2018
Opportunity
Guide
Everything you need for an Altogether Awesome cookie season!
Welcome to the 2018 Girl Scout Cookie Program!
What do cookie funds support?
Girls can apply funds earned toward: ★ Camp ★ Troop trips ★ Girl Scout Destinations ★ Troop activities and more
Proceeds from the cookie program help Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland Council:
Inside every package of Girl Scout Cookies you’ll find scrumptious treats and so much more! Each box carries with it the tradition of Girl Scouts selling cookies—and learning valuable life skills along the way. We’re so excited your family is joining us this cookie season.
★ Keep event and camp fees at a reasonable rate for all members ★ Improve and maintain camp and other activity sites ★ Train and support adult volunteers ★ Provide the financial assistance needed to make Girl Scouting available for all girls
When a girl participates in the cookie program, she’s creating a plan, interacting with customers, working as part of a team, and building a lifetime of skills. These skills empower her with the ability and confidence to accomplish amazing things for herself, her family, and her community—that’s why the 2018 Girl Scout Cookie Program is “Altogether Awesome”.
All funds generated by the Girl Scout Cookie Program remain in our council to benefit girls.
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— The GSOH Product Program Team
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Important dates Your Troop Cookie Program Coordinator (TCPC) has volunteered their time to ensure that your girl has a successful cookie program! In order to meet deadlines, we ask that you adhere to any dates your TCPC schedules.
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SAT., JAN. 6, 2018 Cookie Booths 101 and 201 at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
SAT., JAN. 13, 2018 Cookie Rally at Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
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SAT., JAN. 13 - SUN., JAN. 29, 2018
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MON., JAN. 30 – FRI., FEB. 16, 2018 Girls participate in Goal Getter phase
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Girls take Initial Orders
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2018 Girl Scout Cookie Program begins
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Girls deliver cookies, collect money, and participate in the booth program
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THURS., FEB. 15 - SUN., MARCH 25, 2018
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Internet Rules You can share that your Girl Scout is selling Girl Scout cookies through social media, but you cannot sell cookies via the internet, with the exception of Digital Cookie. Using websites such as eBay or Craigslist is prohibited.
Connect with us! Council Headquarters
1700 Watermark Dr., Columbus, OH 43215 614-487-8101 / 800-621-7042
Customer Care customercare@gsoh.org /GirlScoutsOH + FOLLOW THE PRODUCT PROGRAM DEPARTMENT
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GIRL SCOUTS OF OHIO’S HEARTLAND
The 2018 Cookie Program is Altogether Awesome! Whether you join us at our Cookie Rally or participate in a service unit hosted event, each event is designed to help girls build skills and prepare for the cookie program.
COOKIE RALLY! Learn the basics, from how to get started to reaching your goals through fun games and activities. Get ready to show the world your cookie power. Sat., Jan. 13, 2018 9:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. or noon - 1:30 p.m. Columbus Zoo and Aquarium (Franklin Co.)
$6 per person (zoo members) $12 per person (non-zoo members) Register by Wed., Dec. 27, 2017 Parking and admission to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium on the day of the event is included in the price of your registration fee. Adults must register to attend each event. Only registered attendees may enter.
COOKIE BOOTHS 101
COOKIE BOOTHS 201
Make your cookie booths altogether awesome! Attend this event if you’ve never participated in a cookie booth. You’ll learn the basics of booth setup, booth decoration and how to interact with potential customers. Sat., Jan. 6, 2018 9:30 a.m. – noon Columbus Zoo and Aquarium (Franklin Co.) $6 per person (zoo members) $12 per person (non-zoo members)
Maximize your cookie booth productivity! Girls will learn tips and tricks to grow the booth phase of their program—perfect for girls who’ve participated in at least one cookie booth. Sat., Jan. 6, 2018 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Columbus Zoo and Aquarium (Franklin Co.) $6 per person (zoo members) $12 per person (non-zoo members)
Register by Wed., Dec. 20, 2017
Register by Wed., Dec. 20, 2017
Adults must register to attend each event. Only registered attendees may enter.
Adults must register to attend each event. Only registered attendees may enter.
☮NOTE Your service unit may also be hosting a Girl
Scout Cookie Rally to kick off the season in your area. Consider attending both!
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To learn more about Cookie Patch Programs, visit the GSOH Product Program YouTube channel and watch the video "Patch Programs: Altogether Awesome!" All cookie program forms and instructions can be found at gsoh.org/cookie-resources.
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Rock your cookie business and earn the Super Star patch! Activate your cookie powers during all three phases of the cookie program: 1. Sell 150+ packages during the Initial Order phase. 2. Sell 24+ packages during the Goal Getter phase. Enter these cookie orders in the GoalG column of eBudde for the appropriate girl. 3. Sell 48+ packages or more during the Cookie Booth phase. Enter these cookies in the correct Booth columns for the appropriate girl. Patches will be distributed by your SUCPC in May 2018.
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Patches will be distributed by your SUCPC in May 2018.
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★TIP Customize your webpage and add your picture
Sell 1,000 or more packages of cookies and you’ll become a Stellar Seller! Hard work, great marketing strategies, and dedication to excellence will help you reach your goals. Girls who achieve this success will receive a one-of-a-kind Stellar Seller patch and be invited to the Stellar Seller celebration at COSI on Sat., May 19, 2018.
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COUNCIL GIFT OF CARING:
1 8 OPERATION SALUTE Patches will be distributed to girls at 2 the0 Stellar Seller Event. e
DOUBLE STELLAR SELLER
Achieve Stellar Seller level during the 2017 Fall Product Program and the 2018 Girl Scout Cookie Program and you’ll be invited to a special Double Stellar Seller event! Each Double Stellar Seller, accompanied by one adult guest, will get to attend a gardening class and make their own succulent or fairy garden with our CEO. This fun event will be held at the Crooked Door Studio in Marysville, OH, on Sat., May 5, 2018, from 3-5 p.m. Patches will be distributed to girls at the Double Stellar Seller Event.
Operation Salute encourages girls and community members to make a difference by donating Girl Scout Cookies to the military. Each package of cookies purchased is given to military personnel, veterans, and their families. Girls collect and deposit $4 for each package sold. Troops earn their proceeds, girls earn their Girl Rewards, and together, we give back! Council will deliver all packages to military organizations to be distributed. Sell four or more packages and earn the Operation Salute patch. Sell 12 or more packages and earn the Operation Salute patch and Seas the Day Bandana. Sell 24 or more packages and earn the Operation Salute patch, Seas the Day Bandana, and a Flashlight Nightlight. ★TIP At your booth, decorate a cookie package with the Operation Salute package wrap provided with training materials or available for download at gsoh.org/cookie-resources Patches will be distributed by your SUCPC in May 2018.
GIRL SCOUTS OF OHIO’S HEARTLAND
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Sell 24 packages of cookies through your Digital Cookie webpage and you’ll earn a one-of-a-kind Cookie Techie patch!
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Patches you can earn:
Patches will be distributed by your SUCPC in May 2018.
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Send 15 emails through the 2017 Fall Product Online Program and 15 emails through 2018 Digital Cookie to earn the Digital Star patch.
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Patches you can earn and purchase: g
ONE TOUGH COOKIE
The One Tough Cookie Patch Program highlights troops that go above and beyond! Complete all 10 steps and you can call yourself One Tough Cookie as you sport this unique patch. Report forms must be turned in to your local Girl Scout Shop before purchasing these patches. Find the report form at gsoh.org/cookie-patchprograms
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WALKABOUT WEEK
Complement your booth success with a traveling approach during Walkabout Week, a week-long program where girls sell cookies on the move! To participate, ask your SUCPC if your service unit is organizing a walkabout and sign up for a neighborhood in your community. Load up a wagon or organize a cookie caravan and travel door to door, making waves in your community by selling Girl Scout cookies. All participating troops can purchase the Cookies on the Go patch from their local Girl Scout Shop beginning Monday, December 11, 2017.
For safety tips while selling cookies, visit littlebrowniebakers.com/families/ safety-2
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BLING YOUR BOOTH
Are the Girl Scouts in your troop some of the most creative cookie bosses around? Show us what they’ve got with Bling Your Booth! Troops decorate their booths to generate excitement and attract more customers to increase cookie sales. This year’s theme is “Under the Sea.” Submit photos of your booth and you could win a prize! Ten troops will earn $100 Cookie Reward Cards for the most creative booth. One troop will earn the grand prize, a $500 Cookie Reward Card. Submit photo entries by Mon., March 26, 2018, to productprogram@ gsoh.org. All participating troops can purchase the 2018 Booth Sales patch from their local Girl Scout Shop beginning Monday, December 11, 2017.
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COOKIE PRO CONTEST
Are you a Girl Scout Cookie Pro? We want to hear from you! Girl Scouts of the USA’s Cookie Pro 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—unlock an awesome, limitededition 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!). How to participate: Submit a personalized Cookie Pro resume along with a photo. Your Cookie Pro resume should include: • A photo of yourself • Cookie badges and skills you’ve earned • Memorable troop and customer experiences • What your troop has done or plans to do with your cookie earnings
NATIONAL GIRL SCOUT COOKIE WEEKEND k
Show your cookie power during National Girl Scout Cookie Weekend, Fri., Feb. 23 Sun., Feb. 25, 2018. Girl Scouts from all over will be celebrating this weekend—join in on the fun by signing up for a cookie booth! Patches are available for purchase from your local Girl Scout Shop beginning Mon., Dec. 11, 2017.
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TROOP GIFT OF CARING
Troop Gift of Caring is a great way to give back with the support of the community. • Choose a charity. • Offer customers the opportunity to purchase additional packages of cookies to be donated to the troop’s chosen charity. ★TIP Be sure to clearly identify your troop’s charity of choice and share with customers why their support is important. All participating troops can purchase the 2018 Gift of Caring patch from their local Girl Scout Shop beginning Mon., Dec. 11, 2017.
• Your best-selling tips for crushing cookie sale goals like a PRO Submit Cookie Pro resumes with a photo at girlscouts.org/cookiepro and unlock a Cookie Pro patch available for purchase. Entries must be submitted to GSUSA by Fri., April 27, 2018.
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The Girl Scout Cookie Activity Pin The Cookie Activity Pin is available for purchase at your local Girl Scout Shop or through girlscoutshop.com. The pin is a different color every year.
Celebrating the 5 Skills with girls! All girls who participate in the Girl Scout Cookie Program are eligible to earn the annual Cookie Activity Pin. When they earn the pin, invite girls to share their accomplishments in each of the 5 Skills. Here’s how the girls achieve the 5 Skills through the Girl Scout Cookie Program:
Goal Setting � Set personal learning goals. What do you want to learn this year? What do you want to do better? Share this with at least one other person or your group. � Set personal sales goals for yourself based on your personal and group goals. Keep a record of your accomplishments each year!
Decision Making � Develop a basic business plan for your cookie sale. � Work as a team with other Girl Scouts to decide when and where you’ll sell cookies and what you’ll do with the money you earn.
Money Management � Develop a budget for accomplishing at least one of the goals you set in the Goal Setting step. Use this budget to help determine your sales goals. � Be able to explain how the money earned in the Girl Scout Cookie Program helps you, your group, and your council.
People Skills � Practice your “elevator speech” for customers about what you are selling, why you are selling it, and why they should purchase it. � Make a list of customers you will approach. Don’t forget people you sold to last year!
Business Ethics � Discuss how living the Girl Scout Promise and Law applies to what you do in the Girl Scout Cookie Program as a businesswoman.
from The Girl Scout Cookie Program: 5 Skills for Girls
Cookie Business Badges
Financial Literacy Badges
Find out how to earn these badges in The Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting.
2018 COOKIE PROGRAM 7
January 2018 SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
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6 Cookie Booths 101 Cookie Booths 201
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13 Cookie Rally! Cookie Program begins
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22 Cookie Webinar
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25 Cookie Webinar
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27 Booth sign-up begins
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29 Goal Getter begins
30 Enter Initial Order/ Rewards & Delivery Location by noon
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February 2018 SUNDAY
MONDAY
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8 Cookie Webinar
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12 Mega Cupboard orders in full cases due by 9 a.m.
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15 Mega Drop/Cupboard
16 Booth program begins Goal Getter ends Mega Drop/Cupboard
17 Mega Drop/Cupboard
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19 Cupboards open (Franklin East & West) Cookie Delivery
20 Cookie Delivery
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22 Cookie Webinar Cookie Delivery
23 All Cupboards open Cookie Delivery National Girl Scout Cookie Weekend begins
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25 National Girl Scout Cookie Weekend ends
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March 2018 SUNDAY
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5 Walkabout Week begins
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11 Walkabout Week ends
12 $1 from Initial Order deducted (ACH)
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16 Troop Opt Out Forms due to council
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19 Cookie Webinar
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23 Bling Your Booth photo entries due
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25 Cookie Program ends
26 Allocate orders, payments, rewards $1 from Initial Order deducted (ACH)
27 Submit final paperwork to Finance
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April 2018 SUNDAY
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WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
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10 Amount due to council deducted (ACH)
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27 Deadline to enter GSUSA’s Cookie Pro Contest
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