Volunteer Essentials

Fall Product Program Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri provides an annual Fall Product Program that troops are encouraged to participate in. The program begins in mid-October and gives troops the opportunity to build their treasuries early in the membership year. Products are delivered in late November. Troops sell candy, nuts and magazine subscriptions from licensed GSUSA product vendors. Girls get to know their products (ingredients and calories, for example), and they design innovative and creative marketing strategies and tools. Girls are encouraged to share with customers how Product Programs help their Council and community. The Cookie and Fall Product Programs are an integral part of the Girl Scout experience.

The Five Skills

When you buy delicious Girl Scout Cookies, you’re helping to power new, unique and amazing experiences for girls—experiences that broaden their worlds, help them learn essential life skills, and prepare them to practice a lifetime of leadership.

Managing Product Programs The following information is to be used in planning and giving direction to all who manage Girl Scout Product Programs: • All girls participating in the Product Programs must be registered Girl Scouts • Juliettes who wish to participate in Product Programs should link to a troop (troop organizers and Council staff can help link girls to troops) • Troop Cookie Managers and Troop Fall Product Managers must attend Neighborhood Product Program training • Contact your Neighborhood Cookie Manager or Fall Product Manager if you need forms or materials • No one may pick up a training packet for another troop • Parent/guardian permission for a girl to participate in Product Programs must be obtained (permission to participate can be found on the Girl Health History and Annual Permission form) • Troops must participate in the Automatic Clearing House (ACH) process which allows Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri to electronically collect payments from troop accounts • Any volunteer or parent with an outstanding Troop Late Payment Report or delinquent balance with Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri will have a restriction of No Funds Handling placed on their account. This prevents the volunteer from participating in any role that is responsible for managing funds including having access to bank accounts. Girls whose parents/guardians owe funds to Council for Product Programs may participate in the product program if an adult non-family member not living at the same address agrees to be responsible for the order card, product and funds. Product can be distributed on a limited basis to the responsible adult, and when payment is received then additional product can be distributed. The girls may also participate in a booth. Once payments are cleared, the restrictions will remain in place for an additional two cycles of the Fall Product and Cookie programs. The five skills are: goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills and business ethics.

Volunteer Essentials 84