2009 Cookie Program incentive structure announced

Girl Scouts of Western Washington was formed when Pacific Peaks and Totem Councils joined together on October 1, 2007. The first GSWW Cookie Program will launch in 2009.

 Since Totem Council and Pacific Peaks Council each had a different cookie program incentive structure, a Cookie Incentive Task Group was convened in January to create a new structure that pulls from both of the previous programs, while still fitting within certain parameters. The parameters included designing a program that:

• fits within the existing budget,
• motivates strong sales and stands the test of time,
• is simple to understand and administer, and
• is based on input from volunteers, girls and parents throughout Western Washington.

The 14-member Cookie Incentive Task Group was comprised of five volunteers and girls from Southwest Washington, four volunteers and girls from Northwest Washington, five staff members from the Seattle and DuPont offices, and a group facilitator from GSUSA. Marsha Heaton served as the board representative on the task group. The volunteers have experience as troop leaders, Girl Scout parents, service unit managers, and service unit cookie managers. The two teenage Girl Scout members have impressive cookie selling histories and expressed an interest in helping shape the incentive program.

To get a better understanding of what motivates girls, parents and volunteers in Western Washington to participate in the cookie program, an online survey was conducted in January. Nearly 3,000 people responded! The survey responses reflected a wide diversity of opinions based on age of girls, geographic origin and level of experience of volunteers and adults. Responses were relatively consistent, with troop proceeds ranking as the most important incentive. Prizes were ranked as significantly less important, although they placed higher with younger girls.

While Cookie Program credits, certificates and camperships came in behind troop proceeds as well, they were viewed as being more important than prizes. The survey also revealed that support for the council and the fun of the Cookie Program are strong reasons why members choose to participate.

Based on these results, the task group submitted several potential incentive structures to the delegates in early April in order to secure membership feedback. In May, questions and concerns from the membership were presented at a delegate meeting. After thoroughly analyzing the feedback from the delegates, the task group met again to make changes to the original proposal and make a final recommendation to the board, taking into account the comments from membership throughout the council. The task group’s recommendation was approved by the Girl Scouts of Western Washington Board of Directors on June 12, 2008.

Here’s a look at the new incentive structure:

Troop Proceeds. 55 cents/box for all troops; troops that renew early will get a 15 cent/box bonus (70 cents/box total). For 2008 only, the early renewal deadline has been extended to September 30 so troops have extra time to renew and earn 70 cents/box for the 2009 cookie program. In 2009 and beyond, the early renewal deadline will be June 16. To receive the early renewal bonus, girls must have all their re-registration paperwork into their service unit registrars by the early renewal deadline.

Patches and Plaques. The council will provide patches. The product sales staff is in the process of determining at which box levels patches will be offered. The council will provide a plaque to any girl who sells 1000+ boxes of cookies. The plaques will be displayed at the GSWW regional office closest to the girl’s hometown for one year; after a year, the girls can bring home their plaques.

Prizes. The council will provide prizes (i.e. stuffed animals, etc) through the 249 box level:

Cookie Dough. Starting at 250 boxes, girls earn cookie dough instead of prizes. Cookie dough can be used to pay for: council and service unit events, items in the store, Girl Scout Destinations trips, GSUSA registration ($10 annually) and camp. Cookie dough will be distributed on cards, resembling gift cards.

Sisters Sharing Cookie Dough. Sisters who each sell at least 250 boxes can combine their box totals and receive cookie dough for the combined amount. For example, if two sisters each sell 300 boxes (600 boxes total), they can combine their boxes and rather than each receiving $50 in cookie dough (the 300 box value), they will receive a combined $150 in cookie dough as that’s the amount given for 600 boxes sold. The sisters can then choose how to divvy up their cookie dough.

Individually registered members qualify for prizes and cookie dough at the same levels as girls in troops. In addition, instead of troop proceeds, they’ll receive cookie dough in the amount of 55 or 70 cents/box (depending on whether or not they renew early) for each box sold.

The task group is confident that the new incentive structure will encourage strong participation from girls throughout the council, will be easy to administer, and will stand the test of time. The task group members worked diligently to address members’ concerns about the initial proposal and believe that the final incentive structure represents the best option for all members of Girl Scouts of Western Washington.

Please stay tuned for more information as the product sales staff work out the final details. We’re all looking forward to a successful cookie program in 2009!

If you have any questions, please contact product sales directors Paul Drake at (206) 826-2183 or Valarie Pedlar at (253) 475-0307.

Thank you!

Huge thanks to the girls and volunteers on the Cookie Incentive Task Group for their hard work and dedication to Girl Scouts:

Michelle Bernardi (Quilcene)
Megan Boddy (Kenmore)
Vicky Boddy (Kenmore)
Betsy Darnall (Tumwater)
Joyce Downer (Longview)
Tricia Geater (Puyallup)
Pam Kaiser (Spanaway)
Amy Leister (Tacoma)
Roberta Miner (Kirkland)