Girl Scouts Gear Up for Cookie Booth Sales

It's a big day Tuesday for Georgia's Girl Scouts, with the international organization honored by Gov. Nathan Deal and the Legislature as it kicks off the countdown to its 100th anniversary in 2012.

For more than 41,000 girls in 34 metro Atlanta counties, however, the day holds another special significance. It's time to get ready for the annual tradition of cookie booth sales at hundreds of locations, including shopping centers and offices.

While the "official" booth sales begin Friday, the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta will unveil Tuesday a Cookie Coach to spread the word about the sales. And, in this digital age, the Girl Scouts have created a site to let cookie buyers find the nearest booth: http://cookielocator.littlebrownie.com.

Southwest Atlanta Girl Scout cookie lovers can search the site for specific booth locations in the 30310, 30311, 30331 and 30349 zip codes.

Major cookie sales in the southwest Atlanta area include one hosted by Troop #9326 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., on Sat., Feb. 26, at the Empire Real Estate Board headquarters, 686 Joseph E. Lowery Blvd., Atlanta, Ga., 30310, and another by Troop #3451 from noon to 3 p.m. Sun., Feb. 27, at the Kroger at 3425 Cascade Rd., Atlanta, Ga., 30311.

Deal will honor the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta and Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia (Savannah) as part of a special day saluting the organization's history and role in "building young girls and women of courage, confidence and character." The Girl Scouts were founded in Savannah in 1912. Activities at the Capitol include:

• Girl Scouts will meet with lobbyists and legislators and attend the Senate and House sessions to learn about the political process.
• Elly Dobbs, House Representative for District 53 and a hostess to Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta, will read a resolution honoring Girl Scouts
• Deal will honor the Girl Scouts in a special ceremony on the Capitol steps, and there will be a special reception with First Lady Sandra Deal.