Girl Scout Day with RMU Women's Basketball

FREE ADMISSION! Division 1 champion Robert Morris University women's basketball team invites Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania family and friends to watch them take on Clarion University on Saturday, Dec. 16 at 1 p.m. 

Watch exciting college basketball at the new RMU Recreation Center!

• Meet, take photos, and get autographs with Division 1 champion RMU basketball players
• Meet and take photos with the RMU mascot
• Meet the RMU cheerleaders
• Enjoy face painting
• Random fans chosen to participate in contest during the game and at halftime

Girl Scouts who attend will receive a patch (while supplies last)!

When: Saturday, Dec. 16, 1 p.m.
Where: Robert Morris University Campus, RMU Student Recreation Center*
Cost: Free admission
RSVP: Email womensathletics@rmu.edu (note Girl Scout Day in the subject)
*The new RMU Student Rec Center is located at the back of campus, near the soccer fields and North Athletic Complex. 

Important MagNut News for Troops

Thank you for your patience while QSP was resolving the UNIFY technical issues!

Important notes for this week:

• UNIFY is now locked for troops and service units to enter nut and candy orders, and the orders have been submitted. 
• The Nut Promise option is also closed.
• Current issues with UNIFY:We have been made aware of a few issues within UNIFY that the programmers are working to resolve.
• Troops currently cannot add additional in-person magazine orders or Reach Out booklets to their girls.
• Troops that have selected WITHOUT REWARDS will still see With Rewards displayed on the dashboard. This is only a display issue, the selection is correct behind-the-scenes. 
• Recognitions selections can be made until Nov 21.
• The last day for customers to order online is Nov. 17. (Girls' online orders may take over 24 hours to post to UNIFY).
• New troops can still participate in online sales by having girls set up their online registration sites at gswpa.org/magnut-resources and clicking on the Cat button.

Important Dates

By Nov 3 - Deliver paper magazine subscription forms and Reach Out Booklets to service unit MagNut managers with completed Troop Magazine Summary Form.
Week of Nov 13 - Delivery of nuts and candy for in-person orders (includes Nut Promises).
Tues Nov 21- Deadline to enter late magazine orders and recognitions. Lock-out occurs at 11:59 p.m.

In-person magazine orders and Reach Out booklets

Troop MagNut managers should deliver their troop's paper magazine subscriptions (white and yellow copies) with the Troop Magazine Summary Form and Reach Out booklets to your service unit MagNut manager by Nov. 3.

Please note:

• Verify that all information on the order form is complete and legible using blue or black ink.
• Other magazine discount offers are not accepted.
• Combo magazines count as one subscription in UNIFY.
• Customers keep the pink copy of the paper magazine. Do not send these to council.
• All payments for magazines should have been collected with the magazine orders. Do not accept any orders without payment. Deposit magazine payments into your troop bank account promptly.
• Hint: Take a digital photo or copy of all the paper magazine orders! Save these copies for any further information that your customers may ask. 
• Paper subscriptions will begin 12-14 weeks from the time they are received by the publishers.
• Late paper magazine orders may be entered in UNIFY before Tuesday, Nov. 21 for troops to receive credit.
• Only one Reach Out booklet per girl. Names should not be duplicated.
• Check the Reach Out box for each eligible girl in UNIFY

Customers can order online through Nov. 17

GREAT for NEW or LATE STARTING TROOPS!

There's still plenty of time for girls to collect online orders from friends and family! Even girls and troops that are just starting can participate.

Encourage parents to register their Girl Scout's online ordering site and send emails to friends and family asking them to purchase nuts, candy, magazines, photo keepsakes, candles, tumblers, and Organic Veggies. They can access the site by visiting gswpa.org/magnut-resources and clicking on the Cat.

Emphasize that selling online is EASY! Spread the word!

Troop Bank Information

Troop banking information has been uploaded into UNIFY. If no bank account name appears under Financials from the menu, you will need to submit an ACH Authorization Form. If you are a new troop or have made changes to your bank information, a new ACH Authorization Form is to be completed and submitted as directed by Nov. 22.

MyCreation Patch

Girls and leaders are loving the "MyCreation" activity on QSP where they can customize their own cat mascot. Even troop leaders can create their own unique cat!

• Girls with $200 or more in online sales will receive their creation as a patch! Visit the QSP site to create yours.
• Troop MagNut managers can also earn the patch with $750 in troop online sales. 

Once the level has been achieved, the girl will receive an email to finalize her patch and provide an address for shipping.

Thanks for everything you do to support Girl Scouts and the MagNut Program!
  
Questions? Please contact your Service Unit MagNut Manager or Customer Care.

Girl Scout Shop Holiday Open House offers chance to save and give

Get your shopping started early with new holiday merchandise and special savings.

Visit the Girl Scout Shop Holiday Open House, Saturday, Nov. 11 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at our Edinboro, Pittsburgh, and Greensburg locations and get ready for the most wonderful time of the year!

The Girl Scout Shop features gifts for current Girl Scouts, troop leaders, parents, and alumnae, as well as all the gear and uniform basics needed for adventures in Girl Scouting.

Bring a non-perishable food donation* and receive 15% off your entire order (some exclusions apply), or receive a free Food Drive fun patch if you are a Girl Scout Daisy-Ambassador making a donation. (Girl must be present to receive patch.)

*Please check expiration dates before making donation.


Browse our online shop to start making your list, and we'll see you on Nov. 11!

Add a girl and accept the challenge!

Girl Scouts are lucky to have inspiring adults like to you guide and support them. With your leadership, the girls in your troop know that their year will be filled with fun, friendship, and new adventures.

You can share your sense of adventure with more girls today by pledging this November to add one or more girls to your troop! 

GSWPA is excited to launch a challenge for local troops and service units who welcome new girls to Girl Scouting through the G.I.R.L. Agenda Pledge.

For Troops:

• Every troop that signs GSUSA's G.I.R.L. Agenda Pledge (Nov. 1-Nov. 15) and adds at least one new girl to their troop by Dec. 31* will be entered to win 1 of 5 prizes of $50 added to their troop checking account. 
• The winning troops will be featured on GSWPA's Facebook page using Facebook Live by May 31.

*Troops must have the correct girl-to-leader ratio to be entered to win. The new girl cannot be previously registered as a Girl Scout.

For Service Units:

• Every service unit that has at least 50% of their troops participate in the pledge (Nov. 1-Nov. 15) and adds at least one new girl to their troop by Dec. 31, will be entered to win $100 added to their Service Unit account.

• Every service unit that has at least 75% of their troops participate in the pledge and adds at least one new girl to their troop by Dec 31 will be entered into an additional drawing for a food and beverage prize pack for one of your girl events in the 2018 (up to $150).

In addition to these local council incentives, there's great national prizes, too!
Once the pledge closes, 600 prize winners will be randomly selected to receive a FREE limited-edition G.I.R.L. Agenda patch for their troop. In addition, four grand prize winners will be randomly selected to have GSUSA share their story on Facebook (on Thanksgiving!), as well as receive the patch for their troop. Read the Rules and FAQs.

It all starts with a pledge! Make sure you take the pledge before Nov. 15 to be eligible to win!

Important Troop MagNut News

Important Dates and To-Dos

Monday Oct. 23 at 11:59 p.m. is the deadline for troops to enter girls in-person nut and candy orders.

Nut Promise ordering will close Oct 23.

Online sales continue through Nov. 17. There is still time for new or late-starting troops or girls to participate!

NOW: Log on to UNIFY to get familiar with the system. Don't wait until the last minute!

Oct. 23: Last day for customers to place a Nut Promise order.

Oct. 23: Deadline for troops to enter nut and candy orders in UNIFY.

Nov. 3: Submit paper magazine orders and Reach Out booklets to Service Unit MagNut Manager.

Nov. 17: Last day for customers to submit online orders.

Week of Nov. 13: Nuts and candies delivered.

Log-in now to UNIFY, the new MagNut
management system. There is no Nut-E. 

Please do not wait until the last day!

Here’s how:

Review the Troop MagNut training series on the MagNut Program and UNIFY.

• Refer to your MagNut Troop Guide or contact your Service Unit MagNut Manager for additional help .
• Login to UNIFY by visiting this link and clicking the Cat Button.
• Volunteers, parents, and girls can login using same email and password from Fall 2016 from the Online QSP site.

Other tasks (see below for details)

• Troops can now add girls to UNIFY
• Opting out of recognitions is open only to Junior level and above.
• Recognition selection – you can pre-select girls' recognitions. She may have additional online sales prior to recognition lock out on Nov. 21.
• If you accidentally submit your order before you are ready, please contact your Service Unit MagNut Manager. They can un-submit your troop until Wednesday, Oct. 25.
• If you forget to submit, don’t worry! GSWPA will take care of that!

To add a girl to UNIFY:

• Verify her 2018 membership is in process.
• Click Manage Orders on the menu.
• Click Add Girl.
• Enter all required fields. Enter the parent's email. Do not use your email.
• Click Save.

If a girl has transferred to another troop (or into your troop):

• Verify that she has a 2018 membership registration.
• Complete the Member Information Update Form to update her troop.

Opt-Out of Recognitions option

Daisy and Brownie Troops, as well as multi-level troops with Daisy and Brownie members, are not eligible for the additional proceeds/opt-out option. No check box will be available.

If your multi-level/other troop is Junior level and above and would like to opt-out, please contact Customer Care at 800-248-3355.

Eligible troops:

• Check the Without Rewards on the Manage Order page
• Complete the Opt-out Agreement

Paper Magazines

• For each girl, enter the quantity and dollar amount of in-person magazines.
• Review each subscription for accuracy and completeness.
• Complete the Troop Magazine Summary form 
• Submit white and yellow copies to the Service Unit MagNut Manager by Nov 3.

Submitting the Troops Nut and Candy Order

• Enter all girls in-person nuts and candy, as well as quantity and total dollars for the in-person magazines and more, into UNIFY.
• NUT Promises – These will automatically populate to the girl's in-person order. 
• Suggestion: Verify that the girl did not include those orders on the order card by checking the customers names and order that will appear in the Girl Delivered compartment in the bottom center of the girl’s order page in UNIFY and/or verifying with the parent.

Girl Recognitions 

• Troop MagNut Managers can enter girl recognitions in UNIFY now! We recommend entering them as soon as possible to save time later. 
• Just pre-select each girl's recognition choices based on their Parent Permission Forms. As orders are entered, the recognitions will automatically be ordered.

Online Sales 

Online ordering continues until Nov. 17 so there's still plenty of time for girls to collect online orders from friends and family! Remember, the girls' online sales automatically populate in UNIFY, although it may take 24 hours. 

Encourage parents to register their Girl Scout to participate in Online Sales and send emails to friends and family asking them to purchase nuts, candy, magazines, photo keepsakes, candles, tumblers, and more. They can access the site by visiting gswpa.org/magnut and click on the cat button. 

What if a girl has ONLINE SALES that are not showing on UNIFY ? 

Orders can take 24 hours to post. If it has been longer, please contact Customer Care 800-248-3355 and provide the girls name and current troop number. Don't worry - these orders are not affected by the Oct 23 troop lockout.

My Creation 

Remind girls to register online to create their own My Creation Cat. If they have $200 in Online Sales by Nov. 17 their Cat design will become their own custom MY Creation Cat Patch. 

Troop MagNut Managers – you too can design your own MY Creation Cat, and if the troop has $700 in online sales, you also will earn your MY Creation Patch.

Questions? Contact your Service Unit MagNut Manager for help.

Opportunities await for older girls

Girl Scouts offers a world of experiences for teens! Whether you like to get your hands dirty, explore nature, get creative, or travel, there's an adventure waiting just for you!

🚘 Car Care
Saturday, Nov. 4, 1 - 4 p.m.
GSWPA Kittaning Office
Level: Senior, Ambassador-
Registration deadline: Oct. 20

Get ready to get your hands dirty! In an afternoon, Seniors and Ambassadors will learn the basics of car maintenance, including checking and replacing fluids and changing windshield wiper blades. Girls will also investigate vehicle safety, learn what to do in case of an emergency, and explore ways to drive efficiently.

Learn more >>

🌺 Create with Phipps
Sunday, Nov. 5, 1 - 3:30 p.m.
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Garden, Pittsburgh

Level: Senior

Registration deadline: Oct. 27

Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens welcomes Seniors to earn their Outdoor Art Expert and Sky badges. Come explore the gardens and venture through the conservatory to capture the art of nature. Get a chance to create nature inspired music and investigate the science of the skies. Girls will also have the opportunity to explore Phipps on their own after the program.

Learn more >>

🎃 Glass Blowing
Sunday, Nov. 19, 2 - 5 p.m.

Pittsburgh Glass Center

Level: Junior, Cadette, Senior, Ambassador

Registration deadline: Nov. 10

Calling Juniors, Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors! Join the professionals at Pittsburgh Glass Center and try your hand at the art of glass blowing. Real pumpkins come in all shapes and sizes and so do the ones you'll create in this workshop. Gather, color, shape and blow glass to create a pumpkin that you'll want to display all year long. This session will also include a tour of the Pittsburgh Glass Center facilities and gallery. All girls will receive a glass blowing patch as well.

Learn more >>

🗺 GSWPA takes on Washington DC!

Friday, Jun. 22 - Sunday, Jun. 24

Washington, DC
Level: Cadette, Senior, Ambassador

Registration deadline: Feb. 28

Join us for a whirlwind weekend of travel and fun! We'll be going to our nation's capital and visiting all the must see locations including some with a special Girl Scout twist. Girls can lay a wreath at the Mount Vernon mansion, earn a special Girl Scout history patch, dance the night away on a dinner cruise, and see all the classic DC sights including the monuments, memorials, and Arlington National Cemetery just to name a few. Bus transportation, hotel accommodations and a majority of meals are included.

Other points of interest for this trip include the Holocaust Museum (pending availability), the Air and Space Museum, pictures in front of the Capitol Building and the White House, and visits to the major memorials including Vietnam War, Korean War, WWII, F.D.R., Jefferson, and Lincoln memorials. 

Learn more >>

MagNut News

There is still a week left for girls to take in-person orders!

There is no more Nut-E! GSWPA is participating in the 2017 MagNut system pilot program UNIFY. The Nut-E and the QSP online store have been combined into one website, UNIFY, in which the all MagNut program orders are to be entered and recorded. Thank you all for your patience as we are all learning this new system.

Important Dates and To-Dos

Now: Log on to UNIFY to get familiar with the system. Don't wait until the last minute!

Oct. 23: Deadline for troops to enter nut and candy orders in UNIFY.

Nov. 3: Submit paper magazine orders and Reach Out booklets to Service Unit MagNut Manager.

Nov. 17: Last day for customers to submit online orders.

Week of Nov. 13: Nuts and candies delivered.

First Steps

• Review the Troop MagNut training series on the MagNut Program and UNIFY.
• Remember, you can also refer to your MagNut Troop Guide or contact your Service Unit MagNut Manager for additional help and materials.
• Login to UNIFY by going to https://girlscouts.qspgao.com/WesternPennsylvania or gswpa.org/Magnut and click the Cat Button.
• Volunteers, parents/girls can login using same email and password from Fall 2016 from the Online QSP site. 

Troop leaders are now able to enter girls into UNIFY! 

Adding girls to UNIFY 

While we will continue to upload girls registered for 2018, some girls may have submitted paper registration forms that have not been processed yet.

To add a girl to UNIFY:

• Click Manage Orders on the menu.
• Click Add Girl.
• Enter all required fields.
• Enter the parents email - do not use your email. 
• Click Save.

If a girl has transferred to another troop (or into your troop):

• Verify that she has a 2018 membership registration. 
• Complete the Member Information Update Form to update her troop. 

Choosing Your Proceeds Plan

• There is a check box on the Manage Order page for troops registered as Junior level and above.
• If your troop is listed as Multi-Level or Other this option is not available. 
• If your Multi-level/Other troop is Junior level and above and would like to opt out, please contact Customer Care.

Note: Daisy and Brownie Troops, as well as multi-level troops with Daisy and Brownie members, are not eligible for the additional proceeds/opt out option. No check box will be available.

Recognition Selection 

NOTE: Currently, the programmers are working on the Rewards feature and Reward Selection is currently not available for all troops. Don’t panic, rewards selection deadline is not until Nov. 21. This hiccup should be fixed very shortly!

Troops will then be able to select girls' recognition choices on the Manage Order page-Reward Selection. Remember, UNIFY will auto select patches and levels where there is no choice of recognitions. After the recognition lockout, the Rewards Summary will be available for reference.

Banking Information 

If you are a new troop or have changed banks or signers, a new ACH/Banking Information Form needs to be submitted by November 23.

• You are currently unable to view your banking information.
• Troop banking information has not been uploaded into UNIFY as of today.
• We will notify troops via this newsletter once we have uploaded banking information.
• Banking information will appear on the Financials Tab after the upload.

Nut Promises

Nut Promises are a great option for girls to engage customers for in-person nut and candy orders, but through email. In a nutshell, a Nut Promise is an online order that’s girl delivered. When sending emails to potential customers from their online account, girls can select which emails will include the Nut Promise option by checking the peanut icon. So, if Aunt Juliette lives in Alaska and the girl won’t see her soon, she wouldn’t check the peanut icon because Alaska’s pretty far to deliver.


CHANGE FOR THIS YEAR: 

• Nut Promises placed by customers online are automatically ordered and should not be written on the girl’s order card.
• These orders are visible on the Girl Dashboard under the Order Summary tab. These Nut Promise orders will be delivered with the troop’s order. 
• Girls are responsible for delivering the promised order to the customer and collecting the money/payment. 
• Because customers place their promise online, Nut Promise orders count toward online proceeds and recognitions, including the MyPatchCreation™ personalized patch.

Remember! The last day for customers to place an online Nut Promise order is Monday, Oct. 23 (lockout 11:59 p.m.).

Questions? Contact your Service Unit MagNut Manager for help. Or Customer Care at 1-800-248-3355.

MagNut News for Troops!

We hope your 2017 MagNut season is off to a great start!

Read on for answers to your questions, important dates and more!

Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania (GSWPA) is participating in the 2017 MagNut system pilot program-giving families and volunteers one site to manage the entire Fall Product Program!

There is no more Nut-E! Nut-E and the QSP online store have been combined into one website called UNIFY. This unified ordering system is where all the MagNut program orders are entered and recorded.

Volunteers, parents/girls can login using same email and password from Fall 2016 from the Online QSP site.

Important Dates and To-Dos 

Now: Log on to UNIFY to get familiar with the system. Don't wait 'til the last minute! 

Oct. 23: Deadline for troops to enter nut and candy order in UNIFY. 

Nov 3: Submit paper magazine orders and Reach Out booklets to Service Unit MagNut Manager.

Nov. 17: Last day for customers to submit online orders.

Week of Nov. 13: Nuts and candies delivered.

First Steps

Review the Troop MagNut Manager Training Series on the MagNut Program and UNIFY.

Remember, you can also refer to your MagNut Troop Guide or contact your Service Unit MagNut Manager. You can find additional resources on www.gswpa.org/magnut.

Login to UNIFY now or go to www.gswpa.org/magnut and click on the cat.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Why am I unable to add girls to UNIFY?

Troops are currently locked from entering girls, GSWPA is uploading registered girls on a continuing basis. At a date to be determined after mid- October, we will allow troops access to add girls that are in the paper registration process. Stay tuned to this newsletter for that date!

A girl is not appearing in my troop in UNIFY?

Verify that she is registered for 2018.

If she just registered it will take a few days for us to upload her.

If the girl has been registered for longer than a few days, contact Customer Care 800-248-3355, noting what girl(s) to be added along with the troop number.

What if a girl has transferred to another troop (or into my troop)? How do I get her transferred?

Verify that she has a 2018 membership registration. Please complete the Member Information Update Form to update her troop.

What happens if a girl is showing in UNIFY but has no GS ID number?

It's OK! Girls are linked to their online sales site by troop number and name.

What do I do if a girl appears twice in UNIFY but with different Online IDs?

Click the pencil icon to view the email address associated with the girl then verify with the parent which is the correct email address and contact Customer Care. Verify that there are no online orders associated with the email address to be deleted.

How do I indicate in UNIFY that my troop will Opt -out of recognitions?

There is a check box on the Manage Order page. If your troop is listed as Multi-level or Other this option is not available. If your Multi-level/Other troop is Junior level and above and would like to opt out please contact Customer Care to request Product Sales assistance.

When does my ACH form need to be completed?

If you are a new troop or have changed banks or signers a new ACH/Banking Information Form needs to be submitted by November 23. 

Where can I find MagNut forms? (Proceeds opt-out, Magazine Summary, ACH, etc.)

Visit our MagNut resources online and you'll see them listed under Forms and Resources.   

 

Nut Promises

Nut Promises are a great option for girls to engage customers for in-person nut and candy orders, but through email. In a nutshell, a Nut Promise is an online order that’s girl delivered. When sending emails to potential customers from their online account, girls can select which emails will include the Nut Promise option by checking the peanut icon. 

So, if Aunt Juliette lives in Alaska and the girl won’t see her soon, she wouldn’t check the peanut icon because Alaska’s pretty far to deliver.

CHANGE FOR THIS YEAR:      

• Nut Promises placed by customers online are automatically ordered and should NOT be written on the girl’s order card.
• These orders are visible on the Girl Dashboard in the box titled Online Orders – Girl Delivered.
• These Nut Promise orders will be delivered with the troop’s order. Girls are responsible for delivering the promised order to the customer and collecting the money/payment.

Remember! The last day for customers to place an online Nut Promise order is Monday, Oct. 23 (lockout 11:59 p.m.).

Don't forget Operation: Sweet Appreciation!

This is a simple way for customers to say thank you to our military men and women by sending them Honey Roasted Peanuts for $6 per can. Donations can be made on the nut and candy order card or online. 

Questions? Contact your Service Unit MagNut Manager for help.