2019
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Cookie Program
Family Guide
Welcome to the 2019 Girl Scout Cookie Program!
Thank you for participating in the 2019 Girl Scout Cookie Program! This innovative program will help your Girl Scout unleash her inner G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)™! She’ll be inspired to discover her talents and passions and she’ll join with other Girl Scouts taking action to change the world. The Girl Scout Cookie Program will help her gain important skills in, that form the foundation of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience: Life Skills and Entrepreneurship. Every day, Girl Scouts unleash the power of G.I.R.L. to make amazing things happen.
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NEWCaramel
Chocolate Chip
New Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies will be available in 2019 only on the initial order. The chewy cookie features rich caramel, semi-sweet chocolate chips, and a hint of sea salt — and is certified gluten-free.
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Important Cookie Dates Program Begins: Friday, February 1, 2019 Door-to-door, online and direct sales!
Cookie Booths Begin: Friday, February 8, 2019 Booth, with continued door-to-door, online and direct sales!
Program Concludes: Sunday, March 10, 2019 3
Help Your Girl Scout Have a Successful Cookie Program
SAFETY FIRST 1 2 3
Show You’re a Girl Scout – Wear the Girl Scout membership pin and/ or Girl Scout clothing to identify yourself.
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Be Street Wise – Become familiar with the areas and neighborhoods where you will be selling Girl Scout Cookies.
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Do Not Enter – Never enter the home or vehicle of a person when you are selling or making deliveries. Avoid selling to people in vehicles or going into alleys.
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Sell in the Daytime – Sell only during daylight hours, unless accompanied by an adult.
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Be Net Wise – Take the GSUSA Internet Safety Pledge before going online and follow the specific guidelines related to marketing online.
Buddy Up – Always use the buddy system. It’s not only safe, it’s fun! Partner with Adults – Adults must accompany Girl Scout Daisies, Brownies and Juniors when they are taking orders, selling or delivering product. Girls grades 6-12 must be supervised by an adult when selling door-to-door. Two adults should be present at a cookie booth in any public place at all times.
Plan Ahead – Always have a plan for safeguarding money. Give proceeds to the supervising adults who should provide it to the troop as directed by the Girl Scout council.
Protect Privacy – Girls’ names, addresses, or email addresses should never be given out to customers. Use a group contact number or address overseen by an adult for customers to request information. Protect customer privacy by not sharing their information.
Visit our website for all safety information and to take the Safety Pledge.
www.GirlScoutsNebraska.org/safety 4
2018 Parent/Guardian Responsibilities As a parent/guardian, your role is very important! We ask you to agree to the following:
▶ I agree to adhere to the dates of the Cookie Program: February 1, 2019 to March 10, 2019.
▶ I agree to let my Girl Scout do the selling for this Girl-Led Program. ▶ I agree, if supporting my Girl Scout by taking an order card to my place of business or other locations, there will be a note from my Girl Scout attached.
▶ I agree that when supporting my Girl Scout on my social media sites I
provide only program dates and that my Girl Scout will contact my social media friends personally. A parent cannot take orders on social media on behalf of their daughter.
▶ I agree to be responsible for initial cookie orders, all cookie re-orders and all funds due.
▶ I agree to sign the 2019 Cookie Program Participation Permission and
Receipt Form. I agree to get signed receipts for all cookies taken and for all money turned in.
▶ I agree to provide valid identification (Driver’s License or State ID) when picking up and signing for the initial cookie order.
▶ I understand that unsold cookies cannot be returned to the troop or Council and that the cookies are the responsibility of the person signing the cookie receipt.
▶ I will be responsible for turning in all
money to the Troop Cookie Manager (TCM) by the mutually agreed upon dates.
Please remember the Girl Scout Promise and Law. At all times, you represent your child, her troop and Girl Scouts and to act with kindness and respect. 5
ABCSmartCookies.com... Your Web Address for Cookie Success! We have an awesome website to help girls be even more successful in the 2019 Girl Scout Cookie Program - abcsmartcookies.com! Once a girl has registered and logged onto abcsmartcookies.com, she has her own personal Dashboard where she can set her goal, monitor her progress, view the Council recognitions and manage her sales. There are menu options on the top of the Dashboard that she can click on to access online marketing resources, monitor her troop’s goals, find fun and helpful information, download clip art and pictures, and set and update her sales goals. Having a Smart Cookie profile lets her send Smart Cookie e-cards to customers, offering Direct Ship or Girl Delivered options, and manage her sale on-the-go with the Smart Cookies Mobile App. Smart Cookies has added 3 new distribution centers that offer 2-day shipping to 95% of the U.S. AND NO MINIMUM ORDERS for online/direct ship orders! Customers can now order any variety of Girl Scout Cookies and as much as they want. 6
Email and Social Media The Girl Scout Cookie Program is a girl-led program. Online marketing and sales efforts should always be led by a girl while also being supervised by her parents or caretakers. Friends and family of a girl participating the cookie program must not market or share a girl’s contact information, sales links, or sales information on public-facing online sites. They also should not share their sales link with any news outlets (this includes online and traditional news media, such as radio, television, or magazines). For safety purposes, online marketing activities, especially those conducted through social media platforms, should always be done through accounts set to “private.” Should any online marketing activities be identified as in violation of guidance, GSUSA or the council reserves the right to intervene and request removal or remove the post. Parents, girls, and volunteers should contact and collaborate with Spirit of Nebraska and GSUSA in advance on any local or national news media opportunities.
Family Patch Girls from the same household can earn the “Family Patch” by selling a combined total of 300 packages. New this year! Parents will complete and submit an order form for each girl’s Troop Cookie Manager (TCM). Each TCM will order the patch for the girl in her troop. The form can be found at GirlScoutsNebraska.org.
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Girl Recognitions Check out the recognitions that girls can earn in 2019! Recognitions are cumulative and based on number of packages sold by each individual girl! Girls earn choices of items, including Cookie Dough, at most levels up to the TOTAL packages sold between February 1 and March 10, 2019. Girls can convert their Cookie Dough to Travel Bucks and save them for up to five years for redemption towards a Council or Girl Scouts of the USA sponsored travel program. See your 2018-2019 Annual Program Book for more details!
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Narwhal Theme Patch (25-59 packages)
Drawstring Bag OR $5 Cookie Dough (60-109 packages)
Chalkboard OR $10 Cookie Dough (110-159 packages)
Narwhal T-shirt OR $10 Cookie Dough (160-214 packages)
Sparkles Narwhal Plush OR Sport Bottle OR $10 Cookie Dough (215-259 packages)
Journal OR Sunglasses OR $10 Cookie Dough (260-309 packages)
Nala Narwhal Plush OR Pop Socket OR $20 Cookie Dough (310-409 packages)
Beach Towel OR Soap Making Kit OR $20 Cookie Dough (410-499 packages)
Narwhal Slippers OR Rainbow Light OR $25 Cookie Dough PLUS 500+ Patch (500+ packages) 9
The 500 & 1000 Clubs Reward the Top Cookie Sellers in Nebraska! Girls selling 500 packages or more earn points, with which they choose from a variety of prizes or additional Cookie Dough. They also receive a special patch, a certificate of achievement, and acknowledgement in the JG Magazine. Those who sell 1000 or more packages of cookies, become members of the exclusive (return here on the actual page) 1000 Club. These supersellers receive additional rewards and recognition at their area Girl Awards Ceremony. Check our website for updated dates and times. 2019 Girl Award Ceremony Dates and Times:
▶ Omaha ▶ North Platte/Ogallala ▶ Columbus ▶ Lincoln ▶ Scottsbluff/Alliance ▶ Kearney 10
May 20 at 7 p.m.
Ralston High School
June 1 at 3 p.m.
Location TBD
June 2 at 2 p.m.
Central Community College
June 8 at 2 p.m.
State Capitol Rotunda
June 23 at 3 p.m. Location TBD June 30 at 2 p.m. First United Methodist Church
Club Prizes 500/1000 Club members are sent their 500/1000 Club prize materials directly from the council, with ordering instructions. The troop does NOT collect or enter any recognitions from the 500/1000 Club prize choices. Additional items may be added to the final list and items are subject to change due to availability at time of redemption. See flyer and online list of 500+ recognitions for more information! Pkgs. Sold
Pts. Earned
Pkgs. Sold
Pts. Earned
500-549
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1700-1799
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550-599
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1800-1899
15
600-699
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1900-1999
16
700-799
4
2000-2099
17
800-899
5
2100-2199
18
900-999
6
2200-2299
19
1000-1099
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2300-2399
20
1100-1199
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2400-2499
21
1200-1299
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2500-2599
22
1300-1399
10
2600-2699
23
1400-1499
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2700-2799
24
1500-1599
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2800-2899
25
1600-1699
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2900-2999
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3000+ = 1 point for every 100 packages sold 11
Nellie Narwhals: Nobel Bonus Recognition! This year, girls have the chance to win one of two Jumbo Nellie Narwhals in two separate ways.
▶ EVERY girl who sells a total of 300+ packages between February 1 and March 10, 2019, will receive one (1) entry* in the statewide drawing for Nellie the Narwhal.
▶ EVERY girl who sells 12+ packages online will receive one entry* into the drawing.
*Girls can earn one entry for reaching each level. But can only win one Nellie Narwhal prize.
Opt Out Recognition Plan Troops may choose to receive an additional 10¢ per package in troop profit (70¢ total) by “Opting Out” of receiving cumulative recognition items or 2018 Cookie Dough. Girls still earn the “Theme” patch for selling 25 packages or more, and all specialty patches as applicable. The Recognition Opt Out option is available to all Girl Scout levels. EVERY girl in the troop, and her parent/guardian, must sign a 2019 Recognition Opt Out Contract. 12
Check with your leader or TCM for details.
Gift of Sharing Add community service to your 2019 Cookie Program with Gift of Sharing. Troops choose a charity to whom they would like to donate Girl Scout Cookies. New this year! Any online Gift of Sharing units sold, the council will take care of the donations for you. (Suggestions always accepted.) Each girl selling at least 3 packages of Gift of Sharing cookies receives the “Cookie Share” patch. Here’s how it works:
▶ Girls ask their customers to purchase packages to be donated. ▶ Customers write the NUMBER OF PACKAGES in the Gift of Sharing column on the order card; they DO NOT specify a variety.
▶ Girls collect money for Gift of Sharing sales when they take the orders and deliver to troop on, or before, the dates specified by the troop.
▶ Troops may also sell Gift of Sharing cookies at Cookie Booths. These
purchases are divided among the girls as part of normal Cookie Booth sales totals.
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Where $4 for Each Box Goes 75%
Girl Recognitions & Troop Profit
resources needed to support Girl Scouting each year.
18% 57%*
Girl & Volunteer Services in Nebraska
25%
25%
Cost of Cookies
▶ Where does the money go when people buy Girl Scout Cookies?
Approximately 75% of the $4.00 for each package purchased stays with the Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska council to provide the resources needed to support Girl Scouting each year. The Girl Scout Cookie program does not completely fund Council expenses. Money is also raised through grants, corporate gifts and individual donations. *Girl and Volunteer Services Examples: • Funds to support more than 3,500 girls in our Community Outreach Program. • Funds to underwrite participation in council-sponsored programs, trips and events for more than 21,000 girls and adult members.
▶ Does any of the money from cookie sales go to Girl Scouts of the USA (the national Girl Scout organization)? Girl Scout councils do not provide any portion of their cookie revenue to Girl Scouts of the USA.
▶ Does any part of the cookie revenue go to support organizations
other than Girl Scouts? No money earned from any Girl Scout council-sponsored Cookie Program is given to any other organization. This does not preclude girls from spending their money on Girl Scout related activities, such as paying their own way to events, program outings/trips or Take Action projects to benefit the community.
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Important Cookie Details & Dates Program Begins Friday, February 1, 2019 Door-to-door, online and direct sales!
Cookie Booths Begin Friday, February 8, 2019 Booth with continue door-to-door, online and direct sale!
Program Concludes Sunday, March 10, 2019 Your Troop Cookie Manager (TCM): Phone: Email: Initial Order Due to Troop By: *Money Due to TCM: *Money Due to TCM: *Money Due to TCM: Recognition Choices Due to TCM:
MARCH 11, 2019
*information will be provided by your Troop Cookie Manager.
Girls may not sell or take orders for cookies before February 1, 2019. 16