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2019 Fall Product Program volunteers and girls: Congratulations on a great start

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Submitted by Shannon Calhoun, GSCO Service Unit Fall Product Manager

Metro Denver

Denver

The 2019 Fall Product Program is humming along! Sunday, October 13 at 8 p.m. MST is the last day for Nut Promise (girl delivery) and the in-person paper nut card sales. Direct shipped nut and candy purchases, and magazines subscription sales, are open until October 28 at 8 p.m. MST.

Here are a few things to keep in mind at this stage of the program:

  • Parents or troop fall product program managers may enter the Paper Nut Card Orders in the Girl Scouts’ online platform under the ‘Manage Paper Orders’ tab. Parents can enter these orders until 8 p.m. on Sunday, October 13.
  • Parents – In-Person/Nut Card Orders can be converted to online orders by entering them as a regular nut promise order (through the girl’s storefront) before Sunday, October 13 at 8 p.m., and paying for them with a credit card. Please remember to keep the Nut Card to know where orders go if you convert orders.
  • Parents can only use the ‘online’ work around method before the girl delivered online system closes Sunday at 8 p.m. MST.
  • TFPM’s have access to enter or edit Paper Nut Card Orders only until Tuesday, October 15 at 8 p.m. MST. After this time no paper Nut Card Orders can be added.
  • TFPM’s – Collect money from parents and deposit the required funds from nut promise/in-person orders into your troop account ASAP.
  • TFPM’s – Please let your troop families know about these deadline dates now!

Remember Fall Product Program continues until October 28, 2019! Customers can still purchase goodies from the Nut Convenience and Candy Store and have them direct shipped. There are even more products to choose from in the Nut Convenience store (then there were on the paper order card), and the sweets and treats available make great holiday gifts, especially for out-of-town friends and family. Troops earn $1 in proceeds for every nut and candy item sold.

Subscriptions can also be purchased through the Magazine Store until Monday, October 28 at 8 p.m. MST. The Magazine Store has hundreds of options for a diverse range of interests and ages at very reasonable prices and there are no additional charges for shipping. Remember that troops earn 13% of magazine subscriptions.

Encourage your Girl Scouts to follow-up with their customers now by sending them the information they need to know to purchase nuts, candy, or magazines through the girls’ online storefront – especially if the girls still need to meet the qualifications for the avatar patch or S’mores Club!

Good luck to everyone participating – Let’s make the 2019 Fall Product Program the best one yet!

Shannon Calhoun is a service unit fall product manager in Denver, and the mother of a Juliette. She shared other tips for parents, volunteers, and girls in a GSCO Facebook Live interview on September 11. To watch the video, click here.

 

 

 

 

Cookies, Cookies Volunteers, Events, Girl Scout News, Girl Scouts News, Volunteer News

Next steps to meet your Fall Product Program goals

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Join the GSCO Product Program team for a Facebook LIVE event on Wednesday, October 9, 2019 at noon! We’ll have tips for girls/parents and volunteers on wrapping up in-person delivery orders and next steps for promoting direct-shipped online nut, candy, and magazine orders. Fall Product Program runs until October 28. There’s still time for girls to earn the personalized patch and meet their other goals!

Two mini-videos are also coming out this week: How to Create/Update Avatar and Select Rewards – and – How to Enter In-person Orders. Links to the videos and other resources will be shared during the broadcast. Check the description box for links and resources.

If you miss the live broadcast, you can watch the video on our Facebook page and share it with other volunteers. Go to the videos tab and look for the 2019 Fall Product Program playlist.

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Reach your goals with Fall Product Program and earn cool rewards

GSCO asked Girl Scout Cadette Charlotte H. of Highlands Ranch to tell us about her experience participating in Fall Product Program (nuts, candy, and magazine sales). In addition to participating in Fall Product Program, Charlotte is also a Top Cookie CEO and competitive gymnast. Here’s what she had to say:

How many years have you participated in Fall Product Program?

This is my fourth year participating in Fall Product Program.

Do you like creating an avatar that looks like you?

Yes, I like creating an avatar because I like the opportunity to earn a badge that looks like me!

What do you like about having an online storefront?

I like the online storefront because it’s a way to keep my sales organized and stay on track for hitting my goal.

What tips for success would you share with girls who are participating for the first time?

My advice for someone doing Fall Product Program the first time is to try and find new customers, so you aren’t asking the people that buy cookies.  I find creative ways to reach new customers, and then I convert them to cookie customers! In addition to emailing friends/family, I go door-to-door in a new neighborhood. This way I get new customers. I always get their phone number and email so that I can deliver the product. When I deliver the product, I include a thank you card reminding the customer cookie sales will be in the winter and then follow up with them during cookie season.

What nut or candy item (s) do you like best?

My personal favorite is the Peanut Butter Monkeys.

What has your troop done with Fall Product Program troop proceeds that they’ve earned?

Fall Product Program has helped our troop earn money early in the school year. We have used proceeds to help us have a holiday party.

What’s the coolest reward that you have earned?

The coolest prize I’ve earned was a cookie cart. I use it every cookie season!

Fall Product Program helps girls learn and practice valuable business skills. On the M2 platform, girls can create their personalized avatar, customize messaging to friends, family and other customers, and set and track their goals. Girls earn rewards and troops earn proceeds that they use to fund activities, special events, projects, camp outs or other adventures!

You’ll find M2 log-in instructions, a troop and Juliette guide, and an order card that shows all girl rewards on the Fall Product Program page of our website. Fall Product Program runs until October 28.

If you have questions or need assistance, contact GSCO customer care at inquiry@gscolorado.org.

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Meet the mascots for the 2019 Fall Product Program

Meet Rita and Razina, the Northern white rhino mascots for the 2019 Fall Product Program! Rita, which means “child of light, brave and honest,” is the smaller rhino. Razina, which means “strong and patient,” is the larger rhino. The rhinos are among the rewards for the 2019 Fall Product Program. Rita rhino is earned at the $325 level, and Razina rhino at $725.

To see all 2019 Fall Product Program girl rewards, check out the order card posted on the GSCO website. Remember all rewards are cumulative.

Facts about Northern White Rhinos:

  • The white rhino lives in Africa, in long and short-grass savannahs.
  • White rhinos are grazers. Its wide, square upper lip is adapted for feeding on grasses.
  • White rhinos can live to be 50 years of age.
  • White rhinos have three toes on each foot.
  • White rhinos are grey, not white. White rhinoceros is taken from the Afrikaans word describing its mouth: “wyd,” meaning “wide.” Early English settlers misinterpreted the “wyd” for “white.”
  • There are two subspecies of white rhinos – the southern white rhino and northern white rhino.
  • There are only two northern white rhinos now in existence, Nijan and Fatu, a mother and daughter.
  • A team of conservationists is hopeful they can use in-vitro fertilization to preserve the species.

The Fall Product Program vendors, M2 and Trophy Nut, chose the Northern white rhinos because they are nearly extinct, but there are also highly innovative ways scientists and conservationists are working to preserve the species. Knowing Girl Scouts are the leaders of today and tomorrow, the vendors wanted to appeal to girls who could join the efforts to save the rhinos, and other endangered species.

To learn more facts about rhinos and the initiative to save the Northern white rhinos, click here.

Nijan and Fatu, the nearly extinct northern white rhinos, live at Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya, Africa.

You can also visit the San Diego Zoo’s Institute for Conservation Research where their initiative is to save the rhinos through Reproductive Sciences, Conservation Genetics and using the Frozen Zoo Resources.

CBS News feature about the Northern white rhinos

If you have questions about Fall Product Program or need assistance, please contact GSCO customer care. Call 1- 877-404-5708 or email inquiry@gscolorado.org.

 

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Support your Girl Scout during Fall Product Program

 

 

 

The 2019 Fall Product Program began Saturday, September 21. Participating in the Fall Product Program is a positive learning experience that allows girls to utilize and learn the 5 Skills for girls while in Girl Scouts. Through the Fall Product Program, Girl Scouts earn troop proceeds they can use to participate in Girl Scout activities such as earning badges, camping, taking trips, and more! Girls also earn rewards and Cookie Credits. Your support of her participation in the Fall Product Program helps her learn from the experience, have fun, and earn rewards!

Here are a few ways to support your Girl Scout:

Help your Girl Scout throughout the program. Guide her to set practical goals, listen to her practice her sales pitch, and help her set up her online M2 storefront, including creating an avatar that looks just like her! She may need your help with sending emails to friends and family as well. You can access the M2 Fall Product Program platform at www.gsnutsandmags.com/gsco to get started.

Make sure your girl has a current GSCO membership. Check with your troop fall product manager or troop leader to make sure your Girl Scout is registered for the 2019-20 membership year.

  • If your Girl Scout needs a membership, please go to join to renew her membership for the 2019 – 2020 year, please click here or call GSCO Customer Care at 1-877-404-5708 or email inquiry@gscolorado.org.

Agree to the requirements. A permission slip must be completed by caregivers and turned into the troop fall product manager. This slip acknowledges your responsibility for products and money. You must fill out the permission slip to receive the order card and materials needed for your girl to participate.

Adhere to deadlines. Order card orders must be entered in the M2OS system on October 13 or turned in to your troop fall product manager by October 12. All money due for the products ordered and received must be paid by the troop deadline.

Protect the products and money. Help your girl collect money at the time the order is placed. Once you sign for products received, you assume responsibility for the product itself and its value. It is the caregiver’s responsibility to collect payment from customers, and funds are due in full to the troop fall product manager by the troop’s deadline.

Need more information? Go to the Fall Product Program page on our website: https://www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/en/cookies/fall-product-program.html

Questions about Fall Product Program or need assistance? We are here to support you!

Contact GSCO customer care at 1- 877-404-5708 or email inquiry@gscolorado.org.

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Manage the Fall Product Program like a champ and help girls be successful

Join the GSCO Product Program Team for our next Facebook Live event on Wednesday, September 11, 2019 at noon. Service Unit Fall Product Manager, Shannon Calhoun, will share her experience and best ways to support girls, troop leaders, and families to make the Fall Product Program a success for all involved.

If you miss the live broadcast, no worries! You can watch the video on our Facebook page and share it with other volunteers.  Go to the videos tab and look for the 2019 Fall Product Program playlist.

For questions about the Fall Product Program, please contact GSCO Customer Care at 1-877-404-5708 or email inquiry@gscolorado.org.

Cookies, Cookies Volunteers, Events, Volunteer News

Facebook LIVE: Preview of 2019 Fall Product Program

The 2019 Fall Product Program starts Saturday, September 21. This year, we have a few new products and some great girl rewards! Want a preview? Watch our Facebook LIVE event Wednesday, September 4 at noon.

If you miss the live broadcast, you can watch the video and share it with other volunteers. Go to the GSCO Facebook page, click on the videos tab, and look for the 2019 Fall Product Program playlist.

For questions about Fall Product Program, please contact GSCO Customer Care at 877-404-5708 or email inquiry@gscolorado.org.

 

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Update about new S’mores Club rewards

GSCO recently announced the 2019-2020 S’mores Club rewards would be a special hoodie and duffle bag, perfect for Girl Scout camping and travel, and we received a lot of positive responses!

Many people asked what colors the duffle bag and hoodie would be and what they would look like. We don’t have pictures of them to share just yet. But once we do, we certainly will! Do know that we are going with darker colors and durable fabrics, so both reward items will last through many Girl Scout adventures and many washings!

Along with the buzz around the new rewards, a few people also asked if Highest Awards charms for the bracelets that S’mores Club girls and adults earned in 2017 and 2018 would still be available. YES! Absolutely! To request a Bronze, Silver or Gold Award charm to complete girls’ S’mores Club bracelets, contact Girl Scouts of Colorado customer care by calling 1-877-404-5708 or email inquiry@gscolorado.org.

For more information about the S’mores Club, go to:
https://www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/en/cookies/s-mores-club.html

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Fall Product Program begins September 21, 2019

Do you have lots of awesome activities that you want to do this year? The Fall Product Program is an easy and fun way to earn start-up funds for all those activities and more! By participating in this program, girls will also learn the 5 Skills: goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills, and business ethics.

Nuts and candy are sold in-person using an order card or online and magazines are sold only online. Products that are ordered online can either be shipped or customers can select girl delivery. All troops receive 13% of their magazine orders as troop proceeds, plus $1/item for nuts and chocolates.

Girls earn rewards based on their participation in the Fall Product Program and have the option of choosing Cookie Credits as rewards too. All rewards are cumulative.

Important 2019 Fall Product Program dates:

September 21 – Fall Product Program Begins

October 13 – In-person sales end/Last day for Nut Promise orders

October 28 – Online storefront closes

In the Fall Product Program platform, M2OS, girls can create their own virtual storefront and market to friends and family through email. They have the option to create a personalized avatar for their virtual storefront too. Girls can also share their goals by recording their story, and the avatar will speak with their voice, representing them in the video!

By participating in the Fall Product Program and selling $175 in online orders, girls can also earn a personalized avatar patch – choosing between lots of customizations – including special backgrounds and wearing their Girl Scout uniform or a safari suit!

Volunteer training begins early September at area service unit meetings. Please note: This year, Fall Product Program materials will be sent to area service units, not directly to troops. Volunteers and caregivers can pick-up the guide, order card, and other resources at trainings.

For more information, go to the Fall Product Program page on the GSCO website or contact GSCO customer care at 1-877-404-5708 or inquiry@gscolorado.org.

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Volunteer Spotlight: Peggy Riordon

Girl Scouts of Colorado is celebrating extraordinary volunteers throughout the state in honor of Volunteer Appreciation Month. Peggy Riordon of Arvada in the Metro Denver region is a shining example of the wonderful role Girl Scout volunteers play in the lives of girls and our community.

GSCO asked Peggy to answer a few quick questions about her volunteer experience. We hope you find her as inspiring as we did.

Why did you become a Girl Scout volunteer?

I wanted our daughter to have fun experiences and adventures with other girls.

Tell us about your different volunteer roles as a Girl Scout.

I have been a troop leader for different troops for over 30 years. I was a service unit manager for nine years and planned many service unit events and camping experiences. I am the fall product program manager for two units, as well as the cookie service unit manager for two units. I have run the North JeffCo cookie cupboard for at least 26 years. 

What have you learned as a Girl Scout volunteer?

I have learned many things about working with the girls. That is where my true passion lies. I have learned how to work with a variety of personalities to achieve the best outcomes. I have also learned more about organization and public speaking. 

What do you hope girls have learned from you?

I hope the girls have learned to trust in themselves and their abilities. I also hope they have learned how to get along with and work with different personalities and attitudes. The most important thing, I hope, is that they learn that each and every one of them is GREAT! They all have strengths they didn’t realize they had. They all have weaknesses that they learn how to overcome or acknowledge which also gives them the ability to work past them. 

How has your experience as a volunteer helped you become a G.I.R.L. (go-getter, innovator, risk-taker, leader)?

When I started as a leader all those years ago, I never dreamed that I would wind up organizing trips and units. I was never a public speaker and now I speak in front of large groups of people without my voice shaking with every word. I have learned so much from the girls and they have filled my heart. Now, I try to share my experiences and the knowledge I have gained with other leaders in hopes that their experience with Girl Scouts will be as great as mine has been. 

Want to nominate a volunteer for Girl Scouts of Colorado to spotlight? Please email Public Relations Director AnneMarie Harper at annemarie.harper@gscolorado.org.