January 24, 2008

It's Cookie Time

Girl Scout kick-off event features Harlem Globetrotters and of course, cookies

By Jeanne C. Carbone
Staff Writer

TimesVideoLink The Girl Scout color guard with songstress Nicola Santoro [second from left] starts the Harlem Globetrotters’ game after the 2008 Cookie Kickoff. Photos by Jeanne C. Carbone

As American as apple pie and the red, white and blue, it’s nearly time to enjoy the Girl Scout cookies that are only offered once a year.

This year’s annual sale started with a kickoff that turned into a full-fledged extravaganza at the HP Pavilion with 2,200 Girl Scouts and their families enjoying arts and crafts, games, cookie selling, safety tips and even the celebration of recipe winners.

As a special treat, Harlem Globetrotters’ team members joined the festivities for photos before their evening game on Jan. 18. And many of the Girl Scouts attended the game, cheering their color guard, Nicola Santoro, who sang the “Star-Spangled Banner” at the game.

Equally important was the presence of the new Girls Scouts of Northern California Chief Executive Officer Marina Park, who joined the organization Nov. 1. The date coincides with the merger of five Northern California Girl Scout Councils to become one as part of a nationwide realignment. The area now encompasses 60,000 girls and 33,000 adult members in 19 counties stretching from Gilroy to the Oregon border.

TimesVideoLink Songstress Nicola Santoro wows the crowd before the basketball game with the “Star-Spangled Banner.” Photos by Jeanne C. Carbone

“The shared vision of the council is to make sure that Girl Scouting is available for all girls everywhere,” said Park. “The types of programs that we deliver to under-served girls are one of the really exciting things about the merger. We have more resources than ever and also more shared experiences.

“We have programs bringing Girl Scout experiences to girls in inner city, housing projects, rural [areas], detention facilities, lunch time, after school and bilingual programs. We’ll pull together the five areas and out of that we will share the best practices. We have a wonderful opportunity to accelerate the cycle of improvement. We are very excited,” added Park.

Park joined the Girl Scouts after a successful career as a managing partner for Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, a leading law firm. The recent merger of the five Northern California Girl Scouts Councils into one is part of a nationwide program to continue building the Girl Scout brand, leverage public support and expand services. Park, a former Girl Scout, desires to bring girls from rural, suburban and urban areas together under the newly formed council.

“They’re calling me the cookie girl,” said Campbell Girl Scout Sarafina Kerkula, who along with mom Olivia presents the new Cinna-Spin at the 2008 Cookie Kickoff.

The cookie kick-off event celebrated the mission of the Girl Scouts that is dedicated solely to girls in an accepting and nurturing environment and helping girls to build the character and skills for success in the world. In partnership with adult volunteers, Girl Scouts grow qualities, such as leadership, strong values and a social conscience, that will serve them all their lives as well as develop conviction about their own potential and self-worth.

Founded in 1912 by Juliette Gordon Low, the Girl Scouts' membership has grown from 18 members in Savannah, Ga. to 3.7 million members throughout the United States, including U.S. territories, and in more than 90 countries through USA Girl Scouts Overseas.

“This is an exciting kickoff for the girls so they’re all jazzed up about the cookie sales and what they can do as far as setting goals on how they want to use the money,” said Girl Scout chief program and membership officer Michelle McCormick. “Our theme is Dash the Dog and the girls can earn a stuffed dog for a project. We invited the San Jose Police Department K9 unit to be here and have three officers and their dogs. Another part of the education component is we encourage the girls to learn about rescue dog groups.”

Harlem Globetrotters “Wildcat” Edgerson and “Scooter” Christensen share the spotlight with the Girl Scouts leaders and volunteers at the 2008 Cookie Kickoff.

McCormick is equally excited about the Gift of Caring Program, which sends cases of Girl Scouts cookies to the troops fighting overseas.

“We get wonderful letters from the troops saying it’s like a taste of home,” said McCormick.

The Girl Scout Cookie Program is the leading entrepreneurial program for girls. They learn goal setting, money management and teamwork. All the proceeds support Girl Scouting in the local community. And with eight choices including Thin Mints, Peanut Butter Patties, Peanut Butter Sandwich, Shortbread, Lemonades, Thanks-a-Lot [shortbread dipped in fudge], Carmel deLites, and the newest, Cinna-Spins – with only 100 calories per 15 cookies – there is something for everyone.

"I have seen the Girl Scout community make a real difference for the girls who participate," said Park. "Girl Scouts is an inclusive organization that helps change the world, one girl at a time."

For more information on Girl Scouts or cookie purchases, visit www.girlscoutsnorcal.org.