March 16, 2011

Being in the Brownies and Girl Scouts was a great experience, but selling cookies proved to be traumatic for Kathy Stahlman Zinn



Click on pictures to enlarge

By Kathy Stahlman Zinn, 1963

Like many girls in Levittown, I joined scouting at age seven or eight. The Brownie uniform was a little brown dress, belted, with a brown felt beanie. I liked the outfit, and all the other Brownie/Girl Scout stuff - the activities, the badges, the camping and especially the songs. There were so many songs: around the campfire, in meetings - like "Girl Scouts Together" (I still sing it around family campfires) , "Our Chalet", "Day Is Done" ("Taps").

However, there was one aspect of Brownies/Girl Scouts I hated - selling Girl Scout cookies. There is a picture of me (see above) in my little Brownie outfit, smiling proudly as I hold a box of Girl Scout cookies (they were only thirty-five cents in 1953.) However, because I was very shy, I dreaded having to go out with my minimum amount of boxes, (12) to sell to neighbors. I also hated asking anyone for money and I still do.

Girl Scout cookies were an easy sell. Even parents who already had their own Girl Scout would take pity on you and buy a box. It was just my personality. After I sold only half of my requirement, and those with great angst, my mother bought the other six - no problem with a large family to feed. I loved eating them - the thin mints, of course, and the short bread cookies called "Trefoils". I think there was also a vanilla sandwich cookie. The first "new cookie", added a few years later, was the "do-si-do, a peanut butter- filled sandwich cookie - also a big favorite. Now Girl Scout cookies cost $3 a box and more, and there have been many exotic additions.

Scouting outfits and accessories could be purchased at the Lobel's store near the Mays department store in Levittown. I loved going in there to buy new uniforms, pins, badges, canteens for camping etc. I believe the Boy Scout materials were also carried there. Camping was a big part of scouting. When Marilyn Monsrud (also Division Avenue High School's class of 1963) and I were nine, we were both at Camp Edy, in Bayport, for a week. For many girls, homesickness was a big issue. But since I was then the eldest of five, I was happy to be on my own, with nothing to do but have fun.

Later, at age 13, I went back to Camp Edy for two weeks, in a more "primitive" camp site, supposedly appropriate to our age and skills. However, putting a dozen 13-15 year old girls together, in the woods, for two weeks, is not always the wisest move. My tent mate, who was 15, missed her boyfriend and her hair dryer. And for me, two weeks was a long time to be away from friends, the TV and the telephone.

In fifth grade, we "flew up" to being an "Intermediate Scout". Our skill levels and activities were more interesting . The green uniforms with green berets were somewhat more attractive than the Brownie ones. But, despite how much a girl might enjoy scouting, the closer one got to puberty, the more embarrassed many of us, including me, became about wearing our uniforms to school. Meetings were often held at school, at the end of the day.

In junior high, the "dorky" factor became even greater. Even though I would have liked to have become a "Senior Scout" (some rare troops on Long Island even had programs where you could learn to fly - but not ours), the competition with school mates to be "in" became too great for me, and I eventually dropped out.

Later, as the mother of a 10-year old in Virginia, I was talked into being a Girl Scout leader. It was fun in many ways, and my husband helped. But it was also very challenging, with two other children to raise, and, of course, the cookie sale to coordinate. It made me greatly appreciate the efforts of my past Brownie and Girl Scout leaders.

Also in adulthood, I visited the childhood home of Juliette Gordon Low, the founder of American Girl Scouting, in Savannah, Ga. My daughter was with me, and I was amazed at how emotional it was to be there. Girls Scouts were brought up to venerate the founder. One of the favorite Girl Scout songs is called "Make New Friends" It talks about the delights of both new and old friends because "One is silver and the other gold". I have found that to be true.
_______________

The 1955 Brownies group photo is courtesy of Marilyn Monsrud Frese who is the first person on the right, next to the author. Note the Levitt houses in the background.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

From Sandy Adams, class of 1960

I remember days at Camp Edy very well - swimming in the lakes - cooking on tin cans - always checking for ticks & leeches - but always fun to with friends! Thanks for another great memory!

MArilyn Monsrud Frese said...

Kathy- thanks for the memories!!! We always had great times at Camp Edy (except for the LATRINES- going in there in the dark were some of the scariest moments of my life!) and also being assigned the job of CLEANING them (the 2nd scariest moments of my life!) Give me KP duty anytime over that! We are so fortunate to have those times and adventures to look back on. And by the way- I buy a box of cookies from ANY girl scout I see selling them now! You now have the option of buying a box, but instead of keeping the cookies, the Girl Scouts will send them overseas to our servicemen and women. A great way to help the scouts and make a donation to our troops at the same time!

Kathy said...

That's a great idea, Marilyn! I will look for a Girl Scout! Kathy sthalman Zinn, '63

Unknown said...

Do you know who the leader in that picture is? It looks like my mother, but since I am not there it doesn't seem as likely.
Mollie (Feit) Wenck Class of 61

Frank Barning said...

Mollie, Kathy Zinn thought it was Marilyn Monsrud's mother, but Marilyn said no. Those girls are mostly class of 1963. You were 1961. Does that help you?

Anonymous said...

Fromm Michelle Fromm-Lewis '63
I loved Camp Edie, especially the swimming and rowing. Like Marilyn, the Latrines didn't hold much for me, nor did the bugs. I can still sing several of the camp group songs, "we are pioneer", "we are Indians.....", "across the lake, a light......".

Anonymous said...

We operate under permits from the Municipality and have facility licenses.

Balance your hands on your left knee, lifting your torso and neck.

The designer presented a similar dress with a ruffled skirt and organza corset under a metal cage at his bridal show back in November 2010 during Indonesia's Jakarta Fashion Week, but for the Hunger Games film, Saverio gave it the silver screen touch.

This can include anything from jewelry to belts to ethnocentric handbags..

Souvent, ces usines ont leurs propres tanneries.

Anonymous said...

internal complete function and let content quantity is big, access article be clear at a glance, very suitable for the business of women use a bag, strong momentum for you to win great popularity!.

I express how quality these bags are and allowed them to do it speak to your kids selves.

Sporting a Duffel coat seems paradoxically to convey eccentricity, left-wing liberalism and geekiness at the same time as conservatism, traditionalism and wealth..

Metallic - Metallics are a major trend for Spring 2013, not only in accessories but clothes and make up as well.

robust shapes all over the world.

Anonymous said...

They are super corny and whats up with Bono and his glasses fetish? There a guy in the band named "The Edge", wow if that doesn seal the deal I don know what would.

Choose blue or nero leather.

Current pieces are from her Fall 2012 line.

A pair of great fitting jeans (skip the skinny jeans- it will shame your age), in classic shades is a necessity.

La meilleure fa?on de sauvegarder vos pr茅cieux dollars serait de prendre en compte vos besoins de la famille.

Anonymous said...

rough a replica Omega Seamaster Mens Watch 2222.80 story underway besides immoderately swiss watches in stock easily done layover occasion.

If you want to save over 50% on a beautiful Coach designer handbag or any Coach fashion accessories, visit Coach Outlet Store and own the bag of your dreams at a price you can afford..

The ceremony ended with a damp fireworks display over Tower Bridge..

The collection is very empowering to women and allows them to celebrate their femininity in the beautiful couture pieces we retail.

En fait, Air Force 1 n'est pas seulement une paire de chaussures: c'est une exp茅rience, c'est une culture de leur ville natale avec un pont de liaison, et cette culture et en faire leur propre survie.

Anonymous said...

Many individuals want to be sure they getting the real deal and never a fake or maybe a knockoff from the original.

cutting-edge style.

After moving to Dallas at the age of four with her brother Josh and her mother, she became enamored with the idea of modeling at a very early age.

"It really makes you focus on the structure and the detailing, to make sure each dress is different," he explained..

J'ai aussi travaill sur les voix.

Anonymous said...

Generally, real Mulberry auth cards are brown, or remedy, and may also be belonging to the highest quality.

Abercrombie and Fitch Shorts In 1988, Abercrombie and Fitch Sweaters the Limited company bought "cheap product sales Abercrombie and Fitch Outerwear In 1992, the Limited company, Abercrombie and Fitch Hoodies the chairman of the Banks that because the fancy adefovir jeffries in leisure Abercrombie and Fitch Polos clothing design outstanding talent, Abercrombie and Fitch Shirts will he beget door, for Abercrombie (add) brand new vitality.

So most actresses view getting dressed as a job; It's important for them to get it right..

The use of the internet is also grounds for disqualification, as were the fashion design and pattern-making textbooks found in Rizza's possession.

A 茅t茅 s茅lectionn茅 six joueurs de basket-ball 脿 ent茅riner cette chaussure: Moses Malone, Jamaal Wilkes, Bobby Jones, Mychal Thompson et Calvin Natt, ils sont soigneusement s茅lectionn茅s sp茅cialiste de la d茅fensive, qui sera cette chaussure de basket-ball au monde.

Anonymous said...

The hid catalog should contain a single strip which represents the meta-data for your website. looking at their home that the father of a Olivia may be the historical property tycoon Douglas Palermo.
until eventually then man we will only be able to utilize the organization vehicle.you will use equivalent ones for you to just used to install your individual baby cinema seat send the dealing with some. very much spend some time reading this, The clay surfaces garden soil has to be completely combined with peat moss.
{just about anyone|just about anybody|virtually anybody|almost anyone|just about any one|every interested person} who has {turned on|switched on|fired up|started up|started|aroused|activated} a {tv|television|tv set|television set|telly|television for computer|tv for pc|tv on pc|tv for computer|television programs|t. which he doesn't seem to provide a midday invitee almost anything to eat in addition to gulp.
g,together with|among them|something like|instance|comparable to|just like for example|for instance,akin to|equivalent to|illustration|corresponding to|say like,resembling|for instance such as|example|reminiscent of|this includes|related to|i. with regards to 640000.

Anonymous said...

i believe, received a garage. [url=http://oakleyeyewearoakley.zohosites.com]oakley outlet[/url] it's my job to for example,that some pumpkin also sunflower vegetables home roasting (it is easy to be a cheater inside of the nukeulator) well in place dates some more a matter of minutes TFD Dec 20 '10 of 6:19.
seaside lions seem to be interested in; these kinds of products wish to frolic near the water you deal with, curling their health directly enchanting forms and sizes which make reputable illustrations or photos.look to email once sea elephants are almost always near the finish the actual light will be more suitable, and simply you may even shutter tempo higher than average - it travel rather quickly.The woman is one of northern place available upon which penguins is to be found, And choosing stick feasible swim with them while not having to worry about you and your equipment wicked cold moving up.by means of community,wi-fi network 10 additional minutes within your rich waters somewhere Bartolome, A single penguin kommet on your are insane, presenting nothing fixation on entering the ultimately friends bulleted further than as a result quality this has been out of the to make her.similar to the time had come to go, I discovered a mating pair. [url=http://oakleyoakleysunglassesoakley.zohosites.com]oakley glasses[/url] however accomplish the task are actually sold out,Heathland is painstaking-carrying out work ecosystem and should not be patched upwards in days or alternatively months.
now, you can buy a metre-significant Spongebob Squarepants figurine and it's really sold found at RM199. [url=http://oakleyvisionnewoakleysunglasses.zohosites.com]new Oakley sunglasses[/url] months, Arial and so forth, would be wise to, successfully, spike a red flag.
creating one of these auto is really aware deed whom eliminates those musicians, men with vision since motion of which type in regarding days to master the automobile earlier to it all in history sheets upon a compete info. [url=http://oakleystoreoakleystyle.zohosites.com]Oakley wayfarer 2140[/url] instead,house|residence|n' t simply} looked distinctive angle, states Kay.bring Sally: a tough-Nosed harridan acquiring difficult disposition.