Girl Scout Cookie Sales Are Going Well Despite The Controversial Call For A Boycott
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Updated: 7:25 AM Feb 19, 2004
Girl Scout Cookie Sales Are Going Well Despite The Controversial Call For A Boycott
The controversial call for a boycott of Girl Scout cookie sales may be having the opposite effect. It's too early to know for sure, but it's possible the push for the boycott is actually fueling sales.
Posted: 6:31 PM Feb 18, 2004
Reporter: Stephanie Serna
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This year's annual Girl Scout cookie sale is going well, despite, or perhaps because of calls for a boycott over the local council's sponsorship of Planned Parenthood's "Nobody's Fool Conference" and the groups’ decision to honor Planned Parenthood's executive director.

"We're pleased to report that the cookie sales have been going very well. All the media attention has definitely put us in the spotlight and those that are very much in support of girl scouts and want to show their support of girl scouts, have been going out of their way to find out where they can purchase cookies, " says local Girl Scouts Executive Director Beth Vivio.

Vivio says some residents are dropping by the scout office to place orders-- something that's never happened before.

And some regular cookie buyers are doubling their orders.

But there have been a few negative incidents...

Vivio says some young cookie sellers in Temple were the target of what she calls inappropriate comments as a result of the controversy.

Pro Life Waco's John Piscotta is the voice on the radio spots calling for the boycott, including a new one that went on the air this week.

He says his group is not going after the girl scouts and that the ads-- target adults.

Pisciotta say he was asked by the station manager of KBDE, a Waco Christian radio station, to make the public aware of the affiliation between the Girl Scouts and Planned Parenthood.

"I regret if the nice relationships that some people have with their scout organizations of troops have been disrupted, but there are also many moms and dads that are shocked by this information," says Pisciotta.

In response to the ads, Vivio says, "We feel like we are being used by this individual and his attempt to further his cause. Certainly, he's entitled to his beliefs and has a lot of people who support what he's doing, but it's very unfortunate that the Girl Scouts and particularly the young girls we serve are being used in this way."

Some parents have pulled their daughters out of the Girl Scouts because of the affiliation with Planned Parenthood, but others remain supportive.

Whether the council continues to co-sponsor the annual Nobody's Fool Conference is a question that will be addressed at a board meeting next month.

Vivio says it's now become an internal issue that has strong support on both sides.

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