Girl Scout cookie sale begins Friday; new varieties low in trans fat numbers

~ Booths will be set up March 4 throughout Westfield West Park.

Female entrepreneurs, ages 6 to 17 will launch Girl Scout cookies sales beginning at 3 p.m. Friday and continuing until Jan. 30.

This year a special first-time event will be held from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. March 4 with 10 booths strategically stationed throughout Westfield West Park.

The booths will be set up for customers needing to purchase additional cookies or who have not had the opportunity to reach a Girl Scout or contact the office to get cookies.

The Girl Scouts of Otahki Council have set a council goal of 209,453 boxes. The price per box remains the same.

As Americans become more health-conscious, so do Girls Scout cookies. This year the two new varieties, Cartwheels and Thanks-A-Lots, both contain zero grams of trans fat, with Cartwheels marketed as reduced-fat cookies.

Of the eight varieties available, five have zero grams of trans fat per serving. Besides the two new varieties, Caramel deLites, Peanut Butter Patties and Thin Mints are without trans fat.

Shortbread, Peanut Butter Sandwich and Lemon Pastry Cremes are among the varieties also available.

Fans of cinnamon and oatmeal should enjoy the Cartwheels. They're also a source of calcium and important vitamins including thiamine, niacin and riboflavin.

Customers may find the Thanks-A-Lots cookies educational. The thank-you message imprinted on the shortbread side comes in five languages.

This annual cookie sale activity teaches girls to set goals, develop action plans to reach those goals, work together as a team and cultivate a sense of business ethics. Interpersonal communication and public speaking skills are practiced and developed by girls selling cookies, thereby building confidence.

Knowledge of money management, marketing and customer service are also gained, making the experience valuable for every girl's future.

All proceeds, after paying the baker, stay in the local community. A portion of the money stays at the council level to support activities. A share of the proceeds goes to the troop where girls make decisions about how the money is spent, fostering goal setting and leadership abilities through hands on experience.

Girl Scouts of the USA counts 3.7 million girl and adult members. Now in its 93rd year, the organization strives to serve girls from the United States, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. For more information on joining, volunteering or donating call (800) 478-7248 or visit www.girlscouts.org.

If a Girl Scout does not contact you about purchasing Girl Scout cookies call the Girl Scout Service Center at 334-7741 or (800) 686-0106.