Girl Scouts River Valleys Volunteers

Resources for River Valleys' Volunteers

River Valleys Shop Closure

Girl Scout River Valleys Brooklyn Center service center and shop will be closed through Tuesday, April 4. The St. Paul shop will be open on Tuesday. Phone lines will remain open from 9am-5pm.

The Cookie Press: Edition 9

Read on for cookie patch programs, cookie social media promotional images for troops & families, initial cookie order deliveries start tomorrow, cookie cupboard reminders, forward to families, supporting troops with deliveries, supporting troops with Cookie Cupboard questions, Cookie Finder info and more.

In this edition:

Up Next

What’s Trending

Reminders

For Service Unit Cookie Managers

 

Pre-Sales & Online Sales Start Friday

Girl Scouts have the option to supercharge their sale by participating in pre-sales starting on Friday, February 10. This is when they can begin connecting with cookie customers, and recording orders, so they’ll be ready to start delivering Girl Scout Cookies on Cookie Go Day, February 17. There’s even more excitement this year with the introduction of the Raspberry Rally—the first online exclusive cookie that can only be ordered through direct-ship.

Tips to Support Families During Pre-Sales

  1. Reference the Smart Cookies Guide for Families to help answer questions from families on how to use Smart Cookies.
  2. Set a deadline for families to report pre-sales to you and remind families when they should be collecting payment for pre-sales, based on your troop preferences.
  3. If needed, plan a visit or place a planned order to pick up inventory at a Cookie Cupboard. Inform families of when their Girl Scout Cookies will be available to pick up.
  4. Girl Scouts can send e-cards and/or share their personalized online cookie sales link. This gives customers the chance to purchase Girl Scout Cookies for direct-ship to their homes or offer local delivery.
    • IMPORTANT: If a family opted in for “Girl Cookie Delivery” and shared the Girls Scout’s online cookie sales link, they must check their email for any online orders needing approval. Orders not approved within 5 days will be canceled.
      • The only way to approve these orders is from the link in the email. Parents/guardians must click the link in the email
      • Note: Opening the email is not the only step for approval (see example below):Example email to primary caregiver.
      • Any orders for “Girl Cookie Delivery” placed through an e-card do not require parent approval. Since you selected the option for “Girl Cookie Delivery” when sending the email, Smart Cookies already assumes that you can deliver the order. For this option, customers can pay with a credit card online or can pay at the time of delivery.
  5. View the Girl Scouts who are active in their Smart Cookies account by viewing the Mobile & E-card Summary Report from your Reports tab.
    • This report will show you:
      • Totals by Girl Scout by variety for orders from
        • E-cards (“Girl Cookie Delivery” and direct-ship)
        • Social direct-ship
        • Social “Girl Cookie Delivery” (from a Girl Scout’s online cookie sales links)
        • Keyed orders (Girl Cookie Delivery and direct-ship)
    • The troop dashboard will not show “Girl Cookie Delivery” orders. It will only show direct-ship orders. If the “Girl Cookie Delivery” orders were pre-paid by credit card, you will see deposits posted for the Girl Scout.
      • Remind families to report any pre-sales and “Girl Cookie Delivery” orders to you to ensure the troop will have the inventory needed to fill the orders for Cookie Go Day.

Note About Raspberry Rally: The Raspberry Rally will be available starting February 10. This Girl Scout Cookie is available while supplies last. To allow all ABC Bakers Girl Scout councils the opportunity for their customers to purchase the Raspberry Rally, this variety may be put on pause at some point during our sales period. We will send an email through Smart Cookies to give cookie volunteers the head’s up when the Raspberry Rally will be put on pause. You can share the Raspberry Rally Questions & Answers for Girl Scouts resource with your troop families, so they are prepared for questions about this cookie.

Finding a Girl Scout’s cookies sales link is super easy for Girl Scout families.

  1. Select Share My Cookie Link from the My Orders tab in Smart Cookies.Share My Cookie Link in the Smart Cookies dashboard
  2. Scroll to the bottom of the page and copy the link under My Smart Cookies Social Media Link.
  3. Click Print Handout to see the Girl Scout’s unique QR code and the tiny URL.
    1. Following the Girl Scouts River Valleys Digital Sales & Social Media Policy, families can use the QR code or tiny URL on social media, text messages, email, business cards, door hangers, or posters.
    2. The QR code can be used to process contactless payments when selling Girl Scout Cookies in person. Customers can scan the code and walk through the steps to place their order and pay with a credit card on the spot.

Where’s Clicker? Facebook Contest

Where's the Cookie Program Mascot, Clicker the Dolphin

Our 2023 cookie mascot, Clicker the dolphin, has been very busy swimming throughout our Girl Scouts River Valleys council area. Clicker will start traveling on Monday, February 20, and pictures of various locations around our council will be posted weekly on Girl Scouts River Valleys Facebook page (@girlscoutsrv) from now until the end of the 2023 Cookie Program. You’ll have 24 hours from the time of the post to add your guess on Clicker’s location, so make sure you’re checking back every Monday.

Read Where’s Clicker Facebook Contest for entry requirements, prize information and more.

 

Cookie Patch Programs

Cookie Booth of the Week2023 Cookie Booth of the Week patch

This popular patch program challenges Girl Scout troops to decorate their cookie booths in creative ways. Each week, troop leaders enter photos of their cookie booth and Girl Scout River Valleys’ staff select one winning Daisy/Brownie/Junior booth and one Cadette/Senior/Ambassador booth to receive the Cookie  Booth of the Week patch.

At the end of the season, Girl Scouts River Valleys staff will select two winners for Cookie Booth of the Year (one for each group of program grade levels). Both winners get a free trip to Sea Life at Mall of America (a $200 value).

Visit Cookie Booth of the Week for more details and the link to submit cookie booth photos.

LemonAID ProgramPink circle patch with text This Girl Scout Supported LemonAID, GSRV 2023

Girl Scouts can choose to make a donation to help animals at the Wildlife Rehab Center of Minnesota as an option at a select reward level. Donations will be used to support the direct care and well-being of the animals being rehabilitated due to illness or injury at the center. Those donating will earn a special patch when they make a donation. The patch will be sent with the rest of the cookie rewards in May.

Along with these two programs, Girl Scouts can participate in our Cookie Care donation program and also earn special online sales rewards too! Find more information about Rewards for Girl Scouts Cookie Sellers.

Cookie Social Promotional Images for Troops & Families

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram…whatever social media you use, it’s a fantastic way to help your favorite Girl Scout promote their cookie business. We have social images and email signatures that you and the rest of your Girl Scout’s support system can use to help a cookie entrepreneur reach their goals. Check out our special cookie promo pieces in our Cookie Social Media Toolkit.

 

Initial Cookie Order Deliveries

Initial cookie order deliveries run tomorrow through February 16. Read last week’s edition of The Cookie Press for all the delivery info you need to know.

Troop Cookie Manager Responsibilities

  • Arrange to pick up the order.
  • Print the initial order totals.
  • Verify cookie totals at the delivery location and again before distributing cookies to families.
  • Contact Girl Scouts River Valleys within 24 hours of the order pickup if you discover miscounts or damages.
  • Set a day and time for families to pick up their inventory.
  • Distribute cookies to families close to Cookie Go Day, February 17. We recommend waiting to give cookies to Girl Scouts until as close to Cookie Go Day as possible.
    1. Write a receipt or have an email/text as a record of the transaction. Fill the receipt out and have the parent/guardian sign it before receiving cookies. Instruct the family to keep the white copy in the receipt book and they can take the yellow copy. Once the cookies are sold, you must also have a record of any money turned in to the troop for check/cash transactions.
    2. Complete a Troop-to-Girl Transfer in Smart Cookies. Verify that the cookies transferred match the receipt.

Cookie Cupboard Reminders

Council Cookie Cupboards

Cookie Cupboards will be open starting at noon on Cookie Go Day, February 17. Check out our Council Cookie Cupboard Reference Sheet for the cupboard addresses, operating schedules, and more. Cookie Cupboard inventory status updates will be available on Cookie Central throughout the Cookie Program. Have cookie cupboard questions? Check out our Cookie Cupboard FAQ’s for more details.

Note: The gluten-free Caramel Chocolate Chip will not be available in any Girl Scouts River Valleys Cookie Cupboard. If a troop needs an additional supply of this cookie, they can connect with other troops using the Cookie Swap or connect with your Service Unit cookie manager. The Cookie Swap will be available prior to Cookie Go Day.

Planned Order Cupboards (Council Express & Regional Cupboards):

For troops planning to use a Council Express Cupboard or for troops assigned to Regional Cupboards, planned orders will open on February 15. To pick up cookies from these cupboards, you must place your planned order in Smart Cookies each Monday by 8:00 am. Step-by-step instructions to place your planned order (including screenshots) can be found in the Smart Cookies Guide.

Forward to Families

In this section, we’ll spotlight the info we recommend that you share with your troop families this week:

 

For Service Unit Cookie Managers

Supporting Troops with Cookie Deliveries

Girl Scout Cookie delivery week is full of excitement and logistics. Here are some tips to help you support your troops during this time.

  • It is important that troops take time to carefully count the Girl Scout Cookies they picked up from an initial cookie order delivery.
  • If a troop ends up with an incorrect number of cookies, they must contact Girl Scouts River Valleys within 24 hours of their pick-up time.
  • Here are the two types of deliveries:
    • Mega drop: These are executed by our delivery agents in a drive-thru format. Remind your troops to arrive as close to their delivery time as possible. There is only one opportunity to go through the line. If multiple vehicles are involved in picking up a troop’s order, they must all go through the line at the same time.
    • Mini drop: All delivery timeframes and case counts have been sent to the lead delivery contact. If this was not received, please email us. Do not allow troops to pick up cookies until the delivery is complete and all case counts are verified.

Supporting Troops with Cookie Cupboard Questions

You play an important role in ensuring troops in your area know their cupboard options. All Girl Scouts River Valleys troops can utilize a council Cookie Cupboard location. You can direct troops to the closest cupboard location and inform them of the two types of Council Cupboards: on-demand and Council Express. If your Service Unit is assigned to a Regional or Regional Express Cupboard, remind troops to place their planned order in Smart Cookies by the deadline and direct them to the location and contact information either by email or on the Smart Cookies dashboard.

The gluten-free Caramel Chocolate Chip will not be available in Girl Scouts River Valleys Cookie Cupboards this season. The entire supply of this variety will be distributed to troops in the initial cookie order. For troops looking for the gluten-free cookie, the Cookie Swap will be available, or you can ask troops to connect in the Service Unit to arrange for transfers.

New troops will be looking to you for guidance on how and when to pick up additional Girl Scout Cookies from a Cookie Cupboard. Share your inventory management tips with them, including information on how to connect with other troops for cookie transfers.

Non-Participating Troops & the Cookie Finder

The Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. “Cookie Finder” will launch on February 17. This nationally managed database and webpage where customers can enter their zip code and find cookie booths in their area or order from local troops for direct-ship. The “Cookie Finder” searches through a list of troops in that customer’s zip code. If you are aware of troops in your Service Unit that will not be participating in the Cookie Program, you can remove them from the “Cookie Finder”.

Steps to Remove a Troop from the Cookie Finder

  1. Log into Smart Cookies at your Service Unit level access
  2. Select Troops from My Service Unit.
  3. Find the specific troop and click on the pencil icon on the right side of the screen.
  4. Change the “Publish Troop’s Direct-ship link to GSUSA” to No
  5. Click Save.

You can also connect with us and we can make those changes for you.

 

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