2017 Cookie Sale

One hundred percent of the money that a council and its troops raise through the Girl Scout Cookie Program stays with that council and its troops. Again, let there be no question: all of the revenue from cookie activities—every penny after paying the baker—stays with the Girl Scout council. Girl Scout councils offer a wide variety of recognition items, program- and store-related credits, and travel experiences that girls are eligible to earn individually based on their sales. Girl Scout councils do not provide any portion of their cookie revenue to Girl Scouts of the USA.

As we’ve made clear, absolutely not! Girl Scout cookie sales fund the amazing work that Girl Scouts do to improve communities nationwide—including yours. Through Girl Scouting, including our beloved Girl Scout Cookie Program, girls discover the fun and friendship that life holds, developing to their full potential and gaining values that will guide their actions along the way.

In short, it’s because they’ve been fed false information about the Girl Scout Cookie Program, which frankly is nothing new. As such a large organization, Girl Scouts is occasionally a target for outside entities with clear agendas. A fundamental piece you should know is that Girl Scouts does not advocate one way or another with regard to what we perceive as private issues best handled by families. Personal matters are just that—personal and private—and should be addressed accordingly.

For all the great reasons above, we certainly think so! Following a diet that looks less than favorably on sweet treats? You should know that Girl Scouts have the option of participating in a council-approved "Gift of Caring" program that allows them to collect cookie box donations for military personnel serving overseas. Ask us more about it!

With our cookie booth cookie sales in full swing and increased interaction with the public, we would like to make you aware of some issues impacting other Girl Scout councils.  We share this information with you as volunteers and/or parents because you are the most likely person to hear, first hand, about any issues that arise in your community.  We want to best prepare you.  Some of the controversial issues this year include Planned Parenthood and boycotts of Girl Scout Cookies. 

As a parent or volunteer, you may be approached by friends, family, and community members asking you to clarify GSUSA's stance on a number of issues.  What do you do? 

• Share general talking points about Girl Scouts: 
  • The Girl Scout Cookie Program is the world's foremost entrepreneurial experience for girls. The Program equips girls with a lifetime of special skills, such as financial literacy, goal-making, and people skills. This is not a political experience; Girl Scouts is proud to be a nonpartisan, inclusive organization.
  • Do you want to know what selling Girl Scouts Cookies is really about? Ask a girl! She will enthusiastically share her goals with you!   (Please feel free to share the 5 skills; you are encouraged to share what your Girl Scout or troops in your area are planning to do with their proceeds).
  • More talking points are provided on the GSNMT website for volunteers to use as needed 

• Learn more and share facts about Girl Scouts and the Cookie Program:
  • Get the Facts about Girl Scout Cookies 
  • Frequently Asked Questions about Girl Scout Cookies (FAQ from GSUSA)    
  • GSUSA CEO Anna Maria Chavez sets the record straight in this video    

When a volunteer/parent asks for advice, we have suggested responses from seasoned volunteers:

• "If people bring up Planned Parenthood or the abortion issue, I tell them politely thank you for your time, have a nice day, goodbye.  I will not get in a discussion over this sensitive adult issue in front of my daughter or any of my troop girls."
• "Use this as a lesson to show the girls that they cannot believe everything they see on the internet."
• Divert the conversation to what your Girl Scout troop/group/individual is doing in the community.  Focus on the positives.

Have further questions?  Or having these issues discussed in your community?  

Contact Carol Ann (GSNMT Communications  CAShort@gs-nmtrails.org 505-923-2514) or Peggy (GSNMT CEO  PSanchezMills@gs-nmtrails.org ) so we can address in a timely and appropriate manner.  We ask that you do not try to clarify the issues or explain further.  

If there are any situations in which you feel girls' safety is compromised, please remove them from the environment immediately and contact council staff.

On a positive note, our positive media is far outweighing this negative coverage.  Keep up the good work and please continue to share your successes! 

There have been a few questions about the chocolate coating of the Thin Mints.  In case you receive this type of inquiry, the statement below should help you address the concern.

Little Brownie Statement:

At Little Brownie Bakers, our highest priority is ensuring we make delicious, safe and high quality Girl Scout cookies for consumers to enjoy.

On occasion, the Thin Mint cookie surface may appear white, which is known as chocolate bloom. This can happen when cookies are exposed to temperature variations – such as your home freezer – causing the ingredients in the chocolate coating to separate. Blooming is not a food safety concern and it does not impact the flavor, texture or quality of the product. Once the cookies return to room temperature, the white appearance should go away. This year, Thin Mint cookies are made without partially hydrogenated oil (PHOs) so this may cause the cookies to bloom more easily.  We are always looking to improve our recipes and while blooming cannot always be prevented completely, we’re working on ways to improve our cookies for next season.

All consumers should contact Kellogg’s 800 number which is on the outside of the cookie package.  If they contact you directly, please exchange the cookie package for a new one or replace their money and record the package as a damaged cookie package.  If you should have any more questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.