The Daily Southerner, Tarboro, NC

Local News

Related Photos

  • Girl Scouts gathered at St. James United Methodist Church Wednesday night to talk cookies on the eve of the first ever Girl Scout Cookie Day. Among those attending were (front, from left) Heleina Devera and Madison Nicholas. Also, (back, from left) Ashlea Nicholas, Taylor Redman, Bryce Bradley, Hope Whitehurst, Grace Whitehurst and Ashleigh Perkins. (Staff photo/John H. Walker)

    girl scouts.jpg
February 7, 2013

Girl Scout Cookies a huge business

COOKIES for sale

The Daily Southerner John H. Walker

ROCKY MOUNT — The famous Thin Mints remain, but Girl Scouts are giving their cookie boxes an overhaul to highlight the real purpose of the $790-million cookie program, which is to teach girls five essential life skills: goal setting, decision making, money management, business ethics, and people skills.

See, it’s a lot more than some cute young ladies in their uniforms asking you to buy some of their cookies. Instead, it is the largest girl-led business in the world.

And to celebrate the program, Girl Scouts has named Friday as the first ever National Girl Scout Cookie Day.

Because of the conflict with school, local units aren’t planning any special activities, but on most weekends you’ll find them all across Edgecombe County — from Piggly Wiggly and Wal-Mart to Golden East Mall.

Local Girl Scouts, whether a Daisy, Brownie, Junior, Cadette, Senior or Ambassador, have been selling cookies for about three weeks. Customers have a choice of eight flavors, including the ever popular shortbread, peanut butter sandwich, lemonade or the newest flavor, mango crème.

Cookies are $3.50 per box and customers who

buy five boxes are given a certificate with a special code. By going to www.nccoastalpines.org and entering the code, those persons are entered into a contest where they can win free Girl Scout Cookies for a year.

When it comes to skill building, statistics show the Girl Scout Cookie Program works. According to a survey from the Girl Scout Research Institute, 85 percent of Girl Scout “cookie entrepreneurs” learn money management by developing budgets, taking cookie orders, and handling customers’ money. Eighty-three percent build business ethics; 80 percent learn goal setting; 77 percent improve decision making; and 75 percent develop people skills.

All the revenue earned from cookie activities—every penny after paying the baker—stays with the local Girl Scout council that sponsors the sale. Councils use cookie revenue to supply essential services to troops, groups, and individual girls, such as providing program resources and communication support, training adult volunteers, and conducting events. As part of their experience in any Girl Scout product activity, girls can earn official Girl Scout awards at every level of Girl Scouting, including cookie and financial literacy badges and the annual Cookie Activity Pin.

In the first package design update since 1999, the 200 million Girl Scout cookie boxes sold annually now feature a new look that highlights the skills girls learn through the program. A new GSUSA marketing campaign reinforces this more contemporary message with the theme, “This Is What a Girl Can Do.” And, for ease of purchase, customers can now find their Girl Scout Cookies using a free app available for iPhone or Android, or by visiting the newly refreshed official Girl Scout Cookie Finder at www.girlscoutcookies.org.

 

Text Only
Local News
  • ACT_award_5-21-13.jpg Edgecombe Community College receives national award

    Edgecombe Community College (ECC) received a national award Tuesday night for its efforts to prepare students to be successful in careers and the workplace.
    Edgecombe was among four honorees that received national awards in Washington, D.C., during a gala that concluded ACT’s inaugural College and Career Readiness Campaign.

    May 24, 2013 1 Photo

  • image.jpg County gospel choir to celebrate 20th anniversary

    The Edgecombe County High School Gospel Choir, under the direction of founder Kristian Herring, is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a live concert Sunday.
    “You will hear some traditional choral music, energetic spirituals, traditional and contemporary gospel,” said Antonio Suggs, choir advisor.

    May 24, 2013 1 Photo

  • Gas-Graphic.jpg Gas prices in Tarboro lower than state average

    With Memorial Day Weekend around the corner, travelers on U.S. 64 exiting  into Tarboro could discover some of the cheapest gas in North Carolina.
    On Wednesday, Murphy Express reported the cheapest gas at $3.35 while Hadi's, Raceway and Hess prices were one cent higher.

    May 23, 2013 1 Photo

  • UnitedWay.jpg Tar River United Way recognizes ‘community champions’

    “Be the change” was the theme of a United Way Tar River Region luncheon Wednesday at The Gateway Convention Center in Rocky Mount. United Way TRR recognized “community champions,” celebrated the success of its 2012 fundraising campaign and encouraged volunteers and partner agencies to “be the change” they want to see in the community.

    May 23, 2013 1 Photo

  • AIB.jpg America in Bloom judges’ visit Tarboro next month

    Tarboro’s America in Bloom (AIB) steering committee is gearing up for the AIB judges’ visit to town next month. AIB is a national non-profit organization that promotes “beautification through education and community involvement.”
    “Please join us as Tarboro prepares for the visit of national AIB judges on June 17 and 18,” said AIB co-chair Connie Sherrill in a competition planning update. “Help us bring out the beauty of our exceptional town.”

    May 22, 2013 1 Photo

  • Brown.jpg Local Principal Completes Leadership Program

    Donnell Brown, principal of Phillips Middle School, recently completed the Distinguished Leadership Program (DLP), a yearlong leadership development program for practicing school principals designed and provided by the North Carolina Principals and Assistant Principal’s Association (NCPAPA) in partnership with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and UNC-LearnNC.

    May 22, 2013 1 Photo

  • Woman faces 32 charges

    A Tarboro woman's scam has led authorities to arrest her on 28 charges.
    According to a Tarboro Police Department report, Jennifer Ann Carr, 29, 1609 Barlow Rd. Apt. 9, took out loans in the names of 16 customers of a local business from January through April. Carr was employed through a temp agency with a local business, said Tarboro Police Sgt. Al Braxton. Braxton said the total loan amount netted $4,300.  
    Carr was charged with 16 counts of identity theft and 16 counts of obtaining property by false pretenses. She was place in Edgecombe County Detention Center under a $10,000 secured bond.
     

    May 22, 2013

  • CRIME.jpg Two suspects arrested on 36 charges; third issued citation

    After executing a search warrant Thursday on a residence at 500 W. Johnston St. in Tarboro, police officers arrested two suspects for possessing a small amount of marijuana and issued a third suspect a citation for possessing a glass pipe to smoke the drugs.
    After the marijuana was found, officers notified two of the three suspects that they also had additional warrants on them from the department's "Spring Fling" drug campaign where they had sold marijuana to undercover officers.

    May 20, 2013 1 Photo

  • S.Herring.jpg Introductory Latin class beginning Tuesday

    Want a leg up in a medical terminology course? Anatomy? Physical science? Take a look at Latin, perhaps the best grounding for all education.
    Not convinced? Just ask Stephen Herring, instructor of religion, geography, and developmental studies at Edgecombe Community College (ECC). He will teach an Introductory Latin class beginning Tuesday. The class will meet at Fleming 218 on the Tarboro campus.

    May 20, 2013 1 Photo

  • DWI-Tests.jpg NTSB wants to lower DWI blood alcohol levels

    The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released a bold set of targeted interventions to put the United States on course to eliminate alcohol-impaired related crashes. They have given recommendations that call for stronger laws, swifter enforcement and expanded use of technology.

    May 17, 2013 1 Photo