By Annabeth Miller

SMT Editor & Girl Scout

The girls who gathered Thursday evening in Wesley Hall at  the First United Methodist Church were – well, they were excited, energized, and electrified. They knew that something special was about to begin, and they were eager to start the journey!

For the area Girl Scouts who gathered, it was Cookie Rally – the night before the beginning of a much-anticipated time when Girl Scouts in the area visit will family and friends, go door-to-door, and set up special booths to sell those wonderful once-a-year treats – Girl Scout Cookies!

What can a cookie do? More than you think! A Girl Scout Cookie can help girls dream more, experience greater opportunities, offer chances to learned real life skills. There’s more to Girl Scout Cookies, than just your favorite sweet treat.

Beginning Friday, Jan. 6 and continuing through Jan 23 girls throughout Girl Scouts of Missouri Heartland will be taking orders for the cookies.

The Girl Scout Cookie Program has helped make Girl Scouting the premier leadership organization for girls. The program teaches skills—such as financial literacy and responsibility, teamwork and setting goals—that allow girls to realize their full potential and develop their own personal leadership style. Through the Girl Scout Cookie Program, girls develop five essential skills, important ingredients in the Girl Scout Leadership Experience:

• Goal setting
• Decision making
• Money management
• People skills
• Business ethics

All proceeds from Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland’s Girl Scout Cookie Program benefit girls in the area; girls earn troop proceeds and Girl Scout Cookie Credit that can be used to pay for Girl Scout camp, leadership programs, uniforms, and more. Additional proceeds help to fund needs such as financial assistance, volunteer training and support, and program resources.

“As we enter our one hundredth year of Girl Scouting in 2012, the Girl Scout Cookie Program reminds us of the great potential of girls” says Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland interim CEO Anne Soots. “Since 1912, Girl Scouts has taught self-sufficiency, independence, and service. The Girl Scout Cookie Program is a fantastic way for girls to learn those skills and more.”

New in 2012 is a council-wide Girl Scout Cookie Share program, in which customers may purchase cookies to donate. Many troops throughout Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland’s 68-county jurisdiction will select a local organization that is special to them, such as a food shelf, family shelter, or military unit. Others will give customers the option to donate cookies to military troops and military family groups, which are this year’s council-designated Cookie Share beneficiary.

Girl Scout Cookies will be sold through mid-March this year, with eight cookie varieties available:

• Thin Mints
• Caramel deLites
• Peanut Butter Patties
• Peanut Butter Sandwich
• Shortbread
• Thanks-A-Lot
• Lemonades
• Shout Outs. 

The shortbread cookies will feature a special-edition 100th anniversary box. Cookies are $4 per box, with all proceeds benefitting the Girl Scout Leadership Experience.

Link Of Interest

Girl Scouts of Missouri Heartland

Photo Above: Daisy Girl Scouts Riley Christian, Marie Fee & Maddie Glaus are excited about the opportunity to participate in the 2012 Cookie Sale with the Girl Scouts! All three girls say their personal favorite is the Thin Mint cookie - the best selling Girl Scout Cookie in the USA!