Mindy Heaton works as a marketing guru by day, and Girl Scout mom by night. This Mahomet mom is a Troop Leader with 15 third-grade Brownies in her charge; a Manager for the Mahomet Area Service Team, a group that provides leadership for Mahomet Girl Scout Leaders and plans events; and a trainer for other troop leaders. She and her husband, Mike, are the parents of 8-year-old Natalie and 5-year-old Jacob.
See why we think Mindy Heaton is a Chambana mom to know – and don’t forget that Girl Scout cookie sales start today!
Q: How excited are you and your troop(s) for Cookie Season, and why?
Our troop is so excited to get out there, more so than in years past. Now that they are in third grade, they understand the rewards that they get from selling. The more cookies they sell, the more it not only directly benefits them through incentives, but, better yet, they now understand that the troop gets money from cookie sales…and money from cookie sales means field trips, money for service projects and supplies, fun t-shirts and more!
Q: How do cookie sales directly impact local troops and troop members?
Troop members each get $0.23 per box of cookies sold in Cookie Dough. Cookie Dough is a gift card for the girls to use at the Girl Scout Shop to buy fun things—in the past my daughter has been able to get jewelry, barrettes, apparel…and even Groovy Girl dolls. It’s a great shop! In addition to the Cookie Dough, girls can earn patches (EVERY Girl Scout loves patches!) and other incentives, such as free membership, gift cards, and even a laptop.
Troops each get $.50 per box of cookies sold. This is such an important fundraiser for every troop! As troop leaders, we try to keep our troop dues low in order to make Girl Scouts an accessible activity for all girls. These cookie sales have allowed our troop to keep our dues to under $15 each year…what other activity is that inexpensive? We have also been able to pay for some event fees, buy troop t-shirts, go on field trips to places like the Indianapolis Zoo, throw parties, and more. What people might not know is that service is a huge part of being a Girl Scout, so cookie sales also allow Girl Scout troops, including ours, to fund service projects.
One of the most positive impacts that our girls get through Cookie Sales is the chance to learn entrepreneurial skills. As a troop, the girls get to set cookie sale goals: how will we spend the money we earn? How many boxes should we sell? They also have to sell the cookies, deliver the cookies, communicate before and after the sales with their customers, and collect money. These are business skills that these girls will carry with them as they continue their education and eventually start their careers.
The Girl Scouts teach girls courage, confidence and character…effectively, as troop leaders, we are trying to help the girls develop leadership skills that they will carry with them throughout their lives…and we try to make it fun for them at the same time. I cannot state this enough. When you purchase Girl Scout cookies, you are not just buying cookies…you are directly benefiting and impacting a girl’s future.
Q: Why do you think the Girl Scouts have a such a strong presence in Central Illinois?
I think that parents recognize what a huge impact the Girl Scouts have on girls; that is certainly part of it. We also have great local Council staff here that does a fantastic job communicating with parents, schools, and the community at large about what is going on with the Girl Scouts…I am constantly impressed with what they do with their limited resources!
Q: Why did you decide to volunteer with Girl Scouts, and how do you find time to volunteer with everything else you’re doing (working full-time, traveling, etc.)?
I have always been an active volunteer, and I was looking for a new organization to volunteer with. This was when my daughter was in first grade. She joined a Daisy troop, and I was able to see, as a parent, what the troop leaders get to do as volunteers. I wanted in on the fun! So I first became a troop leader. I so deeply believed in the mission from the beginning that I wanted to get more involved. I then joined the Mahomet Area Service Team; as both a troop leader and as a marketing and events professional, that was a natural fit for me. I was then presented with the opportunity to be a trainer. I love the idea that by training a group of troop leaders, I’m benefiting possibly hundreds of girls. The reason I volunteer is to make a positive impact upon our community and the world—so how could I say no to that?
I don’t necessarily find time as much as I make time! I make the time because I know that I’m helping out such a great organization. There are times that I can’t do as much; this past fall I was constantly traveling for work. But that is why we need lots of volunteers! We have great co-leaders and parents in our troop; no one person is never expected to do it all by themselves. These other volunteers do so much when I’m traveling and am not available to help!
Q: Do you have any advice for parents who want to volunteer more but might be wary of the commitment involved?
You can be a troop leader, and that typically involves 1-2 troop meetings per month plus various trainings as well as any prep time/planning time that you want to put into the troop meetings. But, the fantastic thing about being a volunteer with the Girl Scouts is that the time commitment is what you want it to be! As a parent, offer to help with the troop (your daughter can even earn a patch for you helping!). The local Service Teams also need parents, troop leaders, retired teachers, Girl Scout alums, and anyone else who wants to help to volunteer to help with a variety of things: event planning, running stations at events, taking notes at meetings, serving as treasurer, helping at tables at school registrations and more. What I really like about the Service Teams is that they allow anyone to volunteer in any way that they’d like. Whatever you like to do, I’m sure the Service Teams can use your skills!
If anyone is interested in learning more about the Girl Scouts, contact our local Council office at 217-328-5112 or visit the website.
Do you know a Chambana mom or dad to know? We love nominations.