BLOOMINGTON - Rachel Marx of Normal had a head for finance when she was 6 years old - a talent she retains at age 9 as she hopes to keep the title of top seller of Girl Scout cookies in the Bloomington area. | 2009 Girls Scout cookies

Last year she sold 916 boxes, ands she hopes to top 1,000 this year. In her first try selling about three years ago, she sold 500 boxes.

"I like meeting new people," she said of going door to door selling cookies with her mother, Cathie Marx.

Rachel was among more than 400 girls at the YWCA on Saturday for the second annual cookie-selling pep rally for the Bloomington Region of Girl Scouts of Central Illinois. They played interactive games to learn the names and flavors of the eight cookies, learned safety tips for visiting homes and how to set goals.

"It (the rally) builds enthusiasm. It helps it spread for more sales," said Carla Fritz, communications specialist for the Bloomington Region. "We find everywhere we go people love Girl Scout cookies."

The pep rally drew about 360 local girls and adults last year and almost 100 more than that this year. The region serves about 5,200 Girl Scouts.

Early skill

For Rachel, earning and managing money was a skill that came early. Her mother told about how a 6-year-old Rachel decided one day she wanted pizza, so she collected money from her father and grandfather, arranged a ride to the pizza parlor, ordered and paid for the pizza for the family.

"I'm not afraid to send her to the store," her mother said, remarking on her daughter's math and money skills honed by cookie sales.

Rachel, who is home schooled, sold cookies even though she wasn't a member of a Girl Scout troop until this year. Her mother now is the troop leader for girls in the neighborhood of Glenn Elementary School in Normal.

Rachel earned enough "cookie dough" credits last year to pay the entire $120 cost of going to camp and earn some extra fun Girl Scout items. This year, incentives keyed to the cookie sale theme "Going Places" include book bags, travel water bottles, passport carriers and foldable chairs in addition to credits for camp.

The new cookie

At the rally, the girls learned about the new cookie, Daisy Go Rounds, and got to know which cookies to recommend for those who like chocolate or are allergic to peanuts.

The cookie selling season will start officially Friday and run to Feb. 2, and delivery will be in March.

Girl Scout Emma Rients, 10, of Towanda Elementary School, knows what cookie will be the top seller. It's also her favorite.

"Thin Mints are the most popular of Girl Scout cookies," she said, noting they are third in U.S. cookie sales behind Oreos and Chips Ahoy, she said.

Going door to door

Girl Scouts will set up booths and go door to door again this year.

People also can call (309) 663-8116 to get connected with a girl selling cookies in their area. The office staff will take the information but make sure a Girl Scout gets the chance to close the sale.

"It's girl driven," Fritz said.