GirlScout Cookies ?
Moms View Message Board: Parenting Discussion: GirlScout Cookies ?
OK, so you guys know I'm a GS Leader, first year doing this, and MAN is it difficult.
I've already complained about how I have to re-invent the wheel, but at least it's not me. Apparently every leader has to do that, even though GirlScouts have been doing the exact same thing for years, if you're a new leader, you have to find out all this stuff on your own .....
That brings me to GS Cookies adn GS Cookie booths .... I just realized yesterday (2 weekends into the GS Cookie booths) that I didn't expect SO much stress tied into the stupid cookies ! It makes you want to just swear off GS cookies once and for all, except that THIS is how you make money for your troop, and we ALL know how important that is (although that does NOT seem to be a big deal with boyscouts !)
SO - how are you guys doing with your cookie sales ? This is our first year, I'll let you know how we end up ..... right now, it's pretty doggone stressful ! Lack of parental participation, and the (newly found) knowledge that whatever we don't sell, we have to pay for anyway ! Good grief ! We didn't know exactly what to order, or actually how much to order. There must be some kind of an exact science involved here, one that I was unaware of .....
Oh well, it's a learning experience, right ? I just keep telling myself because of this year, I'll just be that much MORE prepared next year !!!
All I can say is despite the politics, we love girls scout cookies and always buy them when asked. Hopefully others feel the same way in Florida. I love the fact that some of the cookies I sold as a Girl Scout are still available now. Now you know how totally sentimental I am.
ok, cookies are DONE !!!!!
paperwork was due today, hopefully my cookie mom got to it, I spoke with her earlier, and I am SO VERY THANKFUL to not have all of that responsibility on me ...... we worked together, but she stayed on top of that whole thing. Have to get her a special 'thank you' gift !
Yeah Harlena,
3 Cheers from the North Country for your girl scouting victory!!!!!
You are giving your girls so much by helping them successfully complete this adventure of cookie sales. You're right about the cookie mom - love, kisses, thank you note, flowers and a big cheer at the meeting for the girls and her. We actually take pictures and submit to the local paper especially if there is a small community one. Just have every kid hold up cookies and $. Even if 20 other troops sold also, you're the one who sent the picture. Kids love seeing their pictures in print and the mom is truely thanked.
Its amazing they call this volunteer work and wonder what moms who volunteer do with all their free time?????
Moms like you make the world go round~~~~~~~~~
Linda
So do you have a boy scout too? We have both at our house. Yes boys don't sell cookies, but you know they have NO money in their troop. If you want to do a field trip, then you pay for it. They do a fundraiser via their pack and the pack keeps all the money. And the pack typically pays for their awards. So the big difference is you need money for patches, but you could simply not provide them, just a certificate to go buy them, then you wouldn't need money. My girls used to love the cookie sales, it taught them goal setting, manners, business skills. This year we took a year off, we did no booths and no one went door to door, our sales were low. We make our money via fall product. Here we sell nuts, it is a much easier sell, no order by the case issues.
As far as the math behind it all. The training here really gave that information. Just how many cookies you can expect to sell at a booth and how many of each type (you sell twice as many thin mints as other cookies). For a first time cookie mom you had to go to training, but as a returner you could do the online one.
When it comes to girl scouts and cub scouts, boy scouts. They are just so different. You can't really compare them. Girl scouts is much more troop driven and the leader really has more on her plate. But I love that it allows us to be low key when my girls need it. That we can go to dinner and a movie for a meeting, or wash cars, or whatever else we see that is important.
As a cub scout pack we sell popcorn, pizza and the boys run a pancake cafe on the Memorial Day weekend(huge success in a vacation/tourist area).The boys wait tables, order, bus and do some of the cooking (leaders and volunteers also help in the kitchen). We forward money to the larger scout offices and parents contribute. The fundraisers primarily fund the things you mentioned and all the boys can go to the week long summer scout camp for a fraction of the real cost.
In WI, where I live, the Girl Scouts sell cookies or do bratwurst fries to raise money. The Boy Scouts all sell popcorn.
|
Members
