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Virtual Cookie Returns
Troops that need to return unsold cookies due to the cancellation of booths and other public sale opportunities from March 17-29 can return cookies with no restrictions on varieties or amounts.
The first step is to submit the Virtual Cookie Returns form. The deadline to submit quantities to return is Wednesday, April 22 at 11:59 p.m. Please only include returns that your troop is not planning to sell.
Important: Virtual Cookie Returns can only be submitted by the Troop Product Manager (TPM) or another volunteer on behalf of the TPM. If forms are submitted by individual families, those returns will not be processed.
Once a troop return has been processed, cookies will be transferred out of the troop in Smart Cookies, via Troop to Cupboard transfer. This will remove financial liability for those cookies from the troop. Please make sure your return quantity is available in your “on-hand” inventory in Smart Cookies. If cookies for return have already been transferred to girls, you will need to correct girl quantities through transfers before your reward order can be submitted correctly.
Please make sure all returned cookies are stored in a safe, climate-controlled environment free from smoke and pests. Once the public health guidance changes, we will provide directions for physically returning the cookies. If the quantity returned in person is less than what was submitted virtually, the troop will be financially responsible for the difference.
Keep in mind that these unsold cookies have a real cost! A huge thank you to all the volunteers and families that have gone above and beyond to reduce or eliminate your need to return cookies by collecting donations to distribute cookies in your community and by coordinating no contact porch drop off sales. We are so grateful for all the GSGI supporters that have rallied to come up with creative solutions to lessen the impact of this year’s surplus cookie inventory.
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Cookie Dough--Expiration Date Extended!
Cookie Dough earned in the 2020 Cookie Program will not expire until March 15, 2021 (previously September 15, 2020). This extension will also apply to Munch Money earned in the 2019 Fall Product Program.
We know girls worked hard for Cookie Dough this year, to spend on camps, activities, uniforms, and fun Girl Scout gear! Because they will receive their Cookie Dough later than originally planned due to the program extension, and because there is a great deal of uncertainty around public events in the near future, we want to give girls more time to use their rewards! The March 15 expiration will allow girls to use their Cookie Dough for registration for camps during the 2021 season which opens up in December 2020! They can also use Cookie Dough for membership, events, and Girl Scout membership. Girls must renew for the 2020-21 Girl Scout year by September 15, 2020 for their Cookie Dough to carry over until March.
This extension applies to girls in grades K-4 this year only, as Cookie Dough is automatically banked for girls in grades 5-11, as long as they register for the upcoming year by September 15.
Coming soon: we’ll open up the form to request 2020-21 memberships by Cookie Dough. Girls who sold at least 100 packages earn enough Cookie Dough to pay for their next year’s Girl Scout membership.
Looking for information about the 2020 Summer Camp Season? Our team is closely monitoring the public health guidance. At this point, there are no changes to the posted schedule. Any updates to the camp season will be announced by May 11.
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700+ Club Changes
We have additional reward changes at the 700+ package level. We have made the decision to cancel the 700 Club Celebration and Girl Scout Day at Adventureland. While Adventureland is currently scheduled to be open in time for the event, canceling the event now allows girls to choose alternative reward options before Reward Orders are due on April 27. Girls will still receive their special 700-club patch and certificate.
Previously, at 700+ packages sold, all girls earned 2 tickets to Adventureland and an invitation to the 700 Club Celebration on June 6. There was no rewards selection at this level, and the event was earned even if girls selected opt-out rewards.
New: Girl who sell 700+ packages will have a choice between:
- Two pre-paid tickets to Adventureland, valid all season
- Hoodie – this is same hoodie that is available for selection at the 760+ level
- $25 in Cookie Dough
TPMs, please reach out to girls who have reached the 700+ level to update their selection! The rewards choice the 700+ level will be added to Smart Cookies by Tuesday, April 21.
If girls have selected the opt-out rewards (laptop, iPad, camp session, or trips), we will directly reach out to those girls after April 27 for their selection, as TPMs will not be able to add their choice in Smart Cookies.
The option for two pre-paid tickets to Adventureland is a change for this year only. Due to the change, we will not be able to offer additional discount ticket purchases to Adventureland for other family members. We look forward to returning to a day of Girl Scout celebration next summer!
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Special Experience Rewards
What about other special experience rewards? We will continue to communicate any changes to the special experience rewards, including:
CEO Party on June 5 – 2020+ Package Level
- This event is still scheduled for June 5, but we will communicate in mid-May directly with girls who earned this event. The date may change, based on public health guidance. Why is this not canceled or postponed when the Adventureland date is? The 700 Club Celebration involves hundreds of people in an auditorium after a day at a public amusement park, while the CEO Party is likely to be under ten girls. We plan to coordinate any schedule updates directly with the girls who earned the event.
Trampoline, Water Park, or Art Adventures on July 18 – Troop PGA of 400+
- These events are still scheduled for July 18, and troops who earned this reward will receive registration information by email in May. If the events need to be postponed based on public health guidance, we will communicate those changes with troops who earned this level.
Troop Camp (dates vary) – 5,000+ Packages
- At this point, there are no changes to the posted schedule. Any updates to the camp season will be announced by May 11. If there is a change to camp schedule, we will communicate rewards alternatives to troops who earned this level.
Gimme S’more Mud Run on September 26 – Troop PGA of 250+
- We are looking forward to a muddy good time in September! Troops who earned this reward will receive a notification that they earned it in May, with registration information coming later. If there is any change to this event, we will communicate rewards alternatives to troops who earned this level.
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Ten Days Left!
With the program extension until April 26, there are ten days left for girls to sell cookies for credit. Here’s a quick checklist of things to consider!
- Girls can still sell online through April 26. Direct Ship cookies are a great option for far away family and friends, especially with so many people staying home. Girls may want to send reminders to customers who haven’t purchased – there are no automatic reminders sent through Smart Cookies.
- Remember to watch for Girl Delivery Orders. The Smart Cookies Girl Delivery option will remain active through Sunday, April 26 (at 11:59 p.m.) This maximizes the time for girls to use the online sales portal for friends and family sales. Customers can only access Girl Delivery by clicking on a girl’s e-card, and parents may cancel any Girl Delivery order that the girl is unable to fulfill.
- Be sure to communicate with families to collect monies due for cookies transferred to girls. To maintain social distance, TPMs can take parent payments via credit/debit card in the Clover Go app. Parents/guardians can also pay the troop by credit/debit card through Smart Cookies by placing a cookie order. From the girl’s Smart Cookies account, navigate to My Orders, select Take Cookie Order, capture required information, and enter order to equal amount of payment. Select Delivered and Paid to process the payment by credit/debit card. The final troop payment will be auto-withdrawn on May 4. If an individual family is not able to pay their balance due in time, TPMs should submit a Girl Shortage Form.
- Troop Reward Orders are due on April 27 at 11:59 p.m. When you submit your Reward Order, all on-hand inventory should be transferred to girls to calculate individual reward levels and troop proceeds. If you need help, plan on joining a live Reward Order Q&A on April 27, or reach out to info@gsiowa.org for assistance.
- Remember, every $4 received in donations by your troop this cookie season accounts for one package of cookies to donate! If you have remaining cookies to donate from your on-hand inventory, you will transfer those to girls directly, without marking virtual Cookie Share. If you are out of cookies, use Virtual Cookie Share to account for donations, and GSGI will take care of the donations. Important – if you are donating from your on-hand inventory, be sure to keep those cookies aside for donation, and do not include them in your counts for Virtual Cookie Returns. Need more info? Check out the guide here.
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Thanks a Lot, Thanks-a-Lots!
 We are so excited about this special patch commemorating the last year of the Thanks-a-Lot, which of course has turned into a very memorable year.
Girls will receive their special patch along with their other rewards items and patches shipped directly to them. TPMs and leaders, a special mailing will be coming your way in May!
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Rewards Shipping
We are excited to once again be shipping rewards items directly to girls at home this year. We’ll have more information in the next few weeks about confirming addresses or making alternative arrangements if needed.
While we are anticipating girl rewards items to arrive to girls by the end of May, we wanted to let you know there may be some delay in items shipping due to warehouse shutdowns in other states. We will communicate any changes to the rewards timeline to troops and families as soon as possible.
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Important Dates
- April 16: Virtual Cookie Returns form opens.
- April 22: Deadline to submit Virtual Cookie Returns form (11:59 p.m.)
- April 26: Last day for girls to sell cookies for credit.
- April 27:
- Reward Orders due in Smart Cookies.
- Live Rewards Order Training with Q&A from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.
- GSGI staff available 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. at 800-342-8389 for questions.
- April 28: Email notifications sent for your May 4 auto-withdrawal.
- April 30: Payment Adjustment Forms and Girl Shortage Forms due, if applicable. Any Girl Shortage Forms submitted must also include the girl’s signed Product Program Permission Form.
- May 4: Final payment auto-withdrawn from troop bank account.
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Do You Know Someone Who Wants to Receive the Shout Outs?
All volunteers can subscribe to the email list using this simple sign-up form! If you know someone who isn't receiving the Shout Outs, send them this link to get them signed up.
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