Girl Scout cookies coming soon

Thousands of Girl Scouts in the state will begin taking Girl Scout Cookie orders soon. The Girl Scout Cookie Program, an American tradition for nearly 90 years, kicks off Jan. 10 and will continue through mid March with booth sales beginning Feb. 20.

This year customers can chose from eight varieties of Girl Scout Cookies including one new selection, Dulce de Leche. The traditional favorites are Do-si-Dos, Lemon Chalet Cremes, Samaos, Sugar Free Chocolate Chips, Tagalongs, Thin Mints and Trefoils. All cookies contain zero grams of trans fat.

The Cookie Program is the largest financial literacy and entrepreneurial program for girls in the country. Girl Scouts practice leadership and communication skills, learn to manage money, and gain confidence in reaching their personal goals, while also working with a team to reach troop goals.

"Each and every year I know we are training girls to achieve their dreams. Whatever their futures hold, we are equipping them with tools to achieve future success," said Denise Stewart, president and CEO of Girl Scouts -Diamonds of Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas.

"You could be buying cookies from a future secretary of state or CEO of a Fortune 500 company. How many delicious products can you buy that offer character building, teamwork and leadership opportunities for the leaders of tomorrow?"

In addition to providing program experience, all proceeds from the Girl Scout Cookie Program fund Girl Scout troops, camps, training and programs for more the than 18,000 girls and 6,800 volunteers served by the council. For more information on purchasing cookies contact the local Girl Scout office at 329-9597 or contact local Cookie Sale Manager Susan Eggert at 513-0420 or visit www.girlscoutsdiamonds.org.