Girl Scouts rally in Sisters

Girls Scouts from across Central Oregon came together for a rally to kick-off this year's annual cookie sale last Friday evening at Sisters Community Church. Most stayed on for a sleep-over and a Saturday morning "Try-It Blitz" for Brownies. Scouts from Bend, Madras, Warm Springs, Prineville and Culver attended.

"We had everybody who wasn't South Deschutes (County), so we basically just didn't have La Pine and Sunriver," said Evelyn Brush, service manager for Sisters Area Girl Scouts, who organized the event.

"What we're doing is having a cookie rally, because the Girls Scout Cookie Drive starts (January 12)," said Peyton Griffin, who with Miki McFadden serve as the leaders of Sisters Brownie

Troop 752.

During the rally the girls learned about safety, how to round up orders and how to sell at stores and other commercial enterprises. To help with their salesmanship skills, the girls were briefed about the various flavors of cookies they will be selling. Later, a talent show centered around this year's theme "Make It A Hit" boosted the girls' energies to get out and

sell.

According to Brush, each girl must set her own goal.

"How many boxes does she want to sell? Then, the troop will set a goal, because the troop gets 50 cents a box for each box its members sell," said Brush, who noted that many youth programs only give back 15 cents

per unit.

In addition, the Western Rivers Council receives about $2 for each box sold. The council, which is headquartered in Eugene, oversees all of Central Oregon and over to the coast at Coos Bay and from Eugene down through Roseburg.

"The money goes to support scholarships, financial assistance and the prizes the girls earn and all those kinds of things," said Brush.

The individual troops use the money they earn for trips or something special the girls wish to do.

"Last year we went to OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry) and spent the night at OMSI in Portland, and that was a lot of money with $300 in gas just to get everybody there," said Brush

Friday night's sleep-over was not only for fun but also to help prepare the younger second- and third-grade Brownies for camp-outs this summer.

"Our troop is trying to work up to going on a camp-out later in the spring. For a lot of us, this is our first night out or night away from mom and dad, so it's a big deal," said Griffin.

The event was a learning experience for all scouts. The older cadets, ages 11-17, set up all activities, prepared breakfast and were in charge of clean-up. The younger juniors assisted the cadets and helped Brownies with

activities.

On Saturday morning each Brownie Scout had the opportunity to earn three or four triangular "Try-It" badges to add to her vest by participating in four areas of learning activities. The girls explored music, movement, numbers and shapes and physics and science.