Read on for a message from Girl Scouts River Valleys VP of Product Program & Volunteer Engagement, Susan Andersson, Smart Cookies resources, direct-ship rates, rewards poster, Council Cookie Cupboard locations, troop initial order deadline, cookie booths, Service Unit cookie rallies and more.
In this edition:
Up Next
- A Message from Girl Scouts River Valleys VP of Product Program & Volunteer Engagement – Susan Andersson
- Smart Cookies Resources
- Smart Cookies Direct-Ship Rates
- Girl Scout Cookie Rewards Poster
What’s Trending
Reminders
- Last Call for Troop Initial Cookie Orders
- First-Come, First-Served (FCFS) Cookie Booth Rounds in Progress
For Service Unit Cookie Managers
Are you ready to dive in? Cookie Go Day is less than a month away! We will meet an important milestone this weekend with the initial Girl Scout Cookie order deadline in Smart Cookies for troops. Get prepped for the season by finalizing your schedule with families, securing a cookie booth or five 😉, and attending a cookie rally. Stick with us, and we will continue to provide helpful tips and reminders today, next week, and beyond.
A Message from Girl Scouts River Valleys VP of Product Program & Volunteer Engagement – Susan Andersson
Welcome to the 2023 Cookie Season, and on behalf of all River Valleys Girl Scouts, thank you for your support and dedication to the program! Our staff and baker partner are prepared to make sure that you and your Girl Scouts have the cookies that you need when you need them, offer participation options that are flexible, and provide selling resources Girl Scouts need to reach their customers.
We are offering discounted pricing on shipping for online orders, no credit card fees to your troop when you use the Smart Cookies app, and fun selling resources like booth kits and door hangers. Our team is here and ready to offer support through our phone lines, email, in-person, and for Service Unit volunteers, Rallyhood!
All cookie proceeds stay local and help power our amazing programs, and camp properties, and ensure access for all. Participation in the Cookie Program helps ensure we are thriving and shining bright now and into the future. Because of you, the Cookie Program is possible, and I couldn’t be more honored to serve and support you through this year.
Susan Andersson,
Girl Scouts River Valleys VP of Product Program & Volunteer Engagement
Smart Cookies Resources
After the initial order, you’ll continue to use Smart Cookies for transferring cookies, taking credit card payments, ordering rewards, running reports, and more. For both video tutorials and step-by-step instructions, visit our Smart Cookies Guide for Volunteers. Video tutorials can also be found in the Smart Cookies Safety & Training tab.
If you need help, contact your Service Unit cookie manager, contact us, email ABC Help Desk or call them at 800-853-3730. Don’t worry, there’s nothing you can do that can’t be fixed!
Smart Cookies Direct Ship Rates
For another year, Girl Scouts River Valleys is participating in the ABC Bakers Direct-Ship subsidy program. What does this mean? When customers place an order using a Girl Scout’s Smart Cookies sales link for shipment to their home and purchase at least 9 packages of cookies, they’ll receive discounted shipping rates. Check out the 2023 Direct Ship Rates.
Did you know? Last year, the average direct-ship order for Girl Scouts River Valleys cookie customers was just over 8 packages.
Please note: Additional charges are incurred for shipping to Hawaii, Alaska, and APO/FPO addresses. Refer to the Smart Cookies Direct Ship FAQ page for additional information.
Girl Scouts will receive their Smart Cookies registration links on February 1, and online Girl Scout Cookie sales will open on February 10.
Girl Scout Cookie Reward Poster
Mail call! Watch for a special Girl Scout Cookie Program poster to arrive starting in early February exclusively for River Valleys Girl Scouts (registered as of mid-January). This poster features all the fun rewards plus basic information on the Cookie Program just for Girl Scouts.
Council Cookie Cupboard Locations
Details on how to use Cookie Cupboards will be coming in the Cookie Press before Cookie Go Day. Here are the ten Girl Scouts River Valleys (Council) Cookie Cupboards for 2023:
- Council Cupboards:
- Blaine
- Bloomington
- Burnsville
- Mankato
- Rochester
- Roseville
- St. Louis Park
- Woodbury
- Council Express Cupboards: Located at our cookie delivery agent warehouses
- Burnsville (Express)
- Maplewood (Express)
Cookie Chats Begin on January 31
Join Girl Scouts River Valleys on January 31 at 7:15 pm (CST) for the first Cookie Chat of 2023 on Zoom. This is an informal time for you to connect on trending topics and get answers to your questions. The first Cookie Chat topics will be cookie booths and cookie cupboards.
When you register, you’ll receive the Zoom meeting link and you can download the event to your personal calendar. We look forward to chatting with you!
Last Call for Troop Initial Cookie Orders
Troop initial cookie orders are due in Smart Cookies this Sunday, January 22, by 11:59 pm. Our Smart Cookies Guide for Volunteers has step-by-step instructions for placing an order in the system. Remember to select your delivery station after entering the initial order. If you need to change or edit your order or delivery station after this deadline, connect with your Service Unit cookie manager, who can edit orders until January 23.
Please note: The initial order is placed in CASES. Remember to enter the expected number of Girl Scouts selling to earn the exclusive “Seas the (Go) Day” initial cookie order patch for each Girl Scout if your troop follows the recommended case count from the Cookie Calculator. The initial cookie order patches will be sent with the rest of the cookie rewards in May. The Cookie Calculator is available to help you determine your troop order.
If your troop missed the pre-order for the gluten-free Caramel Chocolate Chip cookies and wishes to order more than two cases of this variety, this is your last chance to request an exception. Enter the number of cases you wish to receive in Smart Cookies and complete the Gluten-Free Cookie Exception Request Form. Next week, we will email you to confirm the exception order or let you know if we were unable to fill the request.
First-Come, First-Served (FCFS) Cookie Booth Rounds in Progress
Score additional cookie booths! Round 2 of the First-Come, First-Served (FCFS) booth sign-up is tonight at 7:00 pm (CST) where troops can choose three new booths.
| DATE | EVENT | ACTION |
| Jan 19 | FCFS Round 2 opens at 7:00 pm (CST). | Choose 3 new booths. |
| Jan 20 | FCFS Round 3 opens at 7:00 pm (CST). | Choose 5 new booths. |
| Jan 23 | 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). During this time, we will upload any new booths secured.
Tip: Remember to refresh your webpage at 7:01 pm (CST) to see the new options for the new round.
Update on Walmart Booths
Thanks to the help of Service Unit managers and cookie managers we are continuing to receive approval for Walmart locations! To allow all troops an equitable opportunity for one of these popular booth time-slots, we will be adding these Walmart booths as “Premium Cookie Booths” starting January 20. We will continue to increase the number of “Premium Cookie Booth” options starting January 23.
Assisting Troops with Initial Cookie Orders
After the troop initial cookie order deadline has passed, the Service Unit will be able to enter or edit initial troop orders until Monday, January 23 at 11:59 pm (CST).
How to Edit or Enter an Initial Order from Service Unit Access
- Go to the Orders tab and select Troop Initial Order.
- Enter the troop number in the search bar under the troop drop-down box or scroll down to the troop number, then click Apply.
- Enter the troop order in CASES, and click Save.
- If you are adjusting the order, enter the number of cases the troop would like in each cookie variety, then click Save.
- Select a delivery location, date, and time, and click Save.
- For troops assigned to a Mini Drop Delivery, only the location and address will appear.
Smart Cookies Super Users
- Run the Troop Initial Order Report to see which troops have placed an initial order. Reach out to troops who may need a reminder to place their order.
- Run the Troops with No Specified Delivery Station Report to view the troops that placed an initial order, but are missing a delivery station. If troops are assigned to a Mega-Drop, you can select a location for the troop until January 23. For any troop missing a delivery station after January 23, Girl Scouts River Valleys will select a location and time slot for the troop.
Service Unit Cookie Rallies
We’ve heard about some creative plans for Service Unit Cookie Rallies, whether they are virtual or in-person. We’d love to see photos from your events! Feel free to post them in our Council-Wide Service Unit Cookie Volunteers – GSRV Rally in Rallyhood, or email us at girlscouts@girlscoutsrv.org.
If you are a Service Unit cookie volunteer and haven’t joined our Rallyhood yet, you can request access. Please note: This rally is only for Service Unit volunteers.
Thank you for the creative ways you’re getting Girl Scouts excited and energized for the 2023 Cookie Season!
