My Girl Scout's newest fundraiser..whay'da think?

[WDW2002]

I didn't think the girl scouts could sell "cookies" unless they were "official"? Maybe since they aren't baked its okay.

 

[CarlaKay]

First of all, the troops get only a small percentage of cookie money, but another percentage is kept at the council level. This money pays for upkeep of camps, adminstrative costs and scholarships for various camps. It's really a better deal that it sounds when you only hear what the troops get back.

This sounds like a great fundraiser. Have you cleared it with your council? I know here we have to clear with council and we are limited as to how many fundraisers we can have outside the official ones.

BTW, a technique that worked on any troop sales for us was to have a "Daddy Sale Day". Those dads would get all their friends to come to outsell the moms. It was too funny. They always sold a ton and would shame their friends into buying. It worked great on the guys who don't normally get involved, especially if they were in sales. Of course, who can say no to a cute little girl?

 

[LOVETHATMOUSE]

Merrypoppins - I tried that link but it doesn;t work Also, Merriwether I PM'd you.

My dd wants to do this for her gifts for all her teachers (school, dance, church, etc). She is 7 and I think she could handle the measuring, etc. all by herself. Last year we did homemade notepads (came out fantastic!), but this would be a nice change (or addition to pads again).

Our church fair is coming up next weekend, and maybe I can squeeze out a fair lot for them this week. Sounds like it would be a nice moneymaker.

 

[Girls Scout Leader]

WDW2002:
Along with many other guidelines, "Safetywise" spells out what is appropriate and inappropriate for Girl Scouts to fundraise. What we can do is:
making and selling items, washing cars, putting on meals or dances for families, providing a gift wrapping srevice, working at special events in the community.
What we cannot do is:
Product demonsration parties, raffles, drawings, games of chance, the direct solicitation of cash, sale or endorsement of commercial products, (we cannot sell candy bars, gift wrap, etc like the school does).
WE have already had bake sales, etc. Council has approved everything we have done. As long as we perticipate in the council sponsored fundraisers (we have to sell cookies and "QSP" a magazine subscription service) and obtain pre-approval, following all the guidelines in "SAfetywise" (DH has to follow a similar book for Boy Scouts, but thiers is 1/2 the size...no fair!!)
we can do as amny fundraisers as we want. And council knows what we are fundrising for...had to get approval for that, too. And they are fully aware fo the expences we a re trying to obtain.
WE have thier blessing.
And yes, some of the funds from cookies go for council - sponsored things like maintaing the camps, leader materials, etc. But in the long run, we need $1,000 each by 2004 and cookies just aren't enoungh.

 

[WDW2002]

Originally posted by Girls Scout Leader
WDW2002:
WE have already had bake sales, etc.

Thats interesting. My DDs were in a troop, that was held at the local Boys and Girls Club. The Club had a lemonade & cookie stand at the farmers market that was held right around the corner, each tuesday afternoon. Since the girls running the stand were also the girls in the troop, they wanted to make it a "Support our Girl Scout Troop" with the profits going to the troop. The Club gave it its okay, but the troop leader, told them that they weren't allowed to do that. Wonder if it was just their council, that wouldn't approve it.

 

[Girls Scout Leader]

Safeywise, that I quoted to you about what we cannot do is used uas - wide. ier what the reasonng was. GS cookies are only available here in the fall, other area in the spring, etc. I would not think of having a conventional bake sale durring cookie time, but other wise, unless they tell me i cannot do it, we try . Sorry it didn't work out for your DD.

 

[Pembo]

Can I join your troop???

I'd pay $5 for the mix. Sounds like a great idea!

 

[MerryPoppins]

I fixed the link above. It was a typo, which I am famous for. I'll give it again so you don't have to search for it.

www.recipegoldmine.com

 

[CarolA]

WDW2000,
The other thing Safety Wise and the council's really stress is the appearance of independence. I think that maybe your council was thinking of this. Since the booth was "owned" by the Boys and Girls Club it could appear that you were selling things on thier behalf which you can't do.

The reason independence and fund raising are such a big deal has to do with other funding sources. Our United Way looks at this a lot and you don't want to jeopadize those sources.

 

[Talking Hands]

May I suggest along with this you get with a local Tupperware consultant and do one of their fundraisers. They have a special fundraising brochure plus you can sell from the regular catalog.

 

[JulesMom]

The price sounds good to me. Some schools in our area have sold them for $7+.

 

[Girls Scout Leader]

Sorry...no Tuperware..

"No sales or endorsements of commercial products.."

Good idea, though. And I understand about United Way. They do their major fundraising in October, so they respectfully request that we do not begin selling GS cookies until Nov. 1.

Thanks for everyones encouragements. I'll keep you posted to see how it goes. We begin taking orders Nov 18 - Dec 1. Didn't want to interfere with Cookies, and still wanted to take advantage of the Thanksgiving holiday to hit up family!

Thanks again everyone.