Scouts' sales tactic outside ACLU becomes pop smash

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A friendly jab at the American Civil Liberties Union has turned into a financial bonanza for a tiny nine-member Boy Scout troop from Chesterfield County.

Troop 828, with an unexpected boost on Wednesday from nationally syndicated talk show host Glenn Beck, watched its struggling popcorn sales explode.

Scouts at a downtown booth had to call for fresh supplies. A Web site was flooded with orders from buyers in 39 states.

At last count, sales had topped $28,000. That set a record for the Boy Scouts' Heart of Virginia Council.
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The windfall came after Beck got wind of the Scouts' decision to set up a booth near the ACLU's Virginia headquarters in downtown Richmond.

For years the ACLU has raised legal questions as to how closely the government should be aligned with the Boy Scouts of America.

In a brilliant marketing maneuver, this Boy Scout troop decided to sell popcorn, which they often sell as a fundraiser, outside the Virginia headquarters of the ACLU. Glenn Beck, the only radio host whom I give 3 hours of time to listen to (I have signed up for the 'insider' thing, so I can download the radio broadcasts, both broadcasts from earlier that day to ones that are a month old), took notice of the troop, and bought $380 worth of popcorn for $450; the price increase was by his own suggestion.
Beck also announced the website where people who couldn't attend the sale can buy popcorn and give the standard commission to the troop, www.trails-end.com. The popcorn distributor is www.orderpopcorn.com, and the buyer can choose to donate to troop 828 by entering the troop's order key, TE3Y29 (caps not required).