people
skills
Cookie Timeline
goal
setting
2013
December
5 Last day to request
Council Booth
6 Council Booth Lottery Run
8 Cookies & Other Businesses
9 Initial orders due in SNAP
decision
making
business
ethics
2014
January
3–13 Mega Drop
11 Cookie Rallies
16 Kick-off, Philadelphia
16 Cookie Program Start
31 ACH Sweep #1
February
7–8 National Cookie Days
22 Swap Day
26 ACH Sweep #2
March
9 Cookie Program Ends
15 OCFH Drop Off
21 ACH Sweep #3
22 OCFH Drop Off
What’s New?
• Cranberry Citrus Cookie
• G
luten-Free Chocolate Chip
Shortbread Cookie Pilot
• M
ake your own “5 Skills
Cookie Commercial!”
• COCO Cookie Command
money
management
2014 Cookie Manual
The Girl Scout Leadership Experience
The Girl Scout Cookie Program is the largest girl-led business in the world!
With the guidance of committed volunteers, girls are empowered to fund
their Girl Scout Leadership Experience, and develop Five Essential Skills:
1. Goal Setting
2. Decision Making
3. Money Management
4. People Skills
5. Business Ethics
The five skill patches will be available for purchase in GSEP Council Shops.
Cookie Glossary
Council Sponsored Cookie Booth
Secured by GSEP, these booths are
located in high-volume or high-profile
locations, and are selected by a lottery.
The last day to request a booth in the
SNAP system is December 5, 2013.
Troops will receive a confirmation email
if they are selected to host a Council
Sponsored Cookie Booth.
Council Sponsored Planned
Order Station Located throughout
the council, each station has its own
schedule. A detailed listing can be
found at www.gsep.org.
Mega Delivery Station The location
which volunteers select the time and
location in the SNAP system to pick-up
their Initial Orders.
Initial Order The first order a troop
places in SNAP. Initial Orders are picked
up on a ‘Mega Drop’ day. The deadline
to place an initial order in SNAP is
December 9, 2013.
Planned Order Picked up at a Council
Sponsored Planned Order Station, this
order must be placed in SNAP by noon
the day prior to picking up the order. If
you miss the pickup, the order will be
canceled. A T-8 is not required, and
ordering is only available by cases. GSEP
is responsible for entering the T-8 into
SNAP. Please allow time for processing.
Service Unit Cookie Cupboard
A cupboard hosted by the Service Unit
to transfer cookies to the Troop in either
cases or individual packages.
Service Unit Cookie Booth Secured
by your SUCM or SUCBM, these booths
are within your Service Unit boundaries.
Each Service Unit handles the process
of establishing and scheduling booths
differently.
TCM Acronym meaning Troop Cookie
Manager. This volunteer is responsible
for the overall operation of the Cookie
Program to the troop including training
the family and girls, managing troop
inventory and SNAP.
SNAP The online management system
for the Girl Scout Cookie Program that
allows troop volunteers to manage
volunteer contacts, girl rosters, cupboard
ordering, booth scheduler and locator,
messaging, and reports. The website for
SNAP is www.abcsnap.com.
Transfer The moving of inventory from
a provider to a source.
SUCBM Acronym meaning Service Unit
Cookie Booth Manager. This volunteer
is responsible to securing Service
Unit Cookie Booths and creating the
schedule and the process.
M-3 Form Money and/or Cookie
Receipt, used only by a troop.
SUCM Acronym meaning Service
Unit Cookie Manager. This volunteer is
responsible for the overall operations
of the Cookie Program throughout
the Service Unit, including training
the troops and offering assistance
throughout the duration of the program.
Swap Day A large scaled meeting for
multiple troops and service units to take
advantage of the opportunity to swap
inventory. Swap Day will be held on
February 22, 2014, at all of the Council
Service Centers, with the exception of
Jane Seltzer.
Sweep The automatic removal of funds
from the Troop account to the GSEP
account to pay for inventory.
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Troop Balance Summary Report
Found in SNAP, this report shows all
the transactions of a troop’s history
throughout the Cookie Program.
T-8 Form Cookie Transfer Form
used anytime a transfer is completed
between a provider and a source. This
form is not needed for a planned order
or initial order.
G-1 Form Parent Permission Form used
to track all transactions between a TCM
and a girl/adult.
About SNAP
www.abcsnap.com
SNAP is the online management
system for the Girl Scout Cookie
Program that allows troop
volunteers to manage:
• V
olunteer contacts, Girl Roster,
Cookie/Recognition Orders,
Girl Payments
Planning and Preparation for Troop Cookie Managers
Step 1: Train Parents and Girls
• Visit the Family Section on COCO, and use parts of this training manual
Step 2: Use COCO, the Virtual Cookie Command Center
• Set, measure, and track goals
• Send E-Cards
• View recognitions earned
• Planned/Cupboard Ordering,
Booth Scheduler, Booth Locator
• Maintains a database for customers
• Calendar, Messages, Reports
Step 3: Develop a Troop Business Plan
Username
Troop Leader’s Email Address
Password
C00kies
Girl Materials
• C
ookie Order Card, Mini-Order
Card Attached
• Parent Permission Form (G-1)
• Money Envelope
Troop Materials
• Use the Troop Budget Worksheet found on COCO
to establish program outcomes
• Determine Troop Goal
• Set per-girl goals
• S
chedule direct sale opportunities for the troop—Input locations
into SNAP to be included in the Booth Locator
• Utilize creative selling techniques to maximize your earning potential:
1. Friends and neighbors
2. Operation Cookies from Home
3. Direct Sales (booth sales)
4. Use social networking to promote the sale
• Receipt Books (M-3)
• Troop End-of-Sale Envelope
• Troop Toolkit
• Cookie Transfer Forms (T-8)
On The Web
• www.abcsmartcookie.com
• www.abcsnap.com
• www.gsep.org
3
Orders
Initial Orders
The first order a troop places in SNAP.
Initial Orders are pick up on a ‘Mega
Drop’ day.
T-8 is not required, and ordering is only
available by cases. GSEP is responsible
for entering the T-8 into SNAP. Please
allow time for processing.
cases are available. GSEP is responsible
for entering the T-8 into SNAP. Please
allow time for processing.
Creating a Damage Order
Unplanned Orders
Picked up at a Council Sponsored
Unplanned Order Station without first
placing a Planned Order in SNAP, these
cookies are not guaranteed to be
available. A T-8 is required, and only
Be sure to notify the SUCM prior to
creating a ‘Damage Order’ in SNAP.
Click on the ‘cookies’ icon then choose
‘Damage Order.’ Create the order by
entering the number of packages and
clicking save.
Council Sponsored Planned
Council Sponsored Unplanned
Service Unit Cookie Cupboard
Order Station
Order Station
Located throughout the council, each
having its own schedule. A detailed
listing can be found at www.gsep.org.
Located throughout the council, each
having its own schedule. A detailed
listing can be found at www.gsep.org.
Planned Orders
Picked up at a Council Sponsored
Planned Order Station, this order must
be placed in SNAP by noon the day prior
to picking up the order. If you miss the
pickup, the order will be canceled. A
Where do I pick up my order?
Located within the Service Unit, this
cupboard contains a limited amount
of supply. For details, please contact
your SUCM.
Operation Cookies from Home
Operation Cookies from Home (OCFH) is a partnership between GSEP and the
USO to provide Girl Scout Cookies to men and women serving in the U.S. Military.
Throughout the Cookie Program, customers have the opportunity to donate any
amount of money, or a package of cookies. A girl that collects $4.00 will receive
credit for selling one package, and the troop will also receive profit. All funds
collected or donated to the OCFH should be deposited into your troop’s account.
At the end of the Cookie Program, the TCM will tally the money donated to OCFH
to determine their troop’s contributions.
There are two ways of completing the
troop’s OCFH orders:
1. If the troop and Service Unit does
not have access inventory, the TCM
can place a troop-to-troop transfer
from the OCFH Troop. This will act as
a virtual transfer of packages. This
transfer into your troop will increase the
balance your troop will owe to GSEP to
cover the funds your troop collected.
You will not need drop off any inventory.
4
2. If the troop has leftover inventory,
they can choose to gather these
packages and deliver them to a
specified OCFH drop-off location.
OCFH drop-off location details are
listed below. More information will be
available closer to the drop-off date.
March 15, 2014
Berks, Delco, Philadelphia
March 22, 2014
Shelly Ridge, Lehigh Valley, Valley Forge
Cookie Booths
Cookie Booths are a great way to sell cookies as a troop and can help boost your
program while teaching girls leadership skills! The SUCM or SUCBM will provide a list
of Service Unit Booths and Troop Booths to GSEP for publication within the booth
locator system on www.gsep.org. The Booth Locator is used by potential customers
to locate cookies.
There are three types of Cookie Booths:
Service Unit Booths secured by the
SUCM or SUCBM, these booths are
within your Service Unit boundaries.
Each Service Unit handles the process
of establishing and scheduling Cookie
Booths differently. Please contact your
SUCM or SUCBM for details.
Troop Booths Troops may have access
to additional retail venues within their
Service Unit boundaries that would
be available to host a Cookie Booth
for a day or two. These booths might
include your local church or other small
business location. Please contact your
SUCM or SUCBM for details on how to
secure these locations.
Council Sponsored Booths secured
by GSEP staff, these booths are located
in high-volume or high-profile locations.
Council Booths are open to all troops
throughout GSEP regardless of Service
Unit boundaries and are scheduled
via the SNAP online selection and
lottery system.
Basic Guidelines for Booth Participation
It is important to remember that you are a guest of your booth location and are
there to represent Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania. Below are a few basic
guidelines while participating in a Cookie Booth.
• B
e sure to check Safety Activity
Checkpoints
• F
ood should not be consumed
while at a booth
• I f your troop schedules a booth,
your troop is responsible for being
there with enough cookies to last
the entire shift
• G
irls should be wearing their uniform,
or sash/vest and pins, to identify as a
Girl Scout
• Be polite, pleasant, and smile
• A
dults should never leave girls alone,
and settle all disputes in a Girl Scout
manner
• Always thank your customer
• T
ake all trash, including empty
cases, and be sure not to leave
anything behind
5
Payment
GSEP has incorporated ACH
(Automatic Clearing House) to provide
troops with the convenience of paying
Council for the products sold by the
troop. By completing the ACH form,
troops allow GSEP to draw money from
the troop account. These draws, or
“sweeps” will be based on the troop’s
initial order, the troop’s inventory and
the final balance owed to GSEP. The
troop will retain its troop profits after
the final sweep is completed.
At the conclusion of the program, GSEP
will complete an audit of all troop
paperwork. If a transfer or change in
profit is discovered, GSEP will conduct a
final sweep to reconcile the account.
Sweep
Date
Value
First January 31, 2014
15% of the initial order
Second February 26, 2014
35% of troop inventory
Third March 21, 2014
100% less troop proceed
Delinquency Issues
If a troop encounters a Delinquency
Issue with a parent or guardian, a leader
is to complete the Parent Debt Form
(T-5). Upon completion of this form,
submit it to Finance at [email protected],
along with the Parent Permission Form
(G-1) no later than March 18, 2014.
If a SUCM encounters a Delinquency
Issue with a Troop in the Service Unit,
complete the Parent Debt Form and
submitting it to Finance at ach@gsep.
org, along with the Troop Balance
Summary Report.
Troop End of Sale Envelope and Paperwork
At the completion of the Cookie
Program, volunteers are to submit to
their SUCM, in the white envelope, the
Troop Balance Summary Report and
all Cookie Transfer Forms (T-8) used
throughout the Program. Each SUCM
is responsible for setting a completion
due date.
Service Unit Cookie Managers must
schedule an appoint to review all
final troop paperwork by emailing
[email protected]. If you are unable
to attend any of the times and
locations listed here, please
contact [email protected]
2014 Date
2014 DateLocation
Time
March 25
Lehigh Valley Service Center
1–8 pm
March 26
Valley Forge Service Center
1–8 pm
March 27
Shelly Ridge Service Center
1–8 pm
April 1
Berks County Service Center
2–7 pm
April 2
Jane Seltzer Service Center
2–7 pm
April 3
DelCo Service Center
2–7 pm
April 5
Lehigh Valley Service Center
9 am–12 pm
April 5
Shelly Ridge Service Center
9 am–12 pm
April 7
Shelly Ridge Service Center
3:30–6:30 pm
April 9
Valley Forge Service Center
3:30–6:30 pm
April 10
Lehigh Valley Service Center
3:30–6:30 pm
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Contests
5=52
5=52 is a Customer Sweepstakes
which gives customers a chance to
win cookies for a year! For every five
packages of cookies purchased, the
customer has a chance to enter into a
drawing for 52 boxes of cookies. Five
winners will be randomly chosen at the
end of the Cookie Program.
Bling Your Booth
The contest is active for the duration
of the Cookie Program. Each troop
may submit one entry per category,
and all submissions must be received by
11:59 pm on March 24, 2014. Two finalists
per category will be selected by the
Product Program Advisory Committee.
A link will be posted on GSEP Facebook
pages beginning April 18, 2014 for voting.
Voting will end at 11:59 pm on May 2, 2014.
The categories to Bling Your Booth are
listed below:
1 Operation Cookies From Home
How does your Cookie Booth
promote “Operation Cookies
From Home?”
New This Year!
Create your own ‘5 Skills Cookie
Commercial!’ Submit your 2-4 minute
commercial to [email protected] by
11:59 pm on March 24, 2014. Show how
girls are putting the 5 Skills into action.
Three videos will be selected by the
Product Program Advisory Committee,
and featured on www.gsep.org!
2 Change the World How does your
Cookie Booth represent this year’s
theme of “Change the World?”
3 Because I’m a Girl Scout Show at
your booth what your troop was able
to do because they are Girl Scouts!
Recognitions
Cumulative Plan
Older Girl Travel Plan
Troop Proceed Levels
This plan is offered to all grade levels
and features themed items such as
the patch, stuffed animal, Girl Scout
Membership Voucher, etc. These
items are cumulative and are based
on the number of packages sold by
the individual girl.
This plan is for Cadettes, Seniors, and
Ambassadors. Girls must sell 500+
packages to be eligible for this plan.
By choosing this plan, girls are able to
earn travel credits for troop-based
programs, trips, or Destinations. The
credits must be banked and used within
two years. For more information, or to
register for this plan, please contact
[email protected].
Troop profit is based on the troop’s
Per Girl Average (PGA). The PGA
is calculated by dividing the total
packages in the troop’s inventory by
the number of girls selling. Based on
this number, the troop will receive the
following profit per package:
1–129
$.60 / package
Older Girl Proceed Plan
130–159
$.65 / package
This plan is for Cadettes, Seniors, and
Ambassadors. The troop must reach
a Per Girl Average (PGA) of 160
packages. If a PGA of 160 is reached,
the troop will earn an additional $.05
per package. If this option is chosen,
it applies to the entire troop. This plan
must be a troop decision.
160–199
$.75 / package
200–299
$.80 / package
300 +
$.85 / package
Adventure Credit Plan
This plan is offered to all grade levels,
but is not cumulative. An individual girl
must sell more than 200 packages to
be eligible to receive Adventure Credits.
This plan includes all patches a girl is
eligible for and a credit voucher that
can be used toward purchases in GSEP
retail stores, GSEP Programs/Events,
GSEP summer camps, or Service Unit
neighborhood day camps. Credits are
non-transferable.
7
PGA #
Profit per Package
Cookie Success In
Three Easy Steps
Planning and Preparation
Step 1 Train Parents/Girls and
set a sales plan and goals
Step 2 Market the Sale by
using Social Networking and
COCO Command
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How will my troop benefit from the sale?
A. The cookie program provides important ingredients for leadership by helping
girls develop five key skills; Goal Setting, Decision Making, Money Management,
People Skills, and Business Ethics. Girls are able to earn money towards fun
and exciting girl-planned program activities, as well as contribute to their
council’s ability to provide Girl Scouting in the community. Girls can also earn
fun recognitions and patches, credit which can be used in the shop or for
membership, or can even be used towards summer camp!
Step 3 Schedule a cookie booth
and input the information in
SNAP to be entered into the
Cookie Locator
Q. What is a Cookie Rally?
Make It Happen
Q. What is the price of a package of cookies?
Step 1 Place the Initial Order and
motivate the girls to expand sales
A. A Cookie Rally is a large event for girls throughout GSEP to get together
and learn about the five skills, and get excited for the sale! Registration for
a GSEP Cookie Rally can be completed via Online Registration.
A. The cost of a package is $4.00, with the exception of the Gluten Free
Chocolate Chip Shortbread, which is $5.00 per package.
Step 2 Distribute and receipt
cookies to parents, and order
additional product as needed
Q. Where can I get more forms if I run out?
Step 3 Complete all paperwork
and ACH Sweeps on time
Q. What is the 500 Club Picnic?
Celebrating Success
Step 1 Celebrate and distribute
girl recognitions, and thank the
families
Step 2 Measure the troop’s
progress and complete the
OCFH transaction
A. Contact your SUCM, or [email protected]
A. The 500 Club Picnic is a celebration for girls selling more than 500 boxes
of cookies. More details will be available towards the end of the sale.
Q. What is the Grand Mystery Tour?
A. The Grand Mystery Tour is a full day-long adventure for girls selling more
than 1,000 boxes of cookies. More details will be available toward the end
of the sale.
Step 3 Evaluate the sale and
complete GSEP’s Survey. Details
will be provided closer to the end
of the sale
Scan or log on to www.abcsmartcookies.com
Questions?
For questions or further information,
please contact [email protected].