cookie family guide

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Page 1: Cookie family guide

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Page 2: Cookie family guide

Why a Cookie Program? The Cookie Program is an incredible foundation to the five skills of our entrepreneurial program. Skills such as Money Management, Business Ethics, People Skills, Marketing and Goal Setting are life skills we can use throughout our lives. We begin teaching these skills with our Fall program and work on them in more depth during the Cookie Program. In addition, troops earn the programming money needed to run their troop throughout the year. The Cookie Program helps your troop earn the funds needed to budget and make goals obtainable. We can teach our girls about work ethic and earning their way by participating in the Cookie Program. Did you know that your daughters earn “Cookie Dough” when they sell above 200 or more boxes of cookies? This is in addition to their other rewards. Did you know that Cookie Dough can be used for deposits for camp, Council sponsored Day Camps and events, and High School needs such as ASB packages or graduation items like cap-n-gowns and announcements? Older girls can also use Cookie Dough for travel. And, of course, Cookie Dough can be used in our shops for uniforms, books, and fun Girl Scout accessories! Did you know that participating in a Cookie Program helps build self-esteem? Learning that you can set a goal, budget for your needs, create a marketing plan and then go and make it happen, teaches our girls to believe in themselves far better than any “self-help” training. When we learn that we can find skills within ourselves, and achieve goals that others find difficult, we establish a foundation of belief that “I Can”, “I Will” and “I Did.” This is an incredible thing to have in your skills “tool box!” Did you know that our San Gorgonio Facebook has updated information about our sale throughout the entire sale? Information is accessible at all times, if you are merely connected to our council. We place information in many places;, e.g., GSSGC website, this guide, our Facebook. As a parent or guardian, you are responsible for locating the information that you need. While we supply our leaders with the information you need, it is not solely their responsibility to be knowledgeable about the sale. You share that responsibility.

My Troop Cookie Coordinator Name: __________________________________________________ Phone: ___________________________________________________

Address: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

E-mail: _______________________________________________________

Family Calendar for Success Date What’s Happening

January 25 Super Saturday Mega Drop ~ Leaders pick up Troop Cookies January 26 Sale Starts ~ Walkabout Sale Begins January 29 Outbound Cookie Cupboards Open

February 1 & 2 Super Bowl Booth Sale Weekend February 6 Walkabout Sale Ends~ 200+ Boxes SOLD AND PAID FOR to qualify for paid registration and patch February 7 Booth Sales Start

February 15 Report Unsold Cookie Inventory to Troop Leader February 17 Glow Party Deadline~ 400+ Boxes SOLD AND PAID FOR to qualify February 20 Full case/ same flavor trades begin at Cupboards February 27 Glow Party February 27 Last day for Families to return cookies to troop

March 4 Mixed case trades begin at Cupboards March 12 Last Day Office Cupboards are Open March 16 Final Day of the Sale

Page 3: Cookie family guide

Theme Patch12+ Packages

Plush Panda85+ Packages

Rocker Patch100+ Packages

Scooter OR MP3 Player500+ Packages

Google chrome1,250+ Packages

Two $500 scholarships for college or secondary education, per age level, will be awarded. How??

For every 500 boxes you sell your name is entered into an oppourtunity drawing.

Top council sellers will be awarded:3rd place $1,5002nd place $2,0001st place $2,500

Packages Sold Cookie Dough Earned

300 – 349 $40.00

350 – 399 $50.00

400 – 449 $60.00

450 – 499 $70.00

500 – 549 $80.00

550 – 599 $90.00

600 – 699 $100.00

700 – 749 $125.00

750 – 799 $150.00

800 – 899 $200.00

900 – 999 $300.00

1,000 – 1,249 $400.00

1,250 – 1,999 $450.00

2,000 + $500.00

Cookie Dough makes more things possible

Santa Barbara Caverns3,000+ Packages

Girl & Adult

Glow Party400+ Packages

January 26 - February 16thEarns you a ticket to the Glow

party on February 20th

Two Movie Tickets300+ Packages

Universal Studios750+ Packages

Girl & Adult

New York4,000+ Packages

Girl & Adult

Disney VIP2,000+ Packages

Girl Only

Brunch with the Board & CEO600+ Packages

TROOP PGA

Troop Backpack

350+ PackagesTROOP PGA

January 26 – February 6 Walkabout Patch

AND2013-2014 GSUSA

membership200+ Packages

Page 4: Cookie family guide

Cookie Basics There are two bakers in the United States authorized by Girl Scouts of the USA to bake Girl Scout Cookies. Each council chooses which baker it would like to use. We are proud to have our cookies baked by ABC Bakers (America’s Best Cookies, a division of Interbake Foods). San Gorgonio and Orange County councils are the only Southern California Councils using ABC Bakers. Although they have different names for them, both bakers bake the classic five varieties (Thin Mints, Caramel deLites, Peanut Butter Patties, Peanut Butter Sandwiches and Shortbread), but have the option of three additional varieties. The recipes of the two bakers for the classic five cookies are similar, but not exact.

New Cookies for 2013 are….

Cranberry Citrus Crisps Crispy cookie, made with whole grain, full of tangy cranberry bits and zesty citrus flavor. A sweet addition for the new cookie season: this crispy cookie is filled with 9 grams of whole grain! Made with real fruit, this new cookie has no high-fructose corn syrup, and no artificial colors, flavors or sweeteners.

Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Shortbread Chocolate Chips nestled in a bite-size, gluten free shortbread cookie.

Millions of Americans have problems eating food with gluten – so ABC Bakers has created a delicious cookie just for them! Made with real chocolate chips and real butter, the Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Shortbread is premiering in a number of test markets this year.

The Gluten free cookie is a pilot program. This means when the cookies are gone they are gone, and we will not be reordering these cookies once we are sold out. We are very excited to offer a gluten free cookie.

This year’s lineup includes 9 cookies:

Meet the Cookies!!! Cookie Info!!! Thanks-A-Lots STILL $4.00 per box Citrus Crisps – a NEW Whole wheat cookie $48.00 per case

Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Shortbread – limited supply Nutritional Labeling on Every Box Lemonades NO TRANS FATS Shortbreads Contains no artificial preservatives Thin Mints Open Code Dating Peanut Butter Patties Freezes Well Caramel deLites Baked especially for Girl Scouts Peanut Butter Sandwiches

Page 5: Cookie family guide

How the Cookie Crumbles For each $4.00 box of cookies:

� Cost of cookies $0.99 � Girl Rewards (patches, trips, cookie dough cards) $0.22 � Troop Proceeds $0.70 � Girl Scout Properties $0.47 � Programming/ Membership/ Camp/ Adult Education/ Support Services $1.61

Knowing that the baker only receives $0.99 per box and that the remaining $3.01 goes directly to fund local Girl Scouts troops, properties and programs is an important component of the sale. Be sure that the girls are aware of this.

Council Top Sellers

THE OVERALL 1ST, 2ND, AND 3RD PLACE COUNCIL TOP SELLERS WILL BE RECOGNIZED!

THE 1ST, 2ND, AND 3RD PLACE TOP COUNCIL AGE LEVEL SELLERS WILL BE RECOGNIZED: Daisy, Brownie, Junior, Cadette, Senior, Ambassador, Pathways/Juliettes, Sisters

NOTE: Overall Top Sellers ARE the top selling girls in our Council and therefore will not be honored in

the “Top Age Level” categories.

District or Region Top Sellers Each Region or District (depending on how that area is organizing the sale) will conduct a Cookie Rewards Event to honor the tremendous efforts of the girls. Rewards could include the top seller in each Troop, first through fifth place top sellers in each age level, and every girl who reaches a minimum of 750+ boxes. District/ Region top sellers and individual girl numbers will NOT be announced during the events. These numbers will be announced at Council’s Rewards event.

Troop Proceeds Troops earn $0.70 for every box sold. Troops also earn additional proceeds through the Progressive Proceeds Plan (P.P.P.). Ask your leader for details. The cookie sale earnings belong to the entire troop, not the individual Girl Scout. Individual Girl Scouts earn rewards; troops earn proceeds.

Partitioning Funds Partitioning funds refers to fundraising proceeds (Fall Product Sale, Cookie Program and miscellaneous fundraisers) that are set aside for the girl who earned the funds. Only older girls (bridging Juniors and above) are allowed to partition funds and those funds may only be used for travel. Unless proper paperwork is submitted and approved by Council, troops may NOT partition funds for use by individual girls. Regardless of the amount of cookies that a girl sells, the proceeds earned for the Troop belong to the Troop, and are to be used for the entire troop. Troops are NOT allowed to do percentage splits (70% to girl, 30% to Troop), or per box calculations ($0.45 to girl, $0.25 to Troop) unless qualified to partition funds. If a girl leaves the troop, partitioned funds will follow the girl to her new troop or to her Girl Scouts My Way Pathway fund (only if she is continuing on the agreed upon activity). Partitioned funds do not go directly to the girl and are considered troop funds.

Page 6: Cookie family guide

Sale Starts January 26 ~ NO Early Selling The sale starts on January 26th. Penalties for early selling will be enforced. (Loss of troop proceeds for number of cookies sold early and loss of box credit for the girl.) Girls are NOT allowed to take orders before January 26 for ANY reason! Girls ARE allowed to announce that the sale starts on January 26 and that they would like their support, but girls CANNOT accept their orders. It is considered EARLY SELLING any time that a girl accepts someone’s request for a certain quantity or certain variety of cookies, taking money for cookies, asking potential customers questions such as, “Will you buy cookies from me?” or soliciting “I Care” donations before January 26t.

Cookies & Media

Girls ARE allowed to email friends and relatives before the sale, announcing that the sale begins on January 26. Girls ARE allowed to take orders via email AFTER the sale begins. Girls ARE allowed to advertise or post an ad/notice via Facebook or other social networking site both before and during the sale. The contact person in any advertisement must be an adult (parent or leader). Never publish a girl’s contact information. Girls ARE NOT allowed to accept payment online, such as with PayPal. Cookies CANNOT be sold on Ebay. Orders CANNOT be accepted before January 26 via the computer, a pledge made by a Facebook friend, etc. When friends respond with comments such as, “Put me down for …..,” the appropriate response must be, “Thank you for your pledge, we will contact you at the start of the sale!” Parents and guardians should not use social media when feeling stressed about the amount of cookies remaining. Your Regional/ District Cookie Team is there to help. Communicate with your Troop Cookie Coordinator, who in turn will contact the team if necessary. Putting desperation emails on social media sites creates panic throughout the entire Council. These posts will be deleted. Reach out to your teams if you cannot find satisfaction with your leadership. When troops need to cancel a booth, the Troop Cookie Coordinator must cancel it through the Booth Schedule. Do not advertise that you are cancelling a booth through social media.

Safety and Sales Tips

� Girls NEVER sell alone. Girls must always have an adult with them. Seniors and Ambassadors (ONLY) may sell with a buddy of their

same age or older. � Parents should know exactly where the girls will be selling cookies and when they will be home. � Girls need to dress appropriately and be polite. � Girls should wear a Girl Scout pin or other Girl Scout uniform item to be recognizable. � Girls should know their personal and troop goal. � Girls should know “How the Cookie Crumbles.” � Never go inside someone’s home while selling cookies. Girls should stay outside the home where they can be seen from the street. . � Girls should never accept food or beverages while selling. � Girls should leave all pets at home while selling, unless a working animal companion is necessary; i.e., seeing eye dog.. � Girls should not go into a yard if there is a dog or a closed gate/fence. � Girls may not sell cookies door-to-door after dark. � Girls should never give their last name or phone number while selling. � When loading and unloading cookies, lift with your knees, do not bend at the waist. Council policy states that a parent or other responsible adult must provide adequate supervision while girls are going door-to-door. The troop leader’s or other designated adult’s telephone number should be given for reorders or complaints. Girls should never give out their telephone number.

Page 7: Cookie family guide

Receiving Cookies Girls are NOT required to sell a certain number of cookies, regardless of the number of boxes that the Troop has ordered on their behalf or the troop goals that they have set. Since cookies haven’t been sold in advance of pick-up, the parent or guardian should not pick up more cookies than they feel comfortable accepting. Be sure to get a signed receipt for ALL cookies you receive, even for ONE box, EVERY TIME. Make sure to count the number of boxes before signing the receipt, and taking possession of the cookies. Keep the yellow receipt copy for your records. The majority of the cookies that have been checked out MUST be paid BEFORE you receiving additional cookies. Girls are allowed to trade varieties with troop “stock” as needed. Make sure that the cookies that you are receiving are in saleable condition prior to accepting them. Once you accept responsibility for them, they can only be returned to the troop (by the deadline) if they are NOT damaged. Cookies that have been left in the rain, left in the sun, dropped, or that have the perforated top opened when pulling them out of the cases, will NOT be exchanged. Girls will receive an Order Card and envelope. Girls can use the Order Card to take orders from businesses, friends, family and neighbors. Once an order is received, she can advise the customer when she will be back to deliver their cookies because she has COOKIES NOW!

Cookie Storage

Cookies should be stored OFF THE GROUND to prevent ants and insects from crawling into the cases. Keep cookies out of the sun and be mindful of storing them in hot places such as garages ~ No one wants to open a box of melted cookies. Keep cookies out of the rain and snow, especially during cookie booths. Even though the cookies are sealed inside ~ no one wants to buy boxes that are water stained. Be careful not to drop cases or boxes ~ No one wants to buy broken cookies. Store cookies away from strong odors such as cigarette smoke and pungent foods. Do not store cookies in cars to avoid cookies from melting and to prevent theft.

Walkabout Period

Girls are allowed to go door-to-door anytime throughout the sale. However, the official Walkabout Period in which the girls receive rewards is designed to allow girls the opportunity to go door-to-door prior to the start of booth sales. Girls who sell (and pay for) 200+ boxes of cookies during the Walkabout period will receive a special Walkabout patch AND have their 2014-2015 Girl Scout registration paid for them! Girls can walk around their neighborhood with their cookies in a wagon or cart. They can also set up a table in their own front yard, as it is considered a “lemonade stand.” Girls are NOT allowed to set up a booth or walk through any retail area such as a mall or shopping center. Setting up a table with a display of cookies inside or in front of a business is a booth and also NOT allowed during the Walkabout (This rule applies even if the business is owned by a member of the girl’s family). In order to qualify for Walkabout, girls MUST turn in a minimum of $800 (200 x $4 = $800) prior to the Walkabout deadline of February 6th. Cookies received, but not paid for, do not count towards Walkabout. Cookies must be SOLD and PAID for in order to qualify.

Cookie Booth Guidelines

Booth sales are a troop function. Girls are not permitted to conduct solo booth sales.

Cookie Booth Dates In order to take advantage of potential sales during Super Bowl weekend, booths will be scheduled on February 1t and 2. However, the official start of Cookie Booths is February 7t and will run through the end of the sale ending on March 16.

Page 8: Cookie family guide

Scheduling Cookie Booths Cookie Booth locations are secured by the Region/ District Cookie Teams and assigned via lottery. Troops, leaders, or parents are not permitted to approach a business or organization to individually arrange a booth sale on your own, even if you know or are the manager/owner. To secure a new booth location, the leader must go through the Region/ District Cookie Team to secure the location. Such locations never become your troop’s exclusive booth location. Businesses do not have authorization to sell Girl Scout Cookies. The Troop Cookie Coordinator will schedule your troop’s booth locations through a “Booth Scheduler” on the cookie website. Cookie Booths are ONLY permitted at approved locations and MUST be scheduled through the Booth Scheduler. Troops are not allowed to set up a booth in an approved location if they have not scheduled the booth through the Booth Scheduler. Troops or parents are NOT permitted to set up a booth in a location that hasn’t been approved. Troops or parents are NOT permitted to set up a booth in an approved location when they notice that no one is there. IF IT’S NOT SCHEDULED THROUGH THE BOOTH SCHEDULER, THEN YOU CAN’T SET UP A BOOTH AT THAT LOCATION!

Where You Can Sell Troops are allowed to set up their booths at the store entrances/exits, per the agreement with the store manager. Troops can place signs at parking lot entrances but cannot set up their booth at the parking lot entrance, driveway, street median, or landscape. Troops or parents are NOT permitted to sell cookies out of the trunk or back of their car. (You can’t sell stereos out of the back of your car, so likewise, you can’t sell cookies out of the back of your car, or your horse trailer, or on the freeway entrances.)

Cookie Booths at Your Own Business NOTE: This ONLY applies to leaders and parents that OWN their own business. It does NOT apply to a parent or leader who works at the business but doesn’t own it. If a leader or parent (ONLY) owns a business and wishes to have their Troop sell cookies there, they can do so under the following guidelines: � Booth coordination and scheduling will be handled through the Region/ District Cookie Team. Owning a business does not allow you to create

your own booth sale hours or dates. All booth guidelines must be followed regardless of ownership. � A “Booth Sale Authorization Form” must be submitted and approved. � All Cookie Booth Guidelines and limits apply. � The location CAN be used exclusively by the troop but MUST be shared with all girls in the troop. � Girl and adult ratios apply~ Minimum of two girls and two adults must be present during booth times. � Cookies CANNOT be displayed on the counter when the troop isn’t scheduled for a booth during that time, even if you own the store where they

are being displayed.

Booth Hours Booths will be scheduled as follows (dependent on store restrictions):

� Monday through Friday ~ 1:00 pm through 8:00 pm � Saturday and Sunday ~ 8:00 am through 8:00 pm

Daisies cannot sell after dark! Booth Staffing A minimum of two adults and two Girl Scouts must be present at all times. One adult must be registered and cookie trained or on-line cookie booth trained. The other adult can be a mom, dad, grandparent, or any responsible adult over the age of eighteen. Never have more than four girls per door. Two-door stores may have a maximum of four girls on each door, if the store allows.

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Setting-Up and Closing Down Your Booth Begin and end on time. If you arrive early, be respectful of the troop scheduled before you, so that you don’t interfere with their sales. Likewise, be prepared to depart when your scheduled time is up. When arriving for your shift, sales PRIOR to your scheduled starting time are THEIRS; sales AFTER your scheduled starting time are YOURS! When ending your shift, sales PRIOR to your ending time are YOURS; sales AFTER your ending time are THEIRS. You can finish the sale that you are working on, but all additional sales belong to the next troop. If a customer promises to buy cookies on their way out but doesn’t leave prior to your ending time, then you forfeit the sales to the next troop. We are sisters in Girl Scouting at all times. Although it may take you time to pack up your booth, the area must be cleared so that the next troop can begin selling immediately when their time begins.

During Your Booth � Bring your own equipment and supplies. Use a table to display your cookies, and use publicity posters, troop banners, etc., for your display. � Always keep boxes/cases off the ground, even when setting up or breaking down your booth. Utilize shopping carts, wagons, empty cookie

boxes turned upside down, etc. � NEVER GIVE COOKIE SAMPLES to customers as it is against California Health Department regulations. � Girls AND adults should wear Girl Scout appropriate attire (uniform/Troop t-shirt preferable). Girl Scout membership pins should always be

worn. Be conservative~ no short-shorts or visible cleavage! � Siblings and pets MUST be left at home. Tag-a-longs (non-registered Girl Scouts) are not allowed at a booth sale. � Girls should take their breaks away from the booth and NEVER eat at a booth. � Do NOT allow girls to block store entrances or exits. Customers should be approached only upon exiting the store. Abide by store rules! � Leave your area clean by bringing trash bags and taking your empty cardboard cases with you. Do not leave them at the store or in the

store’s trash cans. Remember, Girl Scouts Leave No Trace!

Collecting Money Have change available. Never ask the host business for change. Do not leave cash visible to customers. Only adults should handle the cash box. Girls can give “change” but large bills should be handled by adults. If displaying a donation container, be sure to empty it on a regular basis to prevent theft. Do not accept bills larger than $20.00.

NO Special Sales, Discounts, or Raffles Allowed The price of Girl Scout Cookies is non-negotiable. They are $4.00 per box, period. Troops cannot offer their own special promotions. The only special promotions allowed will be those that are offered Council-wide. Offering special promotions such as: buy one/get one, half-price, discount, etc., are NOT allowed. Raffles and opportunity drawings (buy XXX and get a chance to win XXX), although creative, are also NOT allowed.

Crediting Booth Sale Cookies to Girls There are many different ways to credit the cookies sold during booths. However, being “Honest and Fair” is the Girl Scout way. Because some booths generate a lot more sales than others, the fairest way to distribute cookies is on an average. This is accomplished through the use of a “Booth Calculator” which the Troop Cookie Coordinator uses to track sales. The Booth Scheduler calculates the per hour sales average and then applies it to the number of hours that each girl works at cookie booths. Again, honest and fair. It isn’t honest and fair to give some girls double-time (for any reason), and is therefore NOT allowed. Troops that choose to utilize a different way to credit girls for their booth sales must have the method pre-approved and have the method agreed upon by all members of the troop.

50/50 Booths (formerly known as Buddy Booths) 50/50 booths, formally known as “buddy booths,” include booth sales conducted by girls in same troop, or two girls from different troops or Juliettes, who take their own cookies to sell at a booth and split the sales among themselves.

Page 10: Cookie family guide

When 50/50 Booths are OKAY:

1. When the entire stock of troop cookies are distributed to all participating girls. There aren’t any troop cookies remaining and no troop

inventory. Girls are individually and financially responsible for the cookies being sold. Parents need to sign a contract with their Troop Leader/Troop Cookie Coordinator, stating they agree to this way of selling cookies. Cookies are not put in the booth calculator, because they are individual girl cookies.

2. If an entire troop of girls has decided to stop selling at booths, and there is a girl in the troop that is still selling and trying to reach her goals.

3. If your troop is scheduled for a booth and one girl/adult cancels last minute and no one else from your troop can work it. The sales for that girl MUST be placed into the booth calculator spreadsheet and divided equally as troop booth sales. HOWEVER~ If all troop girls have stopped selling, then the girl that is still selling as 50/50 should not be in the calculator.

When 50/50 Booths are NOT OKAY:

1. When one girl from a troop is doing "buddy" selling on the side and receiving the full 50% credit for those booths, while the rest of the troop

is selling together and their sales are being calculated on the booth calculator as even/equal distribution based on man hours worked. 2. Selling with a buddy when someone from your troop is available to work the booth.

How to Work a 50/50 Booth EXAMPLE 1~ When Both Troops/ Girls have cookies

1. Troop A provides all the cookies and handles the money. 2. 100 boxes sold/ $20 Collected for I Care: 3. Troop A must “buy” 50 boxes from Troop B by giving Troop B $210 ($200 for the cookies sold and $10 for ½ of the I Care collected). 4. Troop B then gives 50 physical boxes from their inventory. 5. Both troops end up with equal cash and equal amounts of cookies reduced from their inventory. 6. 50/50 Booth Sales report is required and must be turned in to the Troop Cookie Coordinator.

EXAMPLE 2~ When only one Troop/Girl has cookies

1. Troop A provides all the cookies and handles the money. 2. 100 boxes sold/ $20 Collected for I Care. 3. Troop A must “buy” 50 boxes from Troop B by giving Troop B $210 ($200 for the cookies sold and $10 for ½ of the I Care collected). 4. Troop B does not have any cookies or not enough physical cookies to give to Troop A. 5. Troop B’s Troop Cookie Coordinator will perform a troop transfer in which 4 cases (48 boxes) of cookies (because the website only allows

transfers in cases) are transferred into Troop B. 6. Troop B’s Troop Cookie Coordinator will then transfer the four cases to Troop A. 7. Troop A’s Troop Cookie Coordinator then transfers the cookies to the proper girl. 8. The additional two boxes can be handled by Troop B giving the physical boxes to Troop A (if they have physical cookies remaining); or,

Troop B can account for the additional two boxes as I-Care, and Troop A reduces their I-Care boxes by two. 9. Both troops end up with equal cash and equal amounts of cookies reduced from their inventory. 10. 50/50 Booth Sales report is required and must be turned in to the Troop Cookie Coordinator.

I-Care Program

The I-Care program is designed for customers to purchase cookies to be sent to deployed military, food banks, homeless shelters, etc. Through the regional I-Care program, customers can choose to donate to select organizations in their immediate region. The girls accept payment for the cookies at the time the customer places the I-Care order. Many customers will donate their change from the cookies they are purchasing. This money can be used to purchase I-Care cookies. If it’s not in $4.00 increments, then the money can be combined with other customer’s donations until they have enough for a box. Every box counts! Troops will be given I-Care customer receipts to use, should a customer request one. Receipts can be duplicated as necessary. These receipts are for the customer’s records only, and do not need to be turned in at the end of the sale UNLESS the customer is designating that the cookies be delivered someplace OTHER than to the Military. The Military is our default for all I-Care donations.

Page 11: Cookie family guide

Returning Cookies to the Troop

Since the cookies haven’t been sold when they are distributed to the girls, the girls have a window in which they CAN return cookies to the troop. The deadline for girls to return cookies to the troop is February 27 and troops must accept them back. After February 27, the parent or guardian will become financially responsible for the cookies. This deadline still gives the Troop plenty of time to sell the returned cookies during booth sales. Since the Cookie Sale is a TROOP function, the cookies that are returned to the Troop become the property of the Troop and the responsibility of the ENTIRE troop to sell, not just the leader. Once cookies are returned, it’s time to re-evaluate your sales strategy (with all girls and parents/ guardians) to ensure that all cookies are sold. COOKIES CANNOT BE RETURNED TO COUNCIL. You may have returned cookies to the troop but the troops are still responsible, meaning now we all work as a team to bring success to the troop.

Whistle Blowers

In an attempt to be sure that all complaints during the Cookie Sale are fully substantiated honestly and fairly, the following guidelines have been implemented: � Third-party complaints will not be accepted. The person with the complaint must be the person who saw it, heard it, read it, or was directly

involved in it. � You must be willing to put your complaint in writing and sign your name. � You must be willing to back up your complaints with examples. Random, vague complaints will not be accepted. � If you are going to lodge a complaint, you must be willing to face your accused. Accusers will no longer be kept confidential.

No Troop Divorces during the Sale

Unfortunately, the Cookie Sale often brings both the best and the worst out in adults. The end result often means troops wanting to split. This is often because of differences of opinions regarding how the leader is running the sale, especially in the way cookies are being credited and how the proceeds will be spent. However, this dissension within the ranks can be emotional to the girls and detrimental to the troops. For these reasons, Troops MAY NOT divorce, separate, or split-up during the sale. Troops experiencing problems should contact their Membership Teams immediately. The Team will help to resolve the situation until permanent solutions can be agreed upon after the sale. As part of the “Troop Product Sales Coordinator Agreement,” the Troop Product Sales Coordinator will agree that “from Mega Drop to final Swoop & Sweep, no troop may divorce.” NOTE: If things in a troop progress to the point that they can no longer work together, then their sale will come to an immediate stop. The balance due will be debited from the troop bank account and their sale is officially finished. At that point, the situation is turned over to the Membership staff.

If a Girl Transfers Out during the Sale

If a girl chooses to leave your troop during the sale, the cookies must be paid for and/ or the new troop must be willing to except the transfer of unsold cookies into her troop. Funds or proceeds never follow a girl as troop proceeds belong to the troop and never become the property of an individual Girl Scout.

Page 12: Cookie family guide

Cookie Finances The troop must make periodic cookie payments to Council and, therefore, parents and guardians must make regular cookie payments to the troop. Payments can be given to the Troop Cookie Coordinator or deposited directly into the troop bank account. Whenever making payments to the Troop Cookie Coordinator, be sure to get a receipt for your payment. If you make your payment at the bank, be sure to get a receipt and give or scan/email it to your Troop Cookie Coordinator for proper credit. If a girl fails to turn in her money, it is not fair for the debt to be paid from troop funds. Each girl and her family are financially responsible for the cookies they accept. Do NOT hold onto large amounts of cash. If any money is lost or stolen, file a police report and check to see if the loss is covered by your insurance. If the loss occurred in your home, you will be required to file a report with your home owner’s insurance. However, the amount is still owed to the Council and will be evaluated on a case by case basis. Although we encourage troops NOT to accept checks, accepting checks may be unavoidable: (e.g., family, businesses). Whenever possible, checks should be made payable to the parent, and the parent in turn writes a check to the troop. No personal checks are to be made payable to GSSGC. If checks are made payable to the troop, they should be made payable to “Girl Scout Troop #_____” and deposited into the troop’s account. Indicate the girl’s name in the memo section so you can trace the check. Be sure to write the signer’s Driver’s License # or State ID # on the check.

No Selling Cookies After the Sale Ends

The Cookie Sale runs from January 26 through March 16. The Girl Scout Cookie Sale is so successful, in part, because the cookies are only offered for 6 to 8 weeks of the year. Selling cookies after the March 16 ending date undermines the integrity of the sale. Whether these cookies are unsold or paid for and being re-sold, it is absolutely NOT allowed. All Rewards are calculated on cookies that the girls sold DURING the sale, not on cookies still waiting to be sold.

Southern California Council Border Treaty

The four Southern California Girl Scout councils agree to train all troops and volunteers involved in the 2014 Cookie Program in accordance with these operating principles, and in compliance with GSUSA’s Safety Activity Checkpoints and Volunteer Essentials.

Guidelines � Girls must not take orders, or distribute direct cookies in hand, until their council’s respective start date. � Girls must follow the start date for the council that they are members of, eeven if they reside in another council’s geographic domain. � No early selling under any circumstances. � All girls must adhere to universal rules (e.g., proper uniform, adult presence requirements)..

Cross-Border Allowances Selling cross-border is allowed on an exception basis. Cross-border selling begins on the same day as the council’s start date, as above, and with these cross-border conditions: � Family: Troops can sell to family, and to family’s neighbors. � Friends: Immediate friends are OK. The neighborhoods your friends live in cannot be defined and you are prohibited rfom selling product there. � Workplace: In the parent or guardian’s immediate workplace only; no friend’s nor family’s workplaces. (e.g., Aunt Mary’s workplace is off

limits).

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Cookie Dough Cards The Cookie Dough Card is designed to be earned and used by the individual girl. It is separate from troop proceeds, which are earned by the troop to support activities and projects. Cookie Dough Cards are not to be accepted for troop dues or to become part of the troop treasury. NOTE: The parents must sign to acknowledge receipt of their daughters’ Cookie Dough Card and rewards. Please remind them of the

Cookie Dough Card expiration date. Troops that fail to return undelivered Cookie Dough Cards, rewards, and/or their signed Troop Rewards Report to their District/Region Product Sales Manager, will be unable to participate in any future money earning activities.

Cookie Dough Card Guidelines

� Cookie Dough Cards may be used toward the fees of any San Gorgonio Council sponsored events such as, day camp or resident camp listed in

the Southern California Girl Scout Council’s Camp Brochure, Destinations, Older Girl Extended Troop Trips, Bridging Junior to Cadette Trips, or for merchandise from the San Gorgonio Council Retail Shops. In addition, High School students may use Cookie Dough to purchase their Cap & Gown and Class Ring from Jostens, ASB package, and letterman’s jackets, graduation invitations, and--new this year--books at University for graduating seniors. See “High School Package” forms.

� Cookie Dough Cards may be used to purchase Girl Scout uniforms, sportswear, handbooks, Girl Scout accessories, etc., from the San Gorgonio Council Retail Shops, and via the San Gorgonio Council online system. Cookie Dough Cards cannot be used to purchase gift certificates.

� Cookie Dough Cards cannot be used for the annual Girl Scout Membership fe,e with the exception of Ambassador Girl Scouts who are graduating from High School and purchasing their Lifetime Memberships.

� Requested refunds for merchandise and camp fees paid with Cookie Dough Cards are refunded back to the Cookie Card. Cookie Dough Cards cannot be redeemed for cash.

� Lost Cookie Dough Cards may be replaced at a cost of $2.00.

Cookie Dough Card Use

For Older Girl Troops Older Girl Troops (Cadette/Senior/Ambassador) are able to apply earned Cookie Dough Cards toward Council approved Extended Troop Trips. The girls are able to accrue 3 years of Cookie Dough Cards. Procedures are found in the “Extended Troop Trip Packet.” For Juniors Bridging to Cadettes Bridging Junior Girl Scout Troops may use ONE year’s Cookie Dough Cards for an approved Bridging Extended Troop Trip. � Treat the Cookie Dough Card as if it were money. Cookie Dough Cards are not transferable without written documentation from parent and girl,

not from the leader. � 2014 Cookie Cards are valid through June 2015. � There will be no extensions of Cookie Dough Cards!

Code of Conduct for Adults and Girls

We have many “guidelines” for you to follow but the most important comes directly from our Policy Standards and Procedures. For a complete copy of Policies, Standards and Procedures please go to www.GSSGC.org. PER GIRL SCOUT POLICIES, STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES, "As a member of the Girl Scout movement, it is expected that a high code of ethics and a high code of conduct, as defined by the Girl Scout Promise and the Law, be adhered to when representing Girl Scouting. Unacceptable

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volunteer behaviors that may be cause for immediate suspension, termination or removal from the troop/group environment are outlined in this document. This includes, but is not limited to, the parents working with troops who do not follow Policies and Procedures." Any registered or non-registered parent or guardian who will be assisting any Girl Scout with the Cookie Sale MUST sign the Code of Conduct acceptance on the Parent Permission Form in order for your girl to participate in the 2014 Cookie Sale.

ADULT Code of Conduct Unacceptable behavior by a volunteer, parent or guardian as listed below, may result in immediate suspension or termination of any involvement in Girl Scouts:

a) Willful violation of Council or National Girl Scout Policies b) Willful creation of discord c) Willful damage and/or misuse of property d) Violence of any kind e) Child Abuse – Neglect, physical injury, emotional maltreatment to include verbal and/or sexual abus. f) Illegal Drugs – Use, sale, possession or being under the influence of illegal drugs at a Girl Scout sponsored event g) Improper conduct while under the influence of prescription drugs, including but not limited to transportation of girls while on a

controlled substance. h) Alcohol – Use or being under the influence of alcohol is prohibited at all girl programs, activities, and events i) Smoking – Smoking in non-designated areas or in the presence of girls is prohibited j) Firearms/Ammunition/Weapons - no firearms or weaponry shall be in possession of, on the person or in a vehicle, of any Girl Scout

member or non-member accompanying them UNLESS the person is a sworn Peace Officer k) Inappropriate, abusive, profane or offensive language l) Any inappropriate conduct, behavior or acts during Girl Scout Activities m) Willful misuse of Council and/or troop/group funds n) Refusal to submit an accurate and timely Financial Report o) Failure to fulfill the conditions of the volunteer agreement and/or the volunteer position description p) Falsification or significant omissions of any information on the Volunteer Application form and/or council records q) Harassment or intimidation, including sexual harassment or abusive behavior that creates a hostile environment r) Failure to maintain a positive representation of Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio and GSUSA at all Girl Scout related activities and events s) Adverse results from a criminal history background check

Any volunteer will be automatically discharged if a registered sex offender becomes part of their household.

GIRL Code of Conduct Girl Scouts are held to the highest standards in the community. Girls are highly visible to the public while wearing their Girl Scout uniforms and selling cookies. Therefore, their behavior is very important to the Girl Scout movement. Girls are representing a world-wide organization and must act accordingly. Poor behavior can jeopardize the potential to conduct cookie booths at that location in the future.

a) Girls should great their customers in a friendly manner. b) Girls should always be polite. c) Girls should always say “Thank you,” after the sale. d) Girls should be gracious when someone isn’t interested in buying cookies. e) When helping a customer, girls shouldn’t argue about who gets to show them the cookies or collects the money. f) Girls shouldn’t eat or drink in front of customers. g) Girls shouldn’t text or use the internet while working at a cookie booth. h) Girls should help to set-up, re-stock, and tear-down the booth. i) Girls shouldn’t block doorways; always stand off to the side. j) Girls should ALWAYS ask customers if they want to buy cookies on their way OUT of the store, NOT on their way in. k) If chairs are provided, girls should stand up when talking to customers. l) Girls should never be yelling, screaming, running, climbing on rides, sitting on store displays, or being a nuisance to customers. m) Girls should ALWAYS follow the Girl Scout Promise and Law.

 

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Parent Permission Form My daughter, a member of Troop #____________ has my permission to participate in the Girl Scout Cookie Program. I agree to accept the responsibility for all cookie value and money she receives and will adhere to all of the rules as outlined in this publication and outlined by my leader. I will see that she has adult guidance and supervision during the entire time. I also understand that cookies are not returnable after February 27, 2014. I further understand that although I return cookies to the troop by the deadline and are no longer financially responsible for them, it does not relieve me of the responsibility to help the troop sell them. I understand that any girl accepting orders before January 26, 2014, will forfeit her rewards and troop proceeds earned from those sales.

Parent/Guardian: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Date Signed: _________________________________________ Phone: ___________________________________________________

E-mail: _________________________________________________ Drivers License: _______________________________________________

ADULT Code of Conduct Acceptance I have read and agree to follow the Adult Code of Conduct as outlined in this publication. (Both parents’/guardians’ signatures are required if both will be helping with the Cookie Program.)

Parent/ Guardian: __________________________________________ Date: _________________________________________________

Parent/ Guardian: __________________________________________ Date: _________________________________________________

GIRL Code of Conduct Acceptance: On my honor, I will follow all of the guidelines in the Girl Code of Conduct. I will not take orders before January 26, 2014. On my honor, I will be an ambassador to Girl Scouting and will be responsible for what I say and do, respect authority, make the world a better place by being kind, staying safe and using good manners.

I understand that I am responsible for my personal goals. My leader, my family and my friends help me reach my goals, but my goals belong to me and it’s up to me to attain them.

Girl Scout: ________________________________________________ Date: _________________________________________________

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