Am I just being overly sensitive today?

[disykat]

In my council, the troop does keep only .50 per box; however, the council keeps about 1.75 per box. Our council is largely funded by cookie sales. The council uses that 1.75 per box to maintain FIVE camps (one on the lake, one in the mountains, one with a ropes /climbing course, one inside a huge park with a zoo, and one in the middle of the city with themed cabins), which we can use for almost free. They offer a whole book full of programs (engineering programs, museum sleepovers, craft days, history days, even a technology bus that goes to different areas of the council . . . all sorts of things), which our girls can attend for paltry fees like $2-10 per event. Even overnight events only run $15-20. Leaders LOVE these events because they're so easy. For example, I'm not a lifeguard so I can't take my girls on watersports activities. However, I can take them to a council-sponsored sleepover at a local college, and there'll be a lifeguard provided for me. So the lion's share of the money IS going to the girls; it just isn't going directly to the individual seller's own troop.

What a great explanation! I always wondered because I'd heard the $.50 thing and every fundraiser my kids has every done the group gets at least 50%.

 

[Sheree Bobbins]

I side with the people who are saying that you may be oversensitive.

 

[grlpwrd]

I think you're being overly sensitive, but I am, too, when it comes to supporting children thru an organization like Girl Scouts.

Thanks, MrsPete, for a good post. We earn 60 to 70 cents per box and when we sold nuts and chocolates we received about $1 per box. These are our major fundraisers.

We really need these fundraisers. Our Council involves a lot of families from lower incomes.

According to the Commit to a Girl campaign are these startling statistics:

Nearly one quarter of female teens (23%) have fewer than three adults they could go to if they needed help.1

Seventy-four percent of girls 8-12 aspire to a college and graduate school education, but only 19% of girls believe they will be the boss of their own company.2

Thirty percent of girls who have gone into public chat rooms have been sexually harassed online, but only 7 percent of those girls say they told their mother or father about the incident immediately.3

Among ninth graders, girls (23%) now consume alcohol and binge drink at rates similar to boys (26%).4

Girls 13 -18 years old think that by far they are the "savviest" computer user in their household (58% of girls), but only 20% of high school students taking advanced placement computer science exams are female.3, 5

Nearly 1 out of every 2 high school boys plays sports while only 1 in 3 girls do.6

In 1970, only one out of every 21 girls was obese or overweight; today that figure is one in six.7

One-third (34%) of girls 13-17 are concerned about being forced to do something sexual and more than one quarter (26%) of girls cope with feeling unsafe by using alcohol and drugs.1

The system and administration are not perfect, but it helps girls of our generation. Yes, I'm sure you all could do without the annual badgering (lol) and the transfats and calories, but it's more than just the cookies...

 

[In a hurry]

Your friend broke the unwritten rule of close friendship, which is, "Look, neither of us really wants or needs more popcorn, cookies, cookie dough, wrapping paper, magazines, etc. but since our kids are going to be selling this I'll buy from yours if you'll buy from mine, OK?" You're not being too sensitive - your friend has simply exercised a clause you didn't know existed, which is, "OK, well now I'm going to change the rules on you and if you don't like it you're the one who's going to be accused of being too sensitive, so there!" This allows you to exercise the optional second hidden clause, which is, "I am going to gracefully let this roll off my back, and furthermore I will continue to buy from your children whenever they have something to sell, and if I take just the tiniest bit of pleasure from knowing that you are a little uncomfortable when you realize that I'm supporting your kids even though you no longer support mine, well then, that's just human nature and you'll have to deal with that on your end, now won't you?"

Personally, I couldn't turn down someone's kid, even if the friendship wasn't that close and I didn't need the item. I know that's a personal decision, though.

Perfectly put!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I can't say that I blame you for what you're feeling, but I wouldn't say anything to her about it.

For me personally, unless it's something that I really can't use or my kids have the same fundraiser, I buy from anyone I know who comes and asks me. I might only be one box of cookies, but I will always buy something.

I remember when my DD used to sell GS cookies and later her high school band did a fruit fundraiser. One person I knew (and still know) would NEVER buy from my DD. Of course now her DD is of the age to sell GS cookies and they hit me up to buy. I do buy from her, but I reserve some of my buying for the girl next door. I could tell her no since that's what her mom did with my DD, but I figure that it's not the girl's fault that her mom is that way.

 

[diznygirl]

Honestly I think you are being over sensitive here too. I don't see diznygirl post as rude, just her OP. You were asking for others OPs.

Thanks! Maybe if I buy a box of cookies, I'll be forgiven!

 

[Texan Mouseketeer]

I don't ask friends without kids to buy anything. Also, if I ask someone with kids, I phrase it like, I'll buy something from you when your child's fundraiser comes around if you buy something from me and we can make a trade if you would like to. That way they feel okay with saying no and they know that buying something from my child commit's me to buying something from them, if that makes sense.

Also, I just found it funny, but one post said, shouldn't your DD be selling those? Well, both my kids started getting fundraisers from the daycare when they were 1! Well, they weren't exactly selling the products themselves for many years!!! (I thought that was sooo ridiculous for them to get those so young...I hate fundraisers anyway!)

 

[alliecats]

Thanks! Maybe if I buy a box of cookies, I'll be forgiven!

Ok, now this is rude! I think the part she probably objected to in your earlier post was "sad." IMHO, that was laying it on a little thicker than the situation warranted (i.e. poor word choice), and it sounded patronizing.
DVCLiz, as usual, great post!!!

 

[diznygirl]

Ok, now this is rude! I think the part she probably objected to in your earlier post was "sad." IMHO, that was laying it on a little thicker than the situation warranted (i.e. poor word choice), and it sounded patronizing.
DVCLiz, as usual, great post!!!

Just trying to lighten things up here. After all, it's a post about cookies, for goodness sakes! So how come it's okay to make jokes at a funeral?

 

[alliecats]

Just trying to lighten things up here. After all, it's a post about cookies, for goodness sakes! So how come it's okay to make jokes at a funeral?

Ok, you lost me with the funeral! I don't think I've ever done that...

 

[DVCLiz]

Ok, now this is rude! I think the part she probably objected to in your earlier post was "sad." IMHO, that was laying it on a little thicker than the situation warranted (i.e. poor word choice), and it sounded patronizing.
DVCLiz, as usual, great post!!!

Mrs. Belden and Miss Trask would have bought cookies from each other, don't you think?

 

[diznygirl]

That's this thread here: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1000320

Sorry to have stepped on anyone's toes. I guess I'm just not taking this as seriously as some others.

 

[SnowAngel08]

That is kind of rude, but how many people do you know want girl scout cookies in there house when there on a diet! But really if there are other people in the house they dont' have to suffer along with you on your diet.

 

[alliecats]

That's this thread here: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1000320

Sorry to have stepped on anyone's toes. I guess I'm just not taking this as seriously as some others.

This thread reminds me of that Mary Tyler Moore show episode where the clown died. Everyone kept making fun and she was so mad at their insensitivity. Then she got to the funeral and lost it.

 

[alliecats]

Mrs. Belden and Miss Trask would have bought cookies from each other, don't you think?

Ha! Ha! Yes, they absolutely would have if they needed to. Thing is, those intrepid BobWhites would have thrown a combination antique show/bike ride/ice carnival and raised all the money they needed, without Miss Trask even having to take one step in those sensible oxfords of hers.