Wednesday, June 29, 2011

The Power of the Cookie

Another Girl Scout cookie season has come and gone and as always I am inspired to express my gratitude to our community for continuing to support the future of girls in Miami-Dade & Monroe Counties.

As we prepare to celebrate our 100th Year of Girl Scouting, I reflect on how this whole cookie business came about and how it impacts the lives of girls.

The cookie sale was a way to finance troop activities after Juliette Gordon Low started Girl Scouting in 1912. It all started in 1917, in the kitchens of our early girl members and their mothers. The cookie sale became and still is an American tradition. Today, the marketing and promotions have changed with the impact of social media and girls tare using these tools to sell and sell more. There is now a Cookie App dedicated to locating Girl Scout cookie stands by zip code. There is no question that Girl Scouts are moving fast into the 21st century.

Some people only tend to see a group of cute girls at their local supermarket selling cookies but behind the boxes of Thin Mints, Samoas and Trefoils there is that first encounter into the world of business. The cookie sale provides an important ingredient for forming leadership skills, goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills and business ethics.

Most Girl Scouts start selling cookies as a young Daisy Girl Scout and as they move on to Junior, Cadette, Senior and Ambassador levels, they are selling well over a 1,000 boxes. Whether or not these girls stay in the organization through adulthood, a Girl Scouts walks away from their first cookie sale with a ton of business experience and an improved sense of self-worth and accomplishment.

It is no wonder that many of our Girl Scouts grow up to be top leaders and successful business women in our country. From top CEO’s like Val Ackerman, President of the WNBA to Hilary Clinton, former First Lady, U.S. Senator and currently our Secretary of State to powerful performers like Mariah Carey and sports figures like Venus Williams, they were all Girl Scouts who became leaders and have opened doors for more girls.

So, the next time you see a cute little “Daisy” selling cookies at your local grocery store, buy a box or a case because you are investing in our mission of creating girls of courage, confidence and character that make the world a better place and you never know she may just end up being your President one day.

Irela Bagué
Board Chair
GSCTF