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Anyone who buys Girl Scout cookies in the Chisago Lakes area will probably see 13-year-old Nicole Schmitz sometime during the sale. Next year, her face may become even more familiar when she's pictured in television and print ads and possibly even featured on a cookie box.

Schmitz, of Chisago City, is one of the 2009 cookie spokesgirls for the Girl Scout Cookie Sale Activity. She serves as a cookie sale "ambassador" during the duration of the sales period, which started Jan. 17 and runs through March 29.

When she first received an email from Girl Scouts last fall looking for spokesgirls, Schmitz decided to go to the information meeting.

From there, she was one of about 12 girls chosen to represent Girl Scouts in the state for this year's sale.

Since then, she has recorded numerous radio and television spots to promote the sale, as well as being part of photo shoots for print ads, posters and other media. The radio and TV ads will start airing this year, hopefully on some local stations so Schmitz can show it to family and friends.

"It's been fun," Schmitz said, "except for being outside for the photo shoot."

She was recently part of a photo shoot showing girls going door-to-door selling cookies. Unfortunately, it was one of the coldest days of the winter - up until last week, that is.

She will also be interviewed for newspaper articles such as this during her reign as spokesgirl.

Along with her added responsibilities as spokesgirl, Schmitz will be working to sell cookies as part of Troop 50753.

Fortunately, selling cookies is her favorite activity as a Girl Scout, Schmitz said. She also enjoys community service projects that earned her the Gold and Silver Stars, including raising money for books donated to shelters and organizing Easter egg hunts.

Her troop takes part in several community service projects throughout the year, including food drives and park clean-up.

Last year, Schmitz was part of the "500 Club" for selling more than 500 boxes of cookies. While she sets her personal goal lower than that, she knows she will have the support of mom and Troop co-leader Ann -"I'm more of a helper," she said.

Last year, Schmitz's troop sold more than 1,900 boxes collectively.

At $3.50 a box, the troop keeps about 56 cents from each sale and another 14 cents per box to individual sellers as awards and recognitions. The baking company receives 83 cents, and the rest ($1.97) goes back to Girl Scouts to fund activities and community service projects.

Of the eight kinds of cookies being sold this year, Schmitz likes the sugar-free chocolate chip the best. These are joined by traditional favorites Do-Si-Dos, Samoas, Tagalongs, Thin Mints, Trefoils and Lemon Chalet Cremes. The newest cookie is this year's introduction: Dulce de Leche, a cookie with milk caramel chips and stripes.

This is Schmitz's seventh year in Girl Scouts, starting with two years in Brownies, moving on to Juniors and currently as a Cadet. She plans to stay with Girl Scouts to achieve the highest rank - Ambassador.

People who don't hear the Girl Scouts knocking on their doors can soon check out a list of local businesses where cookie sale tables will be set up starting in February, by going to the web site: girlscoutsrv.org and click on the cookie booth icon. Or, to find a local Girl Scout selling cookies in your area, call: 1-800-845-0787.

For people watching their calories (Girl Scout cookies all have zero trans fat), they can still contribute toward the sale. A "Cookie Gift of Caring" is a monetary donation, which will then buy boxes of cookies that will be donated to food shelves, shelters and soldiers.

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