Cookies to Nuts

Program sales, from cookies to nuts, provide many benefits to Girl Scouts, volunteers, and the council as a whole.

The Girl Scout cookie program is nationally recognized as "the premier entrepreneurship program for girls." The program teaches girls goal setting, planning, teamwork, sales and marketing, logistics and direct customer service. Secondly, the Girl Scout cookie program is a great way for people, who wouldn't otherwise be asked, to make a donation to Girl Scouts. We hope the primary reason that people buy Girl Scout cookies is to support the organization's mission: Girl Scouting builds girls of COURAGE, CONFIDENCE, and CHARACTER, who make the world a better place." While our values-based program is the key reason for people to support Girl Scouts, we always like to know that the Girl Scout cookie they buy will be a "sweet reward."

Every cent of the income from the Girl Scout Cookie Sale and the Girl Scout Fall Product Sale goes directly to support Girl Scout Program in Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana - Lisle Regional Service Center. Girl earnings are deposited in the troop treasury, which supports the troop's program choices; remaining revenues are deposited in the council treasury, which supports Girl Scout program for every girl in the council. In 2003, income from Girl Scout program sales covered about 50-percent of girl program costs.

Following is a summary of some of the activities and services that the council's program sales help to provide:

Girl Programs: The council underwrites the actual cost of council-wide activities so that the participation cost per girl is more affordable for parents. Topics range from careers to math/science to building self-esteem.

Training: Council courses enable adults to learn program activities, safety and basic first aid. Adult volunteers and older Girl Scouts may elect to receive training on many topics including orienteering, outdoor cooking, photography, and using council program resources.

Facilities: Profits help maintain facilities, support council-owned properties, provide electricity and telephone services and pay rental fees for other facilities used by the council for girl and adult members' activities.

Resource kits: Specialized resource materials address disability awareness, pluralism, math and science, self-esteem, the environment, and prevention issues. Kits may be checked out for use during meetings.

Financial assistance (Girl Scout FUNdships): Since no girl is excluded from Girl Scouting based on her inability to pay, financial assistance is available for membership fees, handbooks, activities, fees, and day or resident camp fees.

Publications and Information: Newsletters, policy and procedure manuals, recruitment materials, fliers, meeting announcements, and other resources provide necessary information for girls, parents, leaders, non-troop-affiliated adult volunteers and donors.

Program Sales volunteers are an integral part of a successful Girl Scout experience. If you can help, contact Christine Keyser, program manager.