The Girl Scout Cookie Family Guide

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THE GIRL SCOUT COOKIE

FAMILY GUIDE 2021 YOUR GUIDE TO ALL THINGS COOKIES 2021 FAMILY GUIDE

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IMPORTANT DATES Right Now Talk with your Girl Scout about her Girl Scout Cookie Program goals.

January 1 Girls start taking orders.

January 20 Initial Order Period ends.

Initial orders due to troop.

February 12 to 19 Cookie deliveries. Your troop leader will tell you when and where to pick up your troop’s cookies.

February 12 to March 28 Girl Scout Cookie Booths and Direct Sale Period.

March 10 Initial order money due to troop leaders.

Hello Girl Scout Families!

As we head into the 2021 Girl Scout Cookie Program, we know this is going to be a unique selling year. We have developed additional safety guidelines, as well as the opportunity for a completely virtual participation experience.

Selling cookies is an important part of Girl Scouting, and is an experience that provides lasting skills and memories. When your Girl Scout has a voice and can help to decide what to do with the money earned, she becomes courageous, confident, and empowered to make the world a better place.

Thank you for helping your Girl Scout in this unique year. Through innovation, safe selling techniques, and creative opportunities, she will have the self confidence and know-how to pursue her dreams.

Have questions?

Contact your Troop Leader or Cookie Chair. They are experts and will help you through the program.

Want more info?

Visit girlscoutsmoheartland.org or contact us at info@girlscoutsmoheartland.org.

Meet the 2021 Girl Scout Cookies!

All varieties of cookies (including gluten-free) are available at $5 a package.

Thin Mints® Crispy chocolate wafers dipped in a mint chocolate-y coating.

Peanut Butter Patties® Crispy vanilla cookie layered with peanut butter with a chocolate-y coating.

Gluten-Free Caramel Chocolate Chip Chewy cookie that contains rich caramel, semisweet chocolate chips, & a hint of sea salt.

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2021 FAMILY GUIDE

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Delightful toast-shaped cookies full of French toast flavor with our signature trefoil on top.

Toast-Yay®

Caramel deLites® Vanilla cookie topped with caramel, sprinkled with toasted coconut, and laced with chocolate-y stripes.

Lemonades® Savory slices of shortbread with a refreshingly tangy lemon flavored icing.

Girl Scout S’mores®

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Crispy graham cookie double dipped in yummy crème icing and finished with a scrumptious chocolate-y coating.

Shortbread Traditional favorite with a light, buttery flavor.

Peanut Butter Sandwich Smooth peanut butter sandwiched between crunchy oatmeal cookies.

The Five Skills of the Cookie Program Through the Girl Scout Cookie Program, girls learn . . .

This matters because . . .

Goal setting as they set a troop goal based on what they want to do with their troop proceeds. Then girls set an individual goal with help from their families.

Girls need to know how to set and reach goals to succeed in school, on the job, and in life.

Decision making by deciding where and when to sell cookies, how to market their cookie business, and what to do with their troop proceeds.

Girls will make big and small decisions in their life; practice helps them make good ones.

Money management as they develop a budget, take cookie orders, handle customers’ money, and gain confidence handling and managing money.

Girls need to know how to confidently handle, manage, and leverage money to do great things.

People skills as they safely talk to their customers in person and virtually to work as a team with other girls.

Knowing how to work with others will help them do better in school and, later, at work.

Business ethics as they learn to run their businesses using the Girl Scout Law as a guide, being honest and responsible every step of the way.

Employers want to hire ethical employees, and the world needs ethical leaders in every field at every age.

COVID Guidelines As mentioned earlier, this will be a unique selling year. With your daughter, we ask that you review the local, county, and state COVID guidelines, as well as the appropriate safe-selling practices provided by GSMH. The Girl Scout Cookie Program COVID-19 Guidance document was emailed to all families, is located on our website, and will be included with the pickup of your daughter’s initial order cookies.

Keep in mind that in addition to in-person selling, our Girl Scout Cookie Company, ABC Bakers, provides an online cookie-selling platform called, Smart Cookies probides girls the opportunity to participate 100% virtually if that is a better option for you and your family this year!

Scan this code to view our COVID-19 guidelines.

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Safety Tips for the Girl Scout Cookie Program

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Be COVID safe. Follow local and GSMH COVID-19 guidelines, including wearing a mask and social distancing. Find the full set of guidelines on our website.

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Show you’re a Girl Scout. Wear your Girl Scout membership pin, vest, sash, or other Girl Scout clothing to identify yourself as a Girl Scout.

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Plan ahead. Be prepared for emergencies, and always have a plan for safeguarding money.

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Protect privacy. Girls’ home and email addresses should never be given to customers. Girls may leave their first name and troop number with a customer if they would like to call GSMH to check their order. Also protect customers’ privacy by not sharing their information except when necessary.

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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 products and passengers from vehicles.

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Be safe online. Girls are encouraged to utilize the online store from the girl dashboard in Smart Cookies. This is a safe site for girls to share their Cookie Program with friends and family through email, text messages, and social media posts. Before engaging in online activities, girls must have their parents’ permission as well as read and sign the Internet Safety Pledge found at girlscoutsmoheartland.org. Please note that online sale and auction sites, or any other public websites are prohibited.

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

Partner with adults. Adults must accompany Girl Scouts when they’re taking orders, selling cookies, or delivering cookies—including cookie booths.

Do not enter any homes or vehicles. Never enter someone’s home or vehicle when you’re selling or making deliveries. Avoid selling to people in vehicles except at designated drive-thru cookie booths.

2021 FAMILY GUIDE

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There are many ways to sell Girl Scout Cookies, and each one helps girls gain different skills along the way. Let girls take the lead in picking how they want to run their businesses.

In-Person Sales: This includes order cards, direct sales, cookie booths, and phone calls. Following all safety guidelines girls can take pre-orders going door-to-door, pull a wagon with cookies after they come in, or join their troop for cookie booths. There is always the option to contact friends, family, neighbors, or previous customers over the phone to take pre-orders or encourage online purchasing.

Digital Sales: • E-cards. Girls can send emails to immediate friends and family through Smart Cookies with the opportunity to purchase cookies.

With these e-cards, friends and family can choose from girl delivery or direct ship options to receive their cookies.

• Social Media Individual Girl Link. Girls and their parents can obtain a Social Media Link through Smart Cookies. This allows girls and their parents to share the opportunity to purchase cookies to their social network. Cookies purchased through the Social Media Link are directly shipped to the customer.

• Virtual Troop Booth Link. This is a shareable link automatically created for each troop in Smart Cookies. Cookies purchased through the Virtual Troop Booth Link are designated for local deliveries and donation orders. Troops can send this link to customers so they can pre-pay online and come to your in-person booth site for curbside pickup.

• Direct Ship Troop Link. This is a completely virtual option with no money or cookies changing hands. The Direct Ship Troop Link is automatically created in Smart Cookies and can be shared January 1 – April 30. Troops can share this link to allow cookie purchases or donations that will ship directly to purchasing customers. During the Direct Sale Period, February 19 – March 31, customers can search their zip code on the National Girl Scout Cookie Finder to purchase cookies from troops via the Direct Ship Troop Link.

Donation program: Customers who don’t want to purchase cookies or wants other ways to support girls can donate a package of cookies to the military through H.E.R.O.E.S. Cares. Customers can support the donation program through any of the above selling methods.

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The Cookie Program Makes Girl Scouts Possible COOKIE PROGRAM COSTS – $1.14 •

Troop Earnings & Girl Recognitions

Cookie Program Costs

Girl & Volunteer Support

22% 55% 23%

Cost of cookies and program operations

TROOP EARNINGS & GIRL RECOGNITIONS – $1.13 • Girl, Troop, and Service Unit rewards • Girl & Troop proceeds - used for field trips, camp, events, community service projects, program supplies, books, membership, and more • Girls & Troops can earn free Girl Scout memberships

GIRL & VOLUNTEER SUPPORT – $2.73 • High quality Girl Scout programs­in leadership, business, outdoors, and STEM • Financial assistance & outreach to underserved girls • Girl and volunteer recruitment and retention • Volunteer trainings, resources, and recognitions • Girl events and programs 100% of the Cookie Program proceeds benefit Girl Scouts in the Missouri Heartland jurisdiction.

The annual membership dues fund our national organization, GSUSA. Proceeds from the Cookie Program stay here and are the largest source of income for girl programs, volunteer trainings, and more. They provide financial assistance to keep Girl Scouting available and affordable to all.

The Girl Scout Law and Girl Scout Cookies I will do my best to be...

Honest and fair,

Observe the start date of the Girl Scout Cookie Program.

Friendly and helpful,

Always say, “thank you.”

Considerate and caring,

Promptly meet deadlines.

Courageous and strong,

Do the right thing even if others don’t.

Complete paperwork and deposits neatly and accurately.

Strive to be your best at all times.

Responsible for what I say and do, Respect myself and others, Respect authority,

Know and obey safety guidelines.

Use resources wisely,

Offer customers the opportunity to order online, over the telephone, or email.

Make the world a better place,

Greet customers with a smile and use manners.

And be a sister to every Girl Scout.

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2021 2021FAMILY FAMILYGUIDE GUIDE

Help sister Girl Scouts.

Ways to Support Your Cookie Entrepreneur Ǔ Help her earn the Cookie Entrepreneur Family pin to practice building her skills at home. Ǔ Help her set up her Smart Cookie site. Ǔ Help her keep money safe. Ǔ Know the rules and safety guidelines. Ǔ Model business ethics, decision making, people skills, and safety as you support her. Ǔ Ask your troop leader how you can help the whole troop reach its goals.

Your Girl Scout will learn to be a helper and take action by watching you. Ǔ Help her make arrangements to connect with people in her network. Ǔ Never do things for your girl that she can do for herself, even if it’s quicker and easier for you to do them. Ǔ Have fun together along the way and engage your whole family in supporting her!

Responsibilities to the Troop Girl Responsibility • Follow the Promise & Law • Be confident and supportive towards her troop peers • Attend and participate in meetings and events • Listen to others in the troop and show respect for other opinions • Be prepared and conduct herself in a safe manner • Respect troop leaders and other volunteers

Troop Leader Responsibility • Follow the Promise & Law • Let girls lead – ensure girls take an active role in decisions • Create an inclusive environment where girls and families feel welcome and connected • Provide a safe program • Listen to and respect every participant; serve as a role model • Utilize volunteer resources such as the Volunteer Toolkit • Ask for help when needed

Family Responsibility • Follow the Promise & Law • Support your Girl Scout through all facets of her Girl Scout experience • Wear a mask and practice social distancing while selling Girl Scout Cookies • Honor all deadlines • Allow her to take the lead • Volunteer with your troop – your Troop Leader cannot do it alone • Stay connected and ask questions • Turn in cookie money often • Understand that once you take possession of cookies, they are your financial responsibility

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877-312-4764 info@girlscoutsmoheartland.org

PO Box 10747 Springfield, MO 65808

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Springfield, Missouri Permit No. 1470

Cookie season is more fun with family.

Bring the whole family together for tons of fun and learning with our brand NEW Girl Scout Cookie Program pin collection!

Each Girl Scout grade level will have its own set of requirements to help families guide their Girl Scout as she runs her own cookie business year after year. Girls can earn all 13 pins in the collection—one unique pin for every year they participate!

Learn more at: girlscouts.org/entrepreneurfamily.