• Hands-on leadership and entrepreneurial program
• A wealth of essential skills, not from a book, but from real-life experiences that build a strong foundation for success
• Goal setting
• Best of all, girls have lots of fun along the way; this Cookie Season, Girl Scouts across the country will be inspiring change!

They will discover how their sister Girl Scouts are making a difference right now. They will connect with people in their communities. And they will use the power of Girl Scout Cookies to take action in their own neighborhoods and far beyond.

Girls are invited to set two kinds of cookie goals:

• What can we do for fun and learning with our cookie proceeds?
• What can we do with our cookie proceeds to help others?

A great Cookie Program is led by girls...but it is inspired by you, the adult volunteer!

Find great resources at the Little Brownie Baker website, including activities and ideas in their age-appropriate Cookie Activity Kits! Also, Girl Scouts of the USA offers a Cookie Activity each year – help your Girl Scouts earn their pin by completing the 2009-2010 Cookie Sale Program Activity. If your Girl Scouts complete this activity, as the Troop Leader or Troop Cookie Manager, you can purchase the 2009-2010 Cookie Pin at a GSMISTS Council Shop.

For the 2010 Cookie Sale Program, Girl Scouts shine online during cookie season!

• What goes together like Thin Mints and a glass of milk? Girl Scout Cookies and computer savvy!
• “Getting Connected” is the theme for this year's Girl Scout Cookie Activity Pin.
• It's all about safe ways for girls to be tech savvy and connect with customers during the Girl Scout Cookie Experience. Click here for more information!

GSMISTS has modified and improved the Cookie Sale Program Girl Incentives, Service Unit Proceeds, and Cookie Bundling.

What is a BUNDLE? A Bundle is a package of three boxes of Girl Scout Cookies! It is the newest thing in Cookie Sales!

Examples:
I Love Chocolate Bundle = Thin Mints, Samoas and Tagalongs
Timeless Classic Bundle = Thin Mints, Trefoils and Samoas
Café Companions Bundle = Thank U Berry Munch, Lemon Chalet Cremes and Trefoils

During initial sales, encourage girls to ask if customers would like to buy a Bundle of Girl Scout Cookies instead of a box! Customers who are asked to buy a box – will do just that - buy one box! Customers who are asked to buy a Bundle will most likely buy a Bundle!

At Cookie Booths, make up the Bundles in advance! Tie the bundles together with ribbons and bows! Make tags for each Bundle! (click here for templates!) Perhaps come up with clever marketing ideas, such as three boxes of Thin Mints fit perfectly in a gallon freezer bag! How many of us love frozen Thin Mints?

Cookie Stations

GSMISTS will be arranging Cookie Stations throughout our council. Cookie Stations will be available at each GSMISTS Service Center and at other locations throughout our jurisdiction. Cookie Stations will store a variety of cookies that any troop may access to fill secondary/goal Getter orders or to sell at a Cookie Booth.

Cookie Stations will be available between March 15 and April 30, 2010; however all cookie varieties may not be available at every Cookie Station.

• Troops may pick up cookies from a Cookie Station by the case only. Mixed cases will be allowed. 
• Troops that need amounts less than a full case may purchase them at full price from a Service Center. No troop proceeds or credit towards girl incentives will apply to less than full case purchases.
• Cookies picked up from a Cookie Station may not be returned or exchanged.
• Troops that pick up cookies from a Cookie Station will be required to leave a troop check for the cost of the cookies.  The check can be post-dated for three days to be deposited after your booth sale.
• Please call the Cookie Station to make sure the cookie varieties, in the amounts you want,  will be available on the day you plan to pick them up.

Community Cookie Booth Day

Community Cookie Booth day is scheduled for March 13th.  Booths will be scheduled by GSMISTS throughout the council and supplied with cookies, tables, and signs for participating troops.  This pre-delivery sale will allow troops to earn instant proceeds.  Troops can begin signing up for Community Cookie Booth Day times and locations on February 22nd on the E-Budde Booth scheduler.  Troops will earn $.65 per package sold but packages sold will not be counted towards girl incentives.

Cookie Booths

Cookie Booths are a troop project and are to be held from March 15 through April 11, 2010. This is a great way for girls to demonstrate their marketing, interpersonal and entrepreneurial skills. Not only are Cookie Booths a great leadership opportunity, but they can also greatly increase your troop’s sale goals plus each participating Girl Scout will earn additional recognitions and Cookie Dough! Since Cookie Booths are all about teamwork, credit for the number of boxes of cookies sold at a Cookie Booth is divided equally among the girls at the booth and applied to each girl on eBudde!

Location, Location, Location!
A great Cookie Booth location can make or break a sale! Remember to think outside of the box and consider various locations! Here are some ideas to get you started:

Cookie Booth Location Ideas:
Grocery Stores            Community Events            Parks/Playgrounds
Restaurants                Shopping Malls                 Carwashes
Schools                       Convenience Stores          Banks
Sporting Events          Craft Sales                        Video Rental Stores
Department Stores     Universities/Colleges        Local Businesses
Bowling Alleys             Car Dealerships                Quick Oil Change Businesses
Movie Theatres           Garage Sales

Guidelines for Scheduling and Hosting a Cookie Booth

• Troops and/or Service Areas contact Cookie Booth locations and make arrangements with the manager or person in charge! Be sure to get a copy of your “reservation” in writing for your records.
• Then, register your Cookie Booth at least three business days in advance in eBudde - follow the instructions in the Step by Step eBudde Guide. GSMISTS will approve/deny the Cookie Booth. Check back frequently to verify your Cookie Booth was approved before your troop holds a sale.
• All approved Cookie Booths registered in eBudde will be published on the Cookie Locator Website. Also, all approved Cookie Booths registered in eBudde on or before March 1, 2010, will be included in a GSMISTS news release!
• Ordering cookies for your Cookie Booth can be done when you place your initial order - follow the instructions in the Step by Step eBudde Guide! You can also purchase cookies at Cookie Cupboards located throughout the Council, and cookies will be available on a first-come, first-served basis! Please see the Cookie Cupboard section in this packet and our website for further information!
• Distribute a Parent Permission form to parents of girls wishing to participate in a Cookie Booth. Keep a copy of each girls permission slip in your possession at the Cookie Booth.
• A booth must consist of a minimum of two (2) girls and two (2) adults. Follow Safety-Wise for adult supervision ratio. Adults must remain with the girls at all times; do not leave the girls alone for any reason!
• Safeguard your cash box. Do not leave your cash unattended, even for a second. Appoint an adult to periodically collect money and take it to a safe location. Never have a Girl Scout handle money without adult supervision.
• Bring a card table, chairs for adults, extra Girl Scout pins, a cash box, and Goal Chart to your booth.
• Make an attractive table display to gain customer interest. Remember to make a cookie poster to hang from your table. Visit the Little Brownie Baker website for cookie art and other cool clip art.
• If some varieties are not selling, open a box (which your troop must purchase), break them into bite-size pieces, and let customers take a sample. This sample will likely spark interest among customers and increase your sales.
• Selling in front of a business is a PRIVILEGE. Be sure to leave the area clean. Let’s make sure we can return next year! Take all empty boxes when leaving.