The annual Girl Scout Cookie sale has started and the Union County troops are ready to take your order. This year the nine flavors to choose from are Thin Mints, S’mores, Adventurefuls, Samoas, Do-si-dos, Tagalongs, Toffee-tastic, Trefoils and Lemon-Ups. The cookies are sold for $6.00 a box. According to the Girl Scout’s website, the Cookie Program is the largest girl-led entrepreneurial program in the world. When you purchase cookies, you are creating opportunities for the young girls of Union County to thrive and grow by learning life and leadership skills.
This opportunity was the hope and vision of the founder of the Girls Scouts, Juliette Gorgon Low from Savannah, GA. In 1912, the first Girl Scout troop was formed and was made up of 18 girls who shared a belief that they could do anything. Low gathered girls from her hometown for a new outdoors and educational club for girls only and named it the Girl Guides of America. The club grew quickly and in 1913 its name was changed to the Girl Scouts of USA.
At a time when women could not vote in the United States and were expected to adhere to social norms, encouraging young girls to embrace their strengths and create opportunities was game- changing. That small troop that first gathered over 100 years ago started a movement across America allowing young girls to unlock their full potential, develop friends, and make the world a better place, according the Girl Scout website.
The first Girl Scout troop in Union County, Troop #166, was formed in the early 1970s by Frances Russell, who served as Neighborhood Chairman and troop leader, and many other volunteers. They had two troop levels when they first started, the Brownies and the Juniors. Later as the troop expanded, they added the Cadets. These girls and their leaders were very active and participated in many activities such as visiting the nursing home and making cards for the residents, hiking the Tri-State trail where the girls could be in three states at one time, and camping at the Tanasi campsite. The troops met at the Miller’s Chapel fellowship hall where they often had visitors to join the meetings to teach the girls new skills. At that time, the cookies were sold for $1.00 per box.
Today, the Girl Scouts have several troops ranging from the Daisies (Kindergarden-1st grade), Brownies (grades 2nd and 3rd), Juniors (4th,5th, and 6th grade), Cadettes (7th and 8 grade), Seniors (9th-10th grade) and Ambassadors (11th-12th grade).
Union County Service Unit Manager Barbara Reed, of Luttrell, said that our county has all levels except for the Ambassador level. Barbara who has been with the Girls Scouts for 6 years said Union County has two multi-level troops. She is the leader of Troop #21187 with 21 girls. This troop meets twice per month at Barbara’s house. Whitney Early is the leader of Troop #22188 with 14 girls. Her troop also meets twice per month at Paulette Elementary.
The Scouts are involved in several community projects. One such project is working with the Veterans. They gather food for the Veterans and deliver it to the Veteran’s food pantry in Maryville. They also work with the animal shelter and donate to Children’s Hospital. As you can see these girls are very active.
In addition to serving their community, they also get to participate in a variety of other activities such as visiting Rock City, camping at Tanasi Girl Scout Camp located right here next to Big Ridge Park, and just having fun with their friends.
The Scouts are funded by their famous cookie sales and a fall product sale. The profit from these sales helps to pay for the annual membership dues of $40.00 per girl, and for uniforms and badges, etc.
Be on the lookout for a call from your favorite scout taking orders or visit them at a booth at Food City or Walmart to get your cookies. Although, the Thin Mints and S’mores are county favorites, my favorite is still the original short bread cookie, the Trefoils. Let’s all support these girls and help them learn the life skills of goal setting, decision making, money management and business ethics.