Ringing in the 2018 Cookie Program

In the spirit of the new year, GSWPA welcomes you to Cookie Program Countdown!

 As we count down to the launch of the 2018 Cookie Program over the next five days, we will be remembering how cookie proceeds supported local troops in 2017. We’re ringing in the 2018 Cookie Season by spotlighting the cornerstone of the cookie program—the 5 Skills—and talking about how to build on each of them to make the most of this year’s program!

First skill, first! Before you come up with your new year’s resolution, think about your 2018 Cookie Program goal.

Goal Setting: Girls set cookie sales goals, and with their team, create a plan to reach them. 

1. Begin by thinking about what you want to use your cookie proceeds to do. Are you working together as a troop, or does each girl have an individual goal? Is it camp, community service, travel, or maybe another new adventure? 
2. How much will your adventure cost? This planning will help you figure out how many boxes of cookies you’ll need to sell. 
3. Once you know your selling goal, set mini-goals throughout cookie season to keep you on track!

Goal setting is an important takeaway for Girl Scouts because it is the foundation to understanding and believing that they can succeed in school, on the job, and in life.

Share your goals with us! Leave it in the comments here, or on Facebook. GSWPA wants to know what you’re working towards this year!

2017 Cookie Program Shout Out: Troop 40304 in Somerset County put their cookie proceeds to great use by brushing up on their science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills at an overnight event at the Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh. Way to go, girls!

Digital Cookie: Supporting the 5 Skills and cookie sales

The Digital Cookie™ platform is in its fourth year, and it has taken cookie sales beyond the booth with online and mobile channels that make it easier than ever to support the success of a Girl Scout.

Check out these highlights of the Digital Cookie platform!

Learning Modern Business Skills: The Digital Cookie platform supports each sale by making it easy for the Girl Scout to share her Girl Scout experience, her selling goals for the year, and how the proceeds will give her the opportunity to break the mold, take on a new adventure, and create change in her community. Girl Scouts and their parents use the site to track customer information, orders, and data. The Digital Cookie Platform is an awesome introduction to modern business strategies.

Digital vs. Distance: Digital wins—every time! It doesn’t matter if it’s a next-door neighbor or Great Aunt Claire in Utah, Digital Cookie allows customers to pay by credit card and have their order shipped directly to their door. Customers are also able to donate boxes online to Operation: Sweet Appreciation!

• New this year! Customers can pay for their cookies through Digital Cookie and still have their Girl Scout deliver the cookies to their door. Don’t worry—parents will need to approve these orders for safety and practicality reasons. Ask your troop leader for more information.

Achieve those goals! With all of the tools and resources available through this site and the opportunity for Girl Scouts to cast a wider net than ever before, it’s no surprise that a girls’ success could grow and expand—which means more exploration, learning, empowerment, and inspiration for her!

I’m so excited for Digital Cookie! How do I get started?

Gather customer information: You may not be able to set up your site just yet, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t steps to take to get ready! Girl Scouts and parents should sit down and talk about who their digital customers might be—out of town friends and family, cousins in college, or mom’s co-workers! Do you have a current email address for them? You’ll need it in order to invite them to your Digital Cookie site.

Register on the platform: Your invitation to join the platform will come through email at the end of December. Emails are specific to each girl and can’t be shared. The email will come from “Girl Scout Cookie Program.”

• Be sure to check junk/spam/promotions inboxes, but if you don’t receive an invitation by Jan. 1, go to digitalcookie.girlscouts.org and click “Forgot password/Need a registration” link.

Work together! Once your site is registered, Girl Scouts and parents should work together to set up their Digital Cookie site before the program kickoff on Friday, Jan. 5. Share your favorite things about Girl Scouting and write about how your proceeds from selling cookies will help you to keep doing those amazing things! You can even make a video welcoming friends and family to your Digital Cookie site.

For more information about the cookie program, visit gswpa.org.

We’re Entering the Countdown to Cookie Season!

In three weeks, we’ll be entering the next century of Girl Scouts selling cookies. With 100 years of cookie-selling success at our backs, we are so excited to see the amazing opportunities and experiences that the 2018 Cookie Program will bring to Girl Scouts of Western Pennsylvania (GSWPA).

Let’s make sure we’re prepared. With three weeks to go, here are three things we want you to know as we approach program kickoff on Friday, Jan. 5.

Get Set Up: A critical piece of accomplishing your goals is being set up for success!

·         All girls who are planning to sell cookies must be registered Girl Scouts. Help her unleash her inner G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)™. Register or renew now!

·         Remember, all Cookie Managers must be approved volunteers of Girl Scouts and complete the Troop Cookie Manager Agreement.

·         By the end of December, an email will be sent to parents and troop leaders with a Digital Cookie registration link. Note, registration emails are specific to each girl and cannot be shared with others. The email will come from “Girl Scout Cookie Program” (email@email.girlscouts.org).

Know the Dates: While you’re setting goals for your cookie season, it’s important to know deadlines and other important dates. Also, it can be helpful to talk to friends and family over the upcoming holiday season about the beginning of the Cookie Program.

·         Jan. 5: Girls start taking cookie orders. Yay! 

·         Jan. 26: Girls' initial orders are due to troops.

·         Jan. 29: Troop initial order is due in eBudde by 11:59 p.m.

·         Feb. 14-22: Cookie deliveries. Yay! 

·         Feb. 23: Booth sales begin; cookie cupboards open.

·         Feb. 23-25: National Girl Scout Cookie Weekend.

·         March 18: Final day of Cookie Program. Booth sales end. Cupboards close. :(

Get Excited!: This is such a wonderful time of year for Girl Scouts. We’re busy setting our goals and planning our amazing experiences for the year that are powered through the Cookie Program. Share that excitement and your plans for your cookie money as you begin to talk about cookies. And, here are a couple of new things to keep our cookie customers excited, too!

·         Digital Cookie Girl Delivery Option—New this year!
Customers can pay for their cookies with a credit card through Digital Cookie and have your Girl Scout deliver the cookies to their door. Don’t worry—parents will need to approve these orders for safety and practicality reasons. Ask your troop leader for more information.

·         Girl Scout S’mores^™ Return!

As the most popular flavor to launch in the 101 years of Girl Scouts selling cookies, we’re very excited to offer this option again this year.

Keep the countdown to the 2018 Cookie Program going! Check out the resources on gswpa.org for the most current information. 

Toonseum offers free admission to Girl Scouts in uniform

Show your Girl Scout pride and get free admission to the Toonseum!

Girl Scouts wearing their uniform will receive free admission now through Sunday, February 25 in honor of the museum's latest comic-book art exhibition, WONDER WOMAN: VISIONS. The exhibit celebrates the 75th anniversary of The Amazing Amazon, who has been in regular publication since her debut in 1941.

WHO: Girl Scouts
WHAT: Free admission to the Toonseum
HOW: Wear your Girl Scout uniform to receive free admission
WHERE: 945 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
WHEN: Now through February 25, find museum hours here

For more presentations, workshops, and tours about the exhibit, visit Toonseum's website.

Toonseum notes that the exhibition is suitable for children ages 8 and older. Adults and non-Girl Scout children must pay regular admission.

Pittsburgh Area Troops Celebrate at Annual Bring-A-Friend Event

Girl Scouts from Troop 51061 hit the red carpet along with about 275 other girls from the Pittsburgh area at their annual Bring-A-Friend event. Troop 51061 has hosted the event for the past six years.

On Friday, November 17, West Perry Ambassador Girl Scout Troop 51061 hosted their annual Bring-A-Friend Ball in the Fall Dance.

With record numbers in registration, the event was a huge success! The troop registered 172 Girl Scouts and 103 of their close friends to celebrate this fun evening.

Eleven girls from Troop 51061 have hosted event for the last six years: Maria Arlia, Jordyn Bailey, Julia Bjurstrom, Sarah Hartenstein, Kelly Hatch, Lexi Mandell, Mackenzie MacFarland, Ashly Nicholas, Alyson Ryan, Abigail Schutzman, and Maria Swab. While they will be graduating this year, their work on this event has taken it to the next level. Troop leader Angela Arlia and co-leaders Mary Hatch and Shelley Schutzman are proud of the girls' commitment to all of their passions, including Girl Scouting.

"These girls are so inspirational. They are bright and beautiful, inside and out," says Arlia. "Some hold leadership positions in school, hold National Honor Society merits, play sports, work part time, and participate in drama club, marching band, and cheerleading. The troop started in kindergarten, and it is great to see they remained in Girl Scouts for all these years, too."

The theme, The Rhinestone Runway, offered each girl the opportunity to walk the red carpet as other guests cheered for her arrival. Girls are encouraged to wear their best dresses and their most fabulous bling, and the event provides the opportunity for older Girl Scouts to provide a positive image, leadership and kindness to the younger attendees.

Troop 51061 asks each attendee to bring one non-perishable food item to be donated to the North Hills Backpack initiative, which assists students in the troop's community.

The event received coverage on triblive.com, The Pittsburgh Tribune website.

Girl Scouts invited to special movie screenings

Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania (GSWPA) members are invited to a free screening of two films at AMC Waterfront in Pittsburgh this weekend! 

Please plan to arrive early for the best seats. Passes are limited 100 seats total for each screening. 

Girls are encouraged to wear their uniforms since this is a special screening for GSWPA Girl Scouts! 

The Greatest Showman

Sunday, December 10, 10 a.m.

This Sunday, see a free screening of 20th Century Fox's, The Greatest Showman. There will be some fun family activities beforehand! Register for your free movie passes online using code GreatestShowmanGS. You'll be redirected to a website where you can download your passes. Please have your pass ready to show at the door. 

Inspired by the imagination of P.T. Barnum, The Greatest Showman is an original musical that celebrates the birth of show business and tells of a visionary who rose from nothing to create a spectacle that became a worldwide sensation.


The Greatest Showman is in theaters December 20, 2017.

Ferdinand

Saturday, December 9, 10 a.m.

ALL AVAILABLE TICKETS FOR FERDINAND HAVE BEEN CLAIMED. ENJOY THE SHOW!


This Saturday, see a free screening of 20th Century Fox's new animated comedy, Ferdinand. Register for your free movie passes online using code FerdinandGS. You'll be redirected to a website where you can download your passes. Please have your pass ready to show at the door. 

Ferdinand tells the story of a giant bull with a big heart. After being mistaken for a dangerous beast, he is captured and torn from his home. Determined to return to his family, he rallies a misfit team on the ultimate adventure. Set in Spain, Ferdinand proves you can't judge a bull by its cover.

From Blue Sky Studios and Carlos Saldanha, the director of "Rio" and inspired by the beloved book "The Story of Ferdinand" by Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson, "Ferdinand" is a heartwarming animated comedy adventure with an all-star cast that includes John Cena, Kate McKinnon, Gina Rodriguez, Anthony Anderson and many more.

Ferdinand is in theaters December 15, 2017.

MagNut News for Troops

Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania (GSWPA) sends a big THANK YOU to everyone for your patience during our pilot year of UNIFY!

Dates and Deadlines 

NOW! - Verify banking information in UNIFY by clicking on Financials located on the Menu
Dec. 5, 12 p.m. - Deadline to submit ACH Adjustment Form
Dec. 12 - ACH Sweep
Dec. 15 - Deadline to submit Delinquent Forms
Mid-December - MagNut recognitions sent to Service Unit MagNut Managers

ACH Sweep

• To view troop balance due to council, click on Financials and select the Troop Transactions tab.
• If there is a negative balance, you will receive a refund check in January. 
• Troops that only did Reach Out Booklets will receive a shop certificate.

• The ACH Sweep will occur Tuesday, Dec. 12. 
• The final upload of banking information has been processed.
• Verify troop banking information on UNIFY. 
• If the uploaded information is incorrect, you must contact Customer Care at 800-248-3355 no later than Dec. 5 at 12 p.m. The troop must submit a check for the balance owed.
• If there is no banking information uploaded, the troop must submit a check for payment. 

• Not enough funds to cover the ACH Sweep? 
• If the total amount due to GSWPA will not be available in your troop bank account as a result of a delinquent girl payment or for any other reason, an ACH Adjustment Form must be submitted to GSWPA by 12 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 5. Use this form to indicate the amount of money GSWPA can safely sweep from the troop account
• **Adjustment forms received after Dec. 5 at 12 p.m.will not be processed.** 

• Submit all delinquent girl paperwork by Friday, Dec. 15.
• If there is a delinquent girl payment and no adjustment form is submitted, GSWPA will refund the delinquent amount that was swept when the funds were unavailable, as long as the appropriate delinquent paperwork is submitted by Friday, Dec. 15.
  
  Please mail to:
  GSWPA, Attn: Yvonne Colleran
  30 Isabella Street, Suite 107
  Pittsburgh, PA 15212
• **After this deadline, no refunds for delinquencies will be processed.**

Late Paper Magazine Orders

Late paper magazine subscription forms (white and yellow copies), along with Paper Magazine Summary Forms, must be mailed promptly. Failure to submit forms will cause delays with the start of customer subscriptions.

Please mail to:

GSWPA, Attn: Yvonne Colleran

30 Isabella Street, Suite 107
Pittsburgh, PA 15212

Recognitions 

MagNut recognitions will be sent mid-December to Service Unit MagNut Managers. GS Bucks will also be sent from GSWPA directly to Service Unit MagNut Managers. The Service Unit MagNut Managers will notify Troop MagNut Managers when recognitions are ready for pick-up.

Questions? Please contact your Service Unit MagNut Manager.

Thanks for everything you do! 

Athlete Play Day at Allegheny College

FREE ADMISSION! Daisies, Brownies, and Juniors are invited to join Allegheny College's Women Athletes for their Athlete Play Day on Sunday, Dec. 3 from 12-2 p.m.

The Allegheny Gators will be sharing their knowledge and experience of playing many different sports! Girls will be able to explore what it takes to be part of a collegiate sports team. The event will be held in the Wise Center on the Allegheny College campus.

Please register for the event by filling out this form.

Participants should wear comfortable clothing and tennis shoes.

Help give life-changing experiences to girls on Giving Tuesday, November 28

Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday are days to remember those special people on your holiday list.

But do you know about Giving Tuesday? That's the day to remember the community organizations, like Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania, that make a difference in the lives of your family and so many others.  

Now in its sixth year, Giving Tuesday has become a global movement to celebrate and encourage giving. Since its start in 2012, Giving Tuesday has spread to 71 countries and raised nearly $117 million online. 

Starting on Tuesday, Nov. 28 and extending through the holidays, GSWPA will be joining charitable organizations from all over the globe to show that the world gives as good as it gets.

Why support GSWPA on #GivingTuesday?

Last year, donors like you helped us provide financial assistance to more than 900 Girl Scouts spanning every county we serve. Their families are at or near the poverty line or have experienced hardship, and could not otherwise afford Girl Scouting.

We rely largely on donations--both big and small--to make this possible.

Please consider kicking off your holiday giving season with an end-of-year charitable gift on or before Giving Tuesday, and help us bring Girl Scouting to more girls. We appreciate your support! 

Donate now >

MagNut News for Troops

Online Sales end on Friday, Nov. 17 at 11:59 p.m.

Important Dates

Now - Deliver late magazine subscription forms and Reach Out booklets to SUMM
Nov. 21 - Deadline to select recognitions (11:59 p.m.)
Nov. 22 - Deadline to submit new or updated ACH Forms
Dec. 5 - Deadline to submit ACH Adjustment Form
Dec. 12 - ACH Sweep

If you requested additional product and we were able to fulfill your order, we'll transfer it to your troop and the girl. You do not enter those items in UNIFY.

Financials

Banking Information

Nov 22 is the deadline to submit a new or updated ACH Form.

• Please review your banking information in UNIFY by clicking on Financials located on the Menu.
• We have done one upload of banking information into UNIFY.
• If the information is incorrect, please submit a new ACH form by Nov. 22.
• If you have already submitted a new or updated ACH form, another upload will be done by the first week of December.

Monies Due Council

Click on Financials on the menu in UNIFY. Select Troop Transactions to view the amount due.

ACH Adjustment Form

If there's a girl delinquency, or another factor, and the full amount due will not be available to be swept, please submit the ACH Adjustment Form  no later than Dec. 5 at 3 p.m. indicating an adjusted amount we can safely sweep.

Girl Scouts invited to special screening of Disney Pixar's COCO

ALL AVAILABLE TICKETS HAVE BEEN CLAIMED. ENJOY THE SHOW! 

Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania (GSWPA) members are invited to a free screening of Disney/Pixar’s new film, COCO. The screening will be held on Thursday, November 16 at 7 p.m. at AMC Waterfront in Pittsburgh. 

Please plan to arrive early for the best seats. Passes are limited 100 seats total. 

Register for your free movie passes online using code 567316. You'll be redirected to a website where you can download your passes. 

Girls are encouraged to wear their uniforms since this is a special screening for GSWPA Girl Scouts! 

COCO will be in theaters November 22. 

Girl Scouts donate Cookies to local military units through Operation: Sweet Appreciation

Every year, customers help Girl Scouts from GSWPA send delicious Girl Scout Cookies to our U.S. military active duty and veteran service member organizations by donating to Operation: Sweet Appreciation.

More than two dozen soldiers were set to deploy to Afghanistan after an emotional ceremony in August at John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport.

The local Apache pilots and crew members from the 151st Aviation regiment talked about their deployment and what it means to them to fight for our country.

Girl Scouts from troops 46321 and 46244 loved getting to explore and meet the soldiers who would be receiving their cookie donations.



Donations are currently closed for the 2017 Girl Scout Cookie program, but you can donate tasty snacks to our military right now through the MagNut Program!

Important MagNut News for Troops

Thank you for your patience during this pilot program in UNIFY!

Online ordering continues through Nov. 17

New and late starting troops can still participate by having girls set up their online registration sites at gswpa.org/magnut-resources and clicking on the Cat button if they have not received a registration email.

These troops can also participate by completing Reach Out Booklets. The troop earns $2 per completed booklet (limit of one booklet per girl).

• Troops can continue to enter paper magazine and Reach Out Booklet orders in UNIFY
• Do NOT press submit 
• DO NOT adjust girl’s in-person nut or candy orders that have already been submitted
• If a girl needs any additional nut or candy product, please contact Customer Care at 800-248-3355. Certain offices will have additional product. Council will add those orders to the girl.

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.
Wed. Nov. 22 - Deadline to submit new or updated ACH forms
Tues. Dec. 5, by noon - Deadline to for ACH Adjustment Form
Tues Dec. 12 - ACH sweep

Paper magazine orders

Troop MagNut Managers should have delivered 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. If you haven't yet submitted these, please do so now!

Please note:  

• Be sure to verify that all information on the order forms is complete and legible using blue or black ink. Make sure your troop number, girl's name and GSWPA is written on each paper magazine form. 
• Customers keep the pink copy of the paper magazine order forms. Do not send these to council.
• All payments for magazines should be collected with the magazine orders. Do not accept any orders without payment. Deposit magazine payments into your troop bank account promptly.
• Tip: Take a digital photo or copy of all the paper magazine orders before submitting them. 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.
• Troops can enter late magazine subscriptions and Reach Out Booklets in UNIFY until lock-out on Nov. 21 for girl recognition and troop proceeds.
• Any late paper magazine orders and Reach Out Booklets should be turned in without delay to Service Unit MagNut Managers. Troop lock-out for magazines and recognitions occurs at 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 21.

Nut and Candy Delivery

Nut and candy orders will be delivered Nov. 13-16. Your Service Unit MagNut Manager will contact you about your scheduled delivery date and location.

Printing receipts for girls for distribution

• Select Delivery from the Menu
• Select each girl from the Nut and Candy Delivery ticket dropdown. Girls name will appear on top right.
• Print 2 copies, one for parent, one for troop records

Recognitions 

All recognition updates and changes must be completed prior to the lockout on Nov 21. Pre-select the girls' recognitions now to avoid last minute changes!

Troop Bank Information  

• Troop bank information has been updated on UNIFY.
• If no bank account name appears under Troop Bank Account on your troop page, we still need an ACH form submitted. If you are a new troop or have made changes with your bank information, a new ACH form needs to be completed and submitted, as directed, by Nov. 22.

Thanks for everything you do to support Girl Scouts and the MagNut Program!

Questions? Please contact your Service Unit MagNut Manager.

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 >>