Cookie Booths, Gluten-free Cookie Exceptions, Cookie Dial, Juliette Deposit Slips, Smart Cookies Access, TCM Training & Responsibility Form, TCM Guidebook, Council Cookie Rallies, Family Business Meeting.
In this edition:
Up Next:
- A Message from Our Chief Operating Officer
- Troop Initial Cookie Order in Smart Cookies
- Cookie Calculator
- Council-Wide Cookie Rally
What’s Trending
- Online Family Cookie Responsibility Form
- Cookie Print Ordering Center
- Free Shipping on GirlScoutShop.com Until January 23
Reminders:
- Cookie Booth Lottery & First-Come, First-Served Booths
- Gluten-Free Cookie Exception Requests
- Cookie Dial
For Service Unit Cookie Managers:
A Message from our Chief Operating Officer (COO)
Welcome to the 2022 cookie season! We certainly didn’t anticipate that we’d still be managing the impacts of a pandemic this time around, but if we’ve learned anything, it’s to expect the unexpected. Girl Scouts are—and have been—incredibly resilient and flexible, using their grit and creativity to succeed and thrive through these challenges.
We have learned what works, too. Back again this year are the multiple participation options, so that volunteers, Girl Scouts, and families can choose what works best for them. Subsidized shipping for online orders of six packages and more, and covered credit card fees powered huge growth in online sales last year, and those are back again! QR codes, troop links, and girls’ Smart Cookies online sales links will all support Girl Scouts’ ability to achieve their goals. Booth sales grew enormously last year too, and booths are back and ready to welcome troops.
Whatever level of participation is chosen, the Cookie Program powers the Girl Scout movement. Proceeds maintain our camps, keep our programming current, and strengthen our financial assistance program.
All proceeds stay local to our council or your troop and community. Encouraging girls and families to participate is an important role you have, and I ask that you continue to do so.
It’s difficult to truly express the magnitude of our gratitude to you, the amazing, intrepid, and dedicated Girl Scouts River Valleys cookie volunteers. You make it possible for girls to build their confidence and skills, earn money for their adventures and service projects, and experience the joy and satisfaction of meeting their goals. Thank you for making the Cookie Program happen!
Troop Initial Cookie Order in Smart Cookies
Troops planning to participate in the In-Person sales, want cookies in hand for Go Day, and/or wish to secure a supply of the gluten-free Caramel Chocolate Chip cookie must place their initial order in Smart Cookies on or before January 22. If your troop has several Cookie Booths scheduled for the start of the sale, you can place an order for these booths with your initial order. The Smart Cookies Guide features step-by-step instructions for placing the order in the system.
Don’t forget, when your troop places an initial order that follows the case count from the Cookie Calculator, your Girl Scouts will receive the Initial Order Adventurefuls Boost Bar patch.
Need assistance in Smart Cookies? Your Service Unit cookie manager is a great starting point. After all, they are your local cookie expert and have been trained to assist you during the season. You can also reach contact us. ABC Bakers also offers a Smart Cookies Help Desk? It’s available 24/7 at ABCtech@westonfoods.com or at 800-853-3730. Be sure to provide your troop number, council name (Girl Scouts River Valleys), your name, and if possible, your Service Unit number.
Cookie Calculator
The Cookie Calculator is designed to take some of the guesswork out of your initial order. Along with your troop and Girl Scout goals, the Cookie Calculator is a tool to use to assist in determining the order. Using the calculator is as easy as 1-2-3:
- Select yes or no if your troop participated in the 2021 season or not.
- Enter the number of girls in your troop who will be participating.
- Get your recommendation.
Note: If you plan to order fewer than 10 cases (120 packages) for your initial order, we recommend selecting the varieties that you would like rather than following the recommendation for varieties as the varieties in the calculation may appear imbalanced.
All returning troops can view last year’s sales totals in Smart Cookies by opening Reports and selecting Archived. Once you select the 2020-2021 season from the drop-down menu you’ll find a variety of reports to review from the previous season.
After you’ve determined the varieties, enter the order in Smart Cookies and choose your delivery location.
Council-Wide Cookie Rally
The Girl Scouts River Valleys’ council-wide cookie rally is on February 8, less than a month away! Be sure to share this opportunity with your Girl Scouts. Register for this free event to receive pre-event emails and activity templates. Tune into Facebook Live or Youtube that night at 6:30 pm (CST) to join in on the fun.
Online Family Cookie Responsibility Form
As you begin to engage families in the Cookie Program it is important for families must complete the online Family Cookie Responsibility Form which can be found on Cookie Central. Connect with families during your Family Cookie Business Meeting or send an email with the link to the form. Provide families with your preferred email address to enter in the form as well as the troop’s cookie return date. You’ll receive an email each time a form has been completed. Families must complete the form prior to a girl receiving any cookie inventory.
Cookie Print Ordering Center
This year, you have the option to have some of your cookie resources printed and shipped directly to your house! Items include business cards for your Girl Scouts, door hangers, and a cookie flyer. There will be a print and ship fee for your order.
To place an order:
- Visit Impressive Online Print Center
- Create an Account
- Select Order My Products from the “Ways to Continue” section at the bottom
Free Shipping on GirlScoutShop.com Until January 23
Girl Scouts River Valleys is excited to be able to offer free shipping on any GirlScoutShop.com online order of $25.00 or more until midnight on January 23, 2022. Please use code GSRVFREESHIP122 at checkout. The code can be used on multiple shipments where the minimum order quantity is met. Code is valid for standard shipping only.
As a reminder, all Girl Scouts River Valleys retail locations are closed until January 23, and Service Centers are closed to the public. Both will re-open with regular hours on January 24.
For questions, please contact us at 800-845-0787.
Cookie Booth Lottery & First-Come, First-Served Booths
The Cookie Booth Lottery is officially open for selections. Troops can make up to ten selections, with a maximum of one booth “win” when the lottery runs at 10:00 am (CST) on January 16. Selections must be entered by January 15. If your troop does not win a booth through the lottery, we will follow up with you early next week to help you select a new booth.
The lottery and first-come, first-served (FCFS) schedule as of January 13 is below:
| Date | Event | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 9 | Booth Lottery Opens for selections | Troops select up to 10 booths to enter into the lottery. |
| Jan 15 | Deadline to enter lottery selections | Make sure you have entered your lottery selections by the end of the day. |
| Jan 16 | Lottery runs at 10:00 am (CST) | Troops are awarded 1 win from their list of selections. |
| Jan 19 | FCFS Round 1 opens at 7:00 pm (CST). | Choose 2 new booths. |
| Jan 20 | FCFS Round 2 opens at 7:00 pm (CST). | Choose 3 new booths. |
| Jan 21 | FCFS Round 3 opens at 7:00 pm (CST). | Choose 5 new booths. |
| Jan 24 | FCFS Round 4 opens at 7:00 pm (CST). | Choose 8 new booths. |
| Jan 31 | FCFS Round 5 opens at 7:00 pm (CST). | Choose 10 new booths. |
| Feb 1 | FCFS cap is lifted. | Troops may select any new booths still available. |
For each round of first-come, first-served booths, the selections will close at 4:00 pm (CST) before the following round opens at 7:00 pm (CST).
Example: Round 1 opens at 7:00 pm (CST) on January 19 and closes at 4:00 pm (CST) on January 20 . During this time, we will upload any new booths secured.
Note: The primary troop contact in Smart Cookies will receive an email to alert of a troop’s lottery win or if they successfully secured a first-come, first-served booth location. You can also login to Smart Cookies, then go to Booths, then My Reservations to view booths that are secured for the troop.
For your must-read info on all thing’s cookie booths, check out Cookie Central. You’ll find booth policies, the updated Cookie Booth Guide, the Do Not Contact list of council-secured booths, historical booth data, and much, much more!
Gluten-Free Cookie Exception Requests
Troops that missed the pre-order opportunity and would like an exception to the two-case limit of Gluten-Free Caramel Chocolate Chip cookies must enter the number of cases they wish to receive in Smart Cookies in your initial order, plus, complete the Gluten-free Cookie Exception Form. We will send an email to confirm the request was successful or alert you if we were unable to fill your request the week of January 24.
Cookie Dial
Updates to the Cookie Participation Dial will occur as needed when guidance changes throughout the program. Currently, there are no restrictions in place for troops placing an initial order and for girls and troops that plan to participate in pre-sales. The online Cookie Dial is located on Cookie Central.
Cookie Rally Order Shipments
Orders for your cookie rally cookies and reward kits are shipping this week to Service Units that placed orders last month. While the orders will ship this week, due to carrier delays, you may not receive your order until next week. Remember, reward kits must be returned to Girl Scouts River Valleys by March 1.
Assisting Troops with Initial Orders
Remind troops that if they do plan on participating in in-person sales or wish to sell the Gluten-Free Caramel Chocolate Chip cookie, they must place their initial order and select their delivery location by January 22. Service Units will be able to adjust or enter orders until January 24. If your Service Unit participates in a Mini Drop delivery, provide troops with the delivery date so they can get it on their calendar.
Smart Cookies Super Users: Want to know which troops have placed an initial order? Run the Troop Initial Order Report in Smart Cookies.
