Huckleberries Online

Crump: Bring On Girl Scout Cookies

Posted by DFO

Feb. 11, 2009 1:09 p.m. • 15 comments

Just in case you’re running out of things to worry about, you should know that there’s an ethics crisis brewing surrounding the sale of Girl Scout cookies. It’s perhaps the worst-kept secret in the world that parents of the 3.7 million Girl Scouts worldwide sell more than their share of Thin Mints, Do-Si-Dos, Trefoils, Tagalongs, Samoas, Daisy-Go-Rounds, Thanks-A-Lots, Lemon Chalet Cremes, Sugar-Free Chocolate Chips, Dulce de Leche and Lemonades. And they do so, by and large, in their workplaces. This has prompted some employers to create rules against charitable solicitations at the office, according to CNN. I have problems with that policy on two levels. First, if your social skills are so weak that you can’t politely say, “Thanks, but no,” to a cookie-pushing colleague, then you belong in a monastery, not a workplace. And in the second place, I can’t do without my annual fix of Girl Scout Cookies/Steve Crump, Twin Falls Times-News. More here.

Question: I know I asked a question about annoying habits of co-workers earlier today. But I want to spotlight one that bothers some but not others. Should co-workers or their children be allowed to sell Girl Scout cookies at work?

15 comments on this post so far. Add yours!

nic on February 11 at 1:15 p.m.
No. We all know how to say no thanks, but we shouldn’t have to. If I want girl scout cookies, I’ll buy them from the gilrs who take the extra effort to sit out side a grocery store for 12 hours on a Saturday, they’re the ones who deserve the funds raised by the cookie sales.
Sisyphus on February 11 at 1:28 p.m.
What’ryagonnado? She looks up at you in her smart uniform with those doe eyes oblivious to the inherent mannerly vise in which you’ve been placed and offers for a mere few fundraising dollars a semi-delectable though often stale treat that you’d just as soon eat anyway despite your diet or lack of interest.

The alternative is to enforce that big “no soliciting” policy saying nyet to a nine year old girl volunteering her time for a worthy cause and leaving her with the impression that these somehow are not laudable endeavors.

Its a racket. ;-)
zelda on February 11 at 1:34 p.m.
Where do you draw the line? If your business has a large # of employees, it doesn’t take long before you end up with employee-sponsored fundraising occupying a major portion of your workers’ time and a table or two in the breakroom. I’ve seen it all — G.S. cookies, Camp Fire mints, wrapping paper for school trips, band uniforms, run-a-thons, jog-a-thons, Daffodil Days…it’s endless. And then there’s the religious fundraisers. Keep it out of the workplace.
Me on February 11 at 1:38 p.m.
I like the way we’ve done it at our office. You are allowed to sell, but only by way of leaving information in our common areas. So you leave the catalog, and the order form for people to fill out. That way there isn’t someone going around wasting time and people still have the option to support the cause.
Arpie on February 11 at 1:50 p.m.
I tell them, “I will gladly buy cookies from your daughter, have her ask me.”
Cabbage Boy on February 11 at 1:58 p.m.
I let them know that it probably isn’t in their best interest to get into the “I’ll buy from yours if you buy from my kids” with me.
poolman on February 11 at 4:08 p.m.
I have no problem with it. I never turn down an opportunity to make a small monetary donation to support youth activities. Just don’t ask me to judge, umpire or referee. Parents can be a little crazy at their kid’s events.
Liz on February 12 at 9:12 a.m.
I WANT MY THIN MINTS!!!!!

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About this blog

D.F. Oliveria is a columnist and blogger for The Spokesman-Review. Huckleberries Online was judged the best 2008 Idaho newspaper blog by the Idaho Press Club. And the best 2007 news blog in the Pacific Northwest by the Society for Professional Journalist. Print Huckleberries is a past winner of the Herb Caen Memorial Column contest by the National Association of Newspaper Columnists. The Readership Institute of Northwestern University cited this blog as a good example of online community journalism.