GSUSA Support

Alison Wilcox- CEO

Chasing their 2020 Adventure

In an effort to allow girls to continue to

“CHASE THEIR 2020 ADVENTURE”,

GSWNY is adjusting the Cookie Program rules to help girls and troops move their inventory in

non-traditional ways during these difficult times.

What is GSWNY Doing To Support Troops?

As we continue this program, please know that we remain fully sensitive to the challenges you face in your homes, at work and with your families. The continuation of the Cookie Program is completely optional at all levels.

GSWNY is here to support our troops of financial burden and unsold product- we are here for our GSWNY family and will get through this unprecedented time together.

Alternate Ways To ParticipateFind creative ways to partner with local businesses.• Reach out to local small businesses and organizations for

selling opportunities.Examples:• Partner with small business to sell cookies in their

establishment.– Coordinate payment to the troop once product is sold.

• Ask business to buy out your troops’ inventory-yes this is happening.

Cookies For Courage

Virtual Cookie ProgramPromote Share Cookies to donate to essential workers• Virtual Booths: Facebook live, Instagram live, Facebook watch party,

Youtube video, Facebook event• Direct Ship: Girls email their online store link

• Businesses or Customer purchase SHARE cookies online• Customer purchase cookie to be shipped directly to their homes

• Shipping Cost: GSWNY SUBSIDIZES SHIPPING BY 50% >5 PACKAGES• 1-5 packages $12.00• 6-12 packages $6.00

Expanding Payment Options

What has been working well for troops:Troops payment to council:

• ePayment is best• Send payment to the Buffalo Service Center

Payments for customers, parents, community partners• Venmo• Paypal• Zelle

How Is Product Delivered

• No in person, direct contact for delivery• No girl delivery• Must follow federal and state guidelines

We don’t have perfect answers, and we of course want everyone to be safe. Customers can purchase cookies from an individual girl or troop. Product can be delivered when following federal and state guidelines https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/new-york-state-pause

Virtual Sales Delivery Option• For a troop that sold cookies to donate to a hospital, a

person known to the troop who works at the hospital picked them up and took them in on their shift.

• To make this work safely and as easily as possible, all safety guidelines should be followed.

No in person direct contact No cash payments

Troops in the MediaThere are a lot of opportunities for troops to tell their stories. Let’s be a sister to all our girls scouts and share those success stories.

• GSWNY is here to help focus the efforts to support the entire council

• When the media reaches out to your troop, have them contact the council.

• Girl Scout volunteers should coordinate their media efforts through GSWNY’s marketing team at communications@gswny.org.

• If a troop is contacted by the media, the troop can contact Callie Johnson, EVP of Marketing at 716-935-6023.

Volunteer Success Stories

What Can Girls Do?

• Make signs for stores/businesses

• Make a video

• Let customers know how cookie purchases will help fund exceptional troop experiences

• Create business cards with troop contact information

• Make Thank you Cards

How Service Units are Supporting

Service Units:• Form a partnership within your SU to

help identify possible businesses that can help support troops.

• Work within Service Unit for monitoring troops on hand inventory.

• Troop to Troop Support

What Can You Do?Troops:• Move cookies sold from troop to girl. Leave unsold inventory in troop line.• Contact families to obtain count of cookies not yet delivered or with outstanding money due.• Collect and pay council what you can. Do not use troop profit.• Complete the Troop Survey which will be sent through email on 4/9. Please complete the survey no later

than 4/16.

Parents can pay for their cookies in several ways without contact:• Set up an E-Payment account and pay directly to council from their checking accounts. (Parents need

correct Service Unit Name, troop #: 5 digits and amount they need to pay.)• Pay via Venmo, Paypal, Zelle directly to troop leader • Mail troop leader a check• Parents deposit money directly into troop bank account (need troop # and name on bank account)

Unsold cookies should remain in the troop on hand inventory, not distributed to girl lines. These cookies/cases do not count toward troop proceeds or girl recognitions.

What Can You Do?

Troop-to-Girl Transfers in Smart Cookies:• Transfer cookies to girls so we can have an accurate count of

cookies our troops have on hand (unsold). • This year, we ask ALL troops to allocate cookies to their girls

whether or not they're waiving incentives so we can continue to be of help to troops with a large inventory of cookies.

• Cookies on hand inventory does not count toward troop proceeds or girl recognitions

Every Troop Has a ChoiceIf troops simply cannot or do not want to continue with the Cookie Program, we understand.

Here are some next steps:• Hold on to your inventory• On 4/9, council will be sending a troop survey to collect

additional information for council support. Please complete the survey no later than 4/16.

Important Dates

Extend cookie payments:• Final due date May 12th

Recognitions:• Due May 12th

*The end of the cookie program will be based on the feedback from the troop survey*

Resources

Full Webinar Link: https://youtu.be/guwapG5dH7cFAQ’s: Cookie Program FAQ’sEpayments : https://wny.gsachonline.com/Login.aspxGirl Credit Card Option SC: http://wfcmsmediaprod.blob.core.windows.net/wfsmartcookies/1547/how-to-girl-credit-card-processes-all.mp4T2T Transfers :https://www.youtube.com/embed/ASkgT1qer9g?modestbranding=1Virtual Flyer: https://www.gswny.org/content/dam/girlscouts-gswny/documents/2020%20Virtual%20Cookie%20Booth-3.26.20.pdfNew York State Pause- https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/new-york-state-pause

https://www.gswny.org/en/cookies/cookies/for-cookie-sellers/resources-abc.html

Q&A’s

Cookie Program FAQ’s

Customer Care

Customer Care Hours

Monday-Thursday 9 am-11 am, 2:00-4:00 pmFriday 9 am-11 am (Closed 4/10)

customercare@gswny.org1-888-837-6410