Girl Scout Cookie Time is...

Just around the corner! January 12th to be exact. I am the press corp rep for our service unit and today I received a prepared press release for me to distribute to my local publications. I thought I would share it with you all! It is full of interesting facts! Order cookies guys! Support your local Girl Scouts!

January 12 marks the start of the Girl Scout Cookie Sale for the largest Council in the UnitedStates, Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council (GSSJC)! Annually, thousands of Girl Scouts participate in this leadership development program and historic fundraiser. Since 1917, the Girl Scout Cookie Program has helped girls develop important leadership skills they will use throughout their lives.

TheGirl Scout Cookie Program is a focal point of the Girl Scout Business and Economic Literacy initiative for girls age six through 17, providing finance,marketing, and public speaking skills, which in turn builds girls'self-confidence and leadership skills. Many successful business women got their start selling Girl Scout Cookies. Rosi Hernandez, Market Development VicePresident with the Houston Astros, sold her fair share of Girl Scout Cookies as a girl. "I think that the Cookie Sale certainly taught me the true value of adollar and how hard it is to earn money," said Hernandez. "It is an opportunity for parents to teach their daughters the importance of doing something for the greater good like their troop or Council, rather than something that would only benefit themselves." Just as Hernandez experienced, the leadership development, teamwork, goal setting, ethical decision-making, money management, marketingand communication skills girls learn truly last a lifetime.

Throughselling Girl Scout Cookies I not only gained the confidence needed to speak to the public," said 14 year-old Girl Scout Holly Bosholm, "but I also understand the value of a clear and concise voice."

ThisYear, Girl Scout Cookies are available in eight varieties: Thin Mints, Peanut Butter Patties, PeanutButter Sandwiches, Shortbread, Thanks-A-Lot, Caramel deLites, Lemonades, andthe new Cinna-Spins. The portion-controlled Cinna-Spins have the same great taste you expect from Girl Scout cookies with only 100 calories per individualized pouch. In addition, all varieties of Girl Scout cookies are now"zero trans fat per serving." The price for a package of cookies is $3.50.

As is customary,girls will be selling the highly anticipated tasty treats door-to-door startingon January 12. From February 22 through March 30, girls will be selling GirlScout Cookies at cookie booths outside of grocery stores and other retail venues. The sale ends March 30th. There is also a toll-free cookie hotline at1-888-GS-COOKIE for those who would like to purchase cookies.

All proceeds from the CookieSale remain in Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council. More than 59 percent of the operating budget of Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council is funded by the sale. Approximately one-quarter of the selling price of a package of cookies goes toward the actual cost of the cookies. More than half of the proceeds of each package are used to fund camps, programs and activities for more than 64,000 GirlScouts and 18,000 adult volunteers in the 26 counties of San Jacinto Council.The remaining portion goes directly to the individual treasuries of the troops/groupsselling the cookies for their activities and service projects.

For those who want to support Girl Scout Cookie Program without any caloric commitment, GSSJC offers the "Cookie Share" program in which cookies are purchased and donated tolocal charitable organizations predetermined by the Girl Scout's troop.

Girl Scouts of the USA is the world's preeminent organization for girls, with a membership of more than 3.5 million girls and adults. Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. Chartered by GSUSA to provide Girl Scouting locally, Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council is one of the largest Girl Scout councils in the country serving more than 64,000 girl members and 18,000 adults in 26 southeast Texas counties.