1. Troop Cookie Team Training
Welcome to the 2017 Cookie Program

2. Service Unit Product Program Team
Get to know your Service Unit Cookie Team! They are your mentors though the season and are a wealth of information. They can help you with eBudde transactions, inventory management, boothing, girl engagement, etc.

3. It’s not a fundraiser, it’s a financial literacy program for girls.

4. The Importance of 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

5. 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.

6. Cookie Business Curriculum
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.

7. Cookie Activity Pin
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?
The activity pin is available for purchase in the Council Shop for only $1.50!

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

9. Motivating girls and troops
Motivation and Goals
Motivating girls and troops

10. Girl and Parent Engagement

11. Girl and Parent Engagement

12. Girl and Parent Engagement

13. Troop Reward
Girls sell 3 million+ packages of cookies Council wide and the troop has a PGA of 220+
All participating girls in the troop (girls who sold 15+ packages) will earn $10 towards the 2018 girl membership fee.
Girls must renew by

14. Get ready for the Cookie Season
Sign the Troop Product Manager agreement online.
Attend Troop Training: Overview, eBudde and Digital Cookies (live or webinars- all webinars are recorded and posted to our website).
Additional short, “how to’ training webinars are available on our website if you get stuck during the season.
Review the Cookie website (everything you need is there!)
Troops are familiar with the Cookie Manual, Troop Supplement and eBudde Manual.
Girl Program: Cookie Badges
Girls Guide to Girl Scouting
Cookie Manual
Digital Cookie Platform
Give troops access to eBudde.

15. Get Ready for the Cookie Season
Communication is Critical
Stay informed by reading all reminders and updates.
Make sure your is listed as active in eBudde.
Cook-e-News is a weekly newsletter sent out by the Product Progam Team to troops and SU’s.
Additional neighborhood specific communication is sent through your Service Unit.

16. Get Ready for the Cookie Season
Girls must be registered for the current Girl Scout season. Troops will not be able to add girls to eBudde.
Girls’ families have signed a Product Program Parent/Guardian Permission and Financial Responsibility Agreement (good for both Fall Product and Cookies).
Girls and her Parent/Guardian agree to communicate cookie inventory status with Troops and turn money in weekly.

17. Cookie Line-Up

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

19. 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.

21. 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.

22. How will the price increase affect the girls?
Based on historical data, we project a 10-13% decrease in volume of cookies sales.
The Initial Order Calculator has been adjusted to reflect a decrease in sales.
Girl Rewards have been adjusted down to reflect a decrease in the volume of sales.

23. Minimize the decrease in sales
Customers want to support girls and a worthy organization. Personalize the Girl Scout experience and share Girl Scout stories; customers will continue to support Girl Scouts through the purchase of cookies.
Explain how the Cookie Program supports all Girl Scouting in the Council, including four camp properties, quality girl program, volunteer and member support.
Give customers details about troop goals and service projects.

24. Minimize the decrease in sales
Share our history: Girl Scouts have been selling cookies for 100 years to support the organization.
Brag about our accomplishments: The Cookie Program is the world’s largest girl-run business and financial literacy program in the nation.
Tell your customers that 100% of cookie proceeds stay in the Council and supports local girls.
Rehearse sales pitches; make sure girls can explain why the price of cookies increased.
Replace the,”5 for $20” sales technique with, “4 for $20”.
Promote the new Girl Scout S’more cookie (if available).

25. Minimize the decrease in sales
Promote our Cookies for the Community Program (formally known as Gift of Caring)
What is Cookies for the Community?
A customer cookie donation opportunity.
Girls ask customers to purchase extra packages to donate.
Some customers would rather donate the cookies than eat them.
Cookies for the Community purchases are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law
Girls who participate sharpen their philanthropy skills.

26. Minimize the decrease in sales
Two Cookies for the Community Programs
Council Cookies for the Community
A ‘virtual’ Cookies for the Community option; Council handles all the details.
Purchases are recorded and money is collected at the time of purchase.
Troop Product Managers record the transaction in the C_COC column in eBudde.
Council donates cookies to:
Local Food Banks including St. Mary's Foodbank, St. Vincent de Pauls, and United Foodbank.
The USO and Packages from Home
Troops do not take possession of the product; Council handles cookie distribution

27. Minimize the decrease in sales
Two Cookies for the Community Programs
Troop Cookies for the Community
Troops select a non-profit organization they would like to support.
Troop Product Manager contacts the organization to verify they can accept the cookies.
Troops use unsold inventory at the end of sale to fill Cookies for the Community orders.
If Troops need additional product to fulfill order:
Troops should check girl inventory.
Troops should check troop to troop transfer link.
Pick up additional cookies from the cupboard.
Troop Product Managers record the transaction in the T_COC column in eBudde.
Troops handle cookie distribution.

28. Minimize the decrease in sales
Parents love the convenience of using digital cookie and girls who participate in digital cookie sell 76% more than girls who participate in the traditional sale alone.
Help the girls reach their goals with Digital Cookie.

29. Minimize the decrease in sales

30. Minimize the decrease in sales
Troops cannot opt out of Digital Cookie.
All registered girls will be sent a link to register for Digital Cookie.
Girls and parents decide if they want to participate. Please encourage all girls to participate because the Digital Cookie Platform gives girl new opportunities to:
Run her own online business!
Promote her cookie business.
Create her own webpage.
Enjoy more ways to keep track of her cookie customers.
Earn badges!

31. Cookie Inventory

32. Initial Order
Initial Orders help to manage the inventory for the entire Council because it provides a snap shot of the inventory needs of the Council.
When troops do not place an initial order, it is difficult to predict troop inventory needs and
those troops will have to rely on cupboard inventory.
Over reliance on the cupboards can cause a council wide inventory shortage.
Please pick up all large orders at the Council Cupboard.

33. Initial Order
The Initial Order Calculator will calculate the recommended amount of cookies troops should make on their initial order by flavor. However, troops leaders should make adjustments as needed.
How the Initial Order Calculator works:
New Troops
Use the age specific 2016 Council PGA listed on the website.
*To reflect the anticipated decrease in sales based on the increase in price, the averages were lowered by 10%.
Existing Troops
Use your troops 2016 PGA. Adjusting for girl participation, the calculator will estimate your order based on 70% of last year’s sales.
*To reflect the anticipated decrease in sales based on the increase in price, the percentage was decreased from 80% to 70% of last years troop sales.

34. Troop Initial Order Initial Order Timeline
December 13 Troop initial order due
Once the Initial Order is rolled up to the Bakery, orders cannot be added and cookies will need to be picked up from a cupboard.
Please pick up any large orders from the Council Warehouse.

35. Initial Order Reward
Troops who have a PGA of 150 or more on their initial order will earn a t-shirt.
1 shirt per girl selling
1 free adult shirt per troop
Up to 3 additional adult t-shirts may be ordered on eBudde at time of initial order. The additional t-shirts are $6 and will be included on the first ACH date.
eBudde: To calculate the initial order Girl Reward, 1 package of cookies must be assigned to each girl selling. All other cookies go in the ‘other’ category.
There will be NO ADDITIONAL shirts available through Council for adults or girls.

36. Managing Cookie Inventory During the Sale

37. Girl Inventory
If a girl is having difficulty selling her cookies, help her! Use unsold girl inventory before making a trip to the cupboard. Transfer the product to a girl who is having more success selling and needs more product.

38. Communicating with Girls and Parents
You can’t help your girls with inventory management if you don’t know what they have!
Girls and parents must give weekly inventory updates to the troop.
Money must be turned in weekly.
Limit the amount of cookies given to one girl at one time.
Do not check out more than 120 unpaid packages to a girl unless it is for a booth or the girl has a proven track record. Troops can not report more then 120 packages as parent delinquent.
Do not give additional cookies to girls without an inventory count and all money owed is turned in.

39. Communicating with Girls and Parents
Use the Girl Cookie Counter to make inventory communication fun!
You can find it on our website!
Or go Green… use a Google Docs spreadsheet to manage inventory.
Families can access the Google Doc to enter their current inventory.

40. Networking with Sister Troops
Need more cookies? Have too many cookies?
Use the new Troop-to-Troop Transfer Link to network with sister troops.
Please be courteous when using the link:
Only add or delete YOUR information and do not modify fonts, spacing, colors, column/row widths, etc.
All changes are saved automatically for all to see.

41. Cookie Cupboard Hours and Locations
Exhausted all other ways to get cookies… and need to visit a cupboard? Council will provide Service Unit teams with locations and hours.
Visit the Cupboard Link on our website to get real time information about your local cupboard.
Hours
Inventory
Real time changes or updates
Addresses will not be posted on the cupboard link

42. Cupboard Best Practices
A cupboard is a ‘mini warehouse’ run by Volunteer Cupboard Managers during the Cookie Program where cookies can be picked up throughout the sale.
Cupboards distribute cookies by cases only (i.e. 12 packages/case)
Cupboards inventory is not intended to replace initial order delivery; Cupboards cannot logistically stock for the initial order for over 2,000 troops.
Cookies cannot be returned.
Unopened and sealed cases of the core flavors cases may be exchanged for a different flavor; specialty cookies may not be exchanged.
Damaged cases and packages may be exchanged.

43. Cupboard Best Practices
Volunteers will be required to show their Cupboard Authorization card or driver’s license when picking up cookies.
Tip: Take a photo of the authorization card with your phone for easy access.
Receipts: A paper receipt is signed and retained by the cupboard and a copy given to the volunteer. The information is entered into eBudde.
Troops must assign the cookies to girls.

44. BOOTHING

45. Boothing is a privilege, not a right.

46. Self-Scheduled Booths
Troops are encouraged to self-schedule booths at businesses without a corporate agreement with Council:
Faith based events
Local sporting events
Theaters
Restaurants
Dance Recitals
Auto Stores
Car Washes
Drugstores
Beauty Salons
Hardware Stores
Car Shows
Craft Shows
Farmer’s Markets

47. Self-Scheduled Booths
Self- scheduled booths must be entered into eBudde.
Troops may not contact:
Bashas’, Food City, AJ’s Fine Foods, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Albertsons, Safeway, Fry’s Marketplace or ASU.
Booth locations must be girl appropriate. Gun Shows, marijuana dispensaries, bars, etc. are not appropriate booth sites.
Juniors and up may booth at a 1:1 ratio. The adult must be a legal guardian who is a registered Girl Scout and has been background checked. Sisters may booth together.

48. Council-Scheduled Booths
Council has a corporate agreement with the following locations:
Fry’s Food and Drug Stores
Safeway
Sam’s Club
Wal-Mart
Bashas’, Food City or AJs Fine Foods
ASU
Albertson’s (Albertson’s does not allow boothing)
These stores have asked not to be contacted by troop leaders or volunteers. Please do not contact them.

49. Council-Scheduled Booths
Council-Scheduled Booths are entered into eBudde and competition to booth at these locations is fierce!
If you cannot make a scheduled booth, CANCEL it in eBudde. There are many, many troops who would love to take your place.
Cookie Booth Rounds:
November 12-9:00 am: Early Booth Round-Troops may earn 2 early bird slots:
One for early troop registration (by June 30)
One for selling $250 in the Fall Product Program.
November 19- 9:00am: Cookie Booth Round 1- Two Picks
December 3-9:00 am: Cookie Booth Round 2-Two Picks
December 10- 9:00 am: Cookie Booths Open Round

50. Boothing is a privilege, not a right.

51. You Represent Girl Scouts

52. Boothing Guidelines
We are guests at the stores! Demonstrate how our promise and law guide us during conflicts.
What if two troops arrive at the same booth location?
The Troop with eBudde documentation have priority.
The Troop without eBudde documentation must leave the property. PERIOD.
NEVER ask the store manager or an employee to mediate.
NEVER argue in front of girls or customers.
LEAVE, even if you are right, if the situation escalates.

53. Boothing Guidelines You are a role model to our girls.
You belong to an organization with a Promise and Law.
Always be professional; Arguing, fighting, or pouting is never the answer.
If you log a complaint with a sister scout, Council will help to resolve the conflict, but you must be willing to meet face to face with the offending person and Council Staff.
If you have a complaint with Council contact us directly.
Airing your complaints on social media is unprofessional.
We reserve the right to remove offensive posts.

54. Boothing Guidelines
Do not arrive more than 5 minutes before your shift and do not stay after your shift.
Siblings/friends are not allowed.
Wear Girl Scout identification.
Do not allow girls to shout at customers.
Clean your area when you leave.
Leave a thank you card with the manager.

55. Boothing Guidelines Do not booth before January 23, 2017
Cancel your booth in eBudde if you can’t make it!
Do not wear or bring competitor store items with you.
Don’t bring a Trader Joes bag to Fry’s.
Check in with the store manager when arriving and leaving.
Follow store set-up rules.

56. Emergency Follow the instructions on the MS-27 Emergency Card.
Care for the immediate needs of the victim.
Secure help, call 911.
Contact your Troop and/or SU Product Manager if needed.
Contact Council at After hours call the emergency line at
Do not issue statements to the media.
Do not post statements on social networking media.

57. Boothing INVENTORY

58. Boothing Inventory
How does a troop know how many cookies to pick up for a booth? Predicting may be difficult A “good” booth sale could sell boxes an hour A “great” booth sale can sell up to 50 boxes or more

59. Boothing Inventory There are many variables to consider… Location
Girl preparation and attitude
Beginning or end of sale
Weather
Time of day, availability of varieties, etc.
Age of girl
Communicate with an experienced troops about specific locations.

60. Financial Responsibilities: Parents
Parents should update the troop of their inventory weekly.
Money should be turned into the troop weekly.
GSACPC will take all necessary steps to recover all outstanding debts. Parent/Guardians are financially responsible for all debt recovery fees.
Deliberate misuse of funds will result in the prosecution to the fullest extent of the law.

61. Financial Responsibilities: Parents
If a parent doesn’t pay for cookies, Troops must complete a Parent/Guardian Outstanding Balance Form by March 12 or troops will be held responsible for the unsold cookies.
The maximum amount of cookies that can be checked out and unpaid for by a girl is 120 packages at any one time. We will only accept forms for up to 120 packages unpaid
Troops may be asked to provide information on how parent inventory communication was conducted.
Please include all receipts, s, voice mails or texts that pertain to the debt.
Forms can be found on our website.

62. Financial Responsibilities: Troops- ACH Dates
THREE ACHs for the 2017 Cookie Season
First ACH: February 9th. $1.00 for all cookies ordered at initial order and through January 29. All adult T-shirts ordered for the Initial Order Bonus. Money due in troop account by February 6th.
Second ACH: March 2. $1.50 for all cookies ordered at initial order and through Feb. 19th. Money due in troop account by February 27th.
FINAL ACH: March 16th. Remaining balance due. Money due in troop account by March 13th.

63. Closing out the Sale Timeline
March 9: Troops submit their final Girl Rewards.
March 12: Parent/Guardian Outstanding Balance From Due

64. Girl Rewards Girl Rewards arrive 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

65. Resources
Cookie Resources: Arizona Cactus Pine Website

66. Troop Overview Questions
Can a girl use the Digital Cookie Platform to work through cookie badge requirements?
Can a troop opt out of Digital Cookie?
What is the girl goal, troop goal and council goal?
Although everyone can participate, who is the target audience for the cookie contests? Girls and Parents or Troop Leaders?
How many cookies does a girl need to sell to be considered as participating in the sale?
When was the last time the price of cookies increased in the Council?
How much are specialty cookies?
What percentage of cookie proceeds benefits Girl Scouts in the Council?
How much will troops earn per package of cookies?
Will the increase of cookies cause the volume of cookies sold to go up or down?
What is the Gift of Caring Program’s new name?
Can unopened specialty cookies be exchanged?
Is boothing a privilege or a right?
Where you can troops network to transfer cookies?
When does the troop submit their Final Rewards?

67. Questions?
Does anyone have any questions? Please type them into the chat box.