TroopCookieManagerGuide

2018

Do-si-dos®

Crunchy oatmeal sandwich cookies

with creamy peanut butter filling

Samoas®

Crisp cookies coated in caramel, sprinkled with toasted coconut and striped with dark chocolaty coating

Tagalongs®

Crispy cookies layered with peanut butter and covered

with a chocolaty coating

Thin Mints®

Crisp wafers covered in chocolaty

coating made with natural oil of

peppermint

Trefoils®

Traditional shortbread cookies that are

delightfully simple and satisfying

Did you know that our cookies have...• NO High-Fructose Corn Syrup• NO Partially Hydrogenated Oils (PHOs)• NO Artificial Flavors in Toffee-tastics • Girl Scout S'mores and Do-si-dos are made with Natural Flavors• Zero Grams Trans Fat per Serving• 100% Real Cocoa• Hearty Whole Grain Oats in Do-si-dos• Thin Mints are Vegan• Toffee-tastics are Gluten-Free• RSPO Certified (Mass Balance) Palm Oil

NO

HIG

H FRUCTOSE CORN

SYRUP

Crunchy graham

sandwich cookies with creamy chocolate and

marshmallowy filling

Toffee-tasticTM

Rich, buttery cookies with sweet, crunchy

toffee bits

TM

Savannah Smiles®

Crisp, zesty lemon wedge cookies

dusted with powdered sugar

The GIRL SCOUTS® name and mark, and all associated trademarks and logotypes, including GIRL SCOUT COOKIES®, THIN MINTS®, TREFOILS®, GIRL SCOUT COOKIE SALE®, GIRL SCOUT COOKIE PROGRAM®, GIRL SCOUT S’MORES™ and the Trefoil Design are owned by Girl Scouts of the USA. Little Brownie Bakers is an official GSUSA licensee. SAMOAS, TAGALONGS, DO-SI-DOS and SAVANNAH SMILES are registered trademarks of Kellogg NA Co. TOFFEE-TASTIC is a trademark of Kellogg NA Co. Copyright ®, TM, © 2017-2018 Kellogg NA Co.

Product formulations can change at any time. We encourage you to check the ingredient statement on each package you purchase for the most up-to-date information on the ingredients contained in the product in that package. For more details check with Little Brownie Bakers.

RSRSPO-1106186

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Thank you for being Altogether Awesome!

With every Girl Scout cookie sold, today’s girls are becoming tomorrow’s leaders—and this couldn’t happen without you. Your hard work and dedication helps girls have new adventures and life-changing opportunities.

Thanks so much for all you do to make this awesome Cookie Program happen.

An Altogether Awesome cookie season awaits!Every Girl Scout is amazing. But when Girl Scouts come together for fun, friendship, and purpose in the Girl Scout Cookie Program, they’re unstoppable!

This year, we’re celebrating the strength, value, and spirit of teamwork. Whether they’re heading outdoors with friends for fun, going into the community to give back, or navigating the world’s biggest girl-led business adventure – Girl Scouts inspire each other to make a bigger impact on their world.

What's happening in the 2018 Cookie Program• The Cookie Program begins Jan. 5, 2018. Girls are on their honor not to sell before this date.

• Eight cookie varieties are offered on this year’s order card. The six traditional varieties are sold to customers for $4. The two specialty cookies, Girl Scout S’mores and Toffee-tastic, are sold to customers for $5.

• Operation: Sweet Appreciation and Star patches are available for purchase at GSWPA shops.

• Tiered Super Troop Levels — Troops with a per girl average (PGA) selling of 160 packages or more earn the Super Troop T-shirt for each girl selling – plus two for adult volunteers! Troops with a PGA selling of 175 packages or more will also receive an additional $.05 per package!

• New! Digital Cookie Girl Delivery Option — We live in an awesome digital world. Girls can use their tech skills to sell cookies online. With supervision, they can create a personalized sales page to ask family and friends to buy cookies online. [Shipping fees are paid by the customer OR cookies can be delivered (with parent approval) to the customer.]

• New! Cookie Pro 2018 Contest — This contest is an exciting opportunity to highlight the amazing skills and experiences that girls gain through participating in the Girl Scout Cookie Program. Join us in celebrating the cookie entrepreneur skills of Girl Scouts nationwide—girls can unlock an awesome, limited-edition Cookie Pro 2018 patch while earning a chance to be featured on a Girl Scout Cookie package (not to mention going on an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City!).

• Mascot Portal for Girls — Girls enter a fun-filled world featuring Little Brownie’s newest mascot. There, they’ll find games, videos, and activities that inspire and engage. They’ll even be able to vote on next season’s mascot! Check out littlebrowniebakers.com for this and other fun resources.

• Built By Me Cookie Planner — Help girls plan an incredible cookie season. With options to fit all interests and schedules, volunteers can easily guide girls in planning their cookie experience from start to finish. Find it at cookieplanner.littlebrowniebakers.com.

Do-si-dos®

Crunchy oatmeal sandwich cookies

with creamy peanut butter filling

Samoas®

Crisp cookies coated in caramel, sprinkled with toasted coconut and striped with dark chocolaty coating

Tagalongs®

Crispy cookies layered with peanut butter and covered

with a chocolaty coating

Thin Mints®

Crisp wafers covered in chocolaty

coating made with natural oil of

peppermint

Trefoils®

Traditional shortbread cookies that are

delightfully simple and satisfying

Did you know that our cookies have...• NO High-Fructose Corn Syrup• NO Partially Hydrogenated Oils (PHOs)• NO Artificial Flavors in Toffee-tastics • Girl Scout S'mores and Do-si-dos are made with Natural Flavors• Zero Grams Trans Fat per Serving• 100% Real Cocoa• Hearty Whole Grain Oats in Do-si-dos• Thin Mints are Vegan• Toffee-tastics are Gluten-Free• RSPO Certified (Mass Balance) Palm Oil

NO

HIG

H FRUCTOSE CORN

SYRUP

Crunchy graham

sandwich cookies with creamy chocolate and

marshmallowy filling

Toffee-tasticTM

Rich, buttery cookies with sweet, crunchy

toffee bits

TM

Savannah Smiles®

Crisp, zesty lemon wedge cookies

dusted with powdered sugar

The GIRL SCOUTS® name and mark, and all associated trademarks and logotypes, including GIRL SCOUT COOKIES®, THIN MINTS®, TREFOILS®, GIRL SCOUT COOKIE SALE®, GIRL SCOUT COOKIE PROGRAM®, GIRL SCOUT S’MORES™ and the Trefoil Design are owned by Girl Scouts of the USA. Little Brownie Bakers is an official GSUSA licensee. SAMOAS, TAGALONGS, DO-SI-DOS and SAVANNAH SMILES are registered trademarks of Kellogg NA Co. TOFFEE-TASTIC is a trademark of Kellogg NA Co. Copyright ®, TM, © 2017-2018 Kellogg NA Co.

Product formulations can change at any time. We encourage you to check the ingredient statement on each package you purchase for the most up-to-date information on the ingredients contained in the product in that package. For more details check with Little Brownie Bakers.

RSRSPO-1106186

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How the Cookie Program 6 Benefits Girls

Specialty Cookie is back 6

Cookie Card Line-Up 6

Troop Proceeds 7

Cookie Program Materials 7

Communications 8

Cookie Rookies 8

Troop and Girl Goals 8

Family Cookie Meeting 9

Cookie Rallies 9

Digital Cookie 11

Selling Opportunities 14

National GS Cookie Weekend 14 Safety Guidelines 15

GSWPA-Arranged Booths 16

SU & Troop-Arranged Booths 16

Think Beyond the Booth 17

Booth Scheduler 17

Cookie Locator 17

Accepting Credit Cards 17

How to Run a Successful 18Cookie Booth

Bling Your Booth 18

Operation: Sweet Appreciation 19

Troop Gift of Caring 20

5 for Five! 20

GSWPA Bling Your Booth 21

GSUSA Cookie Pro 2018 21

getting started 6

cookie cupboards 10

cookie program opportunities 11

cookie booths 16

contests & promotions 19

rewards & recognitions 22

Intro to the Cookies 2 What's New 3 Web Resources 5

eBudde Tab Descriptions 25

Setting up eBudde 26

Entering the Troop's Initial Order 27

Delivery 28

Placing a Pending Order 29

Monitoring Inventory 29

Tracking Girl Cookie Activity 30

Entering Booth Sales 32

Recognitions 33

eBudde 24

Before the Final ACH Sweep 34

ACH Procedures 35

ACH FAQs 36 Situations Requiring 36 Delinquincy Paperwork

cookie finances 34

glossary 39

timeline & checklist 40

position description 37

ebudde.littlebrownie.comeBudde is the web-based cookie management system provided by Little Brownie Bakers (LBB). It's the place where the actual sales management happens.

ebdemo.littlebrownie.comThe Cookie Program is easier than you might think! Our demo site lets you practice things you’ll do during the cookie season! Post orders, submit cookie and recognition orders, etc. Once you request access on the login screen, the Troop Cookie Chair or Service Unit Cookie Manager approves your access. Keep in mind, any updates or data added to this site will not be seen in the live site since they are two separate platforms. So click on through, play around, and build your confidence!

vipetraining.littlebrownie.comCookie VIP eTraining is where Troop Cookie volunteers learn step-by-step what you need to know about the Cookie Program—even GSWPA-specific information.

Sections 1 - 4 LBB provides great information on program materials, marketing ideas, technology opportunities and, of course, the cookies. These sections have tons of great information. Section 5 Find GSWPA-specific information, including the most comprehensive list of forms, training

and helpful resources to help you during the sale.

gswpa.org/cookiesOur website has important documents, resources, activities, and information about the Cookie Program. The For Cookie Sellers section provides great tools for girls and their families, as well as easy access to forms and training resources for volunteers.

littlebrownie.comCookie volunteers (along with families and girls) can check out the latest information from the bakery. From exciting activities for girls to teen business tools and fun promotional ideas, this dynamic resource will help you have a great season.

blog.littlebrowniebakers.comCheck out this volunteer blog where participants can share and find activities, best tips and how-to stories.

cookieplanner.littlebrowniebakers.comThe Built By Me Cookie Planner helps girls build the best cookie season ever! Built By Me is an online tool made specially for volunteers that helps create a customized plan for cookie season.

girlscoutcookies.orgThis is GSUSA’s hub for everything cookie! The site is specifically designed to educate and inspire all audiences to get excited about and participate in the Girl Scout Cookie Program.

digitalcookie.girlscouts.orgWith Digital Cookie, the Girl Scout Cookie Program you know and love is now better than ever. Now, there are more ways to sell, more ways to buy, and more ways to learn and have a ton of fun!

With Digital Cookie, each girl can use technology to:

GSWPA FacebookBe sure to like our council's official page (facebook.com/GSWPA) to see great stories on what other troops are up to this year.

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9 Market her cookie business

9 Build her customer list

9 Take virtual orders with her personalized web page

9 Accept credit card payments

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How the Cookie Program Benefits GirlsOur Girl Scouts aren’t just selling Girl Scout Cookies, they’re doing their part to make their communities better places as they prepare for successful futures.

Each girl who sells cookies has a goal in mind. Whether it’s a pizza party, a community project, or the first overnight camping trip with her troop, she knows how many cookies she needs to sell to make that happen. She’s also building lifelong skills, friendships, and confidence along the way.

Over the course of 100 years, generations of girls have built the Cookie Program into a beloved tradition and the largest girl-led entrepreneurial program in the world. Each girl learns 5 Key Skills while selling cookies:

1. Goal Setting – as she sets cookie sales goals and makes a plan to reach them 2. Decision Making – as she decides how her troop will spend the cookie proceeds3. Money Management—as she makes a budget, takes orders and handles customers’ money4. People Skills—as she learns to talk and to listen to all kinds of people while selling cookies5. Business Ethics—as she is honest and responsible every step of the way

The Cookie Program is also essential to GSWPA Girl Scouts by:

• keeping camps affordable by subsiding registration costs;

• offering programs and events for girls; and

• providing scholarships to girls with financial barriers so Girl Scouting is accessible to every girl.

Girl Scout S'mores! Girl Scouts are credited with publishing the first s'mores recipe, and there’s a specialty Girl Scout S’mores cookie to help celebrate the next century of Girl Scouts selling cookies.

Girl Scout S’mores are “on trend” with today’s cookie consumers looking for a delicious cookie made with simple, natural ingredients—a truly perfect fit with Girl Scouting! Created exclusively for Girl Scouts with embossed Girl Scout S’mores logo and outdoor experience badges, the custom-designed s’mores cookies promote Girl Scouting’s outdoor education experiences for girls!

Our Girl Scout S'mores cookie is a crunchy graham sandwich cookie with a chocolate and marshmallowy filling. So get those campfires going, because now s’more than ever, there’s going to be a big story to tell!

Cookie Card Line-upEight varieties are offered on this year’s order card. The six traditional varieties are sold to customers for $4. The two specialty cookies, Girl Scout S’mores and Toffee-tastic, are sold to customers for $5.

They're back for s'more

tasty fun!

6 Varieties$4/box

Girl Scout S'mores & Toffee-tastic

$ 5/box

Troop ProceedsTroop proceeds help to fund a troop’s community projects and the awesome troop activities girls participate in throughout the year.

Troops earn $.70 per package of cookies. But did you know that your troop can earn even more? Just think – with a little extra effort or by trying something new, your girls can reach their goals even faster.

Troop Proceed TiersTroops earn the following proceeds for participating in the 2018 Cookie Program:

$.70 per package Base troop proceeds

$.75 per package Super Troops - Troops that reach a ‘PGA selling’ of 175 packages or more

Additional $.05 per packageJunior, Cadette, Senior and Ambassador troops that choose to opt out of receiving recognitions

Super TroopsSuper Troops who sell an average of 175 packages per girl (that’s called PGA selling) earn an extra $.05 per package, increasing your proceeds to $.75 per package. So, if a troop of 10 girls sells an average of 175 boxes per girl, they’ll earn an extra $87.50 to meet their troop goal. That’s enough to buy a Journey Book and a fun patch for the entire troop—with a little leftover!

Want some simple ways to get to Super Troop status? Here’s some help: • Girls who participate in Operation: Sweet Appreciation and our Troop Gift of Caring program sell an

average of 70 more boxes each cookie season. • Bling your Booth! The more attention you can drive to your cookie booth, the better!• Have a customer who bought four boxes of cookies? Make sure they know about our 5 for Five! contest.

Additional Proceeds Option Junior, Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador troops can opt out of receiving recognitions and earn an additional $.05 per package sold. The entire troop must participate in this option because opting out can’t be done on a girl-by-girl basis.

To decline recognitions and receive additional proceeds:

1. Submit the Opt-Out Form found on gswpa.org/cookie-resources or vipetraining.littlebrownie.com.

2. Check the Opt out for additional proceeds box on the Settings tab in eBudde.

3. Allocate cookies to girls through the Girl Orders tab. For troops opting out of recognitions, girls will still receive all patches, the initial recognitions, the Super Troop T-shirt, and any of the 1,000 package level and above recognitions, if earned.

Cookie Program MaterialsHere's what you need as a troop to make the Cookie Program happen, including resources for troop use and for distribution to families. For additional materials, visit gswpa.org/cookies, vipetraining.littlebrownie.com, or contact your SUCM.

Troop resources: 9 this handbook

9 one package of Girl Scout S'mores cookies for troop sampling (unless the service unit kept this package for the service unit rally)

9 receipt books (for recording cookie pick-ups and money transactions with families)

9 OSA box wrap and cookie booth promotion materials

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$ 5/box

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Resources for Families: 9 Family Guide — Inside you’ll find the Parent/Guardian Financial Responsibility and Permission Form

(which must be signed and collected for each girl before she starts selling). Troops must keep these forms on file until Dec. 31, 2018. GSWPA will request your copies in the event of a girl/parent delinquency.

9 girl order cards (1 per girl)

9 money envelopes (1 per girl)

9 Goal Getter Order Card – This printable form easily helps girls continue to take orders. (Distribute to girls after their initial orders are turned in or if a girl requests an additional order card.) The Goal Getter Order Card can be downloaded at vipetraining.littlebrownie.com. Print as many as you need!

CommunicationsCookie BytesIt’s important to stay connected with GSWPA for Cookie Program updates and reminders throughout the entire cookie season. Look for eBudde emails and Cookie Bytes, a GSWPA enewsletter with helpful hints and reminders emailed to eBudde users. Please note: you’re responsible for information contained in these communications. Please don't unsubscribe from any GSWPA or eBudde emails or you’ll miss essential information. If you accidently unsubscribe from Cookie Bytes or emails generated through eBudde:

• Go to the Contacts tab in eBudde

• Click on the purple ‘Edit’ box next to your information

• Check the box that says ‘Receives Email’

• Click ‘Submit’

Cookie RookiesIf your girls are new to the Cookie Program, there’s a fun, 10-minute video to help them understand the basics.

Show the 10-minute video and discuss it afterward—or stop after each section for discussion and activities. It’s up to you and the girls! See a summary of the show and activity ideas that reinforce the learning in the Run of Show (available on the Volunteer Blog). Find the video on the Little Brownie YouTube channel or at gswpa.org/cookie-rookie.

Troop and Girl GoalsHow to set goals with girlsOne of the most important lessons girls learn from selling cookies is how to set and reach their goals. Help girls keep goals realistic, but optimistic. It’s never too early to start the conversation. It’s important to work with girls as a group and individually. (This is a great way to involve a parent or new volunteer.)

Camp S'more is mailed in the winter to GSWPA families and leaders. Setting Cookie Program goals is a great way to make Girl Scout programs (including camp) even more affordable. Remember, Girl Scout Bucks are worth double when used toward a GSWPA-sponsored camp!

Girls learn:• how the sale works,• cookie names,• easy ways to ask a customer to buy,• cookie booth essentials,• safety rules, and• how to set goals.

In recognition of the 2018 Girl Scout Cookie ProgramThis certificate is awarded to

Troop # Service Area #

Girl Scout Bucks may be used as payment forcouncil-sponsored programs and camps, annual registration, service unit day camps, and purchases at GSWPA Shops and Camp Trading Posts. No change will be given when redeemed. Awards that are not redeemed by the expiration date are void.

OFFICE USE ONLYREDEEMED AT:DATE:

Expires: September 30, 2018Acct. # 8136-320-1300�Used at 2X value

Corporate Office30 Isabella StreetPittsburgh, PA 15212800-248-3355gswpa.org

$5 Girl Scout Bucks

Patch available for purchase in GSWPA shops.

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Family Cookie MeetingWhen families are involved, girls succeed. Holding a family cookie meeting is part of being a Troop Cookie Manager. It's critical to the Cookie Program's success for families to gain key information, including deadlines, and for them to understand their responsibilities and the troop's expectations. Too often, we hear of families who don't know or don't adhere to policies and procedures. As a result, troops are often faced with frustration, increased financial risk, and disappointed girls.

Family Review Checklist (Use this list to help you at your parent meeting.) Ɇ Remind parents the Cookie Program is much more than a fundraiser. The program helps girls learn

5 Skills: goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills, and business ethics.

Ɇ Stress to parents that all proceeds stay within our council, helping their Girl Scout, troop, service unit and GSWPA.

Ɇ Encourage families to help their Girl Scout by listening to her sales pitch, taking her to workplaces, helping her with online marketing through Digital Cookie, chaperoning booth sales, and delivering Girl Scout Cookies to customers.

Ɇ Hand out the Family Guide (Parent/Guardian Financial Responsibility and Permission Form). Make sure families understand their responsibilities. Parents/guardians must sign the permission form before girl materials are distributed. Collect and keep the form until Dec. 31, 2018.

Ɇ For Junior, Cadette, Senior and Ambassador troops, discuss if your troop chose the additional proceeds option or are receiving the recognitions.

Ɇ Let parents know that order taking starts Jan. 5, 2018, and girls are not permitted to sell before that date.

Ɇ Remind families of the need for timely communication and let them know how you’ll communicate with them—email, phone call, take-home flyers, etc.

Ɇ Make sure families understand they are held financially responsible for all cookies they order.

Ɇ Review the family money collection procedures, making note of due dates for orders and money due. Explain that money is collected throughout the sale so your troop can meet payment deadlines.

Ɇ Review safety guidelines.

Ɇ Discuss parent/guardian volunteer opportunities, like helping to pick-up your initial order, sorting cookies and recognitions, and transporting girls to and from cookie booths (must be an approved volunteer driver with clearances to transport girls).

Ɇ Digital Cookie —Let families know to watch for their Digital Cookie invitation which will be sent to the email address provided to GSWPA and review the Girl Delivery Option.

Being a Girl Scout parent/guardian during the Cookie Program comes with its own set of responsibilities. Before your Girl Scout can participate, you must sign this Parent/Guardian Permission Form and submit it to your troop leader.

Make it official.Girls must be registered members of GSUSA to participate and should wear their membership pins or Girl Scout attire while selling. Register online at gswpa.org.

Be safety conscious.Adults must accompany Girl Scouts in grades K-5 while taking orders and delivering cookies. Girls in grades 6-12 must be supervised by an adult and should never sell alone. Girls should not enter homes or vehicles while selling/delivering cookies. Avoid selling to people in vehicles or going into alleys. Follow safe pedestrian procedures. Use the phone and email to sell when it’s dark outside. Have a plan for safeguarding money. (Avoid walking around with large amounts of cash or keeping it at home or school.)

Understand your financial role.As a parent/guardian, you’re financially responsible for all cookies ordered on your Girl Scout’s order card and any additional cookies you receive to fulfill her additional orders. • Cookies cannot be returned or exchanged. • Payment is made to the troop throughout the program, as directed by

your troop leader. • You should obtain a receipt for all cookies received and payments made.

You may be asked to produce these receipts in the event of a dispute. • Customers pay for their cookies when they’re delivered (not ordered)

except for Operation: Sweet Appreciation and Troop Gift of Caring donation cookies.

• Girls should never take credit card numbers. • For online payments, customers must purchase cookies through your

Girl Scout’s Digital Cookie link. • Any fees incurred due to non-negotiable checks will be assessed

back to the parent/guardian.If your financial obligation is not fulfilled, you will be ineligible to be appointed as a volunteer or participate in any volunteer/program/camp position until the debt is paid. In addition, your Girl Scout cannot participate in future product sales, nor will financial assistance be approved, until the debt is paid.

Protect your Girl Scout’s privacy. Girls’ names, addresses and email addresses should never be given to customers. Use a group contact number or address overseen by an adult for customers to request information, reorder, or give comments. Protect customer privacy by not sharing their information except for the Cookie or MagNut Programs.

Be Internet wise. Staying safe is our priority.Girls are permitted to email friends and family to promote their sales and where they can get cookies. Before girls start any online activities, whether sending emails to friends and families, using Digital Cookie or using social media, girls should read and discuss the Girl Scout Internet Safety Pledge. Print the pledge, review, and sign the pledge together. Download the pledge at gswpa.org/cookie-resources.

�

Parent/guardian responsibilities 2018 Cookie Program Permission FormPlease complete this form (front and back) and return it to your troop leader or cookie manager.

I give permission for my daughter,

,

to participate in the Girl Scout Cookie Program, and

I agree not to sell cookies before Jan. 5, 2018.

My daughter is:

� a registered member of Girl Scout

Troop #

� an Indie Girl Scout (not in a troop)

� I’ve read the Cookie Program responsibilities and agree to abide by them. My daughter and I will meet all deadlines.

� I accept financial responsibility for all cookies ordered through and/or received by my daughter, and I will submit all money due from the sale to the troop leader (or GSWPA for my Indie Girl Scout).

� In the event that I fail to pay on time, I understand I am liable for the amount not paid, plus all costs, interest, and legal collection fees incurred by GSWPA in the collection of this debt. In addition, I will be ineligible to be appointed as a volunteer or participate in any volunteer/program/camp position, and my Girl Scout cannot participate in future product sales, nor will she be approved for any financial assistance, until the debt is paid.

Parent/Guardian Signature Date

Address

City State Zip

Driver’s License # State

Email

Daytime Ph#

Evening Ph#

Learn more about the Cookie Program and find resources for your Girl Scout at

gswpa.org/cookies

Operation: Sweet Appreciation (OSA)Last year, Girl Scouts in GSWPA sent over 45,000 boxes of cookies to our U.S. military active duty and veteran

service members through our virtual gift of caring program, Operation: Sweet Appreciation.

Customers can place Operation: Sweet Appreciation orders on the girl’s order card, the girl’s Digital Cookie web page, or by donating online at gswpa.org/military.

Digital CookieWith Digital Cookie, there are more ways to sell, more ways to buy—and more ways to learn and have fun! Your Girl Scout can use Digital Cookie to: market her cookie business, build her customer list, take an online order with her personalized web page, and accept credit card payments.

Watch for your invitation email to get started. Emails are specific to each girl and cannot be shared. The email will come from “Girl Scout Cookie Program” (email@email.girlscouts.org). If you do not receive an email by Jan. 1, go to digitalcookie.girlscouts.org and click the “Forgot password/Need a registration” email link.

NEW this year… Digital Cookie Girl Delivery Option Customers can pay for their cookies with a credit card through Digital Cookie and have your Girl Scout deliver the cookies to their door. Don’t worry—as a parent, you’ll need to approve these orders for safety and practicality reasons. Ask your troop leader for more information.

Please note: Girl Delivery cookies purchased through Digital Cookie do NOT count toward Digital Cookie recognitions. However, they will count toward the final recognitions.

• Encourage goal-setting. Ask your Girl Scout about her troop’s goals and help her set practical and useful personal goals. Encourage her to share her goals with customers.

• Support her! Ask her questions and help her practice her sales message. Help her take orders, arrange a booth sale site, and network with family and friends, but let her do the “ask” so she can learn important business skills.

• Use the Goal Getter Order Card after you turn in your initial order card. Continue taking orders to meet your Girl Scout’s goal. (You’ll get this from your troop leader or troop cookie manager.)

• Canvas your community with cookies! Load up the sled, wagon, or turn the family vehicle into a cookie-mobile. (Be sure to keep safety rules in mind.)

• Visit neighborhoods one more time before the cookie season ends. Give your customers a second chance to stock up before cookies are gone for another year. Tip: Leave a door hanger including an adult’s contact information. Download door hangers at gswpa.org/cookie-resources.

• Become a registered volunteer. Her troop needs help chaperoning booth sales, picking up cookies, and more.

• Say thank you! Add a thank you note with an adult’s contact information when delivering cookies so customers can order more! Make your own or download one at gswpa.org/cookie-resources.

Cost ofcookies

26%

Council-sponsored programs, events, properties, training, and scholarships — 48%

Troop proceeds — 18%

Cost of Cookie Program support — 3%

Troop/service unit bonuses — 2%

Girl recognitions — 3%

How the cookie crumbles

Girls enter a fun-filled world featuring our super cute turtle theme. There, they’ll find games, videos, and activities that inspire and engage. They’ll even be able to vote on next season’s mascot! Check out littlebrowniebakers.com for this and other fun resources.

OSA Troop RecognitionGirls can earn two cookie costumes for their troop!• Troops must have a minimum of five girls selling.• Troops must have an OSA per girl average (of

girls selling cookies) of 20 boxes or more.

2018 Key DatesJan. 5 Girl order taking beginsFeb. 14-22 Cookie deliveryFeb. 23-25 National Girl Scout Cookie WeekendFeb. 23-March 18 Cookie booth salesMarch 18 Cookie Program endsMay 29 OSA online donations end

Ahoy all Super Sellers!If your Girl Scout sells 600 or more boxes of cookies, she’ll receive the Super Seller patch AND an exclusive invite to rock the boat with other swashbucklers at the spring 2018 Super Seller Celebration aboard the

Victorian Princess in Erie on May 19 or the Gateway Clipper in Pittsburgh on June 3.

Please note: The Super Seller event is a girl recognition. While attending the event is free for your Super Seller Girl Scout, there is a fee for one accompanying adult, if adult attendance is desired. Adult attendance is NOT required. Transportation to/from the event is not provided by GSWPA.

Calling all Cookie Rookies!New to the Cookie Program? This fun, 10-minute video can help your Girl Scout understand the basics. Find it on our Cookie Rookie page at gswpa.org/cookie-rookie.

Helpful selling tips for girls & families

Mascot Portal for Girls!

Cookie Lineup

Cookie lovers can once again reminisce over the

camp-tastic flavor of Girl Scout S’mores cookies.

Eight varieties are offered on this year’s order

card. The six traditional varieties are sold

to customers for $4/box. The two specialty

cookies, Girl Scout S’mores and Toffee-tastic,

(gluten-free) are sold to customers for $5/box.

An Altogether Awesome cookie season awaits!

How does the Cookie

Program benefit girls?

The Cookie Program is essential to our

mission of building girls of courage,

confidence and character, who make the

world a better place. Funds raised through

the Cookie Program support many aspects

of Girl Scouting by:

• providing troops with proceeds to

fund their troop activities and service

projects;

• keeping camp affordable by

subsidizing registration costs;

• supporting the Girl Scout experience

by providing girl programming,

curriculum, and events; and

• providing scholarships to girls with

financial barriers so Girl Scouting is

available to all girls.

Girls may not

sell or take orders

for cookies before

January 5, 2018

Important info:

Troop Cookie Manager:

Phone #:

Email:

Initial Order due to the Troop by:

IMPORTANT: Money is due each week.

Final payment due to the Troop by:

Every Girl Scout is amazing. But when Girl Scouts come together for

fun, friendship, and purpose in the Girl Scout Cookie Program, they’re

unstoppable!

This year, we’re celebrating the strength, value, and spirit of teamwork.

Whether they’re heading outdoors with friends for fun, going into

the community to give back, or navigating the world’s largest girl-led

business adventure — Girl Scouts inspire each other to make a bigger

impact on their world.

IMPORTANT:5 Skills for girls

The Girl Scout Cookie Program is a part of the Girl Scout Leadership

Experience. By participating, girls learn 5 Key Skills they’ll use for a

lifetime. With your help, girls learn to:

9 set goals by developing a plan to meet goals and deadlines;

9 hone their decision-making skills by deciding where and

when to sell cookies, how to market their sale, and what to do

with their earnings;

9 grow money management skills by making a budget, taking

cookie orders, and handling customers’ money;

9 improve their people skills by learning how to talk (and listen)

to their customers while working as a team with other girls; and

9 practice business ethics by acting honestly and responsibly

during every step of the Cookie Program.

Visit gswpa.org/cookies for ideas to help your Girl Scout gain these 5 Skills.

6 Varieties$4/box

Girl Scout

S’mores &

Toffee-Tastic

$ 5/box

2018 Cookie Program

Family Guide

1,000*Tip: The Family Guide is a great tool to use when leading your family cookie meeting.

Cookie RalliesStart the cookie fun for girls with a Cookie Rally!

What’s a Cookie Rally?It's an event that combines learning and cookie fun so girls are inspired and prepared to have a great cookie season. Research shows that girls who attend cookie rallies have much higher cookie sales than those who don’t get the chance. Certainly, they have more confidence in their sales and lots of fun!

How it WorksMost service units host cookie rallies in gyms or meeting centers, wherever a large group can fit. Rallies usually start with the girls in a large group and then break into smaller groups to visit activity stations. Girls gather again at the end for a high-energy send off.

Connect with your SUCM to see if a Service Unit Cookie Rally is planned in your area. If there isn't one, host one for your troop! Find rally activity ideas on littlebrownie.com and gswpa.org/cookie-resources.

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Cookie Cupboards Troops use cookie cupboards to get additional cookies or to exchange damaged product. They're located throughout the council (at select GSWPA offices and volunteers’ homes) so you have easy access to additional cookies.

Find a complete list of cookie cupboards on eBudde (Reports tab, Cupboards). We consolidate the number of cupboards throughout the sale by moving cookies to well-used locations. The Cupboard Report automatically updates when cupboards open/close.

• Troops can take FULL CASES and/or SINGLE PACKAGES from a cookie cupboard.

• Have damaged packages? Take them to your local cupboard to exchange for the same variety.

• Troop-owned cases/packages can’t be exchanged for a different variety or returned.

• Troops must place a pending order through eBudde on the Transactions tab to the cupboard for additional cookies. Please place your order early in the week to ensure the cupboard has sufficient inventory.

• After you place your pending order through eBudde, contact the cupboard to verify the pickup date and time. Check the Cupboard Report (on the Reports tab) for the cupboard's contact preference.

• When you pick up the cookies, you’ll sign for and receive a copy of the receipt.

• Troops are financially responsible for all cookies they pick up. Verify all cupboard receipts against the Transactions tab in eBudde.

• Keep all receipts until Dec. 31, 2018.

Please note: There’s a limited availability of Savannah Smiles, Girl Scout S'mores and Toffee-tastic at cookie cupboards.

Service units are encouraged (but not required) to place a small service unit cookie order so troops in that service unit can easily access additional cookies instead of going to a cupboard. Contact your SUCM to see if an order has been placed in your area.

Who can pick up cookies?When a troop places an order, you can designate anyone to pick up those cookies. Enter the name and contact information of that person in the contact section when you place your pending order.

Volunteer Cookie CupboardsThese cupboards are typically located in volunteers’ homes with their own hours of operation. After placing a pending order, follow up to verify cookie availability and pick-up time. Each Cookie Cupboard Manager may have different prep times to process your order, so be sure to check with your selected cupboard. (Go to the eBudde section in this guidebook for details on how to place a pending order.)

GSWPA Cookie Cupboards — 800-248-3355These council cookie cupboards are open Mon-Thurs. 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Fridays Feb.23-March 16.

Edinboro — Cupboard #001

Beaver — Cupboard #002

Greensburg — Cupboard #005

Johnstown — Cupboard #006

Kittanning — Cupboard #007

Pittsburgh — Cupboard #009

Cookie Program Opportunities

Digital CookieThe iconic Girl Scout Cookie Program you know and love has gone beyond the booth and allows girls to sell in their native digital space by offering them new channels to enhance their cookie sale and new ways to learn twenty-first-century business skills. Over 1 million excited Girl Scouts are again ready to take their cookie sale to a whole new level! It’s easy, safe, and full of FUN!

Through Digital Cookie, a girl can:• share her cookie story;• earn recognitions;• access Cookie Business badges online;• track customer info, orders, and data;• send cool, ready-to-use marketing emails;• play games, watch videos, enjoy printable activities, and take fun quizzes;• use the smart goal-setting calculator; and• make it easy for friends and family near and far to get their favorite Girl Scout Cookies.

We'll email parents and troop leaders a registration link in late December to the email address identified in the parent’s/leader’s ‘MyGS’ membership profile. (Registration emails are specific to each girl and cannot be shared with others.) The email will come from “Girl Scout Cookie Program” (email@email.girlscouts.org). Be sure to check junk/spam/promotions inboxes. If you don't receive an invitation email by Jan. 1, go to digitalcookie.girlscouts.org and click the “Forgot password/Need a registration” email link.

New this year — Girl Delivery Option!Please note: Girl Delivery cookies purchased through Digital Cookie DO NOT count towards Digital Cookie recognitions. However, they will count towards the final recognitions.

Customers can pay for their cookies with a credit card through Digital Cookie and have your Girl Scouts deliver the cookies to their door. Don’t worry – parents must approve these orders for safety and practicality reasons.

Parents receive an email from email@email.girlscouts.org with the subject “You have a Digital Cookie in-person delivery approval request!” letting the parent know their Girl Scout has received an order for delivery. Hooray!

The parent must approve this order within 10 days or risk losing the sale. The parent should approve the order before delivering it to make sure the customer’s payment is accepted. If the parent has not approved the sale within 10 days, the customer’s second choice for the order is selected. The customer’s second choice could be “Cancel," "Ship," or “Donate."

Because these cookies are physically handled by the girls in your troop, you must order these cookies on the troop’s initial order (if order is placed before the initial order deadline), fill them from the troop’s ‘extra’ inventory, or place a pending order to a cupboard for additional cookies.

Be sure to communicate with your parents on the status of the troop’s cookie inventory. Your troop may need to pick-up cookies from a cookie cupboard. Only registered eBudde users can place a pending order to a cupboard; however, anyone can be designated to pick-up the cookies (even the parent that needs them!). To allow the parent to pick-up the cookies from a cookie cupboard, edit the information in the ‘Contact Info’ box to the parents name AND PHONE NUMBER.

More information on Digital Cookie will be communicated through Cookie Bytes.

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SSteps for Parents to Approve a Girl Delivery Order

(Please share this with your parents. This Tip Sheet is also available for download on vipetraining.littlebrownie.com and gswpa.org.)

1. You will receive an email from email@email.girlscouts.org with the subject “You have a Digital Cookie in-person delivery approval request!” letting you know your Girl Scout has received an order for delivery. Hooray!

2. Click the green button “View Orders Awaiting Approval” in the email. That will take you to the Digital Order Card website where you can log in. Or, go to the Digital Cookie website and log in.

3. Click on the Cookie Orders tab and see what orders are pending your approval.

4. You will see a list of all orders needing approval, including the customer order number, number of boxes in each order, the customer’s address, when the customer placed the order, and the number of days you have to approve it until it reverts to the customer’s second choice option.

5. When determining whether to approve or decline the order, consider

a. Is the customer a known and trusted individual?

b. Are you willing and able to get the cookies to the customer’s location in a reasonable amount of time

AND

c. Do you have or will you have the inventory available? If so, “Approve Order.” If you are unable or unwilling to fulfill the customer’s order, click “Decline Order” and the order will default to whatever second option the customer has selected: “Cancel”, “Ship” or “Donate.”

6. There are multiple ways to approve and decline orders for delivery.

a. Check the boxes in front of the orders you want to approve or decline and then click “Approve Order” or “Decline Order”

b. Click the “Select All” box, which will select all of the orders on that page that need approval, then click “Approve Order” or “Decline Order”.

c. Click on the individual customer to bring up that person’s order details and click “Approve Order” or “Decline Order” at the bottom.

7. If you have approved the order, it will move down to the section “Digital Cookie Orders to be Delivered In-Person.”

8. You will receive an email letting you know payment for those cookies was received, a copy of the order and some safety tips and reminders about delivering cookies.

9. Once you have delivered the cookies, log back into Digital Order Card and mark those orders delivered. There are two ways to indicate you have delivered your order:

a. Check the box in front of any orders you have delivered, and then click “Order Delivered.”

b. Check the “Select All” box to select all of the orders on the page; they will all be marked “Order Delivered” at once.

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10. When they are marked as delivered, they will move down into the third section on the page as a completed order.

11. If the customer is not in her Digital Cookie contact list, your Girl Scout can check the box in front of the customer’s name and click Add to Customers tab. Then, the customer will be in her records for sending thank-you emails this year and marketing emails next year for repeat business. This only applies to delivered orders.

12. Make sure you follow through and deliver those cookies. When you approve the order, the customer will be charged. Your leader will see the financial transaction as a credit to your Girl Scout in eBudde after you have approved delivering the order.

REMEMBER: Because these cookies are physically handled by the girls in your troop, you must order these cookies on the troop’s initial order (if order is placed before the initial order deadline), fill them from the troop’s ‘extra’ inventory or place a pending order to a cupboard for additional cookies.

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National Girl Scout Cookie Weekend is Feb. 23-25! This special weekend is also the start of GSWPA’s booth sales. It’s a great way to share the news about the Girl Scout Cookie Program.

On National Girl Scout Cookie Weekend, Girl Scouts across the nation will celebrate and promote the 5 Skills girls learn while participating in the Girl Scout Cookie Program. Special marketing campaigns will run to help promote this weekend. Get a jump start to the booth sale time by holding your own booth sale during National Girl Scout Cookie Weekend. Refer to the booth sale chapter in this guide for info on setting up a booth sale.

There are lots of opportunities to sell cookies!Remember: Cookies can only be sold for $4 per package ($5 for Toffee-Tastic and Girl Scout S'mores). Here are some ideas, tips, and suggestions:

In-person Order TakingDoor-to-Door Sales

• Host a troop door-to-door sales party. Split into teams and walk door-to-door in designated neighborhoods. Tip: Leave a door hanger including an adult’s contact information when no one is home. Download door hangers at gswpa.org/cookie-resources.

• Girls must wear their sash or vest, or display their membership pin over any outerwear at all times during door-to-door sales.

Workplace Sales

• Girls can leave an order card (not cookies) with permission of the business owner. When possible, make a sign and follow-up with a personal thank you.

• Girls should include a short paragraph about themselves and their goals to leave with their order card. They should not give out personal contact information.

Follow Up Sales

• Thank you cards given with the cookie delivery are thoughtful and help build customer loyalty year after year.

• Consider including an adult’s phone number with the delivery in the event customers want more cookies.

• Mobile Booth Sales: Try selling from a cart, wagon, or sled — or organize a neighborhood blitz with a "Cookie Caravan."

Goal Getter Order Card

• After girls turn in the initial girl order card to you, use the Goal Getter Order Card for additional orders to reach (and surpass!) the girls’ and troop’s goals.

• Download the Goal Getter Order Card at vipetraining.littlebrownie.com.

• Additional cookies are available at cookie cupboards to fulfill customer orders, get additional stock for booth sales, and help girls reach their goals!

Cookie Booths• Cookie booths are held from Feb. 23-March 18.

• Display an Operation: Sweet Appreciation package of cookies to promote this program. (The box wrapper fits perfectly around a Thin Mint box!) Learn more about OSA later in this guide.

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General Suggestions• Encourage girls to ask everyone. The top reason people don’t buy cookies is because they were

never asked.

• Have girls suggest customers buy enough cookies to last until the following cookie season.

• Have girls share their goals with customers. They can decorate T-shirts, paint posters, or make signs.

• Remind girls to save their order cards from year-to-year and contact the previous year’s buyers.

• Offer Girl Scout cookie recipes. You’ll find recipes at littlebrowniebakers.com.

• Have girls reconnect with their customers toward the end of the sale. Customers may have eaten all their cookies and want to purchase more to last until next year.

• Visit businesses you know and ask if they want to purchase cookies to give to their customers.

• Remind girls to treat cookies with care. Protect cookies from extreme heat and cold to keep them fresh for customers.

Safety GuidelinesAll girls selling cookies must follow GSUSA safety guidelines:

• Show you’re a Girl Scout. Wear a Girl Scout membership pin and/or Girl Scout clothing over your coat to identify yourself as a Girl Scout.

• Buddy up. Always use the buddy system. It’s not just safe; it’s more fun!

• Be street wise. Become familiar with the areas and neighborhoods where you’ll sell cookies.

• Partner with adults. Adults must accompany Girl Scouts in grades K-5 when taking orders, selling, and delivering product. Girls in grades 6–12 must be supervised by an adult when selling door-to-door and must never sell alone. Approved volunteers must be present at cookie booths in any public place at all times.

• Plan ahead. Always have a plan for safeguarding money. Girls should avoid walking around with large amounts or keeping it at home or school. Girls should give cookie money to supervising adults who will deposit it in the troop’s bank account as soon as possible. Girls should never take credit card numbers.

• Do not enter. Girls should never enter the home or vehicle of a person when selling or making deliveries and should avoid selling to people in vehicles or going into alleys.

• Sell in the daytime. Sell only during daylight hours, unless accompanied by an adult.

• Protect privacy. Girls’ full names, addresses, and email addresses should never be given out to customers. Use a group contact number or address overseen by an adult for customers to request information, reorder, or give comments. Protect customer privacy by not sharing their information.

• Be safe on the road. 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.

• Be net wise. Take the GSUSA Internet Safety Pledge (find it at gswpa.org/cookie-resources) before going online and follow the specific guidelines related to marketing online. Girls can’t collect money online (except through Digital Cookie).

Online Marketing• Girls can market cookies by sending emails to friends, family members, and former customers.

• Girls age 13 and older can use social networking sites that are closed communities, such as Facebook, to market cookies.

• Sales may not occur online (for example, through a site that has an electronic shopping cart, online auction sites, or public sale sites such as eBay and Craigslist) outside of Digital Cookie.

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Cookie BoothsBooth Sales are a great way to increase your troop’s and service unit’s success. Cookie booths are girl-operated direct sale opportunities where customers purchase cookies from the troop. Booth sales can be scheduled Feb. 23-March 18. All Girl Scout grade levels (Daisies-Ambassadors) can participate in booth sales. Adequate volunteer-to-girl ratio is required at all cookie booths. Refer to Volunteer Essentials for guidance.

GSWPA-Arranged Cookie BoothsGSWPA-arranged cookie booths are set up by the Product Sales Team and are entered in eBudde. All GSWPA-arranged cookie booths are available to all GSWPA Girl Scout troops. Typically, they're in shopping malls that serve a number of service unit areas.

Service Unit and Troop Arranged BoothsSelect booth sale sites are set up by your SUCM or Service Unit Booth Coordinator who will tell you how and when to sign up. SUCMs enter all service unit booth sales on the Booth Scheduler in eBudde. This allows the booth sale to be posted on the online Cookie Locator, as well as the Cookie Finder and Cookie Locator smart phone apps! (It’s extra marketing just for you!)

All booth sales at large businesses and outside of GSWPA-sponsored booths are considered to be service unit booths sales.

Troops may NOT approach large businesses/big box stores for cookie booths. When a service unit sets up cookie booths, they’re able to request multiple days and times to accommodate the most troops and girls. This avoids multiple troops approaching the very busy retail manager and double scheduling.

Special note: Giant Eagle will send an approved list of stores to Product Sales at a later date and they’ll notify the SUCMs. *Wegmans & Target do not allow outside vendors on their properties. Depending on the location of the Walmart, booths are to be arranged through your SUCM or will be listed on the GSWPA-arranged booth scheduler; DO NOT contact Walmart to schedule your troop’s booth sale. Additional information will be communicated via Cookie Bytes.

Troops may only approach small, mom-and-pop type businesses (i.e. local hair salons, small gift shops, family-owned businesses, etc.). Follow the steps below to set up your troop’s booth sale.

1. Verify with your SUCM that the site is not part of the service unit's schedule or too close to a service unit location.

2. Ask permission from the location.

3. Enter the details on the Booth Sites tab in eBudde thereby allowing your booth sale to be posted on the online Cookie Locator, as well as the Cookie Finder and Cookie Locator smart phone apps!

4. Submit your request to the SUCM for approval.

5. Your SUCM must confirm or deny the request. Possible reasons for denial: site location is inappropriate for girls or prohibited by GSWPA or booth site location is out of your service unit area. Ask your SUCM or Booth Coordinator if there’s a site you want to schedule that’s outside your service unit area.

Booth Sale patches are available for purchase at GSWPA shops and online.

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Think Beyond the “Booth”A cookie booth doesn’t have to be a table set up in front of the grocery store. Maybe girls want to decorate a car or van and take the sale on the road. Or, maybe they can sell with wagons through the neighborhood or have a drive-up cookie booth. Girls will have lots of ideas. Just ask them! Remember: Be sure to involve your SUCM in your booth sale plans.

Booth SchedulerThe eBudde Booth Scheduler will open on Jan. 12, 2018, at 7 p.m. This time-slot scheduler lists GSWPA sites and sites submitted to GSWPA. It operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Available booth time slots will be shown in green. You may sign up for one time slot the first week the scheduler opens, one additional slot the second week, and an unlimited number of slots beginning the third week. Check back! More sites may have been added or a troop may have cancelled.

Booth-specific informationMost Booth Scheduler time slots will show specific information in the "Notes" section regarding the location of the booth within the store, if it's indoors or outdoors, and what you may need to bring with you. Do not contact businesses with questions about booth time slots or booth-specific information. Please contact the individual identified on the Booth Scheduler with any questions (most likely your SUCM).

Cancelling a time slot in the Booth SchedulerIf you need to cancel a cookie booth assigned to you in the Booth Scheduler, you must do so at least 48 hours in advance or as soon as you know by going to the Council Sales section of the Booth Sites tab. This gives other troops an opportunity to sign up for the time slot.

Cookie LocatorAll approved booth sales are automatically uploaded to Little Brownie Baker’s online Cookie Locator (cookielocator.littlebrownie.com). The Cookie Locator allows customers to search for nearby cookie booths by zip code. Be sure to follow the procedures regarding cancelling either Booth Scheduler or service unit/troop-arranged cookie booths as soon as you’re sure your troop cannot make it. This ensures the Cookie Locator remains accurate for hungry customers.

Accepting Credit CardsMany customers don’t carry cash these days and rely on their debit/credit cards. Troops have reported an increase in sales when they accepted debit/credit cards at booth sales. It’s a great way to increase your sales while at the booth sale!

GSWPA encourages troops to explore using a swipe device to accept credit cards at booth sales. Please note: GSWPA will NOT reimburse swipe fees. Accepting credit cards and paying all fees associated is a troop decision.

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How to Run a Successful Cookie Booth SaleSupplies to bring to your Cookie Booth:

Ɇ at least one cash box/bag with an appropriate amount of change(Remember: Cash cannot be withdrawn at an ATM from a troop account.)

Ɇ calculator Ɇ poster with troop number and troop goal(s) Ɇ Operation: Sweet Appreciation display or TGOC box Ɇ 5 for Five! promotional materials Ɇ anything to Bling your Booth!

While at your Cookie Booth: Ɇ Check in with the store management when you arrive. They’ll let you know where you'll be located.

Be careful not to block doorways and entrances.

Ɇ Only plan to stay for the time you’re scheduled. There may be other troops scheduled before or after you. Please be patient and allow for transition time between troops.

Ɇ If there’s a conflict, or if there was an error made in scheduling troops, it was surely unintentional. The troop with the printout from the ‘Current Signups’ page from the Booth Scheduler corresponding with the time and location in dispute has priority. Remember, conflicts among volunteers and parents are evident to the girls, the public and the business management. Do not bring the business management into the conflict. You risk future booth sales at this location.

Ɇ Girls should not yell at or disrupt customers. Always be kind.

Ɇ Leave the area cleaner than you found it. Do not leave anything behind (empty boxes, bags, paper, pens, etc.)

Ɇ Girls may not sell products other than Girl Scout Cookies.

Ɇ Girls must stay at their designated booth location. No wandering through the store.

Bling Your Cookie Booth!Banish the boring! If you want to attract lots and lots of customers, it's time to bling your booth. Anything fun, bright, colorful, energetic, and creative will catch customers' attention. Just be sure to follow the guidelines set by the business where you set up.

For even more fun, consider entering the GSWPA Bling Your Booth Contest. Find out more at gswpa.org/cookies.

Check out last year's Bling Your Booth Contest winners:

2017 Bling Your Booth Contest Winners,Troop 16184 of Freedom

Operation: Sweet Appreciation and Troop Gift of Caring Girl Scouts have a tradition of giving back to their communities. One way girls can give back is through GSWPA's two cookie donation programs—Operation: Sweet Appreciation and Troop Gift of Caring. Troops can choose to participate in one or both donation programs.

Cookie Donation Programs Summary

Cookie Donation Program

Inventory Source for Donation Recipient eBudde Cost

Operation: Sweet Appreciation

Cookies are ordered and shipped directly from the bakery and GSWPA.

(Troops won’t handle cookies.)

Active military and veteran support

organizationsOSA $4

Troop Gift of Caring

Troops deliver donated cookie packages to the organization of their

choice using troop inventory.

Organizationselected by the troop

TGOC $4

Cookie donations are tax deductible. Look for cookie donation receipts at gswpa.org/cookie-resources and vipetraining.littlebrownie.com.

Operation: Sweet AppreciationIn this program, GSWPA cookie customers purchase cookie packages to donate to our U.S. military active duty and veteran service member organizations. Last year, GSWPA customers donated more than 45,000 packages of cookies!

How does Operation: Sweet Appreciation work?1. Customers make donations to girls at any time during the cookie season and at booth sales. 2. Girls collect $4 per package and turn it in to the troop leader.3. Operation: Sweet Appreciation donations are recorded in eBudde on the Girl Orders tab in the OSA

column. Operation: Sweet Appreciation orders are included in the sales totals for recognitions.4. Girl Scout troops never take physical possession of these cookies. These cookies are delivered to

support organizations directly from the bakery and GSWPA.

Promote Operation: Sweet Appreciation to your customers

At booth sales, create a goal chart to raise customer awareness and pique interest. Make your own awesome goal chart—or download one at gswpa.org/cookies. During door-to-door or workplace sales, point to the OSA logo on the order card for Operation: Sweet Appreciation or create and wear a cookie sandwich sign that promotes Operation: Sweet Appreciation.

Troop OSA Cookie Challenge

OSA Star Patches

Do your girls already have the OSA patch? Girls can add a star patch (placed next to the OSA patch) to signify each year they participate in OSA. (There are no requirements to purchase this patch.) Star patches are available for purchase in GSWPA shops.

Earn two cookie costumes for your troop! Troops can use the costumes at troop events, parades, future booth sales, and more!

Requirements to earn the Troop OSA Challenge:

9 Troops must have a minimum of 5 girls participating in the Cookie Program.

9 Troops must have an OSA PGA selling of 20 boxes or more.

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Operation:Sweet

Appreciation

OSA and Star patches are available for purchase at

GSWPA shops!

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Operation: Sweet Appreciation Online Promotion

From Jan. 5 through Memorial Day (May 28), troops can earn credit for cookies purchased online. Here's how it works:

• Customers make donations of any amount through gswpa.org/military — no minimum or maximum.

• Customers can select a specific girl or troop to benefit from their donation.

• For donations made after March 18, troops and Indie Girls receive proceeds or program rewards, respectively, for 10 or more donated packages. Donations less than 10 packages will go toward GSWPA programming.

• Cookies sold through this online promotion don’t count toward recognitions if the donation was made after March 18.

Troop Gift of CaringIn this program, customers make a donation of Girl Scout cookies from the troop's inventory to a worthy organization, such as a local food pantry, shelter, care center, or hospital. Encourage your troop to learn about the organization to truly provide the girls with a full community experience.

How does Troop Gift of Caring work?

1. Customers purchase cookies from girls at any time during the cookie season.

2. Girls collect $4 per package and turn it in to the troop leader.

3. Troop Gift of Caring donations are recorded in eBudde on the Girl Orders tab in the TGOC column. Troop Gift of Caring orders are included in the sales totals for recognitions.

4. These orders are filled from the troop's extra cookies (of the $4 varieties) at the end of the Cookie Program. The troop delivers these cookies directly to their Troop Gift of Caring project organization. Please verify in advance that the organization can take cookies. If your troop needs additional cookies to fulfill the Troop Gift of Caring donation program, please place a pending order with a cookie cupboard.

The Gift of Caring Patch is available forpurchase at GSWPA shops.

5 for Five! Customer Contest The 5 for Five! contest helps girls and troops exceed their goals. When taking individual orders and/ormaking sales at cookie booths, ask Girl Scout Cookie lovers to purchase five packages of cookies to participate in the drawing to win five cases of their favorite Girl Scout Cookies. Last year, we received almost 7,000 entries!

• The 5 for Five! promotion runs the entire sale – Jan. 5-March 18.

• For every five packages purchased, customers can enter at gswpa.org/5for5 for a chance to win five cases of cookies.

• Troops can print their supply of 5 for Five! entry forms to give to customers. Entry forms are sent as an attachment in Cookie Bytes or can be downloaded from vipetraining.littlebrownie.com.

• The drawing will be held in April 2018. This is a GSWPA-wide drawing. Five winners will be selected and announced online at gswpa.org.

• Volunteers and members are eligible to win, but GSWPA employees and members of their immediate family aren’t eligible.

This is a great way to boost your booth sales and encourage customers to learn about the 5 Skills girls learn from participating in the Cookie Program.

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GSUSA Cookie Pro 2018 ContestIs there a Girl Scout Cookie pro in your troop? Girl Scouts of the USA's Cookie Pro Contest 2018 is an exciting opportunity to highlight the awesome skills and experiences that girls gain through participating in the Girl Scout Cookie Program. Join us in celebrating the cookie entrepreneur skills of Girl Scouts nationwide—girls can unlock an awesome, limited-edition Cookie Pro 2018 patch while earning a chance to be featured on a Girl Scout Cookie package (not to mention going on an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City!).

One girl per Girl Scout grade level will be selected as a Top Cookie Pro 2018 and will join us in New York to participate in an incredible cookie box photo shoot as well as to talk business with GSUSA professionals!

Who can participate in this contest? All registered Girl Scouts from participating councils who are selling cookies during the 2017/2018 Cookie Season.

When can girls participate? January 2–April 30, 2018

How can girls participate? By submitting their personalized Cookie Pro Résumé along with a photo.

Her Cookie Pro résumé should include:

9 a photo of herself;

9 cookie badges and skills she’s earned;

9 memorable troop and customer experiences;

9 what her troop has done or plans to do with its cookie earnings; and

9 her best-selling tips for crushing cookie sale goals like a PRO!

Download the FAQ for all the details on vipetraining.littlebrownie.com or visit girlscouts.org/cookiepro.

GSWPA Bling Your Booth ContestWho can participate? All GSWPA troops!

How does my troop enter? Each troop may submit one photo by visiting gswpa.org/bling and completing the entry form. The deadline to enter is Sunday, March 25, at 11:59 p.m. Be sure to have a photo release for each girl pictured, and include promotion of the 5 Skills, 5 for Five! customer contest, Operation: Sweet Appreciation, and your troop's goals.

How does voting work? Photo entries will be posted to the GSWPA Facebook page (facebook.com/gswpa) the week of March 26, and voting will be open for one week after the photos are posted. Friends, family, and cookie customers can vote for your booth by “liking” your troop's photo on our page. The three photos receiving the most votes (likes) will win!

What can my troop win? Winning photos will be featured on our website.

First Place – $100 GSWPA Shop certificate

Second Place – $75 GSWPA Shop certificate

Third Place – $50 GSWPA Shop certificate

Rewards and Recognitions

Initial Order RecognitionsEvery girl selling 160 packages submitted on the Initial Order in eBudde earns the Seas the Day Thermal Cup. At 210 packages, she earns the Sports Pack!

Final RecognitionsAlong with the 5 Skills girls learn through the Cookie Program and proceeds earned by troops, girls earn individual recognitions for their efforts. They can choose between specific items or Girl Scout Bucks at select levels. Check out the Family Guide and Order Card for recognitions and levels.

Girl Scout BucksHave your girls thought about Girl Scout Bucks as a recognition choice? Use them as payment toward any GSWPA-sponsored camp or service unit day camp, at camp Trading Posts, at GSWPA Shops, and for annual membership fees processed through GSWPA. Remember: Girl Scout Bucks are doubled when used toward a GSWPA-sponsored camp. See your Camp S'more for camp details.

Please note: Girl Scout Bucks expire Sept. 30, 2018.

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In recognition of the 2018 Girl Scout Cookie ProgramThis certificate is awarded to

Troop # Service Area # Girl Scout Bucks may be used as payment for

council-sponsored programs and camps, annual registration, service unit day camps, and purchases

at GSWPA Shops and Camp Trading Posts. No change

will be given when redeemed. Awards that are not

redeemed by the expiration date are void.

OFFICE USE ONLYREDEEMED AT:DATE:Expires: September 30, 2018Acct. # 8136-320-1300�Used at 2X value

Corporate Office30 Isabella StreetPittsburgh, PA 15212800-248-3355gswpa.org

$5 Girl Scout Bucks

Girls earn the Cookie Techie patch when they sell 25 packages through Digital Cookie.

Girls earn the turtle charm when they sell 50 packages through Digital Cookie.

Girls earn a $25 Amazon gift card when they sell 100 packages through Digital Cookie.

Digital Cookie Recognitions

Please note: Girl Delivery cookies purchased through Digital Cookie do NOT count towards Digital Cookie recognitions.

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Super TroopGet Super Troop rewards by reaching a PGA selling of 160 and 175 packages! (Even though they're listed in eBudde on the Girls tab, girls who don’t participate aren’t included in the PGA Selling calculation.) Check your troop’s PGA selling on the Sales Report tab in eBudde throughout the sale to monitor your progress.

Additional cookies are available at cookie cupboards to help reach Super Troop status. You can also get additional cookies from another troop; ask your SUCM to do a troop-to-troop transfer.

Tiered Levels for Super Troop

When troops reach a PGA selling of 160 packages or more, each girl selling receives a Super Troop T-shirt, and two T-shirts are allotted for troop volunteers. Additional volunteer T-shirts are available for purchase, if your troop earns them. Log on to gswpa.org/cookies-resources or vipetraining.littlebrownie.com to download the order form. Order forms MUST be received by the deadline date to ensure order fulfillment.

When troops reach a PGA selling of 175 packages or more, the troop also earns an additional $.05 in proceeds on every package of cookies the troop sold.

Service Unit BonusHelp your service unit earn a $.01 per package bonus on all sales for the service unit treasury. Last year, 49 service units earned more than $10,000 for their treasuries!

Service unit requirements to earn the bonus:

• have a combined troop sales increase of 5% or more,

• host a cookie rally, and

• all troops must be paid in-full by April 12 or have submitted the required girl delinquency paperwork by April 2.

Check with your SUCM throughout the sale to see how close your service unit is to reaching the bonus goal!

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eBuddeeBudde, the online cookie management system provided by Little Brownie Bakers, is where you place your troop’s initial order, track cookie packages, credit payments received from girls, record troop cookie transactions, and select girl recognition items.

Visit eBudde at ebudde.littlebrownie.com to get started. Hint: There’s also a link on gswpa.org/cookies.

Check out the Quick Links to get you to cookie resources even faster!

eBudde Help CenterThe eBudde Help Center is a dedicated website that provides even more direct support for digital and traditional sales. You can access this resource by clicking the Help Center tab.

eBudde Users and GirlsAll eBudde users MUST be registered, approved GSWPA volunteers.* GSWPA will process an initial upload of troop leaders (projected Dec. 1). If you're a troop leader not included in the upload, please ask your SUCM to add you. All troop cookie chairs (i.e. cookie moms) must be manually entered into eBudde by the troop leader.

*With the exception of Indie Girl Scout parents managing their daughter's cookie sales.

Girls must be registered members to sell Girl Scout cookies. Only GSWPA can add girls to eBudde. GSWPA will begin uploading registered girls in mid-December and will continue to regularly upload girls throughout the cookie season.

eBudde Evolution to MobileLittle Brownie Bakers is making it even easier for volunteers to manage their cookie sale on-the-go. While the full functionality of eBudde is not available on the app, volunteers can perform key eBudde functions while on the move, like placing initial orders and selecting recognitions. Unfortunately, volunteers won’t be able to place a pending order to a cupboard through the app.

Troop Reward Order

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eBudde Tab Descriptions

Dashboard — Default screen that shows important messages, calendar, checklist, dates, and your SUCM's name and email address.

Contacts — Allows you to edit your contact information. This includes name, address, and phone number. This does not include changing the email address. That must be done by the user from the login screen. Do not uncheck the "Receives email" or "Active" boxes.

Settings — This allows you to select the proceeds option (for Juniors, Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors only). Add additional troop eBudde users by clicking "Edit Settings" at the top of the screen.

Girls —Displays girl members registered to the troop (at the time of upload). Please contact Customer Care if a girl is not listed.

Init. Order — This is where you enter your troop’s initial cookie order. You can also order cookies for booth sales which will be delivered with the girls' initial orders.

Delivery — Allows you to view your delivery information, print your troop’s delivery confirmation, select a delivery time from the clock (Count-n-Go & Warehouse only), designate your troop or another troop as picking up the cookies and designate if you're picking up cookies for another troop.

Girl Orders — Track girl initial, booth and additional orders and payments. There are two views of the girl orders. You can see a troop summary view or each girl’s detail. The system defaults to the troop summary view. To see an individual girl's detail, click on her name.

Booth Sites — Allows you to select council booth sale sites and/or request a troop booth sale site. You can also distribute approved booth site cookie sales to the girls.

Transactions — Record of all cookie transactions (initial order, cupboard pickups, and troop-to-troop transfers). This is where a troop places a pending order to a cookie cupboard.

Rewards — Troop reward ordering for initial and final recognition choices. This is where the girls' recognitions choices are selected.

Deposits — Troop deposit recording. This tab is view-only and displays all deposits made to GSWPA for the troop's cookie sales.

GOC Org — Allows you to record the Troop Gift of Caring (TGOC) donation organization, if participating. If your troop participates in TGOC, please input the organization receiving your cookie donations.

Sales Report — Recap of all troop financial information. It includes the initial order, any additional orders, deposits and the calculation of troop profit, amount due to GSWPA and balance due. Operation: Sweet Appreciation and Troop Gift of Caring/Donation cookies will automatically populate on the sales report from the Girl Order tab.

Reports — The Cupboard Report lists all open cupboards and their location/hours of operation. The Delivery Station Report lists the delivery site information including address and contact information. The Delivery Report will only display sites available to the troop. The DOC Reports provide Digital Cookie information.

Help Center — This tab provides direct support for both digital and traditional sales.

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Setting up eBudde

Login Info for Returning & New Troop Cookie ManagersFor all users (first time & returning):

1. Enter your email address as your login. Your temporary password is: Toff3733

2. Change your password to a secure password.

3. Enter/update your contact information. Click Submit.

4. If you're a troop leader and eBudde doesn't recognize you, please contact your SUCM. If you're a Troop Cookie Volunteer and eBudde doesn't recognize you, please ask your troop leader to add you as a user.

Remember: Once logged in, you can always change your password in the Contacts tab. Forgot your password? Go to the Login page and click Forgot Password.

Note: Only the user can change their email address. This is done on the login screen.

Important First Steps in eBuddeWhen logging in to eBudde for the first time, please:

Contacts Tab

• Update your contact information.

Settings Tab

• Add additional users, including your adult troop helpers, i.e., Troop Cookie Managers, booth helpers, etc. (must be approved volunteers).

• Enter your troop’s goal.

• Verify your troop's level. If your troop's level is incorrect, contact Customer Care at 800-248-3355 or customercare@gswpa.org.

Girls Tab

• GSWPA uploads the first and last name, grade level, and ID of each girl to eBudde who's successfully registered by the time of uploads (starting mid-December).

• For registered girls that need to be added, please contact Customer Care at 800-248-3355 or customercare@gswpa.org.

• Enter each girl’s sales goal and T-shirt size.

Access previous season’s data (for returning troops only) by clicking the desired sales season from the dropdown menu at the top left of the screen.

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Entering the troop’s initial orderOnce you determine the appropriate number of cookies for your troop, place your troop’s order on the Initial Order tab in eBudde. The initial order is placed in packages in each girl’s individual row.

Please note: eBudde rounds up each variety of cookies to a full case (12 packages = 1 case) for the troop’s initial order.

1. Remember, the initial order is placed in boxes/packages and eBudde will automatically round up to the nearest cookie case for all varieties. This is shown in the Cases to Order row. The troop is financially responsible for these ‘extra’ cookies.

2. Order booth sale cookies by packages in the Booth Sale row. Keep any ‘extra’ cookies from above in mind.

3. Review the Pkgs. Ordered row to confirm the correct number of packages have been ordered by the troop to fulfill the initial order.

4. The Extras row shows the additional packages being added to your order to make a full case.

5. Click Submit Order and proceed to the Delivery tab.

Suggestion: If you know your troop is having a booth sale, we strongly encourage you to order some booth sale cookies with your initial order. This will help ensure you have the varieties you want and alleviate demand on the cookie cupboard.

Initial Order RecognitionseBudde automatically calculates initial order recognitions based on the packages allotted to girls, but you still need to click the Submit button for your troop. By clicking the Submit button, your SUCM knows the initial recognition order is complete.

(If the initial recognition order isn't submitted, eBudde automatically submits for the troop/SU when the order is submitted to LBB by GSWPA. Initial recognitions will be allotted based on the numbers at the time of submission to LBB. If cookies weren't accurately entered for the girl, she may not receive the recognition she earned.)

Don't forget to distribute the

Goal Getter Order Card to girls. After the initial order is

submitted and until the sale ends, they can continue to take orders

to reach their goal.

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DeliveryInitial orders will be delivered Feb. 14-22, 2018. GSWPA uses three types of delivery:

• traditional delivery (church, fire hall, etc.),

• warehouse delivery, and

• Count-n-Go delivery.

Your SUCM will inform you of your delivery type, place, time, etc. To pick up cookies, you must print the confirmation details from the Delivery tab in eBudde and bring it with you to the delivery site.

GSWPA and the delivery agent are not responsible for shortages once you leave the delivery site!

• Please be sure the cookies loaded into your car matches the number of cases on your confirmation before leaving the site.

• Damaged product discovered after delivery can be exchanged at any cookie cupboard (dependent on cookie variety availability).

• Please report any extra cases immediately. Another troop may be looking for and being held financially responsible for these cookies.

Traditional Site DeliveryIf your service unit is part of the traditional site delivery program, your SUCM will inform you of the exact location, date, and time of delivery. Cookies must be picked up at the scheduled location, date and time by you or someone you designate (and give the individual's name to the service unit cookie manager).

Count-n-Go and Warehouse DeliveryIf your service unit is part of a Count-n-Go or warehouse delivery program, you’ll need to sign up for a time slot in eBudde or as directed by your SUCM. They’ll provide you with detailed instructions prior to delivery.

How to select a time slot in eBudde:

1. Go to the Delivery tab.

2. Select who is picking up the cookies (someone from your troop or another troop in your service unit).

3. If you’re picking up for another troop, please check the box that states you are picking up for another troop and enter the troop number.

4. Click on an available time slot to select your delivery time.

5. Click "Submit My Info" to secure your time slot selection.

6. Print out the confirmation details from the Delivery tab in eBudde and bring it with you to the delivery site. On this confirmation printout, you’ll find more detailed information about your selected delivery location. You or someone you designate to your Service Unit Cookie Manager must pick up cookies at the scheduled location, date, and time.

Maximum cases in a vehicle

The following estimates arebased on two adults in the vehicle:

Compact car 25

Mid-sized car 40

SUV 50

Station wagon 65

Full size pickup* 90

Minivan (no seats) 115

Standard van (no seats) 190

*Do not use during inclement

weather, unless bed is covered.

Note: For accurate counts at Count-n-Go deliveries, GSWPA highly recommends two adults per vehicle — one to drive the car and one to count cases as they are being loaded.

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How to Place a Pending Order for Additional Cookies from a Cookie Cupboard

Pending OrdersSince booth sales typically happen during the weekend, order cookies early in the week so that we can be sure the correct cookie varieties are available. Troops place pending orders through eBudde to a cookie cupboard by clicking on the Transaction tab and Add a Transaction.

Review and/or enter the following details to place an order:

• Date box: Use the date you’re placing this order.

• Pickup: Enter the desired date. (Be sure to select a day/time during the cupboard's hours of operation.)

• Receipt: Assigned by eBudde and changed by the Cookie Cupboard Manager.

• Type: Select Normal. (DO NOT select any other type than Normal.)

• 2nd Party: In the dropdown box, select the desired cupboard. (Only open, active cupboards will be listed.)

• Product Movement: Select Add Product.

• Enter by case and/or package the amount of cookies you want.

• Contact Info: Add the name of the pick-up person (if different than listed). Be sure to include a phone number.

• Click the Okay button.

• Click the Save button. This sends the order to the cupboard.

Monitoring Inventory Throughout the sale, monitor your troop's inventory on the Transactions tab. Verify all transactions for accuracy.

• Troop initial order — The initial order appears after your order is submitted. It cannot be edited.

• Pick up at a cookie cupboard — All cupboard pick-ups have a receipt number in eBudde which should match the number on the paper receipt you received at pickup.

• Transfers between troops — Please contact your SUCM to transfer cookies to/from another troop. The 2nd Party field shows the troop where cookies were transferred to/from.

• After Pending row — This shows the total amount of cookies your troop has received in inventory.

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Tracking Girl Cookie ActivityThe Girl Orders tab is where you track cookie activity to girls for recognitions and track money paid. Cookies are tracked by individual variety.

There are two different ways to view troop activity on the Girl Orders tab — Summary View and Individual Girl View. (eBudde defaults to the Summary View). The Summary View is an overview of the cookies allotted, how much money girls are responsible for, and the payments from all the girls in the troop. Figures on the Summary View are automatically populated from the Individual Girl Views. The Individual Girl View(s) is a tool to record specific cookie allotments, amount owed to the troop, and payments received by each individual girl.

Summary View Description (Troop View)The Summary View provides a quick glance of girls in a troop, amount of cookies they have, and amount of money paid and due. The information on the summary view can only be edited by clicking on a girl's name to switch to the individual girl view.

1. The Girl column lists the girls’ names, which are automatically populated from the Girls tab.

2. Cookie variety columns show the number of packages by variety allotted to each girl.

3. The OSA column shows the number of packages donated through Operation: Sweet Appreciation. This is entered in each individual girl's view. Don't track donated packages by variety in addition to tracking them in this column.

4. The TGOC column shows the number of packages donated through the Troop Gift of Caring Program. This is entered in each individual girl's view. Don't track donated packages by variety in addition to tracking them in this column.

5. The Total column shows the total number of packages each girl has been allocated. This number automatically populates the Rewards tab for determining recognitions for each girl.

6. The Total Due column shows the total amount due for each girl. (This is total sales, not the remaining balance due.)

7. The Paid column shows the amount of money collected and given to the troop by each girl and her Digital Cookie deposits. Money collected is entered in each individual girl's view.

8. The Bal. Due column shows the remaining money due by each girl (Total Due column minus Paid column). This is automatically updated when the Paid column is updated.

9. The Girl Totals row shows the total number of packages allocated to girls, amount due, money paid, and balance due to the troop.

10. The Troop Order row shows the total number of packages the troop owns plus cookies donated through Operation: Sweet Appreciation. These numbers are automatically populated from the Transactions tab plus the OSA column.

11. The Difference row shows the difference between the Girl Totals row and the Troop Order row. The Total column in the Difference row will be a zero when all troop inventory is allocated to girls.

• If the Difference row displays all zeroes, you allocated all available cookies to girls.

• If the Difference row displays negative numbers, there are two possible explanations:

a. You still have cookies in the troop’s inventory to allocate to girls.

b. Your troop is participating in the Troop Gift of Caring Program. Any negative numbers in the Difference row under the cookie variety columns should add up to your troop's total Troop Gift of Caring donation.

• If the Difference row shows any positive numbers, you've assigned more cookies of that variety than your troop owns. Verify each girl's sales and review the Transactions tab for accuracy.

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Individual Girl View DescriptionKeeping girls’ orders up-to-date in eBudde is an important part of managing your troop’s inventory. To record a girl’s cookie allocations and payments, click on an individual girl's name in the summary view to see her individual Girl Transactions page.

• Switch to Girl allows you to switch between girls by clicking on the desired girl's name from the drop down menu.

• Init. Order *Locked* row automatically populates from the Init. Order tab. (You can’t edit this row.)

How to Allocate Cookies and Track Money PaidUse the rows in the Girl Orders tab to track when a girl picks up cookies from the troop inventory, how much money has been paid/collected, and how much money is due. As a best practice, we recommend using a descriptive title and date for each transaction. Entering information here is in addition to — not a replacement for — issuing individual, signed paper receipts for each transaction.

•After clicking on the girl's name, you can:

� Click the Add Payment button to record money collected from the girl without any cookie movement.

� Click the Add Trans. button to allocate cookies and record money paid/collected.

� A green row will appear at the bottom of the page. Fill in the appropriate information by column:

• The Comment column is a unique description for the transaction. GSWPA recommends including the date. (DOC INHAND and DOC DLVR are Digital Cookie orders. These lines cannot be edited.)

• The Booth column should not be checked. It’ll automatically be checked when recording booth sales through the Booth Sites tab.

• The OSA column is used to track the number of packages for which the girl has collected money for Operation: Sweet Appreciation. Don't track donated packages by variety in addition to tracking them in this column.

• The Cookie Variety columns are used to track the number of packages per variety that have been given to a girl.

• The TGOC column is used to track the number of packages the girl has collected money for through the Troop Gift of Caring Program. Don't track donated packages by variety in addition to tracking them in this column.

• The Paid column is used to track the amount of money turned in by the girl.

• When finished inputting the details, click the blue OK button. The row will now appear above.

•Click the Save button when done making changes to this individual girl’s page, but before moving on to another page.

•You can edit select rows simply by clicking on the row. Note: Some rows can’t be edited, for example – the Init. Order *Locked*.

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After Your Booth Sale — Entering Booth SalesAllocate your booth sales directly to the girls through eBudde or by using the Mobile Booth Sale Recorder App on your smartphone. Reporting your sales directly in eBudde allows you to easily credit sales to participating girls and accurately document your troop's success.

eBudde Booth Sale RecorderFollow these quick and easy steps to use the Booth Sale Recorder feature in eBudde:

1. Click on the Booth Sites tab.

2. Select Record Sales from the drop down list.

3. Select the booth sale from the list where you want to enter data.

4. Input the total number of packages sold by variety. There is also a space for Troop Gift of Caring cookies and Operation: Sweet Appreciation.

5. Evenly distribute to all the girls, evenly distribute to some of the girls, or manually distribute to girls.

6. Click on Submit Sale. What you entered will now be on each individual girl's transactions.

Mobile Booth Sale Recorder App1. Enter the number of cookie packages sold at the booth.

2. Select which girls receive credit and how many packages they sold.

3. Send the information directly to your eBudde account!

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RecognitionsOrdering Final Girl Recognitions In eBudde

Remember: Girls work very hard to achieve recognition levels. So, it’s important to meet the deadlines to make sure girls get what they earned! Recognitions are shipped directly from the vendors to your SUCM based on what was entered in eBudde by the deadline.

eBudde automatically calculates girl recognition levels based on the packages allocated as recorded in the Girl Orders tab. Total packages allocated to girls should match the troop’s inventory on the Transactions tab.

Girls should have indicated their recognition choices to you on the back of the Parent Permission Slip submitted before selling cookies. The girl recognition order is due Mar. 25, 2018, at 11:59 p.m. If selections are not made for girls by this deadline, the default for choice levels is Girl Scout Bucks.

All recognitions can be found on the Girl Order Card and in the Family Guide.

Entering and Submitting your Recognition Order in eBudde:1. Select the Rewards tab and click Fill Out on the Final Reward Order row.

2. Make selections for girls at choice levels. eBudde will indicate which girls need a size/recognition selection where there is a choice between an item and Girl Scout Bucks or where a size is needed. After you complete the choice selections for each girl, be sure to click on the orange Submit Girl Order button at the bottom of the screen.

3. Troops that qualify will receive two Super Troop T-shirts for adult volunteers in the troop. The T-shirt size must be manually entered. Enter a "1" or "2" next to the desired size(s).

4. When you’re finished selecting and submitting recognitions, submit the order for the troop by clicking on the orange Submit Recognitions Order button on the bottom of the Rewards tab by March 25, 2018, at 11:59 p.m.

You can only submit your order once. Contact your SUCM if you submitted before making all selections. If you don't submit your order by the deadline, eBudde will automatically submit for you

and Girl Scout Bucks will be given to girls whose selections were not made.

Recognition DistributionYour SUCM will receive the girl recognitions in May and will contact you when the items are ready for pick up. If you have any issues with your recognition order, contact your SUCM to report the issue by June 15. Use the report located in the Rewards tab to distribute items to girls.

Please distribute recognitions as soon as possible, but no later than the end of the school year.

The deadline to report recognition issues to your SUCM is June 15.

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Before the Final ACH Sweep At the end of the Cookie Program, you must verify that all transactions have been recorded correctly in your troop’s Transactions tab. Your troop is financially responsible for all packages indicated on the Sales Report tab in eBudde.

The Sales Report tab is where you check all packages owned by the troop and money owed.

Please review the following items on the Sales Report tab:

Ɇ PGA Selling shows your troop’s per girl average selling. If the PGA Selling is 175 or higher, the troop earns an extra $.05 per package sold.

Ɇ Trp Proceeds Rate shows the base rate earned per package of cookies.

Ɇ No Reward Proceeds shows the additional proceeds rate your troop receives per package if you opted out of receiving recognitions. If you opted out, you’ll see 0.050 next to No Rewards Proceeds.

Ɇ Tiered Rate shows the additional proceeds rate for being a Super Troop. If your troop achieved a PGA Selling of 175 packages or higher, you’ll see 0.050 next to the Tiered Rate.

Ɇ Tiered Proceeds shows the additional proceeds earned if you are a Super Troop.

Ɇ Pkgs. Received shows all packages for which your troop is financially responsible. These numbers are automatically populated from the Transactions tab.

Ɇ Deposits Made shows the withdrawals/payments made to GSWPA to pay for the cookies. These deposits will also include any Digital Cookie order payments.

Ɇ Total Troop Sales shows the total amount of money that should have been collected from the girls’ sales.

Ɇ Troop Proceeds shows how much profit the troop will keep (unless there is a girl delinquency).

Ɇ Council Proceeds shows the total amount owed to GSWPA. Regardless of whether your troop still has cookies, the amount shown as Council Proceeds must be paid in full (unless there is a girl delinquency).

Ɇ Amount You Owe Council shows your outstanding balance due to GSWPA.

• If the balance due is positive, the amount shown is owed to GSWPA (or is the amount owed to GSWPA by a filed girl delinquency).

• If the balance due is negative, the troop has made an overpayment to GSWPA. GSWPA reconciles overpayments at the end of the sale.

ACH Procedures ACH works by a troop granting GSWPA authorization to issue debits or credits to a bank account.

GSWPA processes sweeps as outlined in this guide. Troops are responsible to deposit sufficient funds to cover these debits. As per Volunteer Essentials, all fees incurred by the troop relating to discrepancies in the bank account, such as fees added for insufficient funds and/or other fees charged by the bank or financial institution, are the personal responsibility of the troop leader and/or troop volunteer who is managing the troop account. These feeds differ depending on your bank's policies.

If your troop won’t have funds available on the date of the scheduled sweep, it’s your responsibility to complete and send the ACH Adjustment form at least five (5) business days

before a scheduled sweep, March 8 and 22. You can email the completed form to ACH@gswpa.org.

Cookie Program Sweep Schedule:Sweep: Sweep Date: Sweep Value:

1st Sweep March 15 $2/pkg. of the girls’ initial order (not including booth cookies)

2nd Sweep March 29 Remaining Balance Due

GSWPA will upload the troop’s banking information into eBudde (only the bank name and last 4 digits will appear). You cannot input banking information on eBudde.

Important Tasks to complete for a successful ACH by each troop: Ɇ Complete and submit the Bank Account Information and ACH Electronic Debit/Credit Authorization

form. (Download the form at vipetraining.littlebrownie.com.) If the form was submitted previously and your banking information has not changed, you do not need to submit this form again. The ACH Electronic Debit/Credit Authorization form will remain in full force and effect until written notification of the closing of this bank account.

Ɇ If your bank account/routing numbers change, make sure that you complete and sign a new form in a timely manner.

Ɇ Collect and deposit all money into your troop’s account in a timely manner. Remember: Checks may take a few days to clear before funds are available! Check with your bank for policies. Cookie money turned in by girls is NEVER to be deposited into personal accounts. Note: Anyone can make a deposit into any account regardless of who is listed as a signer on the account! The bank can issue a receipt with restricted balances to anyone not listed as an authorized signer.

Ɇ Ensure you have enough money deposited and the checks have cleared. If not, an adjustment form must be completed.

Ɇ Make sure all order and transfer information is correct on eBudde.

Ɇ Transactions and/or corrections entered into eBudde that occur up to three (3) days prior to the sweep may not be accurately reflected in the sweep amount. The troop may need to remit a check for any outstanding balance.

Ɇ Be sure to check the Sales Report tab in eBudde after the ACH sweeps to verify your troop is paid in-full. Last minute transactions may not have been accounted for in the ACH sweep.

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ACH FAQsWhat if my troop doesn’t have enough money in the account when the sweep is processed?The troop will incur fees associated with insufficient funds (NSF) including all fees incurred by GSWPA. These fees differ with each bank. Please contact your bank if you have any questions.

As per Volunteer Essentials: All fees incurred by the troop relating to discrepancies in the bank account, such as fees added for insufficient funds and/or other fees charged by the bank or financial institution, are the personal responsibility of the troop leader and/or troop volunteer who is managing the troop account.

In addition to any NSF fees, you will be ineligible to be appointed as a volunteer or participate in any volunteer/program/camp position or activity and your Girl Scout cannot participate in future product sales, nor receive any financial aid, until the debt is paid.

What should I do if I know that the money won’t be in the bank on the date of the sweep?We understand emergencies happen and there may be an outstanding girl/parent debt. Please send notification by filling out the ACH Adjustment Form and email to ach@gswpa.org five (5) business days before the scheduled sweep. Any late submissions may not be received in time to postpone the sweep. Download this form on gswpa.org/cookie-resources or vipetraining.littlebrownie.com. Please note: For a girl delinquency, you must also submit the Delinquent Cookie Money form and documentation by April 2.

What if GSWPA pulls an incorrect amount from my troop’s account?Your attention to the reports in eBudde is crucial. Your initial order and outstanding balance due will be on your Troop Balance Summary Report. If we discover something that changes your balance during our audit of your account, your troop will be credited or debited accordingly.

What if I have a delinquent girl and didn’t submit the ACH Adjustment form in-time so my troop is paid in-full?The Delinquent Cookie Money form and supporting documentation must be submitted by the deadline (April 2) for the troop to be reimbursed the delinquent girl’s ‘Amount you owe council’. We strongly encourage you to submit the ACH Adjustment Form by the deadline because reimbursements take time to process and your troop may not have funds available in time for your summer activities.

If your troop doesn’t submit the ACH Adjustment form nor the Delinquent Cookie Money form by the deadlines and your troop is paid in-full, you will not receive a reimbursement from GSWPA for the girls’ ‘Amount you owe council’. However, we will forward any proceeds collected by GSWPA from the girl within 1 year of the debt.

Situation Requiring a Delinquent Cookie Money Form & ACH Adjustment FormIf a girl has an outstanding cookie balance, the troop shouldn’t pay for this girl’s Amount You Owe Council, nor does the troop retain the delinquent girl's proceeds. A Delinquent Cookie Money Form must be completed for each girl and the troop must send a collection letter to the parent/guardian. You must also send copies to your SUCM. The Delinquent Cookie Money Form can be downloaded from gswpa.org or vipetraining.littlebrownie.com.

All Girl/Parent Delinquent paperwork is due by April 2.Please don't withhold the submission of this form because a parent "promises" to pay.

Submit the delinquency documentation to GSWPA, Attn: Cookie Sales Coordinator, 5681 Route 6N, Edinboro, PA 16412. Include a copy of the collection letter from the troop, the Delinquent Cookie Money Form, a copy of the receipts (pick-ups and payments), and a copy of the signed Parent Permission slip. Failure to submit the documentation could result in GSWPA not being able to collect on this debt and the troop being held financially responsible.

Submit this signed form to your service unit cookie manager.Reports to: Service Unit Cookie Manager and/or Troop Leader

Core Competencies:1. Girl Focus: Helps girls to achieve desired outcomes via Discover, Connect, and Take Action

2. Adaptability: Adjusts and modifies own behavior and remains flexible and tolerant in response to changing situations and environments

3. Fostering Diversity: Understands and embraces differences

4. Oral Communication: Expresses ideas clearly and concisely

5. Personal Integrity: Demonstrates honesty, credibility, and dependability

APPOINTMENT: One(1) year following notification or completion of the annual appraisal process.

TRAINING: Completes training as required for the position – as per council policies and procedures.

QUALIFICATIONS: The ability to work with people, have organizational skills and access to the Internet (or job-share with a tech buddy), and be a registered approved volunteer member of Girl Scouts

Responsibilities:• Provides good customer service to troops and encourages participation in the Cookie Program

• Confirms that girls who participate are registered members of GSUSA

• Schedules and conducts training for girls and parents, encourages use of program materials, and communicates the benefits to girls

• Ensures that troop cookie orders and recognitions are complete, accurate and submitted online according to the deadlines

• Coordinates distribution of the product and recognitions to the girls

• Collects and deposits payments weekly and keeps accurate records of the girls sales, payments and recognitions earned

• Follows GSWPA procedures for deadlines, reports and collection of any outstanding money

• Financially responsible for the cookies received and money collected. All money collected from the Cookie Program must be deposited into the troop bank account, including the payment due to Council and the troop's proceeds

As a troop cookie manager, you agree to:

• Meet membership and volunteer requirements of the Girl Scout Movement

• Devote sufficient time and energy to fulfill outlined position requirements and checklist tasks

• Support the purpose and values of the Girl Scout Movement

• Comply with council and GSUSA policies and standards

• Be supportive of the council and its activities and goals

• Meet with appropriate groups on a regular basis for ongoing support and evaluation

• Affirm that the Girl Scout Movement actively seeks members of every racial, ethnic, religious, and socioeconomic group

• Recognize that the Girl Scout Movement is a voluntary service and not expect or solicit monetary compensation

• Complete position-related training

By signing below, you understand your responsibilities as a Troop Cookie Manager. You also understand that you’re financially responsible for all cookies ordered on the troop’s behalf (unless there is an outstanding parent debt and the Delinquent Cookie Money Form is filed by the deadline). You understand:

• Cookies cannot be returned or exchanged.

• Payment is made to GSWPA by ACH sweep or check/m.o. from the troop’s bank account.

• As per Volunteer Essentials, all fees incurred by the troop relating to discrepancies in the bank account, such as fees added for insufficient funds and/or other fees charged by the bank or financial institution, are the personal responsibility of the troop leader and/or troop volunteer who is managing the troop account.

If the financial obligation is not fulfilled, you will be ineligible to be appointed as a volunteer or participate in any volunteer/program/camp position until the debt is paid. In addition, your Girl Scout cannot participate in future product sales or receive Financial Aid until the debt is paid.

Volunteer’s Signature Date

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GSWPA Troop Cookie Manager Volunteer Position Description and Agreement

Troop :

Revised 8/31/17

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Here are some common terms you may hear during the Girl Scout Cookie Program.Additional Proceeds Option — Junior, Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador troops can elect to receive additional proceeds instead of selecting recognitions. Download the form at gswpa.org or vipetraining.littlebrownie.com.

Booth Sales — These are sites where girls sell their product to customers in a face-to-face transaction. Typically, booths are outside of retail establishments on weekends.

Camp S'more — This annual list of summer camp programs sponsored by GSWPA is published online and mailed in the winter.

Cookie Bytes — A GSWPA enewsletter with helpful hints and reminders. Cookie Bytes is emailed to eBudde users.

Cookie Cupboard — A location (at select GSWPA offices or volunteers' homes) used by troops to pick up additional cookie inventory or exchange damaged product.

Cookie Locator — This database of booth sale sites is a great way to connect customers to cookies. You'll find it at girlscouts.org and gswpa.org. Potential customers can type in their zip code, and the locator returns all current and future active booth site locations within that zip code.

Digital Cookie [also known as Digital Order Card (D.O.C.)] — A digital platform providing girls a fun, safe, and interactive space for selling cookies online.

Initial Recognition — An item earned by a girl that is only offered for specific goals met as part of the initial order.

Initial Order — Cookie orders submitted to GSWPA for service unit delivery. These are the very first cookies that are delivered to customers by girls.

Little Brownie Bakers (LBB) — One of two bakeries licensed by Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) to provide cookies for the annual Cookie Program. GSWPA uses LBB as our cookie supplier.

Operation: Sweet Appreciation (OSA) — A council-wide donation program allowing cookie customers to make purchases of cookie packages to donate to our U.S. military active duty and veteran service member organizations at home and overseas.

Parent/Guardian Permission and Responsibility Form — A form that a parent or guardian signs, allowing their Girl Scout to participate in the Cookie Program and accepting financial responsibility for all cookies ordered and received by their Girl Scout. This form is found in the Cookie Program Family Guide.

Pending Order — Troops can place pending cookie orders to cookie cupboards and/or service units to get additional cookies to fulfill orders and for booth sales. Before placing an order to the service unit, verify the service unit ordered and has cookies.

Per Girl Average (PGA) Selling — Listed on the troop's Sales Report tab, the PGA Selling is an automatic calculation of the average number of packages sold per girl. This calculation only includes girls that are selling and does not include girls listed on the Girls tab who aren't participating in the Cookie Program.

Recognition — An item earned by a girl for meeting a specific sales goal.

Service Unit (SU) — A geographic area set by GSWPA to create manageable groups of troops. Boundaries can be set by town/county lines, roadways, school districts, or other demarcation.

Service Unit Cookie Manager (SUCM) — Volunteer who coordinates the Cookie Program for the service unit.

Troop Cookie Manager (TCM) — A volunteer who coordinates the Cookie Program at the troop level. This is the person parents should direct their Cookie Program questions to first. If they can’t answer the question, then contact your Service Unit Cookie Manager.

Troop Gift of Caring (TGOC) — Troop service program where girls accept donated cookies from customers to give to organizations toward their mission (shelters, fire departments, hospitals, etc.).

Troop Proceeds — Money earned by a troop for total cookie sales.

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TTroop Cookie Manager (TCM) Timeline and Checklist

November–January: Before the sale Ɇ Attend the in-person training provided by your SUCM and get your troop materials.

Ɇ After Dec. 1, log in to eBudde and update your contact information.

Ɇ Schedule and hold a family cookie meeting for your troop. Collect the 2018 Cookie Program Permission Form from each parent at the meeting before distributing girl materials.

Ɇ Distribute girl materials.

Ɇ Review safety and selling tips with the girls.

Ɇ Attend your service unit’s Cookie Rally, if scheduled, or host one for your troop.

January–March: During the sale Ɇ Jan. 2: Booth scheduler opens in eBudde.

Ɇ Jan. 5: Girls start selling cookies! Yay!

Ɇ Jan. 5: Operation: Sweet Appreciation online promotion begins.

Ɇ Jan. 11: GSWPA-arranged booth scheduler opens at 7 p.m.

Ɇ Jan. 26: Girls' initial orders are due to their troops.

Ɇ Jan. 29: Troop initial order is due in eBudde by 11:59 p.m.

Ɇ Beginning of February (For Warehouse and Count-n-Go Deliveries only): Select your delivery time (check with your SUCM).

Ɇ Feb. 14-22: Cookie delivery. Print your delivery confirmation from eBudde and take to your scheduled pickup.

Ɇ At delivery: Initial recognition distribution. (Check with your SUCM for more information.)

Ɇ Feb. 23-25: National Girl Scout Cookie Weekend

Ɇ Feb. 23: Booth sales begin.

Ɇ Feb. 23: Cookie cupboards open.

Ɇ March (weekly): Collect cookie money from girls and deposit into the troop’s bank account.

Ɇ March 8: ACH Adjustment Form due for initial sweep, if applicable.

Ɇ March 15: First ACH sweep.

Ɇ March 18: Final day of the Cookie Program. Booth sales end. Cupboards close.

Ɇ March 25: GSWPA Bling Your Booth Contest submissions due.

March–May: After the sale Ɇ March 22: ACH Adjustment Form due for final sweep, if applicable.

Ɇ March 25: Troop lockout of eBudde. Make final updates in eBudde – allocate cookies to girls, record girl payments and select girl final recognitions – before the lockout at 11:59 p.m.

Ɇ March 29: Final ACH sweep

Ɇ April 2: Deadline for Delinquent Cookie Money Form and supporting documentation, if applicable.

Ɇ May: Final recognitions are shipped to service units. Make arrangements to pick up recognitions from your SUCM.

Ɇ May: Distribute final recognitions to girls. If there are issues, contact your SUCM immediately.

Ɇ May 28 (Memorial Day): Operation: Sweet Appreciation online promotion ends.

Ɇ Late May: Watch for a feedback survey to be sent to Troop Cookie Managers with the 2018 recognitions for online voting.

Ɇ June 15: Deadline to report any issues with girl recognitions to your SUCM.