Cookie problems

My problem with the Abnaki Council’s cookie sale began with the council’s refusal to accept back excess boxes of cookies that remain unsold but were ordered because the troop has to order by the full case.

In 1994, the first person I spoke with at the council office told me that she could not guarantee that I could get the extra boxes I might need from the council should I decide to order fewer cases than were actually needed to fill our orders. This person I spoke with could tell that I was getting angry so she directed me to Jo Stevens, who almost immediately promised me that she would save me the extra boxes I would need. Granted, this was nice of her, but what annoyed me was that I was receiving special treatment and that other less vocal leaders would not be given the same consideration.

About this same time Connie Chung’s “Eye to Eye” came out with the Girl Scout story telling about how the organization has millions and millions in money and assets and yet troops pinch pennies. The girls sell the cookies and hand over more than 70 percent of the profits to the council. Their parents or troops buy Girl Scout books, badges, and uniforms with the organization reaping the profits. Again and again, the organization takes and girls leaders and parents give and give and give. When I try to figure out what it is that the national organization actually does, all I come up with is that they design and sell the books, badges and uniforms and plan a few events.

Does this really take millions and millions of dollars and 5th Avenue offices to accomplish this job? Hardly.

Next cookie season I’d really like to write letters to editors praising the Abnaki Council’s willingness to change. Here are the changes I would like to see:

1. At the very least, start now by letting troops buy their excess boxes of cookies at the wholesale price. A better option would be to let troops return excess boxes of cookies to the council.

2. Stop bringing Girl Scout families to court. In the 1994 cookie sale directions you stated as follows: “Our biggest problem with collections for the cookie sale happens when a parent deposits a daughter’s cookie money into the family’s personal checking account and issues a check in payment. When the check `bounces,’ it is awkward for both the parent and the council to try to collect. In at least two or three cases each year, the council has to go to court to collect from the parent. This is time-consuming and frequently results in a girl dropping out of Girl Scouts.” I can’t believe you’ve taken families to court over Girl Scout cookie money. Shame on you, Abnaki Council!

3. Join with other councils to restructure the Girl Scout organization. The goal would be to shift the distribution of wealth downward so councils would share what was once at the top and troops would then be able to keep their rightful share (at least 50 percent) of the cookie profits. Start by giving the troops at least 8 cents a box more each year for the next five years, so that by the year 2000, the profit distribution will be 50-50 (50 percent to the council and 50 percent to the troops). Karen Jo Young Corea