2017 Cookie Season Girl Scouts – Arizona Cactus Pine IGM Family Webinar

IGM stands for Independent Girl Member. An IGM is a girl who participates in Girl Scouts independent from a troop. What is an IGM?

Awaiting troop placement Too busy to attend regular troop meetings but wants to remain active in Girl Scouts. Explores own interests. The IGM program is growing fast! Many girls find that the IGM program fits perfectly into their busy lives. Why an IGM?... Why Not???

Why participate in the Cookie Program?

It’s More Than Money Girls develop lifelong skills to successfully navigate through life. The Five Skills Decision Making: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving  Girls decide what they want to do with the money they earn.  Is it a long or short term goal? Maybe a combination of both. Goal Setting: Cooperation and Team Building  Girls set goals to fund the activities girls want to do for the year.  One year goal to visit Disneyland; 5 year goal to visit New York City The Importance of the Cookie Program

Money Management: Practical Life Skills Younger girl learn how to count boxes and make change. Older girls create budget and business plan. People Skills: Healthy Relationships and Conflict Resolution Girls learn how to talk to customers and articulate her thoughts. Girls learn that it’s okay if a customer says, ‘no thank you’. Business Ethics: Positive Values Girls learn about philanthropy and supporting her troop and her Council. Girls will learn that it is her responsibility to communicate with her Troop Leader about her cookie inventory. The Importance of the Cookie Program

Girls develop specific business skills through the ‘learning lab’ of the Cookie Program. Girls work through the Cookie Business badges in the Girl Guides. Badges are earned in a cookie season, not one or two meetings. Troops can use the online Toolkit to incorporate badge requirements into meetings. Girls can use the Digital Cookie Platform to work through cookie badge requirements. Cookie Business Curriculum

All participating girls earn the annual Cookie Activity Pin by applying the Five Skill to their work in the Cookie Program:  What was her goal?  Did she work as a team?  Did she help develop her troop budget?  Did she develop an ‘elevator speech’?  How does the troop give back to the community? Cookie Activity Pin

Cookie Line-Up

Specialty Cookies! Only available while supplies last--$6.00 a box

Why the price of cookies increased  The last time GSACPC increased cookie prices was in 2007; 10 years ago!  The needs of girls, families and volunteers are more sophisticated and require additional resources.  GSACPC is committed to engaging communities and high quality programs and services.  The cost of operating the cookie program, including the cost of the cookies from the baker, has increased.  The cookie program funds 65% of our councils operating expenses; the largest source of income supporting troop activities, high quality programs, camps, and girl/volunteer services.  100% of cookie proceeds stay in our Council.

How will the price increase affect the girls?  Troops will now earn.90 a box per package sold; a 17% increase in troop proceeds.  IGM Program Credits have been adjusted to reflect the price increase; a 13% increase plus bonuses.

Girl Goal: Every girl in the Council sells 15+ packages of cookies. Council wide goal: To sell 3,000,000+ packages of cookies. Our Goals

Motivation and Goals

Girl Rewards

Program Credits IRS and GSUSA guidelines prohibit private benefits (individual accounts). IGMs do not earn troop ‘proceeds’ but earn IGM Program Credits. Additional Reward Program Credits can be earned in lieu of Girl Rewards. Cookie Dough in now called Program Credits. All Program Credits expire 15 months from date of issue. Program Credits can be used for summer camp, council-sponsored programs, neighborhood activities, GSUSA destinations, membership dues and Council shop purchases. Girls must be currently registered and in good financial standing with the Council to receive and redeem Program Credits..

Program Credits COOKIES PROGRAM IGM Program Credits Packages Sold Number of Cases Base Program Credits Earned Bonus Program Credits at Select Levels Total Program Credits Earned 0-141$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $57.50$5.00$ $63.25$5.00$ $69.00$5.00$ $74.75$5.00$ $80.50$5.00$ $86.25$10.00$ $92.00$10.00$ $97.75$10.00$ $103.50$10.00$ $109.25$10.00$ $115.00$15.00$ $120.75$15.00$ $126.50$15.00$ $132.25$15.00$ $138.00$15.00$ $143.75$20.00$ $149.50$20.00$ $155.25$20.00$ $161.00$20.00$ $166.75$20.00$ $172.50$25.00$ $178.25$25.00$ $184.00$25.00$ *Ranges continue in 10 package increments and Program Credits earned are $5.75 for each range. Bonuses increase $5 at each 50 package level. Amounts are not cumulative. IGMs who sell 460 packages will earn $304 in IGM Program Credits. That is about the cost of 1 week GS residential summer camp!

Cookie Contests

IGMs and the Service Units IGMs work with an IGM Cookie Coordinator in their Service Unit. An IGM Coordinator works on the Service Unit Cookie Team and is responsible for IGM: Family training Communicating with IGM families Coordinating initial delivery and booth schedules Network with other IGMs and troops Distribution of rewards Verifying bank deposits

Getting ready for the Cookie Season Supply List Family Guide Cookie Program Manual for IGM Families (online) Parent/Guardian Financial Agreement Girl Order Card Digital Cookie Information Receipt Book Three Council bank account deposit slips.

Initial Order Work with your IGM Coordinator to make a healthy initial order. Consider your Girl Scouts availability, her goals and family obligations. Is she boothing this year? Cookies cannot be returned to Council.

Initial Order Calculating your initial order:  Use the Initial Oder Calculator on our website. Follow the directions and make adjustments as needed. Girls who order 150 packages earn the Powered by Cookies t-shirt. Turn your initial order into your IGM Coordinator before Dec. 13. Your IGM Coordinator may give you as specific date. Cookie must be ordered in full cases, but your Cookie Coordinator may be able to transfer cookies to other IGMs.

Delivery Service Unit Delivery- January If you submitted an initial order, your IGM Cookie Coordinator will arrange a time for you to pick up your cookies. You may be asked to pick up your cookies at the delivery site or another location. Warehouse or Cupboard Pick-up- January 23- March 5. Initial Order is not given to your Cookie Coordinator. Cookies are picked up from the Council Warehouse or Cookie Cupboard.

Additional Cookies Cupboards IGM parents may pick up cookies at any cupboard by the full case. IGM parents may pick up individual packages at the Council Warehouse only. Use the Cupboard Link for real time updates. Requirements Parents must write the IGM group number and girl name on each transaction receipt. Parents must notify the IGM Coordinators BEFORE picking up cookies. Cupboard Managers may ask when notification was sent to the Cookie Coordinator.

Boothing IGMs will work with their IGM Cookie Coordinator to schedule booths. Community Approach: Girls pool together. Cookies are sold from the community pot and the money goes into one till. After the booth, the money and the cookies are divided evenly. Join a Troop: IGMs may booth with a troop. After the booth the troop leader can simply transfer the cookies to the IGM group and give the money for the cookies to the parent with a receipt. 1:1 Ratio Boothing: Juniors and up may booth with their registered, background checked parent or guardian. Sister may booth together.

Banking Making Bank Deposits: You are responsible for all money collected. Use the Council Bank Deposit slips. Contact your Cookie Coordinator if you need deposit slips. Deposit the entire $5.00 or $6.00 per package. Make deposits weekly or as needed. Do not keep large amounts of cash. Write your IGM group number and girl name of deposit slip. Send a copy of your verified bank deposit slip to your Cookie Coordinator as soon as you make the deposit. You can scan or take a picture of the deposit slip.

Closing out the sale You must let the IGM Cookie Coordinator know final Girl Rewards selections before March 9. They may give you a specific date. All verified deposit slips must be sent to your IGM Cookie Coordinator before March 13. They may give you a specific date. Girl Rewards will be distributed in May. Girl Reward Events: May 6th- 1,000 Event at Dave and Buster’s Westgate May 7th- 515 Event at Golfland Sunsplash Mesa June ,500 Grand Canyon camping weekend June 16- Staycation at Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort

IGM Questions General IGM Questions: Susanne Wells- Innovation Manager IGMs Product Program Questions Contact your Cookie IGM Coordinator for specific questions

Questions?