name a few. Aren't these qualities the goals which the Girl Scouts is trying to instill?

Government Foe wrote:

<quoted text>
That may be the case but it still doesn't make it right, IMO. I have little knowledge about the foundation of the Girl Scouts regarding it's general direction, but I would believe initiating parents to do a task they should do them self doesn't promote and/or limits nurturing, social skills, confidence, leadership ability and general overall growth, just to name a few. Aren't these qualities the goals which the Girl Scouts is trying to instill?

By having the parents HELP sell the cookies creates great interaction between the parents and the child. We hear to many stories about kids not having enough interaction with the parents and getting in trouble because of it. Not to mention the fact, it is in the best interest of the parents and child for the parents to help thier daughter sell more. The troop gets a percentage of every box sold. Which means the troop has more money for activities for the girls. Many troops put the money towards trips and such. The more the individual girl sells the more money they have put towards a big trip like the one mentioned in the story ( Europe ), which means the parents don't have to put up as much money. My mother's troop used to do this. The child still learns the lesson, because they still have to get out and sell the cookies themselves also. It's a win/win all the way around.

American Soldier wrote:

<quoted text>
By having the parents HELP sell the cookies creates great interaction between the parents and the child. We hear to many stories about kids not having enough interaction with the parents and getting in trouble because of it. Not to mention the fact, it is in the best interest of the parents and child for the parents to help thier daughter sell more. The troop gets a percentage of every box sold. Which means the troop has more money for activities for the girls. Many troops put the money towards trips and such. The more the individual girl sells the more money they have put towards a big trip like the one mentioned in the story ( Europe ), which means the parents don't have to put up as much money. My mother's troop used to do this. The child still learns the lesson, because they still have to get out and sell the cookies themselves also. It's a win/win all the way around.

To an extent, I agree, but in years past, I don't believe parents took the cookies and sold to their colleagues and friends, though I may be wrong. But on the other hand, there are MANY ways for daughter and parent to interact and bond outside of the girl scout cookie sales.

I have witnessed many scouts, girls and boys, who did very little to sell cookies and the parents did all the work. Yes, blame the parent but if the parent was not involved at all, then the kid would be forced to sell to earn their prize. Having the parent help sell lessen the pressure for the kids and IMO, makes it too easy. They need a full education of social interaction more so than one of many parent/child interaction.

Parent interaction, as I stated, can partake on many other levels within family activities. Outside activities such as the scouts, applies development for the child beyond the family and into the social whelm. If children are not interacting with their parents, then there's a deeper problem within the family environment which selling cookies will not resolve. Maintaining a continuous interaction of parent/child bonding daily will disable the need for that child to require the help of a parent selling cookies. Therefore, it's just not right for parents to help in this matter nor help set or break records.

Government Foe wrote:

<quoted text>
To an extent, I agree, but in years past, I don't believe parents took the cookies and sold to their colleagues and friends, though I may be wrong. But on the other hand, there are MANY ways for daughter and parent to interact and bond outside of the girl scout cookie sales.
I have witnessed many scouts, girls and boys, who did very little to sell cookies and the parents did all the work. Yes, blame the parent but if the parent was not involved at all, then the kid would be forced to sell to earn their prize. Having the parent help sell lessen the pressure for the kids and IMO, makes it too easy. They need a full education of social interaction more so than one of many parent/child interaction.
Parent interaction, as I stated, can partake on many other levels within family activities. Outside activities such as the scouts, applies development for the child beyond the family and into the social whelm. If children are not interacting with their parents, then there's a deeper problem within the family environment which selling cookies will not resolve. Maintaining a continuous interaction of parent/child bonding daily will disable the need for that child to require the help of a parent selling cookies. Therefore, it's just not right for parents to help in this matter nor help set or break records.

I do agree, that there are other ways for parents/ children to interact. For as long as I remember, my parents helped my sisters sell cookies. That doesn't mean that my sisters didn't go out and sell themselves. Unfortunately, some of the situations that you are thinking of do happen, but mostly, it's the parents to blame. In this day and age of parents trying to protect thier children, the parents are afraid of letting the kids go out and try to sell on thier own. When I was a child,( 25-30 yrs ago ) we kids were chased out of the house, and told to go play, and didn't come home until it was lunch or dinner time. We ran the neighborhood, and didn't dare do anything wrong because all the parents in the neighborhood knew each other and would call and let each other know what was going on. In todays society, you just don't have that. Most families, both parents have to work, and the child is either in day care or if they are old enough told to stay in the house until one of the parents get home. My age group was about the last that grew up with corporal punishment, and if you skinned your knee or fell from a tree and broke an arm, they got you medical attention and that was that. Nowaday's the kid's next door parents would sue your parents for the littlest thing. I know that I went off on a tagent and I appoligize. But, it all stems from parents being overprotective. Some cases it's warranted, in most it's not.