It's Girl Scout Cookie Time!

There's more to Girl Scout Cookies than what's in the box! Selling cookies teaches skills essential to leadership. 

Here are some tips for the start of the Girl Scout Cookie Program:

1. Decision making & goal setting: If you haven’t already, set your cookie goals! Then decide as a troop what you’d like to do with the troop money earned, such as fun activities and community service projects. Use the COCO Cookie Command as a tool.

2. People skills: Be sure you know your product! Remember to let your customers know what you are selling, why you are selling it, and why they should purchase it. Continue to practice your “sales pitch.” Team up with a friend and take turns being a potential customer. Ask each other questions a customer might ask you.

3. Money management: Since a package of Girl Scout Cookies is $4.00 even, it makes it easy to make change. Make a change “cheat sheet” so that you know how much change to give a customer quickly. Learn how to “count back” change. This is great customer service and this technique will make sure you are collecting the right amount of money and returning the right amount of change.

4. Business ethics: Use some key parts of the Girl Scout Law such as “honest and fair”, “friendly and helpful”, “responsible for what I say and do” and “respect myself and others” to keep yourself on the right track when running your sale.

5. Project Thank You! Did you know GSHCC has an opportunity for customers to give Girl Scout Cookies to the military? Project Thank You will donate Girl Scout Cookies to American Red Cross who will take them to the military personnel serving our country.

More tips coming soon! For more information about the Girl Scout Cookie Program, please visit the GSHCC website.

Mrs. Claus is coming to town!

Mrs. Claus has been visiting Girl Scouts Heart of Central California (GSHCC) for several years, and this year she will be at the GSHCC Sacramento Regional Program Center's GS Shop on December 21, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.! This free event will include a photo opportunity with Mrs. Claus, games, crafts, and special shop sales. Plus, if you bring a donation of school supplies for GSHCC’s World Thinking Day education event, you will receive a 25%-off coupon to use at The Girl Scout Shop. 

The Modesto Regional GS Shop will also celebrate from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. on December 21 with raffles, games and a fun wintery photo backdrop. 

While you’re at the shop—check out the perfect holiday gifts! GS Shops have everything from stocking stuffers, dolls and Speed Stack cups, to warm knitted scarves, caps and gloves. 

Happy Holidays!

Please note GSHCC's holiday hours: The GSHCC offices and shops will be closed December 25–January 1 for the holiday break, but our eShop will be open 24/7 with FREE shipping!

Invite a Friend!

As a volunteer, you introduce girls to new experiences that show them they’re capable of more than they ever imagined. You’re their cheerleader, guide, and mentor, helping them develop skills and confidence that will last a lifetime.

Pull your friends together and talk about the fun you’ve had with Girl Scouts! Over coffee, dessert, or even a girls’ night out, invite a friend to be a role model for girls by volunteering with Girl Scouts. And check out this last chance offer: If you’re one of the first 500 current Girl Scout volunteers to invite a friend to join Girl Scouts as a new troop leader or assistant troop leader for Girl Scout Daisies, Brownies, and Juniors (kindergarteners through fifth graders), you’ll receive a Girl Scout prize pack of your choice:

Small and Mighty Pack 

Trefoil Earbuds, Accessory Case, Trefoil Pens, Girl Scout Shorthand Charm (silver tone), and Girl Scout Profile Stickers

Tech Savvy Pack 

Trefoil Headphones, Tablet Sleeve, Mouse Pad

Invite as many friends as you can to be a Girl Scout troop leader by sharing your story. Once you’ve invited your friend, ask your friend to complete a membership form or volunteer application, then notify us by filling out this short form, and if you’re one of the first 500 volunteers to invite-a-friend, you'll receive a prize pack! Your friend will be contacted by Girl Scout staff to help get started! Offer ends 11/20/2013.

Have a question or need supporting recruitment materials? Check out the FAQ section on our website!

Exciting week for Girl Scouts!

This week is Girl Scouts’ “I can’t wait to” National Recruitment Week—September 30–October 7. Girl Scout councils nationwide are promoting the “I can’t wait to” campaign, signing girls up to be Girl Scouts, and spreading the message that we need more adult volunteers so that even more girls can become Girl Scouts. And to kick off the week, GSUSA released a video featuring our Honorary National President, First Lady Michelle Obama—check it out: www.girlscouts.org/join. In this video, she highlights the fun of Girl Scouting and the important role of Girl Scout volunteers… exciting, right?!

We want everyone to hear about the fun and importance of Girl Scouts!

Here’s how you can help spread the word:

• Please share with your networks online and offline about Girl Scouts’ “I can’t wait to” National Recruitment Week.
• Specifically share the link to the video with your networks as well: www.girlscouts.org/join.
• Interact with GSHCC’s posts on our social networks (Facebook and Twitter).

To celebrate recruitment week, please leave a comment sharing with us what you love most about Girl Scouting!

Day Camp Spotlight: Air Aware

Air Aware day camp wrapped up its fourth year hosting Girl Scout Cadettes! Thirty-one girls participated this year, completing the requirements to earn the Aware and Alert awards from the Breathe! Journey. The girls had guest presenters from BREATHE Sacramento; Spare The Air and Yoga Seed. These presentations lent a hand in projects the girls were working on, to become more aware of the impact we have on the air and the environment. 

They also got to tour Sacramento State University, spend a night at the Sacramento Hostel and were even treated to a movie at Esquire IMAX! At the end of the week they presented their newfound knowledge about air to parents, staff, troop leaders, and volunteers. It was a fantastic week of fun, learning, adventure and memories, with a great group of girls. Another successful year for Air Aware!

 

 

Troop 4223 Recycles to Help Girls Become Girl Scouts

Girl Scout Daisy Troop 4223 collected and redeemed recyclables throughout the school year, then donated the $150 earned to Girl Scout’s Family Partnership Campaign. Their efforts and funding paid for 10 girls' membership fees through their troop donation to the Family Partnership Campaign. In addition to providing an opportunity to discuss using resources wisely and helping the planet by recycling, this effort tied-in nicely with their first grade lessons about the value of money.

Troop 4223 will continue this recycling project annually. To expand the program, the troop plans to collect recyclables at large school functions. The girls will post signs at special collection bins throughout each venue. They will also encourage the community to give their recycling to the troop, so they can recycle those goods and earn more money for the end of year donation.

Troop Leader Lisa Pryor said, “I am proud of the girls and all they've been able to accomplish. The recycling project has been packed with valuable lessons, and the troop is thrilled knowing their efforts are helping other girls become Girl Scouts.”

Financial assistance through the Family Partnership Campaign guarantees that no girl is ever denied the Girl Scout Leadership Experience because of the inability to pay. By offering financial assistance, more girls become Girl Scouts which gives them the opportunity to develop leadership skills, discover personal interests, and make life-long friendships.

For more information or to make a donation, please visit the GSHCC website. 

Congratulations to our Buy 5 Drawing Winners!

Two years ago, Girl Scouts Heart of Central California started a “Buy 5 Drawing” during cookie season. How does the drawing work? For every five packages purchased, customers can enter to win Girl Scout Cookies for a year – that’s 12 cases of cookies, totaling 144 packages of their favorite varieties. Awesome, right!?

Last year, there was only one council winner. This year we chose two winners – a winner from the council’s northern region and one from the southern region. Check out the deliveries to the winners…

Buy 5 Winner Matt S. of Antelope receiving his cookies from
Girl Scout Brownies in Troop 16 and Troop Leader Stephanie Emerson.

Buy 5 Winner John S. of Lodi receiving his cookies from
Kyra in Troop 1133.

Congratulations to this year’s winners, and thank you to everyone who entered into the drawing. Stay tuned for the upcoming cookie season… you could be the next Buy 5 Drawing winner!