Did you purchase Girl Scout cookies this year? I am acquainted with a number of Girl Scouts due to the fact their mothers are friends of mine. They are becoming very sharp salespeople, and each year I see their confidence grow. I am not speaking of the little uniformed cuties, but of their dedicated moms.
I bought a total of 10 boxes this year, and I've decided that not only will I purchase fewer boxes next year, but I will buy only from the girls themselves. I won't buy from moms who show up at baby showers, order forms in hand, nor from moms who go door to door in my neighborhood. (Yes, really - just this past week there were two who did that, and there wasn't a Girl Scout in sight).
I spent 6 years as a scout, and each cookie campaign found me carefully practicing my sales technique. At each neighborhood door I would say, "Hi, I'm Nancy. I'm from Troop 117 and I'm selling delicious Girl Scout cookies. How many boxes would you like today?" I closed with a smile, and I usually had a sell. I realize that safety is a bigger issue today than it was in my scouting days, and mothers (or dads) really should accompany their daughter as she makes her rounds; however, parents should stay in the background and allow the girls to greet the customers and present the sales talk. Juliette Gordon Low's aim was that all aspects of girl scouting should empower the girls and teach fairness, courage, character, and confidence - hard to do when the lion's share of the work is being done by the mothers.
I'm reminded of a scene from the 1991 film, "The Addam's Family." When a couple of girl scouts ask Wednesday if she would like to buy some Girl Scout cookies, her response was, "Are they made from real Girl Scouts?" My question is, "Are Girl Scouts actually putting themselves into the selling of their cookies?" I'd like to see them do a lot more of the work, and their moms a lot less.
Did you purchase Girl Scout cookies this year? Did you buy from a mom or a Girl Scout?
