Volunteer Scoop: December
12/21/2023
Holiday Office Closures
As we near the holiday season, please take note of our office closures. All GSDH offices and retail stores will be closed from December 25 – January 1. With the closure of our offices, our Member Services team will also be unavailable from December 25 - January 1. The team will respond to all voicemails and emails once we resume regular business hours on January 2. If you have an emergency during that time, please reach out to Rochelle Rasmussen, VP of Member Experience and Membership, at 605-359-3943.
Cookie Program – Own Your Magic
Whether they’re a social butterfly, creative thinker, or strategic innovator, every Girl Scout entrepreneur has their own kind of magic. And Girl Scout Cookie Season is the perfect time to harness that magic and achieve their goals!
Visit the Cookie Resources page for up to date resources including the 2024 Cookie Program Calendar.
Volunteer Training
Pre-Training in gsLearn
Troop Cookie Coordinators are required to complete the 2024 Troop Cookie Training in gsLearn. This training will take around 45 minutes to complete. Learn how to access gsLearn.
Service Unit Training
Troop Cookie Coordinators should attend their service unit's training for updates and picking up sales materials.
Virtual Troop Cookie Coordinator Training
January 8 | 6:00 PM CT / 5:00 PM MT
2024 Cookie Program Overview
Initial Order Webinar and Q&A
January 8 | 7:30 PM CT / 6:30 PM MT
Learn about the Initial Order and ask questions about the program.
Important Dates Coming Up
- January 4 – Priority Booth Sign Up – View details and list of eligible troops
- January 5 – All Booth Lottery’s begin! JIT: Cookie Booth Sign Up
- January 8 – Troop and Initial Order Webinars
- January 11 – Troop Initial Orders Due! JIT: Placing Initial Order Cookies & Rewards
Digital Cookie email invites
- January 12 - Troop Co-Leaders/Troop Cookie Coordinators
- January 25 – Girls
Reminder: PLEASE make sure you are opted in for GSDH emails so you can receive all cookie communications! If you aren’t sure, you can view your communication preferences in MYGS or reach out to Member Services.
Cookie University
Daisies, Brownies, Juniors: Become a member of the 2024 graduating class when you join us at Cookie University! Enjoy activities to complete a financial literacy badge, shop the retail store, and get exclusive access to cookie tasting!
Cadettes, Seniors, Ambassadors: You’ve graduated from Cookie University, now it’s time to earn your master’s degree! Join fellow Girl Scouts to learn marketing techniques to elevate your cookie business! After bonding over brunch, you’ll develop and perform a skit for the younger Girl Scouts before focusing on earning a Cookie Finance Badge. Once class is out, you’ll come back together with younger girls to rally with cheers, chants, and songs!
Sioux Falls Saturday, January 20 Registration closes 12/28
Minot Saturday, January 20 Registration closes 12/28
Grand Forks Saturday, January 27 Registration closes 1/4
Fargo Saturday, February 3 Registration closes 1/9
Rapid City Saturday, February 3 Registration closes 1/8
Bismarck Saturday, February 3 Registration closes 1/11
Visit the website for details and to register.
In My Adventure Girl Era Recruitment Events
GSDH has started hosting a new recruitment event called In My Adventure Girl Era. We are hosting these Taylor Swift-inspired parties to attract new girls and members to join Girl Scouts. We ask that current members do not attend these parties. Don’t worry, our current Girl Scouts will not be missing out on the Taylor Swift fun! We have created a fun patch challenge for them with a custom patch to celebrate being in their Girl Scout Era. That will be coming out in February.
Adult Achievement Award Nominations due February 1
Know a volunteer who went above and beyond during the 2023 year? Honor them with a nomination for an Adult Achievement Award!
From the Rising Star Award to the GSUSA Honor Pin, there are a variety of awards to recognize the impact Girl Scout volunteers are making in local communities and council-wide.
Don’t delay! The nomination deadline is February 1, 2024, for awards to be presented at Honoring Excellence in June 2024. View Adult Achievement Awards and nomination forms on our website.
Girl Leadership & Higher Awards Paperwork due February 1
The deadline for submissions of Girl Scout Highest Awards and Girl Leadership Awards is February 1st for awards to be presented at Honoring Excellence on June 9, 2024.
GSDH Graduating Girl Scout Academic Scholarship due February 1
Applications are due to council by February 1st.
Online Application | PDF Worksheet
Girl Advisory Board
The Girl Advisory Board (GAB) is a group of girls, Cadette through Ambassador, who have their voices heard with opinions and ideas to council and help to make important decisions for council.
All Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador Girl Scouts are welcome to attend GAB meetings. RSVP to our Girl Experience Manager for meeting details and invitation.
Save the Date: Annual Meeting
Mark your calendars! The GSDH Annual Meeting is scheduled for April 16, 2024. Before our meeting can take place, Service Units must elect delegates to represent them during the meeting and vote on important council topics, like our Board of Directors and revisions to our bylaws.
Once elected, delegates should register for the meeting. If you are registered before February 9th, you’re in the running to win an early registration prize – an Apple Watch SE or 1 of 10 Frigidaire 9-Can Mini-Fridges.
New Gift Certificate
We are excited to announce that we are moving from a Retail Gift Certificate to a Gift Certificate that can be used to purchase a membership, register for a program/event, or purchase merchandise in the GSDH retail store. The gift certificates will still be sold in the retail stores and any existing Retail Gift Certificates will be able to be used for any of the three mission areas.
Retail Services
Dakota Horizons' Retail Services offers a variety of ways to shop for badges, uniforms, awards, gifts, specialty items, and more! Find the shopping option that best meets your needs at gsdakotahorizons.org/shop.
