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2017 Family Manual
Thank you!
Thank you for supporting your girl and all Girl Scouts in Southern Nevada in the 2017 Cookie
Sale. You are helping your girl to fund her own Girl Scout experience and learn the 5 Skills for
Girls:
•! Goal Setting
•! Decision Making
•! Money Management
•! People Skills
•! Business Ethics
Your support is vital to the success of the sale for your troop! You have a dedicated Troop
Cookie Manager coordinating everything related to the sale, please consider volunteering to
help them. You can offer to help with cookie distribution, participate in a cookie booth, etc.
Be sure to stay in contact with them during the sale.
2017 marks the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouts selling cookies to fund their activities, you
participating in a long standing tradition of empowering girls to do great things!
Meet the Cookies
New this year, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouts selling cookies to support
their activities, we are introducing the S’mores cookie. The cost for a box of cookies is $5.00.
A note about Trios: Trios are a gluten-free option that was pre-ordered in September. The
cost of Trios are $6.00 per package. They can be ordered online thru COCO Direct,
information on COCO Direct and COCO Mobile is discussed later in this manual.
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How the Cookie Crumbles~ for each $5.00 box of cookies:
•! Cost of cookies
$1.03
•! Troop Proceeds (if all guidelines are followed)
$1.00
•! GSSNV Proceeds*
$3.97
*GSSNV proceeds support all aspects of the council efforts to support girls and volunteers
Knowing that the baker only receives $1.03 per box and that the remaining $3.97 goes directly
to the local Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada is important for the girls to know.
How the Cookie Crumbles~ for each $6.00 box of Gluten Free cookies:
•! Cost of cookies
$2.25
•! Troop Proceeds (if all guidelines are followed)
$1.00
•! GSSNV Proceeds*
$3.75
*GSSNV proceeds support all aspects of the council efforts to support girls and volunteers
First few days in January
Troop Cookie Managers will receive all cookie sale materials in the mail.
Recognitions
Information regarding girl recognitions and incentives will be included with the cookie
materials that the Troop Cookie Managers will receive in the mail
First Meeting in January
Troop Cookie Mangers will pass out cookie order cards to girls, so that they may ask family
and friends to order cookies at his time. No money is collected.
Door to door sales begin February 12, 2017 when girls have cookies in hand.
Information for Parent/Guardians
A link to a parent/guardian informational video will be posted to the council website. A link to
the Parent/Guardian Permission and Responsibility form will be included in the video. The
permission slip must be completed and signed by the parent/guardian prior to the girl
participating in the sale in any way. This covers both the participation in the sale and the
selling of cookies door to door and at cookie booths. The Troop Cookie manager will keep the
printed and signed permission slips throughout the sale.
Family Support is the Key to Success
Girls have greater success in Girl Scout Cookie Program activities when family adults are
informed and involved. These tips will help you turn “cookie time” into “family time” and
provide important ways that you can guide and support her to cookie success!
Parent/guardians can:
1.! Make sure your Girl Scout is a registered member of Girl Scouts of the USA for the
current Girl Scout membership year (the membership year is October 1, 2016 thru
September 30, 2017).
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2.! Attend troop cookie training and help with meetings or other tasks.
3.! Learn and understand “The 5 Skills for Girls” and how they impact the Girl Scouts who
participate in the cookie sale.
4.! Work with your girl to set goals and track her progress. Parent/guardians should
encourage her to set up an account on COCO Direct, the Girl Scout’s online Cookie
Command for goal setting, planning and marketing.
5.! Encourage your girl to make a telephone or email contact list of her friends and family.
She can create and send e-Cards in the Online Cookie Marketing section of COCO.
6.! Review and discuss Safety Guidelines.
7.! Coach your girl in selling techniques, including how to share her goals, and suggest
additional reasons to purchase cookies.
8.! Accompany your Girl Scout to support her as she sells.
9.! Talk with your girl and discuss ways to help her reach her goals, such as giving rides
when she needs them or safeguarding her cookie money. Remember, closing the sale
is her responsibility.
10.!Allow your Girl Scout to participate in a booth sale and volunteer to help.
12.! Check on her progress during the sale. Help her live by the Girl Scout Promise and Law,
and discuss how it applies to business-ethics throughout the program. Let friends
know how proud you are of your Girl Scout and her participation in the Girl Scout
Cookie Program.
January 13th
Girls can begin to take orders from friends and family. No money is collected at this time.
Girls can show their order card to friends and family, parent/guardians can download the
COCO Direct app, and communicate thru social media.
COCO Direct-Cookie Command for Girls
COCO Direct is the girls’ online "Cookie Command" center for their cookie business. COCO
helps girls:
•! Set their goal of how many packages of cookies they want to sell this year.
•! Make plans for how they will reach their goals.
•! Check how they're doing along the way.
•! Send e-Cards to their friends and family to tell them that it’s cookie time and ask for
their support.
Girls can also see what their friends are doing and even send them cheers to help them along.
Ready? Get them started by going to http://www.abcsmartcookies.com/COCO-1
IMPORTANT: Remember, it's always best to work online with an adult.
COCO offers an online sale component where girls can send emails to friends and families,
and cookies can be purchased online and delivered directly via the mail to their customers.
When creating the COCO account, girls must use the same name as what is entered in
SNAP+ to insure they are credited for their online sales.
How is money credited from online sales? COCO directly links to our cookie tracking system.
The girls will have girl payments added to their accounts, as well as box counts. All online
sales count towards rewards levels, as well as troop proceeds.
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Cookies & Social Media
Girls are allowed to email friends and relatives before the sale, announcing that the sale
begins on February 12thth. Girls are allowed to take orders via email after the sale begins. Girls
are allowed to advertise or post an ad/notice via Facebook or other social networking site
both before and during the sale. The contact person in any advertisement must be an adult
(parent or TCM). Never publish a girl’s contact information.
Girls are not allowed to accept payment online, such as with PayPal. Cookies cannot be sold
on EBay. Orders cannot be accepted before February 12th via the computer, a pledge made
by a Facebook friend, etc. When friends respond with comments such as, “Put me down for
…” the appropriate response must be, “Thank you for your pledge, we will contact you at the
start of the sale!”
Cookie Share Program
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Customers can purchase cookie share cookies from the order card that the girls receive or at
a booth. The Cookie Share program is designed for customers to purchase cookies to be
sent to deployed military, food banks, homeless shelters, etc.
•! Customers who choose “Cookie Share” on the order card do not make a choice of
which organizations their cookies are donated to. The Military is our default
organization for all Cookie Share donations. The girls can accept payment for the
cookies at the time the customer places the Cookie Share order or choose to go back
to the customer at a later date.
•! Customers that purchase Cookie Share cookies at a booth can choose to donate to
select organizations. Many customers will donate their change from the cookies they
are purchasing. This money can be used to purchase Cookie Share cookies. If it’s not
in $5.00 increments, then the money can be combined with other customer’s
donations until they have enough for a box. Every box counts!
Troop Proceeds
Troops earn $.95 for every box sold or $1.00 if all troop paperwork has been submitted, rules
have been followed and all funds have been remitted to GSSNV properly.
The cookie Sale earnings belong to the entire troop, not the individual Girl Scout. Individual
Girl Scouts earn recognitions; troops earn proceeds. Regardless of the amount of cookies
that a girl sells, the proceeds earned for the Troop belong to the Troops, and are used for the
entire Troop.
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By January 20th
Give your Troop Cookie Manger your girl’s initial cookie order.
February 10th –11th
Troop Cookie Managers, with help from troop volunteers and parent/guardians will pick up
cookies from delivery site. Cookies will be distributed to the girls with the money-collection
envelopes. Parent/guardians count, verify, and sign for the cookies.
All troops will receive their cookies on Friday, February, 10th or Saturday February 11th. The
locations and times of mega drop locations will be provided in SNAP. The first day to deliver
and collect money for cookies is February 12th.
Volunteers are needed to help at each Mega Drop location. This is a great opportunity for
high school students (boys and girls) to receive community service hours. Volunteers do not
have to be registered Girl Scouts. If you know of any volunteers willing to help, please contact
your Service Unit Product Sales Manager or [email protected].
During the Mega Drop at the Council office each troop’s vehicle drives through a line and the
orders are filled in your vehicle. Drivers should arrive at the designated location, check in at
their designated time (not early and not late), show valid driver’s license or photo ID, and
provide troop #. NO ID = NO Cookies! All drivers will remain in their vehicles the entire time.
A walker/cookie counter walks alongside the vehicle with the troop order, stopping at each
variety. The varieties are counted as they are loaded into the vehicles. The driver will sign-off
on each variety as it is loaded. Once a variety has been loaded, all troop vehicles precede to
the next variety. Once the order is complete, the driver and the walker/ cookie counter sign
off on the order. The driver pulls up to check out and receives a receipt for their order.
Troops are responsible for all cookies on the signed receipt. The Troop Cookie manager
must re-count the cookies prior to distributing cookies to the girls. Troops have 48 hours
after picking up their cookies to report any discrepancies.
Approximate vehicle capacity:
•! Compact Car - Approximately 23 cases
•! Mid-size Car - Approximately 35 cases
•! Small SUV - Approximately 50 to 60 cases
•! Large SUV - Approximately 75 to 100 cases
•! Full size Van with seats - Approximately 150 cases
•! Full size Van without seats - Approximately 200 cases
Troops should bring their own ropes, tie-downs, and netting. Please, no children or pets.
Remove car seats and miscellaneous items that take up extra space. You must pick up all of
your cookies at once, and cannot make multiple trips back and forth to pick up your order. If it
rains, there may be an alternate plan for the GSSNV’s Mega Drop. If a change to the pick-up
location is necessary, you will be notified as soon as possible.
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Cookie Storage
Cookies should be stored off the ground and out of the sun and be mindful of storing them in
hot places such as garages; Be careful not to drop cases or boxes; Please store cookies away
from strong odors such as cigarette smoke, garage exhaust, and pungent foods.
Damaged Cookies
If you receive a damaged box of cookies, you can return them to the cookie cupboard for
replacement. Cookies that have been left in the rain, left in the sun, dropped, or that have the
perforated top opened when pulling them out of the cases, cannot be exchanged.
If a customer claims that they received a damaged box of cookies, please replace them, no
questions asked, regardless of who/ where they purchased them. Take the damaged box to
the cookie cupboard for a replacement.
February 14th – March 12th
Troops can pick up reorders of cookies from the cookie cupboard. Reorders from must be
placed at least 48 hours in advance to be sure that there is stock available.
The cookie cupboard at the council office will be open:
Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays – 7am – 7 pm, Saturdays – 9 am – 5 pm and Sundays – 10am –
Noon
Troops may authorize someone else other than the Troop Cookie Manager to pick up
cookies from the cookie cupboard as long as they have a substitution pick up form, and show
a valid driver’s license or photo ID.
February 12th – March 12th
Girls deliver cookies to customers and collect money. Please be sure to frequently turn in
money collected. The Troop Cookie Manager will record girl payments into SNAP+, the online
system for tracking the cookie sale, and make deposits to the troop bank account regularly.
Please be sure that you receive a receipt each time you pick up cookies and turn in money.
Distributing Cookies to Girls
1.! Please remember girls are not required to sell cookies, even if they committed
during the goal setting and cookies were ordered on their behalf. Since cookies
haven’t been sold in advance of pick-up, (except for the friends and family preorders) parent/guardians should not pick up more cookies than they feel
comfortable accepting.
2.! The majority of the cookies that have been checked out from the troop must be
paid for before receiving additional cookies.
3.! The deadline to return cookies to the troop is February 21st. Parent/guardians not
returning cookies by this date will be held financially responsible for all cookie still
in their possession.
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Handling Checks
If accepting a check as payment for cookies, please follow these guidelines:
•! Checks should be made payable to “Girl Scout Troop # ____” and given to the Troop
Cookie Manger for deposit into the troop’s bank account.
•! A driver’s license or state issued ID# with expiration date must be written at the top of
the check. This applies in the case of all checks, no matter who you accept a check
from.
If a check fails to clear the bank and is returned as Non-Sufficient Funds (NSF), it is initially
the troop’s responsibility to make every effort to collect from the customer, if possible.
GSSNV will be able to assist only if there is a driver’s license number and expiration date
on the check, if the NSF check does not have a driver’s license or state issued ID# with
expiration date listed on the check, the troop will be responsible for that amount.
Accidental Loss of Cookies or Cookie Funds
If there is a robbery or a fire in your home or vehicle that affects cookies or cookie money,
please file a claim with your homeowner’s or auto insurance for reimbursement. Please also
submit a copy of the police report to your Troop Cookie Manger ASAP. For this reason, it is
critical that you turn in money regularly and not hold onto large amounts of money. Also, do
not leave product or money in a vehicle.
February 12th-17th
Girls may “Walkabout” (go door to door, with adult supervision) with their wagon or cart and
sell cookies that they have on hand and take orders for additional cookies.
Walkabout Period
Girls are allowed to go door-to-door anytime throughout the sale with cookies in hand.
However, the official Walkabout Period in which the girls can go door-to-door prior to the
start of booth sales is February 12th-17th. This is when they establish their customer
foundation. Girls can walk around their neighborhood with their cookies in a wagon or cart.
Girls may decorate their cart or wagon if they wish to make it more fun!
Door to Door Cookie Sale Guidelines:
•! Never go inside someone’s home while selling cookies. Girls should stay outside the
customer’s home where they can be seen from the street.
•! Girls should never accept food or beverages while selling.
•! Girls should leave all pets at home while selling, unless a working animal companion is
necessary; i.e., seeing eye dog.
•! Girls should not go into a yard if there is a dog or a closed gate/fence.
•! Girls may not sell cookies door-to-door after dark.
•! Girls must never give their last name or phone number while selling.
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•! GSSNV policy states that a parent or other responsible adult must provide adequate
supervision while girls are going door-to-door.
•! An adult’s telephone number should be given for reorders or complaints. Girls should
never give out their telephone number.
February 18th
Cookie Booth sales begin.
Safety and fairness are important to running successful booth sales. It is also important that
girls are using the Girl Scout Promise and Law as guidelines during the entire sale:
•! There cannot be donation or tip jar at the booth.
•! Booths should be packed up 10 minutes before the booth ends so that the next
troop/group can set up on time.
•! Keep your booth neat and orderly, keep food and drink away from the cookies as
much as possible. Remove all trash when you leave, including the cardboard cases
that the cookies came in.
•! No smoking, e-cigarettes or vapes at a cookie booth
•! Girls and adults should dress appropriately and be polite. Girls must be recognizable
as Girl Scouts – they should wear a GS t-shirt, sweatshirt, membership, etc.
•! Girls should know their personal goal for the sale.
•! It is not permissible for a girl and her parent/guardian to sell cookies from the trunk of
their car or to set up at a park bench, etc.
This is a partial list of the guidelines. If you have specific questions about booth sales, please
see the Troop Cookie Booth Guidelines. A copy of the guidelines can be downloaded from
the council website in the forms section.
February 23rd
Troops may return up to 5% of their initial cookie order, in full cases, to GSSNV on this day
only.
March 12th
End of Cookie Sale Program.
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