The University of Idaho Argonaut

Watch out for roaming Brownies: Girl Scout cookies go on sale today

Cookie Monster had the right idea. If the blue monster lived in Moscow, he’d be in heaven as Girl Scout cookie sales begin today and run through April 13.
Armed with large reserves of cookies and smiles across their faces, the Girl Scouts will stake out Wal-Mart and Safeway in Moscow as bases of operations for cookie sales in the area. They will also be found outside homes across the Palouse this year.

“The cookies arrived (Wednesday). It’s pretty much D-Day on the Palouse,” said Claudia Wohlfeil, laughing.

Wohlfeil is the Service Unit Cookie Coordinator for Whitman County, a Girl Scout troop leader and the University of Idaho’s Commons Bookstore manager.
Wohlfeil said there is an emphasis on going door-to-door this year because it’s what the customers want.

“It’s the result of people calling and asking us ‘When are cookies out?” Why didn’t we see any girl scouts?’” Wohlfeil said.
Sharon Robertson, marketing manager for Girl Scouts of Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho, said Girl Scout councils made the decision nationwide to revive door-to-door sales.

“When asked, the consumer said the No.1 reason they didn’t buy cookies was that no one asked them,” Robertson said.
Wohlfeil said door-to-door sales never really died, they just weren’t an emphasis.
“For some girls, it’s just not their thing,” Wohlfeil said.

Robertson said safety is still a top priority.
“They’ll go in troops and pick one day to do a ‘walk of cookies,’” Robertson said.
Girl Scouts will be selling eight types of cookies this year- Thin Mints, Samoas, Tagalongs, Do-si-dos, All Abouts, and Trefoils. New this year is Sugar-free Chocolate Chip and Lemon Chalet Cremes.

Senior Amy O’Rourke said that Samoas are her favorites.
“My parents used to buy them when I lived at home,” O’Rourke said.
Senior Kim Berdeguez said that her favorites are Tagalongs and Trefoils.
Wohlfeil said Thin Mints and Samoas are the top sellers in the area.

Also new this year is the creation of a national cookie Web site, www.girlscoutcookies.com, where potential cookie customers can enter their ZIP code and be linked to the corresponding Girl Scout council in the area, Robertson said.

Proceeds of cookie sales are beneficial to the functions of each troop Wohlfeil said.
“Part of the proceeds go to the troop for badges and trips,” Wohlfeil said. “Some of it also pays for the cost of cookie production.”
Some proceeds also go toward running “Camp 4 Echoes” Girl Scout camp in Coeur d’Alene Wohlfeil said.

In addition to help fund Girl Scout activities, Wohlfeil said the Girl Scouts also learn from the cookie selling experience.
“They learn how to handle money and manage their time,” Wohlfeil said. “They also learn how to handle rejection. Some people just don’t want cookies.”
Robertson said the girls learn other life skills too.

“They learn how to speak in public and how to build teams,” Robertson said. “They also learn self-confidence.”