As cute as Girl Scouts look selling boxes of Do-Si-Dos, they are learning to conduct business. They will do what it takes to earn a badge and the coveted prizes that go to those who sell the most cookies.
A “Think Big” badge is awarded by the Girls Scouts of the United States of America to young girls who display the spirit of innovative thinking. This is what Emma Vermaak of Coronado, Calif., was trying to do when she and her mother set up a website with a PayPal button to promote cookie sales and donations.
Girl Scouts chastised the 11-year-old for marketing cookies via Twitter, and using PayPal to collect donations for Operation Thin Mint, to ship cookies to overseas troops.
The Girl Scouts first praised the budding entrepreneur over Twitter for her online efforts, but a day later, the organization tweeted @emmavermaak01 telling the pre-teen she could not use PayPal to collect payments for her online sales or donations because she was violating GSA rules.
Cookie sales must be done face-to-face with customers because real life connection builds “people skills.” Door-to-door sales are encouraged and cookies are to be paid for in cash or check only.
So, we're wondering here at Middletown Patch if you've helped your daughter, granddaughter or friend of the family sell cookies by passing around an order sheet at the office.
Do you think Girl Scouts should be allowed to conduct business on a web site, their Facebook page, or via Twitter, and accept payments through PayPal? Is it time for the Girl Scouts of America to recognize that a large part of today's business is conducted online and through email and other electronic means?
Or is the friendly green-sashed girl showing up at your door something you welcome every March — a tradition that has fought the tide of modernization?
Tell us your thoughts in the comments.
Suzette Valle contributed to this story.