Badges and Patches

We Don’t Need A Badge For That!

We Don’t Need A Badge For That!” is a program series where Girl Scouts connect with the community to work on community service projects.

This series is about community service and giving back throughout the year. Girl Scouts of Citrus Council will work with different community partnership to create a Take Action projects, clean-up events, or other services.

This series does not involve a badge or patch, but rather, encourages Girl Scouts and their families to volunteer and help support our Central Florida community.

Just Wing It! – March 24 – 11:00 am to 3:30 pm

The kickoff event to this program series is a take action project. Girl Scouts will be creating and establishing a butterfly learning garden. This is something anyone and everyone can do. Working with Orlando City they will be allowing Girl Scouts to use their land to design, create and build their garden for future events, generations, and environmental gains!

Come out and help us put together butterfly homes, plant flowers, create a peaceful garden for everyone. As teams we will build the homes, paint them and set them in place for the butterflies. Other teams will be planting trees, plants, flowers, and more. Lunch will be provided and an educational session will take place on importance and impact this has on our community. The girls will just need to show up in old clothes and Tennis Shoes and be ready to work.

Juniors can Register Here

Seniors and Ambassadors can Register Here

 

Cookies

While in Full Cookie Swing

 

Managing Funds and Bank Accounts

I would advise to make individual cookie deposits for each girl rather than depositing cookie money in large sums. When you record the bank deposit receipt with each girl’s name this can help you track the progress for each girl. There may be questions down the road as to the total amount generated and what was recorded. This can help during that awkward conversation.

You’ll get to know the bank tellers (or in some cases, the Bank ATM’s) fairly well as you make frequent bank deposits during cookie season.

Please… DO NOT keep cookie money in your home or automobile for long periods of time. A week can easily turn into 2 weeks or even a month. A lot can happen during that time, including money loss. So again, just avoid being put in that position.

If you have other adult volunteers helping pool the funds it’s important to have a system in place to track this. Know which adult volunteer(s) have the troop cookie booth money and cash box. Count the cash box change before and after each booth shift. Deposit booth money into your bank account after the booth shifts.

Be prepared and have the cookie deposits in your troop account ready for the 1st and 2nd council withdrawals. Contact your cookie chair or council to confirm these withdrawal dates.

Working with Parents

Parents can be your greatest supporters or make your job harder. From my experience, they really want to help and make sure their girls have a successful cookie season.

Provide troop parents with all the cookie resources available. Encourage your girls/adults to participate in digital (Direct Ship) cookie sales, and remind girls to send emails through www.abcsmartcookies.com

In this digital age, Parents may want to go on different online platforms and sell for their girls or promote that their girls are selling cookies. It’s important to note that this is discouraged as it puts the girl’s personal information out in the cyber world. And in this day and age, that can be a scary notion.

What they can do, is share their girl’s online link. No names, no phone numbers, no emails, no personal info from the girl.

For those working the cookie booths, be sure to thank them. Thank your adult volunteers and girls after each cookie booth.

 

Keep Girls Motivated

Encourage your girls throughout the cookie sale. When they reach their cookie goal or complete the badge requirements provide them with a cookie fun patch, cookie pin or cookie badge. Give your girls fun cookie items from the Citrus Council Shop. There are mini buttons, pencils, pins, and all kinds of goodies.

I know of some troops who have a cheer they do, when the girls reach their initial goal. Remember to celebrate any and all accomplishments. Look for the positive, and keep the momentum going.

 

 

Dealing with failure or slow sales

Now, I would like to say that everyone will have an amazing cookie season, and all girls will sell non-stop. But that’s not always the case. There will be slumps or times when you don’t meet your goal.

Some ways you could help change that would be to:

  • Schedule additional cookie booths if you don’t sell out at your initial booths.
  • Continue to sell cookies during Super Bowl and Valentine’s Day.
  • Bring cookies with you to sell anywhere you go with an adult.
  • Resend emails to family and friends asking them to purchase cookies.
  • Go door to door selling cookies (with an adult). Many homes are not visited and have not had the opportunity to purchase cookies.

 

When in doubt, ask your fellow troop leaders, your community or reach out to council. We’re all here to help make this a successful experience for everyone.

Cookies

Preparing for Cookie Season

Take a deep breath, roll up your sleeves and get ready for COOKIE SEASON! It’s time to get the girls EXCITED to sell cookies!

My first troop cookie sale was January 6, 2010. My daughter learned how to speak to her customers, take cookie orders, deliver cookies and receive payments.

These learned life skills make the largest girl-led business in the world extraordinary. As an adult volunteer you provide the girls with training, sale strategies and safety guidelines for successful cookie sales.

Be sure to ASK your service community, troop and Citrus Council for support or assistance throughout the cookie sale. Experienced Cadette/Senior/Ambassador Girl Scouts can attend your troop meetings to help teach the girls cookie basics.

We need to teach our girls to be safe and prepared during cookie season. It’s a good idea to discuss why the Girl Scout Cookie Program Safety Guidelines are important during your troop meeting…and believe me they are.

Have the girls read, accept and sign the Girl Scout Internet Safety Pledge and Girl Scout Digital Cookie Pledge.

Then, be sure to…

  • Buddy Up
  • Partner with Adults
  • Sell in the Daytime
  • Have a plan to Safeguard the funds generated
  • Girls Wear Uniform, its all about presentation

And always remember to…

  • Protect the Girl’s Privacy
  • Be Safe on the Road
  • Be weary of “Do Not Enter” signs
  • Be Streetwise- corners give you access to two lanes of traffic flow

Setting Goals

Before the cookie sale begins the girls need to set cookie sales goals. Girls need to know how to set and reach goals, not only for the cookie season but to succeed in school, in jobs and in life.

Setting individual girl cookie goals are important to reach your troop goals. When girls set an individual cookie goal you typically see an increase in the number of packages your troop sells overall.

Set goals that are realistic to achieve (they have to learn how to set and keep their own goals). Set mini cookie deadlines on the girls calendar to make regular progress on her goals.

Leverage Resources

Leverage the cookie incentives (patches, stuffed animal, tickets, electronics, etc) to set goals. This will give them something to work towards. You could also select the number of boxes or cases to sell. Have each girl determine their individual cookie sale goals during a troop meeting.

Parents or co-leaders can help the girl set reasonable goals by setting deadlines, “I’m going to send 25 emails to my family and friends by the end of the first week of cookie sales.” Track the goals on a spreadsheet or cookie goal chart.

Whether this is your first cookie sale or you are a cookie expert prepare your girls for the best cookie sale in Citrus Council history!

Online Cookie Resources

 

Cookies

Prepping for Cookies: Value of the 5 Skills

When girls participate in the cookie program, they “earn and learn”—they earn funds for their Girl Scout activities while learning key skills that will help them in business and life.
All they need to do to develop the 5 Skills is sell cookies with coaching from adults who
understand the 5 Skills! Here’s your how-to guide to getting started:

What are the 5 Skills and why do they matter?

1) Goal Setting: Girls set cookie sales goals and, with their team, create a plan to reach them. This matters because girls need to know how to set and reach goals to succeed in school, on the job, and in life.

2) Decision Making: Girls decide where and when to sell cookies, how to market their sale, and what to do with their earnings. This matters because girls must make many decisions, big and small, in their lives. Learning this skill helps them make good ones.

3) Money Management: Girls develop a budget, take cookie orders, and handle customers’ money. This matters because girls need to know how to handle money—from their lunch money to their allowance to (someday) their paycheck.

4) People Skills: Girls learn how to talk (and listen!) to their customers, as well as learning how to work as a team with other girls. This matters because it helps them do better in school (on group projects, on sports teams, and on the playground) and, later, at work.

5) Business Ethics: Girls act honestly and responsibly during every step of the cookie sale. This matters because employers want to hire ethical employees—and the world needs ethical leaders in every field.

Why do we focus on the 5 Skills?

Because when your Girl Scout has learned these skills, she’ll be poised for success in her
career. Think about it: When employers interview job candidates, they all look for the same things. This is true whether the employer is a bank, high-tech company, university, hospital, publishing house, car dealership, accounting firm—or even the local pet store! They want:

Someone who can set goals and meet deadlines.
Blowing a deadline can mean blowing a deal!

Someone who works well with others.
Who wants to deal with strife and complaining in the workplace? Not the boss!

Someone who understands customers.
It doesn’t matter whether the “customers” are hospital patients, TV viewers, or other companies—every business has to know its customers and what they want.

Someone who can influence others.
This doesn’t just mean selling a product. Employers want people who can sell ideas, pitch
projects, and make deals.

Someone who is honest, trustworthy, and reliable.
This kind of goes without saying—or it should!

Sound like anyone you know?
That’s your Girl Scout, using the 5 Skills she learned in the Girl Scout Cookie Program.

Service Community

Go-getter Daisy Troop 1635 Prepares Thanksgiving Baskets

Community Service is a primary motivator for Daisy troop 1635, who meet in Minneola. These second-year Daisies have created bags to support homeless individuals, collected items for Hurricane Harvey relief, assembled first aid kits for the homeless during Fire Safety Week, and made birthday bags for a local food bank.

In a recent brainstorm with their Daisy team, the girls decided on a canned food drive for their fall project. Troop Co-leader, Ruth Woody, encouraged the girls to take their idea one step further after seeing a Facebook post from Bennett Law Firm, encouraging groups to assemble and donate Thanksgiving dinner baskets to support Helping Hands Ministry in distributing meals to those less fortunate.

 

Co-leader, Ruth Woody, shares the impact of this project: “The girls agreed that everyone deserves to have a Thanksgiving dinner. I want these girls to learn at a young age that sharing is caring, and that Girl Scouts give back to their community every chance we have.” Woody also recognizes the support of Co-leader, Holly Jones, and the troop’s wonderful moms who gladly help with every community service project taken on by the Daisies: Alora, Allyson, Bailey, Brenna, Fae, Kathryn, Lily, Loryana, Margaret, Sonya, and Victoria.

And these Daisies aren’t slowing down any time soon. They’ve already decided on two upcoming projects. For winter, they’ll contribute to Toys for Tots, and over the summer, they’ll participate in a local Autism Awareness event in support of their sister Girl Scout, Bailey.

Woody’s advice to other Girl Scout troops: “There are many people in need out there. It just takes a small amount of time and research to find what you can do to help.”

—

Is your troop taking on a Thanksgiving-inspired community service project? Share your story.

Leadership

Lifetime Girl Scout Membership: Benefits and Value.

Lifetime Membership

Believe in the power of G.I.R.L.

Transform leadership in action as you support and stay connected to the largest leadership development organization for girls in the world! Join as a lifetime member today, and make an enduring pledge to believe in the power of every G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)™.

When you become a lifetime member, your dues are used to support the Lifetime Membership Endowment Fund, which supports programming for girls in STEM, the outdoors, entrepreneurship, and life skills—areas essential for preparing them to lead a lifetime of leadership, adventure, and success.

Who can join as a Lifetime Member?

Lifetime membership is available to any individual who accepts the principles and beliefs of the Girl Scout Movement, pays the one-time lifetime membership fee, and is 18 years of age or older.

As a lifetime member, you will:

  • Unleash the power of G.I.R.L. in YOU as you become one of more than 60 million G.I.R.L.s taking the lead to accomplish amazing things every day!
  • Turn your commitment into girls’ success with a welcome letter and lifetime member certificate signed by the chair of the Girl Scouts of the USA Board of Directors!
  • Show off that Girl Scout pride with a lifetime membership card!
  • Stay up-to-date on the latest Girl Scout happenings with the bi-monthly Girl Scout alumnae e-newsletter!
  • Keep the power of G.I.R.L. close to your heart with your purchase of a lifetime membership pin!
  • Have fun and connect with other G.I.R.L.s at various events!

For more information about purchasing a Lifetime Membership, please contact our Customer Care department

Troop Tips

Early Bird Renewal: It’s the final countdown.

It’s not too late! Make sure every girl in your troop receives her Early Bird patch by renewing before May 15!

Girl Scouts are busy. We’re organizing our communities to take action. We’re planning wildly-successful Cookie Programs. We’re taking trips and meeting local leaders and making a huge difference.

But we’re just getting started. There is always a new adventure right around the corner. We have big goals and a good plan to get there.

 

 

 

Don’t stop now: renew your Girl Scout Membership between April 1 and May 15 to earn a bunch of bonuses (the earlier you renew, the more bonuses you earn).

Troop Cookie Program bonus also requires that troops participate in the 2017 Fall Product Program. Login to MY GS to begin renewing now!

Download the full flyer, including bonus details, to share with your Girl Scout sisters.

 

Volunteer

Volunteer Retreat Weekend is HERE!

Relax with your sister volunteers at Mah Kah Wee Program Center April 7-9! It’s a weekend stocked-full of workshops, games, contests, and campfires!

Volunteer Retreat Weekend is an event for Girl Scout adults.  A weekend to relax, network with other adult Girl Scouts and to have FUN!  Some of the weekend highlights include creating your own modern fairy tale during group activities, attending a variety of workshops such as “Me Time” pampering, crafts, cooking science, outdoor skills, and leadership development.

We’re bringing back the cabin decorating contest: come ready with supplies and work with your unit mates to bring some magic to your unit house. And don’t forget our Saturday night costume contest – dress as your favorite storybook character for a chance to win fun prizes!

The first 75 people to register will be entered into a drawing for a special prize!

Check out the workshop descriptions below and make your selections before clicking the register now button. (Workshops are subject to change or cancellation. Do not purchase supplies until you receive confirmation of your workshop selection)

Questions? Contact Patty Muller at pmuller@citrus-gs.org.

Register Now.

Troop Tips

Disney VolunteEARS Program!

Girl Scout volunteers who are employed at Disney are eligible to apply for an Ears to You Grant, which opens in January.

Ears to You is a “dollars for doers” program where Disney Cast Members can earn a grant check for a nonprofit of their choice based on the number of hours they volunteer in a year.

Hours must be logged and verified by March 31, 2017 in order to be eligible towards a 2017 Ears To You grant. Girl Scout volunteers – including troop leaders, parent helpers, committee members, and Service Community volunteers – are encouraged to submit their hours as soon as possible to allow proper time to verify and process the request!

Depending on the number of VoluntEARS hours you have logged in the system, you could be eligible for a grant to your chosen charity anywhere from $100 to $2,000! Girl Scouts of Citrus will need to verify your hours, so getting your hours in is critical for you to qualify for a grant based on your 2016 hours.

For more information including how to enter your hours, please visit disneyvoluntears.com.