Cookie History Sheet - Girl Scouts Heart Of Central California

2009 Girl Scout Cookie Program
Cookie History Sheet
For nearly 90 years, Girl Scouts, with the enthusiastic support of their families, have helped ensure the success of local Girl
Scout Cookie activities. From its earliest beginnings to its current popularity, the sale of cookies has helped Girl Scouts to have
fun, develop valuable life skills, and make the world a better place by helping to support Girl Scouting in their communities.
In 1933, Girl Scouts of Greater Philadelphia Council baked cookies and sold them in the city’s gas and electric company
windows. Just 23 cents per box of 44 cookies, or six boxes for $1.24 helped girls develop their marketing and business
potential and raise funds for their local Girl Scout council program. In 1935, another large group, the Girl Scout Federation
of Greater New York (consisting of the Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island councils) raised money
through the sale of commercial cookies. Buying its own die in the shape of a trefoil, the group used the words Girl Scout
Cookies on the box. In 1936, the national Girl Scout organization began the process to license the first commercial baker
to produce cookies that would be sold by girls in Girl Scout councils. Enthusiasm for Girl Scout Cookies spread nationwide.
In 1937, more than 125 Girl Scout councils reported holding cookie sales. Girl Scout Cookies were sold annually by
local councils around the country until World War II, when sugar, flour, and butter shortages led Girl Scouts to begin selling
Girl Scout calendars to raise money for their activities. Cookie sales continued annually, with the national organization licensing
local bakers to produce and package the cookies sold by girls in councils. By 1948, a total of 29 bakers throughout
the nation were licensed to bake Girl Scout Cookies.
In 1951, Girl Scout Cookies came in three varieties: Sandwich, Shortbread, and Chocolate Mints (now known as Thin
Mints). With the advent of the suburbs, Girl Scout Cookies were also sold by girls at tables in shopping malls. By 1956,
Girl Scouts sold four basic types of cookies: a vanilla-based filled cookie, a chocolate-based filled one, shortbread, and a
chocolate mint. Some bakers also offered an optional flavor.
During the 1960s, when baby boomers expanded Girl Scout membership, cookie sale volume increased significantly.
In 1961, 14 licensed bakers were mixing batter for thousands upon thousands of Girl Scout Cookies annually. In 1960,
licensed bakers first began wrapping Girl Scout Cookie boxes in printed aluminum foil or cellophane to protect the cookies
and preserve their freshness. By 1966, a number of varieties were available. Among the best sellers were Chocolate
Mint, Shortbread, and Peanut Butter Sandwich cookies. In 1978, the number of bakeries was streamlined to four to
ensure lower prices and uniform quality, packaging, and distribution. The national organization, Girl Scouts of the USA,
began supplying licensed bakers with a standard cookie package layout and pictures. For the first time in history, all Girl
Scout Cookie® boxes featured the same designs and depicted scenes of Girl Scouts in action, including hiking and
canoeing. In 1979, the new contemporary Girl Scout logo appeared on cookie boxes. Cookie packaging became more
creative and began to promote the benefits of Girl Scouting. In 1982, the four bakers produced a maximum of seven varieties
of cookies—three mandatory (Thin Mint, Sandwich, and Shortbread) and four optional ones. Packaging continued
to depict scenes of Girl Scouts in action. In 1984, some of the licensed bakers started to produce gift samplings of Girl
Scout Cookies® in special decorative tins. In the early 1990s, two licensed bakers supplied local Girl Scout councils with
cookies for girls to sell. Eight varieties are now available, including low fat and sugar-free selections. In 1998, Girl Scouts
of the USA licensed three bakers to produce cookies. The national organization also introduced official age-appropriate
awards for Girl Scouts for participating in cookie activities, including an annual Girl Scout Cookie Activity Pin, with requirements
featured in an activity guide. Introduced in the fall of 2000 Girl Scout Cookie boxes were created in bold and bright
colors that included images that captured the spirit of Girl Scouting. These boxes clearly show girls having fun and
growing strong. The licensed bakers produce a maximum of eight varieties, including three mandatory ones (Thin Mint,
Peanut Butter Sandwich, and Shortbread). All cookies are kosher.

Girl Scout Cookie2010 FACT SHEET
2009 Cookie Availability Timeline: Girl Scout Cookies are only sold
three months out of the year. Beginning January 9th, girls will begin
taking initial orders. From February 14th – 19th all Girl Scouts
will begin delivering preordered Girl Scout Cookies to customers
and collecting money. Booth sales at local retail and community
locations will start February 20th and will be available through
March 15th.
How many Girls participate in the Girl Scout Cookie
Program each year?
Approximately 15,210 girls participate in the Girl Scout Heart of
Central California Cookie Program. Troops and individual girls
prepare for the cookie season in different ways. Some participate
in the Annual Cookie College program, some develop marketing
plans and create advertising posters for site sales BUT all girls sell
cookies to help raise money for their troop, Outreach programs
and their council. So don’t forget to ask the next time you purchase
a box of cookies what the girls are planning to do with the
money they raise this year!
Where do Girl Scout Cookie profits go?
All of the cookie proceeds stay in the community of the girl you
made the purchased from after the licensed baker is paid. A
portion of that money goes directly to local troops/groups selling
cookies. The remainder is used to help make Girl Scouting
available to every girl in the area who would like to participate.
Girls benefited not only by participating in our council sponsored
activities, but also by deciding what to do with the money they
earned for troop/group projects. We do not know of any other
youth oriented sale where the girls themselves decide what to do
with the money they earn. No money from local purchases goes
to the national Girl Scout organization. The licensed bakers pay
Girl Scouts of the USA a royalty fee for the use of our registered
name and service mark. That royalty is separate and apart from
contractual obligations between licensed bakers and each of the
local Girl Scout councils.
girl scout Cookies Sold by Variety
Thin Mints 27% Lemonades 10%
Carmel deLites 22% Shortbread 8%
Peanut Butter Patties 14% Thanks-a-Lots 7%
Peanut Butter Sandwiches 8% Daisy Go Rounds 4%
All Girl Scout Cookies
have zero grams trans
fat per serving.
Girl Scout Cookie Fun Facts
Thin Mints are produced at a rate of almost 2 million cookies a day on an oven that is about as long as a football field.
Shortbread cookies are made from a buttery shortbread recipe that was adapted from an authentic English formula that
was hand-carried to the United States years ago. Shortbread is the original Girl Scout Cookie tha
started it all.
Peanut Butter Sandwiches also known as Do-si-dos were once called Jackie O’s.
Peanut Butter Patties use only homemade peanut butter made with the freshest Virginia peanuts. Also known as
Tagalogs these cookies were named after a game that Girl Scouts play using a basketball.
Thanks-A-Lot the words “thank you” are embossed on top of each cookie in five different languages including English,
French, Chinese, Swahili or Spanish.
NEW COOKIE INFORMATION:
Cinna-Spins - Our new Girl Scout Cookie makes it easy to snack by doing the calorie counting for you! Each carton contains five
ready-to-grab-and-go snack packs full of crispy cinnamon flowers blooming with flavor in every bite! Way to snack!

Guidelines & Dates to Remember
Girls and parents will be expected to adhere to the following dates and guidelines:
January 8, 2010
• Girl Scouts take initial orders; not before
January 8, 2010.
• No money is collected at this time.
January 25, 2010
Your troop cookie manager may request an earlier date.
• Initial order taking ends.
• Girls’ Initial Order Cards are due to the troop
cookie manager.
Your daughter can earn the Patch Bracelet when she sells
175+ packages during initial order dates (January 8-25, 2010).
After January 25, 2010
• Girls are still able to take orders, which can
be placed on their “Mini Order” cards.
Note to Parents: You should obtain
signed receipts from your daughter’s troop
cookie manager when Girl Scout Cookies
are received as well as when money is turned
over to your daughter’s troop. Confirm the
information listed is correct. Keep these
receipts in the event any discrepancy or
questions arise.
February 10 - February 17, 2010
Your troop cookie manager will notify you of your
pick-up date/time/location
• Girl Scout Cookies are picked up from troop.
• Parents should bring the order card and confirm
their Girl Scout Cookie count when picking up
their cookies.
• Girls start to deliver cookies to customers and
collect money.
• Girl Scout Cookies are $4.00 per package.
• Checks are made payable to Girl Scouts
Heart of Central California or GSHCC
• Girls turn in collected money weekly (often) to
troop cookie manager.
February 17 - March 14, 2010
• Site sales occur during this time.
• Girls continue to deliver Girl Scout Cookies
to customers.
Contact your daughter’s troop cookie manager
for more details.
March 14, 2010
Your troop cookie manager may request an earlier date.
• All Girl Scout Cookie money is due to the troop
cookie manager.
April/May 2010
• Girl Scout Cookie Credits are mailed directly
to qualifying girls. Please notify your leader if you
changed your address since the cookie credits are
mailed directly to the girl.
• Incentives are delivered to troops.
Safety Tips
Parents are responsible for their daughter’s safety when she is selling Girl Scout
Cookies. These checkpoints should be reviewed and followed. Additional safety
tips and guidelines are listed on the Girl/Parent Permission and Financial
Responsibility Form.
Girls should never enter a customer’s house or approach customers in cars. Girls may
never sell Girl Scout Cookies alone.
Girls must learn and practice personal protection skills as outlined in their handbook.
All Safety-Wise guidelines must be followed (refer to your troop leader).
The troop leader’s or another designated phone number, must be available
for reorders or complaints. Girls should not give out their telephone numbers.
Two adults must be present, at all times, when Girl Scouts operate a
site sale in a store, mall or other public places.

incentives
Your daughter can earn this
Patch Bracelet when she sells
+175 packages during
the initial order dates.
25 boxes
Patch
70 boxes
Eco Journal
130 boxes
Frog Pewter Figurine
180 boxes
Sitting Plush Frog
250 boxes
Movie Ticket
350 boxes
Peace Necklace
500 boxes
Messenger Bag
& Splash Highlighter
650 boxes
Fleece Blanket & Flashlight
800 boxes
Sleeping Bag
1,000 boxes
Flip Camcorder
1,600 boxes
*Mystery Trip on Aug
4, 2010
2,100 boxes
LapTop or Wii
Incentives are cumulative
*The Mystery Trip is for girls only and is planned for Aug 4. There will be no make-up session. Parents will be notified of the
planned activities and be provided a full schedule in advance of the event. We would like parents to carefully consider their
daughter’s ability to be away from them before aiming for this goal. This incentive is not transferable to another girl.
COOKIE CREDITS
In addition to receiving incentives, girls who sell 150 packages or more will receive Girl Scout Cookie Credit Cards according to the table below. The earned Girl Scout Cookies
Credit Cards will be mailed directly to each qualified Girl Scout. These Girl Scout Cookie Credit Cards may be used to offset the cost of council resident camps, day camps, Girl
Scout Silver and Girl Scout Gold Awards projects, “destinations” and other programs. They may also be used to purchase items from the Girl Scout Shops (located in Rancho
Cordova and Modesto) and Girl Scout Cookie Credit Cards can be used for all Northern California and Sierra Nevada Councils’ resident camps. Contact your troop leader for
information on how Girl Scout Cookie Credit Cards can be used to pay for membership registration.
# Packages COOKIE CREDIT # Packages COOKIE CREDIT # Packages COOKIE CREDIT
150 – 199 $10.00 300 – 349 $25.00 450 – 499 $40.00
200 – 249 $15.00 350 – 399 $30.00 500 – 549 $45.00
250 – 299 $20.00 400 – 449 $35.00 550 – 599 $50.00
Add $5.00 for every 50 additional packages sold.
All registered girls selling 1,251 or more packages of Girl Scout Cookies will receive an additional $150.00 in cookie credits.
GSHCC Cookie Credit Cards are not transferable, cumulative, or refundable for cash. They will not be accepted after expiration date.
They may not be used to purchase catalog items directly from Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) in New York.