More power to you if you volunteer for the cookie job.
But we gave up scouts for D because so much focus was on cookie sales where PARENTS do the work and little else. And it turned into “cookie SEASON” rather than something short and sweet. It wasn’t worth the time and trouble.
Long gone the days when I filled up my bike basket with whatever cookies were available (no pre-orders) and went down my street to sell to the neighbors. -“I’m out of mint–how about peanut butter!” Lasted about one week and done. No going back to people more than once, not much paper work.
I was a cub scout leader–we voted to totally forego the “popcorn sale” for exactly the same reasons. Selling 10 buck cans of pop corn was time-consuming and provided little benefit to the troop.
Okay, I went off topic. I hate fundraiser stuff where little money is made and parents do the work. Better to ring a bell and ask for donations.
I’m sorry, but I agree with you. I think she had a lot of nerve texting your daughter at all. She should,have contacted you.
I wouldn’t apologize. I would just move forward…but maybe make it clear to all that YOU are the context person…no one else in your family will be responding about cookies.
Cookie mom is a thankless job. I did it for several years when my kids were Brownies and Girls Scouts.
My opinion:
Texting is not for substantive communication. Even for someone who is comfortable texting. It is for one-off messages like, “Running late, c u in 10 min.” Or, “pick me up at school now pls.”
For cookies, email is best.
Finally, why the h*** are you DELIVERING their orders?? Can’t you just sort the orders and have them pick it up at your house?
“I was really angry that this woman can’t be bothered to use email or call.”
I think the problem here is that you are angry that this other woman can’t be bothered to use email or call, but seem not to realize that she may be equally bothered by the fact that you can’t be bothered to text.
Texting seems to be the new calling. I agree it’s easier to deal with many incoming orders via email versus text, but I do think it appears to be the way of the future.
@brantly This is a very odd troop, it’s a special interest troop, very geographically diverse. I live about an hour south of her of just about were the suburbs meet the sticks and she lives in the city. We booth have kids at the same one day a week homeschool program so it makes sense for me to deliver her cookies to her there or when the troop has an activity. It’s no big deal except the extra toting them in and out of my house.
So when I pulled up and told her I had her cookies (from the previous text not the nonsense from last night, that I had confirmed with her by email Sunday night which I guess she never read) she seemed a bit surprised. I immediately apologized for the tone of my message and said that D was very busy and doesn’t need to be involved with anyone cookies except here own. That she needs to either call me or email me with anything about cookies if the future.
The she said, “Oh, I haven’t even listened to my voice mail from last night yet” Her demeanor was sort of off from the beginning so I really don’t believe she didn’t listen to my message. I think this was her way of moving on so I think she gets it and we’re good.
Just to be clear selling cookies is not required this was 100% her choice because she wants her daughters to raise funds for an up coming trip, instead of paying out of pocket. She knew in advance that I don’t text before signing up to sell cookies with us. My daughter will not be going on this trip because she will have graduated by then so I don’t have and desire to get involved with the fund raising for this trip. Traditionally I have been the person that organizes other “money earning opportunities” because the girls only earn $.70 a box off of cookies. I really want other parents to take on this role and have warned them that I will be gradually backing off, at Christmas I offered to help them with a money earning project but this mom would only do it if she could “drop off” her young daughters. When I told her that I could not be responsible for her daughters at this very busy event (her 7 year old tends to wonder off) she declined. I’m happy to help but I not going to do it for them or be a baby sitter!
Any ideas about how to get other parents to step up as I exit this troop?
“Any ideas about how to get other parents to step up as I exit this troop?”
I think its nice of you to be concerned about someone stepping up to fill your shoes but I’d suggest not worrying about it. Just send an email out to all the parents/girl scouts with some advance notice notifying them that as of x date you will be relinquishing your responsibilities due to your daughter moving on to college and no longer being engaged in girl scouts, offer to download your knowledge to whoever steps up, and wish them all the best.
PG–the difference between her choosing what media to use, and the other mom choosing, is that the OP is the one doing the work! If the other parents want a cookie mom who texts, they can dang well find themselves another one.
And overall, I do not agree that everyone needs to text. There are plenty places in the professional world which still run by email, not text. No one I work with has my phone number, and I like it that way.
My cell phone is for my personal convenience only, so that I can communicate with whom I choose to. And if I want to turn it off, that is my decision. Email is always available.
I really think that some of the responses in this thread exemplify the assent to blurring of personal boundaries.
And again, the OP, THE ONE DOING THE WORK, gave two perfectly reasonable ways to communicate with her. I highly doubt the other mom doesn’t have access to email or actual phone calling, so why not use the vehicle that the, and let me repeat myself, PERSON WHO IS DOING THE WORK, prefers.
OP–I don’t think you were out of line, though for your own sake, a conciliatory, “sorry for the venting, but” might be useful for you.
In my experience with various organizations, when the previous president (or whatever position) firmly steps down, someone does end up taking their place. We had a tandem system of co-presidents in the PTA (and term limits) so that you were basically always training your successor. For some reason PTA National hated that we did it that way, but it worked so well, I’ve often wished it could just be written into the by-laws of every organization I’ve participated in.
My husband has been on our rural water board for years. You about have to get cancer or die to get off it. He did the former, but fortunately not the latter. It at least got him out of being president!
My troop doesn’t even allow us to call in orders. We have to fill out a form to order cookies. We either have to hand deliver it or email it. So texting wouldn’t even be an option. As an Accountant and a Girl Scout mom I don’t know which is most stressful about Jan-Apr that fact that it’s tax season or cookie season.I want to say cookie season because at least I get paid for tax season.
Hey OP; sounds like you are on the right path. It’s never wrong to be kind.
I’ve been a cookie mom and co-leader for 5 years. Last year was our last; we let the girls and moms know the end was coming for us at the beginning of the year. No one volunteered to take the troop over, so – it ended for the 14 girls. My daughter doesnt miss it.
My friend was a cookie cupboard mom for a few years – that was CRAZY and stressful for her. She had $30k worth of cookies in her garage; People were so rude to her if she wasnt always home when they wanted to stop by.
youve been kind to many girls by being a supportive cookie mom. You’ve helped many out. Your season is almost over – know that you’ve helped others and dont worry about next year. the Girl Scout council is the one who makes the most $ off cookie selling; let them figure out who will deal with it next year.
@3scoutsmom I give you all the credit in the world for taking on the cookiepocalypse.
These volunteer jobs are no joke. My younger D’s troop just disbanded this year because the group of moms who’d been running things for the last 3 years were burned out and nobody else could/would take the job on after seeing just how much work it really was – not just the cookie sale, but organizing all the activities, dealing with the council, herding girls and moms, etc.
mathmom, I instituted the same system when I was co-chair of the parent group at my kids’ school. It wasn’t a PTA but functioned the same. I really think it’s the smartest way to go.
Agree, OP, that you have done your time and it’s on them to find a successor. I think it’s important to leave a manual to help the next person. Hopefully some of your knowledge is written down and available for reference.
And to the OP, your replacement is not your problem. You don’t even need to burn one calorie about this matter.
Frankly, selling cookies was my least favorite activity of Girl Scouts. I only allowed my daughter to sell to us and her grandparents, so she only had tiny orders, but as others have pointed out, it really benefits the GS council far more than the troop. And I came to really dislike the direction that the GS council is moving in, so I wasn’t inclined to be all that supportive of it. I was a GS for many years as a girl and I loved it but the organizaiton has changed significantly and in ways that I simply do not like. So I was happy when my girls were ready to exit the troop.
Just finishing up my popcorn here and thanking the Lord that my D never even wanted to be in Brownies! Some day I will share the tale of the frozen cheesecake fundraiser at S’s middle school when I thought it would be a nifty idea to sell them at my office. But it’s been 18 years and I’m still too traumatized.
