1. 2018 Cookie Program! Family Training
Welcome to the 2018 Cookie Program, thanks for joining us today. We want to provide you with some information about this year’s Cookie Program so that you can support your Girl Scout and our troop in our goals! We’ll stop to answer questions throughout the training, so please just jot them down and wait until a questions break to ask them.
BE SURE TO PASS OUT FAMILY GUIDES BEFORE TRAINING_ IT FOLLOWS THE SAME INFORMATION

2. Introduction Video- REQUIRES INTERNET TO WORK

3. What We’ll Cover Today:
5 Essential Skills
Cookie Share
Program Dates
Safety Guidelines
Vendor | Cookies | Cost
Handling Money
Theme
What Troops & Girls Earn
Requirements | Materials
Resources for Success
How Girls Sell Cookies
Important Dates | Troop Goals
We’ll cover the following topics- You will be able to follow most of this information in the Family Guide I gave to you tonight.
5 Essential Skills
Program Dates
Vendor | Cookies | Cost
Theme
Resources for Success
Definitions
Requirements | Materials
How Girls Sell Cookies
Tech Tools
Cookie Share
Safety Guidelines
Handling Money
What Troops & Girls Earn
Important Dates | Troop Goals

4. 5 Essential Skills
When we talk about selling cookies, we always reference it as the Cookie Program instead of Cookie Sale because it is absolutely more than just a fundraiser or money-earning project.
The Cookie Program has 8,000 girls participating each year just in our council. Each year the program is formatted to try and teach 5 skills that will help them in their career and daily life.
These are… (Go through the skills on the slide)
It’s true that girls and troops earn credits and money by participating, but teaching these skills is really what we want to focus on with our girls.

5. Let’s Hear What Girls Have to Say…
INTERNET NEEDED

6. February 1- March 18 Online Sales: February 1- March 18
Order-Taking: February 1- March 12
Booth Sales: February 9- March 18
Girls have a certain date range that they can sell and receive recognition for what they sell. This year’s dates are February 1- March 18.
Within these dates girls have 4 ways to sell cookies which we will talk more about in depth later, but each method of selling has some date restrictions as well.
First girls have the option of setting up an online account to contact customers through and sell cookies to them- these dates are February 1- March 18
Girls can also start taking face to face orders from customers on February 1, however all orders taken online or face to face must be submitted to me by March 12 so I can be sure to get you those cookies.
Booth Sales, which are a troop tool can begin February 9- March 18.
I place the first cookie order for our troop in January so that we can have cookies on hand to sell on February9.
After you start taking orders on February 1 you can start giving me an idea of the cookies you would like out of our initial stock.

7. The Cookies
We’ll have 8 varieties of cookies this year that sell for $4 per package. If you look to the right the Trios cookie is gluten free and is sold for $5 per package.
Tonight I have The S’More for you to try, this cookie was new last year and will be returning to the line up based on it’s huge success last year.
The vendor we use to provide cookies for our girls to sell is ABC Bakers. They are the oldest and most experienced baker, and while based out of Virginia, they have a bakery in Sioux City that provides many of the cookies our girls sell in our council.
Just a note- the Trios is a gluten free cookie, and is not listed on the order card that you will receive tonight, however it is listed on the insert in case customers would like to see information about it.

8. Theme and Mascot Ella the Elephant!
Each year we have a theme and mascot for our program chosen by girls all over the country! This year’s theme is Stand Up Stand Out! And Ella the Elephant is our mascot. You’ll see Ella and this design throughout the program including one of the incentives girls can earn for selling!

9. Materials Important Guidelines
Each girl needs to be registered for this Girl Scout year.
Fill out and turn in a Permission Form.
Read your provided Cookie Program Family Guide.
Wait until February 1 to start contacting customers.
Materials
There are a few important guidelines we need to cover tonight that are required before your girl scout can start selling cookies.
Each girl has to be registered member for this year. If you haven’t registered yet, please see me after the meeting. If you aren’t sure, check with me.
I have permission forms that I must have signed for each girl before she can participate or receive her materials.
I have program materials for you including your order card, family guide and some other items that will be useful during the program that we spoke about earlier.
On each of our honors, we must wait until February 1 to begin contacting customers and taking orders. This means on social media, in person, in our offices. The program starts on February 1st and to be fair to each other lets honor that date.
The materials provided to you are the family guide we’ve already handed out tonight, the order cards where girls can track customer information and orders (optional) and a money envelope for you to collect money in for the cookies you sell. No money should be deposited into your own account, all of it should be given to me in it’s original form.
2018 Cookie Program Family Guide
Order Card + Inserts
Money Envelope

10. How Girls Sell Cookies Booth Sales Order-Taking Online – Direct Ship
Collect orders, pick up cookies, deliver.
Feb 1- Mar 12
Online – Direct Ship
Customer orders & pays online, direct ship.
Feb 1-March 18
On-Hand
Cookies in hand
Exchange product & money at the same time.
Feb 4*-Mar 18
Booth Sales
Team Effort
Feb 9- Mar 18
Your Girl Scout has 4 ways of participating in the Cookie Program
Order-taking, on-hand selling, and online are all ways you can participate individually with your Girl Scout
Booth Sales we do as a group.
A couple other details about the direct sale format:
You don’t pay for cookies up front. Cookies are taken out to sell and then you return the money back to the troop in it’s original form.
You can get more cookies. I have access to Cookie Cupboards where I can get more cookies for our troop during the program. You can order in packages, it doesn’t have to be full cases. Just let me know what you need by Sunday morning each week.
February 4 has an asterisk because you may actually get those initial order cookies anytime between February 4-9

11. Take orders through March 12.
Collect customer orders, then return to deliver product & collect money.
Take orders through March 12.
Customers pay with cash or check to the troop.
Resources: Order Card, online E-Cards & the Smart Cookies App.
Order-taking is still a common way for girls to participate.
They collect orders from their customers, bring the total orders back to me, I get you the cookies and then you deliver them back to the customer and collect their money.
Girls actually have two other ways to reach customers and collect orders.
Smart Cookies is an online account you set up with your girl scout and send e-cards to customers where they can you back their order. Links will be sent to you this month from if you set up an account you’ll automatically earn the ONLINE patch and it will be mailed to you the same week you sign up.
Smart Cookies Mobile- don’t want to carry around a paper order card? Or do you work somewhere that your Girl Scout can’t go? Download the mobile app! This is a digital order card for her or you to take orders, track if she has delivered them and if she has collected money for them as well.
A hand out is included with your order card.
As a reminder, orders taken over any platform must be submitted to me by March 12 or else I can’t guarantee cookies for those orders.

12. Approach customer to purchase the cookies you have.
Pick up cookies first
Approach customer to purchase the cookies you have.
Collect money and give them the product at the same time!
Customers pay with cash or check to the troop
Resources: Order Card & the Smart Cookies App
Another option – if you don’t want to visit customer twice is to get cookies from me first and then go out and sell them. This is called on-hand selling and is the most popular way girls sell.
I will work with you on the amount of each variety, and you can always come back and get more.
The last day I can order more cookies for you to have on hand is March 12, however the cookies we do have we can sell until they are gone.
The first time cookies will arrive is between February 4-9 ( IF YOU PLACE AN INITIAL ORDER, IF YOU DON”T PLACE AN ORDER FOR YOUR TROOP, LEAVE OUT)
As soon as we get our cookies we can head out and sell them or fill orders you’ve taken.

13. Email customers with an e-card
Cookies Sold Online!
customers with an e-card
They pay with credit card & cookies are shipped to them!
Flat Rate shipping of $9.50
1 direct ship sale earns the Smart Cookies Patch!
Smart Cookies is the online business center that we mentioned during order taking. Girls send e-cards that allow customers to order directly from the girl OR place an order to have cookies direct shipped from the bakery. This card will link them to the online cookie store where customers can purchase cookies using a credit card, pay for shipping and have cookies delivered right to their door from the bakery. The troop and girl still get credit and recognitions for the sale, but you don’t have to worry about collecting money or delivering the product later.
Customers can purchase any amount of cookies in any combination. However, for every order there is flat rate shipping of $9.50 for up to 12 packages.
If they order over 12, they would pay the $9.50 twice.
Links to register her account will be sent between January You will have access to set up her Cookie Command account and start sending s on February 1 and customers will not be able to order after March 18.
If you would like more information on the system and a walk through of how it works, you can watch the YouTube video online, or attend the council sponsored training on January 23rd!

14. Troop Tool only, not individual girl
One registered Girl Scout adult must be at every booth & 2 Girl Scouts.
Booth sales you have probably seen around your neighborhood. It’s when a troop works with a business that agrees to let them set up a table to sell to customers who are passing by. This is for troops only to help build team working ability with girls. If you have ideas for good locations to host booth sales, let me know! We can start setting up booth sales for our group on January 1
We can earn the booth sale patch if our troop hosts at least one booth!
There is also the CookieFinder app and website for customers to find our booths! Customers can download it on their smart phones and it is also on the gsusa website and our council site.

15. Cookie Share Not all customers want cookies…
Donate locally or with the council
Donations go to purchase cookies for charity!
Customers donate (cash or check)
While girls are taking orders or out at a booth sales, they may come across customers that want to support them but don’t want to actually take cookies with them. Cookie Share is a way for customers to donate money and have cookies sent to a local charity. Each year the council partners with organizations as well to donate cookies on a statewide level.
Last year cookies went to troops local and oversees, as well as veterans hospitals to support both active and retired heroes. Cookies also went to support American Red Cross and Food Banks across the state.
If a girl collects $24 dollars in Cookie Share donations (that’s 6 packages of cookies) she earns a Cookie Share patch!
Customer Can also donate through Smart cookies!- the girl and troop get credit for those, but the council donates cookies on our behalf

16. Safety Guidelines Show you’re a Girl Scout Do not enter
Use the buddy system
Sell in the daytime
Be streetwise & safe on the road
Protect privacy
Be net wise
Adults, be present
Plan ahead
(IF YOU HAVE INTERNET< PRESS THE PLAY BUTTON FOR A VIDEO VERSION)
SHOW YOU’RE A GIRL SCOUT
Wear a Girl Scout membership pin, uniform or Girl Scout clothing (e.g. a Girl Scout T-Shirt) to clearly identify yourself as a Girl Scout.
USE THE BUDDY SYSTEM
Always use the buddy system. It’s not just safe, it’s fun.
BE STREETWISE & SAFE ON THE ROAD
Become familiar with the areas and neighborhoods where you will be selling Girl Scout products. Contact your local police department if you’re unsure about an area or neighborhood.
Always follow safe pedestrian practices, especially when crossing at intersections or walking along roadways. Be aware of traffic when unloading product and passengers from vehicles.
ADULTS BE PRESENT
Adults must accompany Girl Scout Daisies, Brownies and Juniors when they are taking orders, selling or delivering product. Girls in grades 6-12 must be supervised by an adult when selling door-to-door and must never sell alone. Adults must be present at all time during cookie booth sales.
PLAN AHEAD
Be prepared for emergencies, and always have a plan for safeguarding money.
DO NOT ENTER
Never enter the home or vehicle of a person when you are selling or making deliveries. Avoid selling to people in vehicles, except at designated drive-thru cookie booths, or going into alleys.
SELL IN THE DAYTIME
Sell only during daylight hours, unless accompanied by an adult.
PROTECT PRIVACY
Girls’ names, home addresses or addresses should never be given out to customers. Protect customer privacy by not sharing their information except as necessary for the product sale.
BE NET WISE
Girls must have their parent’s/guardian’s permission to participate in all online activities, and must read and agree to the GSUSA Internet Safety Pledge before conducting any online activities Additionally, in order to participate in Digital Cookie girls must read and abide by the Girl Scout Digital Cookie Pledge and parents/guardians must read and abide by the Digital Cookie Terms and Conditions for Parents/Guardians

17. Handling Money Cash | should be given to the troop in original form.
Check | Make them out to GS Troop##, GSGI, or Girl Scouts.
Credit Card payments on Smart Cookies will be credited back to the troop at the end of the program.
Acceptable Forms of Payment
Now lets talk about how girls collect money for the product girls are selling. Here are the acceptable forms of payment from your customers.
Cash that is collected should be given to me in it’s original form, please do not deposit it and write a check to the troop.
Checks should be made out to our troop number or GSGI (for Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa), Girl Scouts is ok too.
Credit Card payments collected through Smart Cookies will go straight to the council and be credited back to the troop and the girl.
(TPM- you have the option of purchasing a credit card reader from the council for the troop to use at booth sales. The council will cover all costs after you the initial purchase of $25 from a council shop)

18. What Our Troop Earns Troop reaches 250 PGA= $0.52/pkg
Start at
$0.45/pkg
Troop reaches 185 PGA = $0.50/pkg
Troop reaches 250 PGA= $0.52/pkg
The Basic Plan
Cadette, Senior, Ambassador Opt-Out Plan
Start at $0.55/pkg
Troop reaches 185 PGA = $0.60/pkg
Troop reaches 250 PGA= $0.62/pkg
Now that we’ve talked about how girls sell cookies, and how the money works. Let’s talk about what our group gets out of selling cookies.
For every package your troop sells, we will earn 45 cents. But we have the potential to earn more based on our average sales per girl.
If we have an average of 185 per girl, we’ll earn .05 more per package! That’s .50 total. (we refer to the average sold per girl as PGA/ per girl average, you’ll see this a lot of places)
So then if your troop keeps selling and hits a 250 PGA we earn even more! A total of .52 per package.
Cadette Senior or Ambassadors, 6th grade and up. We can earn more troop proceeds by having all your girls opt out of all recognition items. Here you can see they earn .10 more at each level if they do that.

19. What Our Troop Earns Returning Troops… Go for Growth!
$0.45/pkg
Troop reaches 185 PGA = $0.50/pkg
Troop reaches 250 PGA= $0.52/pkg
Troop sells 1% more than last year = $0.53/pkg
Troop sells 2% more than last year = $0.54/pkg
Troop sells 3% more than last year= $0.55/pkg
Returning Troops… Go for Growth!
Or, if you’re taking over an existing troop…
For troops that are returning to the cookie program, we have the opportunity to earn even more if we sell more than last year.
So if we sell 1% more, we earn .01 more, but because that is built in on top of the other incentives it could me anywhere from cents per package based on your PGA and grade level.
The number of packages we have to sell is in my Cookie Planning Guide and I can share that later when we talk about our goals.

20. Troop Experiences Or, if you’re taking over an existing troop…
Gimme S’More Mud Run Obstacle Course at Camp Sacajawea
(250+ PGA)
Sept 22, 2018
Trampoline or Water Park Adventure (400+ PGA)
July 15, 2018 | 7 locations across the council | See Family Guide pg 8
Troop overnight at any camp with outdoor badge program
(5000+ pkgs total) | Dates and Locations in Family Guide
Note: Chaperones are required.
Or, if you’re taking over an existing troop…
By working together girls can also help our entire troop earn awesome experiences! These are based group averages and sales. Troop recognitions are cumulative. This year’s recognitions are
Group entry to the Gimme S’more mud run obstacle course at Camp Sacajawea in September if we average 250 packages per girl who are selling cookies
Group entry to a Trampoline or Water park at one of 7 locations across the council if we average 400 pkgs
Finally if our troop sells a TOTAL of 5000 pkgs we get a free overnight at camp, that we can schedule ourselves, but it will include programming by camp staff.
If we earn these events, we will need drivers and chaperones the day of.
These events are listed on the order card insert as well as in the family guide on page 8

21. What Girls Earns: Cookie Dough Earned by individual girls.
Used towards her Girl Scout Experience.
Base Cookie Dough + optional additions.
Credits are ed directly to each family.
EXPIRE September 15, 2018
While the troop is earning proceeds, each girl who sells 24 packages or more will start earning Cookie Dough. Cookie Dough are credits that she can use towards her Girl Scout experience. She could use them in our council shops for uniforms, books or fun fashion items. Or she could use them for a Girl Scout event or Camp she wants to attend. This year she can also use them to pay for her GS membership for the following year, at 100 pkgs
Each girl will earn Base cookie dough just for the level she reaches, but she also has the option to add on more. We’ll cover that in 2 slides.
Credits will be sent directly from the council to each family via at the end of the program so be sure I have your accurate address.
Every year Cookie Dough expires on September 15th, so be sure to use it as there are no exceptions made after this expiration date.

22. Cookie Dough (cont.)
After September 15, any unused Cookie Dough will roll over to our troop!
Girls in Grades 5 and up however, will keep their Cookie Dough as long as they are registered for next year!

23. Recognitions: Patches
Patches are earned along the way depending on how many packages she sells and how she sells them.
Patches are earned along the way depending on how many packages she sells and how she sells them.
The patch layout, and a description of how girls earn or purchase each patch is now in the family guide.
Achievement bars are earned based on the highest hundred level she reaches. For example if she sells 230 pkgs of cookies she’ll get the 200+ bar.
These are considered Fun Patches and will be worn on the back of our uniforms so girls can commemorate each year they sell

24. Recognitions: Girl Items & Experiences
In the order cards that you will get from me there is an insert that looks like this. This is your recognition panel that shows all the items girls can earn from selling cookies. These items are cumulative so she will get all of the levels she reaches. Example, if she sells 255+ she gets the Ella stuffed animal, and everything below it.
You’ll notice at each level where there is an item shown, girls can choose cookie dough. The cookie dough listed at that level is added to her “base” cookie dough amount and ed as one total amount.
This is just a sample of the prizes they can earn. The full list is on the Recognition Insert of the order card.
More levels & prizes on the Recognition Insert

25. Recognitions (Cont.)
Once a girl reaches the 950 pkg level, she has a few more choices she can make. She can keep all the items shows on the previous screen and her Cookie Dough. OR if she opts out of those she can choose the items listed here and on the bottom of the recognition insert in your order card.
At 950+ girls can choose and iPad Mini w/ cases or one free camp session (there are sessions available for any level)
At you can choose any of the 950+ items, or choose a Laptop w/ case
2100+, girls of all ages can choose unlimited camp sessions. They can mix and match attending sessions at different council camp locations where sessions are being offered. They can use this incentive through the end of August If you have already signed up for a camp when you earn this recognition, the council will reimburse what you’ve paid.
Girls at this level can also choose anything below it.

26. Troop Goals and Info
Blank slides are for you to add any of your Troop Specific information, choose whatever layout you like and just duplicate it!

30. Contact me at PHONE | EMAIL
Thank you!
(thank them for coming, answer any questions, and pass out materials/cookies and end your training)
Contact me at PHONE |