December's Leader Meetings Agenda

Our leader's meeting will be at either 10 am or 7 pm on Monday, December 4th. 

Where: Meetings will be held in-person at the Boys and Girls Club (10515 E Lakeview Dr, Scottsdale, AZ 85258). 

Social gathering at Goldies following the evening meeting (approximately 8:15 pm)

NEW BUSINESS

• MSE Notes (new insurance guidelines)
• CELEBRATIONS
• Robotics 
• Appreciation Pin Recipients: Teresa, Melissa C, Lesley, Brandy A, and Maria
• Discussion 
• Low Attendance Rates: JGL, Holiday Party, Skills Day, Encampment
• High Attendance: Ice Cream Social, Ice Skating, Elf Jr, Brownie Badge Workshop
• Annual Meeting Delegates
• Day Camp Location Summer 2024
• Cookie Rally
• Cookie Delivery
• My First Cookie Booth
• Other Cookie Questions

OLD BUSINESS

• Service Team Positions Available
• We also are in need of a new money manager starting Fall 2024.
• Older Girl Volunteer and Leadership Opportunities
• Babysitter's List 2023-2024
• Babysitters: Sign up here.
• Parents: Access Girl Scout babysitters here.
• Service and Leadership Team shirts (for leaders and grades 6 and up)

CALENDAR

Leader Meeting Dates 2023-2024

December 2023

Recommended Troop Activity: Hike Pinnacle Peak (holiday story usually can be found along the trail during the month of December)

** December 10, 2 pm: Mom and Me Holiday Event: Elf, Jr

January 2024

January 12: Cookie Rally, 6pm @ Notre Dame

January 13 (morning): Cookie Delivery (Sign up here to volunteer; troop pick up times are selected in eBudde)

January 15, 9 am: Cookie Sale Begins

February 2024

February 25: Thinking Day

Father/Daughter Dance TBA

March 2024

Community Service Project: Jared Boxes

Recommended Troop Activity: McDowell Sonoran Preserve Family Day (at the Lost Dog Trailhead)

March 2-3: Camp BASIC

March 22-24: Encampment at Shadow Rim

April 2024

April 7, 1 pm: Service Project: Toys for Shelter Animals

April 8, 6:30 pm: Leader's Gala

April 13-14: All-neighborhood Encampment at Parsons (Daisies too!)

April 27: Annual Meeting 

May 2024

May 1: Older Girl Bridging

May 5: Mother's Day Tea (Troop 4637)

June/July 2024

Neighborhood Day Camp

Robotics Competitions

The Techalongs cordially invite all Girl Scouts to attend their competitions to cheer them on.  Matches start about 10 am at any event.  Come for the whole event, or just drop in for an hour or so.  Each qualifier starts with check in and inspections followed by preliminaries that determine who will compete in the finals.  Awards generally start about 4.

Turquoise Qualifier

December 2nd@ Valley Christian Schools - K-8 Campus, 6304 S Price Rd, Tempe, AZ 85283, USA

Valley of the Sun Qualifier

January 27@ ASU West Campus - South Fields, 4700 W Sweetwater Ave, Glendale, AZ 85304, USA

Copper Ridge Qualifier

February 4 @ American Leadership Academy, Applied Technologies, 7729 E Pecos Rd, Mesa, AZ 85212, USA

For more information about FIRST FTC in Arizona, please visit their blog.

For more information on the Techalongs, including how to join the team, please visit their website.

March 2024 Service Project: Jared Boxes

Troop 2256 invites Pima to send some love to hospitalized children at the Honor Healthcare Shea right here in our neighborhood during the month of February. We are sending out the call NOW because we believe there will opportunities for discounted items over the next months (Black Friday? after holiday sales?) to maximize our efforts. 

Questions may be directed to pima.neighborhood@gmail.com

WHAT IS A JARED BOX?

A Jared Box is a shoe box full of small toys and activities that are given to children who are hospitalized. The goal of the Jared Box Project is to lift the spirits of children in the hospital. Boxes filled with the "gift of play" are given to young patients in emergency rooms, hospital rooms, surgical centers, and clinics.

The boxes symbolize the importance of play and are filled with well wishes, hope, and love.  

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

There are a number of avenues you can choose to participate depending on your desired level of participation.  Please fill in this link to report your participation and receive your patches.

Families or troops assemble full boxes by following the directions here. This video shows you how to complete a full box.  

RULES

Because these boxes are going to sick children, all items must be new. No food items. No tiny items due to choking hazards. No snow globes or glass items that can break. No pencil sharpeners. No bubbles. No holiday items. Keep in mind, toys need to fit into a plastic shoe box.

WHEN

Please deliver all completed boxes to Diana between March 14 and March 31. Please wait for an email before delivering.  Gift of Caring cookies need to be cleared from the garage before Jared boxes can be delivered.  

SUGGESTED TOY LIST

Suggested Toy List (printable list)

Infant (0 to 12 months) 

Soft cover books, cardboard books, rattles, bibs, stacking blocks, farm animal sets, small toys that clip on strollers or cribs, crib mirrors, bath toys, stuffed animals, balls, busy boxes, light up toys, musical toys, Oball toys. Lamaze, Bright Starts, and Sassy brand toys are great. Other toys that are labeled as suggested for infants. Be aware of choking hazards. 

Toddler (1 to 3) 

Soft cover books, cardboard books, stacking blocks, farm animal sets, small toys that clip on strollers or cribs, bath toys, stuffed animals, balls, busy boxes, musical toys, colorful pillowcases, fun socks, chunky crayons, coloring books, picture flashcards, plastic cars and trucks, puppets, soft dolls. Other toys that are labeled as suggested for children under 3. Be aware of choking hazards. 

Preschool (3 to 5) 

Crayons, coloring books, grab-n-go activity kits, Play-Doh, reading books, stickers, sticker workbooks, activity books, matchbox cars, nerf or rubber balls, stuffed animals, flashcards, fun socks, small action figures, small dolls, travel size games, Silly Putty, simple puzzles, card games (Go Fish, Old Maid, Memory), colorful pillowcases, princess crowns, dress up items, farm animal sets, dinosaurs. Other toys that are labeled as suggested for Preschoolers. 

Elementary (5 to 8) 

Crayons, markers, colored pencils, pens, coloring books, word searches, activity books, reading books, joke books, matchbox cars, nerf balls, stuffed animals, stickers, Play-Doh, Silly Putty, Lego kits, craft kits, Slinky, travel games (Sorry, Connect 4), hand lotion, colorful pillowcases, reusable water bottle, fun socks, My Little Pony, action figures, puzzles, deck of cards, UNO card game. Other toys that are labeled as suggested for school-aged children. 

Tweens & Teens (8 and up) 

Crayons, makers, colored pencils, pens, coloring books, word searches, doodle pads, writing journals, Play-Doh, Silly Putty, stuffed animals, card games, Lego Kits, puzzles, brain games, books, magazines, Chapstick, hand lotion, fuzzy/colorful socks, colorful pillowcases, nail polish, jewelry making kits, craft kits, paint sets, reusable water bottle. Other items that are labeled as suggested for teens. 

Basic Cookie Sale Information

REMEMBER: The cookie rally will be held January 5th! Details to come.

Access to eBudde

Access to eBudde is granted to registered/background checked individuals who have completed training and filled in this form: https://forms.gle/WVfRyeKbsbk3Czz96 

Registration is verified through GSUSA and access can take some time after submission of your troop product manager (TPM) agreement.  When filling in the TPM, our neighborhood is Pima and the neighborhood email is pima.neighborhood@gmail.com

Parent Financial Responsibility Agreement

You need a signed form from a parent of each girl in your troop.  Please remember that parents need to put in YOUR email (the cookie manager email) not the neighborhood email on this form.  Cookie managers are responsible for ensuring these forms are signed.  If you need to double check who signed the form, please email productprogram@girlscoutaz.org

https://girlscoutsaz.jotform.com/232075555911860

Cookie Manual

The official cookie manual is available only online.  It can be accessed here.

Neighborhood Training Site

The neighborhood training presentation--and lots of other information-- can be accessed here.

Initial Order Calculator

Don't know how many cookies to order initially. The council has an initial order calculator here.  Teresa is happy to look at your numbers and have a conversation about what to order for initial delivery.

Pima Neighborhood Troop to Troop Transfer Link

If you need cookies or want to trade out extra cases, you have two options.  The first is closer to home and is a list for troops in the Pima and Fountain Hills area. The second will connect you to troops across the valley and can be accessed under the exchange button in eBudde.  

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Dhc8z2ZgVSvcjwXGlxWaVdPqLHn93kJN4vTz_VwYT_c/edit#gid=0

Cookie Sale Dates

Dec. 4 — DOC Access for Volunteers

Dec. 4 — Exclusive Booth Round (8pm)

• One pick for early registration
• One pick for $1250+ by October 29, 2023

Dec. 5 — Booth Round (8pm) Four picks

Dec. 6 — Booth Round (8pm) Four picks

Dec. 7 — Booth Round (8pm) Six picks

Dec. 8 — Open Round (8 pm) Eight picks

Dec. 10 — Troop Initial Order Due

Dec. 11 — DOC Access for Parents

Jan. 13 — Initial Delivery

Jan. 15 — Cookie sale begins (9 am)

Jan. 16 — Cookie Cupboards Open

Jan. 29 — Money Due in Account for 1st ACH

Feb. 1 — 1st ACH Due

Feb. 12 — Money Due in Account for 2nd ACH

Feb. 15 — 2nd ACH

Feb. 25 — DOC Closes for Girl Delivery/Cookie Program Ends

Mar. 3 — Troops Submit Final Reward Choices

Mar. 4 — Money Due in Account for Final ACH

Mar. 7 — Final ACH

Please remember to stress to all girls/families that they may not sell before January 15 at 9 am.

Cookie Booth Do and Don'ts

 

DO

Be polite to customers, store employees, fellow Girl Scouts, and adult volunteers at all times but particularly if you encounter a confrontational situation.

Cancel any booths that you will not use.  If you can't make a booth offer it to a fellow Pima troop or send a note to Pima Neighborhood before cancelling so we can keep the booth in our neighborhood.

Take written proof of booth scheduling from eBudde with you.

Do arrive five minutes before your booth start and leave promptly when your time is over.

Leave the booth space cleaner than you found it. Take all your trash with you.

Bring your own equipment and supplies (tables, chairs, tape, carts, signs, etc).

Enter all your self-scheduled booths into eBudde for approval.

Check in and out with the store manager and give him/her a thank you note.

Follow store set-up rules.

Follow any directions given to you by the store managers and employees.

Wear Girl Scout identification. You will do better at a booth if your girls wear matching/troop tshirts with vests/sashes.  The more professional you look, the better you will do.

Keep less than $100 in your cash box.

Have girl health forms with you, as well as a MS-27 emergency card for reference. http://www.girlscoutsaz.org/content/dam/girlscoutsaz/documents/forms/ms-27-emergency-procedures.pdf

DON'T

Do not contact Basha's, Food City, AJ's, Walmart, Sam's Club, Albertson's, Safeway, Fry's, or ASU.  Booths for these places are only scheduled by council and are available via Ebudde.

Don't booth at locations that are not girl appropriate such as marijuana dispensaries or bars.

Do not fill store garbage cans with empty boxes.  Take them with you.

Do not sit on or use store merchandise (for example, do not sit on patio furniture that is for sale).

Do not use store property (for example, do not use store carts and do not sit on store furniture that is intended for their customers' use).

Do not eat or allow your girls to eat at a cookie booth.

Do not let girls sing, shout, or chant.

Do not bring bags from other stores to a booth. (No Fry's bags at Walmart, for example).

Do not block the door.

Do not bring non-Girl Scout friends and/or siblings.

Do not staff your booth with more than four girls at a time.

Do not take bills over $20.

Do not take checks.

Do not ask store managers to mediate any conflict.

Do not argue in front of customers, girls, or store employees.

My First Cookie Booth

Pima has a program that pairs Daisy Girl Scouts and Daisy Parents with an older troop for their first cookie booth experience.  Here are the rules:

• The expectation is that girls will attend for about 15 minutes to get just a taste of what it is like.  
• Last year, girls chose to stay longer, and that is up to you and the hosting troop when you are there.
• A registered parent must attend with their Daisy.
• Girls should come in uniform (white shirt, black bottoms, vest).
• Daisies will receive a patch for attendance.

Please note, if you open up your booth to Daisies, you must still adhere to cookie booth staffing guidelines. No more than FOUR girls at a booth at any time.  

We would like parents to read over the boothing guidelines here before they arrive at their first cookie booth experience.  ).

The links to sign up will appear here after booth sign ups.

Cookie Booth Activities

Slow cookie booth? Here are some activities to pass the time.

Brownie Cookie Badge Packet: Cookie Decision Maker

Cookie Word Search

Cookie Crossword Puzzle

Cookie Word Scramble

Cookie Bingo

Map of LBB versus ABC cookie councils

Quiet Games

• Tic Tac Toe
• I Spy
• 20 Questions
• Charades
• Hangman
• Head's Up (phone app)

Cookie Training: eBudde Overview

Dashboard Tab

Check your messages! (top right corner)

Contacts Tab

Make sure your information is correct and that your account is set to "Gets Email." If you switch it to "No Email," Diana will switch it back.  This is the only way to ensure that you, as a cookie manager, get critical information.

Settings Tab

Kind of nothing to do here; it's nice information.

Girls Tab

Make sure ALL your girls are listed.  If they are not there, the problem 99% of the time is that they are not registered.  Once they are registered, it will take a day or two for them to show up in the list. Make sure you take care of this ASAP after the girls are loaded.  You can take care of this in advance by going into the MyGS (https://mygs.girlscouts.org/my-account) and doublechecking that all your girls are listed and registered.

Input girl tshirt sizes here for initial order incentives.

Initial Order Tab

This is where you will input your initial order. Remember to give each girl 1 thin mint and to order in CASES.

Delivery Tab

This is where you will sign up for a time to pick up your cookies. 

Girl Orders

This it the MOST important section.  This is where you will record ALL transactions of cookies in and out to girls, as well as money in and out.  You will spend most of your time here, ensuring that the records are correct.

Cookie Exch Tab

This is where you can list and find cookies to exchange all over the valley.  We recommend using our Pima list first because those troops are nearby.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Dhc8z2ZgVSvcjwXGlxWaVdPqLHn93kJN4vTz_VwYT_c/edit?usp=sharing

Transactions Tab

This is another important section!! This is where you will go to place cupboard orders! Orders must be placed in full cases. Remember to hit SAVE or the order will not go through.

If you do a troop to troop transfer, you will input those transactions here as well.  

Rewards Tab

This is where you will input initial and then final rewards choices.

Booth Sales Tab

Booths that are available are GREEN. Click on the location you want of the left and then the time slot on the right.  

Current Signups should be printed and taken with you to all booths.

To add your own cookie booth, click the box that says "Council Sales" and select "My Sales." Then "add a location."  Fill in the information completely or it will not be approved.

Payments Tab

Digitial Cookie Sales and Council ACH withdrawals will be listed here.

GOC Org

Please input where your troop gift of caring is being donated here. Pima donates to the Air National Guard.  I will provide the address once I confirm that for 2024. 

Sales Report Tab

Nothing to do here, but a lot of good information.

Reports Tab

If you're a data junkie, this is your tab but otherwise you don't need to use this tab.

Help Center Tab

If you are thinking this is a tab you need, it's probably time to email Diana or Lee.

Cookie Training: Initial Orders

Initial Orders are due December 10.

1. Decide what you will be ordering using the cookie calculator/previous year's sales/date from girls and parents.

Cookie Calculator 

If you need help, contact Teresa and have a conversation about numbers. Please note that the cookie calculator will give you a count in boxes and your order needs to be placed in full cases (multiples of 12).  

2. Go into eBudde and select the tab marked "Init. Order"

3. Assign ONE box of thin mints to each girl who is selling.

4. Go down to the " OTHER" line and place the remainder of your order IN CASES. (You input box numbers to make full cases. In other words, all totals must be in multiples of 12).

When you are done there should be only zeroes in the line marked "Extras." Any numbers listed in that line indicate you did not order a full case.  Please adjust.

At this point, you can hit save if you are not entirely satisfied with your numbers.  Once you are satisfied, go to step 5.

5. Once complete, click submit order.  This can be done only once.

6. Go to the "Rewards" tab.

7. Click "Fill Out" next to "Initial Rewards Order"

8. Take note of the PGA-Selling number.  If it is UNDER 200, click "Submit Reward Order" (no rewards due).  

If the PGA-Selling number is 200 or above, fill in the the girl sizes for those selling/receiving the awards.  These sizes will then populate into the first block of tshirts (shaded blue). 

Then select 1 and the size for your free volunteer shirt (second block of sizes, shaded white).

Then, if you want to order up to three more shirts at a cost of $12 for other volunteers, fill in the last block.

9. Hit button marked "Submit Reward Order."

Hayride

[posted for our friends in Indian Bend neighborhood] 

Hayride! Fri Nov 3

It's time to have some fun at MacDonald's Ranch at our family and friend's hayride! $16 per person includes patch, hayrides, train rides, games, hay maze, water, and s'mores. Children age 2 and under, free.

MacDonald's Ranch
26540 N. Scottsdale Rd.
Friday, November 3, 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Butcher's Choice will be providing dinner on site at an additional cost. Estimated dinner RSVP requested.

Troop Leaders: You do not need to be present at this event. Complete the registration form on behalf of your troop ASAP: https://forms.gle/1Y9gmPDZMEzqL1jU9

Mail checks (payable to Indian Bend Neighborhood) to Krystal Ray, 4131 E Cannon Dr, Phoenix, 85028, or contact me for other payment options or questions: Krystal, 602-300-2616