Direct ship Girl Scout cookie orders up 500% in Medford this cookie season

March 22, 2021March 22, 2021Leave a comment

In this most unusual 2020/21 cookie season, direct ship orders grew by over 500% in Medford from 2,336 last year to 14,878 this year. While a huge leap, it’s not surprising considering that direct ship was the only option when the sale started in November. In addition, perhaps customers preferred to have their cookies delivered to their homes as a way to maintain social distance. Direct ship sales were also given a boost by Medford’s Virtual Cookie Booth, which was open 24/7 throughout the sale on our website, and was hosted by each troop in turn.

Starting in January, troops were allowed to hold contactless and drive-thru cookie booths in Medford but some troops stuck to the online and one-to-one sales methods such as virtual cookie booths and contactless girl delivery orders. Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts never went to “Phase 3” of the sale, which would have allowed for door-to-door sales and additional booth options, nor did they organize any Council Organized Booth Sales (COBS).

Despite these obstacles, Medford’s girls and troops found ways to make it work. The 28 troops that participated in the cookie sale sold 39,569 packages of cookies! While less than last year, that’s still pretty amazing.

In addition to the growth in direct ship orders, Cookie Share (aka C-Share, aka Cookies for Cause) sales also took a leap this year growing over 200% from 322 last year to 1,076 this year. The Cookie Share sales that were processed online through the Smart Cookies website were distributed to front line health care workers and food pantries by Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts, and many of our Medford troops distributed there Cookies for a Cause to local similar charities such as the caregivers at Winchester Hospital or the Community Cupboard Food Pantry in Medford.

This year’s 5 top selling troops are:

Ambassador Troop 65007 – 3,279
Daisy Troop 83400 – 3,185
Cadette Troop 69039 – 3,155
Junior Troop 62969 – 2,755
Junior Troop 62974 – 2,648

This years top selling Girl Scouts are:

Jennifer (Troop 65007) – 1,509
Abby B (Troop 65007) – 1,015
Teagan (Troop 70207 – 1,001
Kat (Troop 65007) – 755
Shayna (Troop 72103) – 750

In addition to the top sellers, the following seven girls also made it into the 500 Club for selling at least 500 packages:

Bethiah (Troop 68137)
Emily (Troop 67712)
Gianna Rose (Troop 62971)
Karley (Troop 62969)
Meredith (Troop 83400)
Olivia (Troop 83400)
Sophia (Troop 69039)

Special thanks to the local business that allow Medford Girl Scouts to hold cookie booths:

Al’s and Sons Service Center
Century Bank (Medford Square)
Century Bank (Riverside Ave)
Colleen’s Ice Cream and Sandwich Shop
Mallett Automotive
Temple Shalom

Medford Volunteers Honored by Girl Scouts For Their Service

April 26, 2020Leave a comment

Four of Medford’s volunteers were honored by Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts this year for all their work helping our girls become leaders of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place. For concerns of safety, the 2020 Volunteer Recognition Luncheon was cancelled but GSEMA looks forward to finding other ways to recognize the awardees that inspire us, move us, and remind us that Girl Scouting is a movement of hope.

Tracy Tracy Longman-Keene – Appreciation Pin

appreciation pin

The Appreciation Pin recognizes volunteers actively providing outstanding service in support of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience.

In addition to being a leader for Junior Troop 67712, Tracy is also a Regional Delegate for Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts. This past year, he organized a multi-troop event at Camp Runels at which the girls worked on two civil rights badges (Four Little Girls and Civil Rights History). The troops also earned a Martin Luther King, Jr. patch and patches for Winter Camping, Homeless Awareness, and Wildfire Relief. They also sorted and assembled care packages for the un-housed to be distributed to members of our community who have found themselves without shelter during these winter months.

Always going above and beyond, we are so fortunate to have Tracy among the ranks of Medford Girl Scout leaders with his enthusiasm and creative thinking teaching the girls and supporting the Girl Scout Leadership Experience.

Andie Farro and Evalyn O’Rourke – Five Year Sustained Service Award

Five Year Sustained Service Awards recognizes volunteers actively providing service to Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts for five consecutive years since receiving their last formal Girl Scouts of the USA volunteer recognition, and have continued performance at a level that exceeds expectations of her position description.

Andie and Evalyn have been, and continue to be, the cornerstone of Medford Girl Scouts, each having served as Troop Leaders, Troop Cookie Coordinators, Fall Product Sale Coordinators, Medford Encampment Directors and both having done the difficult job of Service Unit Coordinator. It’s hard to talk about one without the other as they work seamlessly as a team pushing our Service Unit to new heights in membership and opportunities. Under their consecutive leadership Medford Girl Scouts has grown and flourished.

This year they served as Co-Encampment Directors, leading the first encampment for the city since 2010. It was a hugely successful weekend at Camp Runels in Pelham, NH in September 2019. Over 17 months of planning, they discussed, surveyed, and organized an overnight for over 160 girls and 45 adults.They created a fantastic itinerary with over 10 activities for the day and evening that met the needs of each level of Girl Scouts. Their attention to safety for all the girls and adults during the encampment was impeccable and impressive and they both work energetically to help leaders and to support the growth of the Service Unit and Girl Scouting. We are so fortunate that they are steering our ship!

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Rebecca Scott – Honor Pin

adult honor resized The Girl Scouts of the USA Honor Pin recognizes volunteers actively providing outstanding service in support of the Girl
Scout Leadership Experience in two or more geographic areas.

Rebecca is a Troop Leader for Cadette Troop 68137 and, on a city level, she has been the Membership Promoter, Co-Booth Sale Coordinator and she is the Social Media and Communications Coordinator, managing the Medford Girl Scout Facebook page, website, and leader email list. She also offered her expertise by presenting at the GSEMA Annual Volunteer Conference to help others learn about using Social Media in their Troops and Service Units.

One of the most valuable things Rebecca brings is a sense of ease. Everything is always manageable and doable when talking to Rebecca. She has a way of taking a situation or task that seems overwhelming and breaking it down so that anyone can accomplish it. This is one of the reasons she was an excellent Membership Promoter in the past and it carries forward with everything she does. She shares her knowledge and skills which allows troop leaders to do things for their troops they might not have. Finally, by being so thorough and diligent with sharing information, she has helped enrich the Girl Scout experience for all the adults and girls in Medford. We are so proud that she is receiving this recognition, it is certainly deserved.

Medford Juniors and Cadettes Learn About Civil Rights and Honor the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

January 31, 2020February 1, 2020Leave a comment

Members of Girl Scouts Junior Troop 67712 and Cadette Troop 72102 from the Brooks School, Andrews Middle School and McGlynn Middle School, all in Medford, Massachusetts, honored the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and learned about the Civil Rights Movement during an overnight winter lodge camping experience on Sunday, January 19 – Monday, January 20, 2020. Troop leaders Tracy Keene, Diane Cervati, Patricia Wheeler, Veronica Hunt and Paul Ruseau, also a member of the Medford School Committee, organized this troop outing at the GSEMA Camp Runels in Pelham, New Hampshire as a learning and service experience.

Troop 67712 co-leader Tracy Keene said, “We thought it was very important for our girls to learn about civil rights during this weekend honoring King’s legacy. The girls worked on two civil rights badges, Four Little Girls and Civil Rights History. They also earned a Martin Luther King, Jr. patch and patches for Winter Camping, Homeless Awareness, and Wildfire Relief.” 3064007_main-01

Boston University professor of political science and Medford resident Timothy Longman led the eighteen girls in a discussion on Sunday on civil rights. Professor Longman provided a history of slavery, Jim Crow and the civil rights movement. The girls listened to Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream Speech,” discussed prominent African American women, and learned about the September 15, 1963, bombing of the 16^th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, that killed four girls. Carole Robertson, one of the girls killed, was an active Girl Scout.

The girls, ranging in age of 10-12 years old, also studied about segregation and civil rights in the Girls Scouts USA. Using material from the Girl Scouts Museum in Waltham, MA, the girls discovered disagreements over whether the first integrated troop in the US was the Red Rose Troop founded by Miss Emma Hall in New Bedford, MA, in 1913 – the third Girl Scout troop in the country – or a later troop in 1924. The girls were surprised to learn that even in Massachusetts, many troop remained racially segregated until the 1950s.

In addition to learning about civil rights, the troops participated in projects for the MLK Day of Service. They made pine cone bird feeders to hang around the snow-covered campsite. They also sorted and assembled care packages for the unhoused community. The troops are partnering with Ari Barbanell, Medford Resident and the Executive Director of the Winter Walk, to see that the care packages are distributed to members of our community who have found themselves without shelter during these winter months. Winter Walk is an initiative to raise funds and awareness about homelessness and will be held February 9 in Copley Square.

In addition, the girls made posters of encouragement and concern for the Girls Scouts and Girl Guides in New South Wales, Australia. The girls learned that at least 28 people have died in Australia and more than 3,000 homes have been destroyed or damaged in the state of New South Wales alone and that millions of wildlife have be impacted. The posters will be shared on the Facebook pages of Australian Girl Scouts and Girl Guides and mailed to their Council.

After the trip, Anna Shanley, said about her daughter, “Sofia still can’t stop talking about it and she really learned a lot of valuable lessons.”

It was blue skies for Medford Encampment 2019

September 29, 2019September 29, 2019Leave a comment

Over 200 girls and adult volunteers from 18 different Medford Girl Scout troops came together at Camp Runels in Pelham, NH this past weekend for our first citywide encampment in nine years. Big thanks to Andie Farro and Evalyn O’Rourke for taking on the task of organizing everything as our Encampment Directors. It wouldn’t have happened without them!

During the day on Saturday troops from Daisies to Cadettes all had opportunity to go canoeing. In addition, each troop could pick from a variety of other activities including: geocaching, fire building (both real and edible), parachute games, gaga ball, or making recycled fashions, going on a scavenger hunt or a nature walk, or making pine cone bird feeders. All the troops came together for a campfire and s’mores and troops in the evening and troops that are Brownies and older had the option of staying overnight. The event opened and closed with a traditional Girl Scout flag ceremony and the weather couldn’t have been better!

Tufts Girls of Code win the Outstanding Service Unit Partner award for their contributions to Medford Girl Scouts

June 21, 2018June 22, 2018Leave a comment

IMG_6765-edit Medford Girl Scouts deeply appreciates the special partnership it has with the Tufts Girls of Code. Founded in 2016 by Dr. Laney Strange, a professor in the Department of Computer Science at Tufts University, the group brings together female computer science students to hold hands-on coding workshops for girls. Their goal is to “create a welcoming environment for girls and other individuals who are frequently underrepresented in computer science.” The Tufts students are fantastic mentors who show Medford Girl Scouts that coding is fun and something everyone can do.

Held in the computer science labs at Tufts, the workshops are free and open to all girls ages 10 and older and, each year, the Tufts Girls of Code give priority registration to Medford Girl Scouts. Recent workshop topics have included:

Animating in JavaScript
Programming games in the Python computer language
Using the language Alice to create 3D animations
Creating websites from scratch by coding in HTML and CSS

“It’s a really fun program to take because I’m learning a lot of new things that I can use later in life. Everyone that is teaching is patient and helps out when you need help with something.” – Cadence McPherson, Junior Girl Scout

““I really enjoyed it. They provided a positive environment and taught me things about coding that I hadn’t learned anywhere else. They made coding fun!” – Claire Gingo, Junior Girl Scout

Girls from the at least seven different Medford troops have jumped on the opportunity to attend the workshops. In addition to their general coding workshops, at the request of Medford Girl Scouts, the Tufts Girls of Code developed a special workshop just for Brownies who want to earn the Computer Expert badge. They held three Computer Expert workshops and each was filled to capacity. This was the first time the Tufts Girls of Code had led workshop for girls who were younger than 10 years old. The girls loved being in the lab, working on the computers, and seeing their work come alive on the screen.

“About half my troop participated in the Brownie Computer Expert workshop, and they all proudly showed their work at pickup time! It was such a gift to have this event. The young women leading it were great role models, and I think it is so important for our girls to see a wide range of leaders in addition to their own troop leader.” – Jane Hamel, Leader, Brownie Troop 72096

Tufts Girls of Code has a special mission to “spark engagement and interest in computer science.” They strive, and succeed, in creating a warm and welcoming environment in which all girls get to code their own creations, and then play the games, or watch the animations, that they bring to life through their code.

Thank you to Dr. Laney Strange and the Tufts Girls of Code for expanding Medford Girl Scouts interest in STEM and coding!

About the Award:

The Outstanding Service Unit Partner recognizes a partnership that is instrumental in expanding program at the Girl Scout Service Unit level. In Girl Scouts, a Service Unit is a team of volunteers who organize and support Girl Scout programming in a particular community or region (such as the City of Medford.) A program partner supporting a Service Unit has a direct impact on the local community which gives girls the tools they need to be successful leaders in today’s world, shows girls future career possibilities and supports one or more of the pillars of Girl Scouting (Entrepreneurship, STEM, Outdoors and Life Skills).

The award was presented to Dr. Laney Strange by Lu-Ann Souza (Manager, Program Partnerships & Member Benefits) and Jennifer Duczkowski (Director, Girl Program and Partnerships) at Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts’s first Program Partner Brunch on June 16, 2018 at Camp Cedar Hill.

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Medford’s Marianne O’Connell is Eastern Mass’s top cookie seller for 2018!

March 23, 2018March 18, 2020Leave a comment

This year, the girl who sold the most cookies in all of Eastern Massachusetts is from Medford! Marianne O’Connell sold 4,408 packages, which is more than most troops sell in total. Marianne and her Senior Troop 65007 are saving up for a Girl Scout trip to Europe and selling cookies is the cornerstone of their fundraising strategy. They were Medford’s top selling troop with a total of 6,608 packages. Congratulations to Marianne and the rest of the girls in Troop 65007!

In total there were 244 Medford girls selling cookies this year for a grand total of 35,490 packages sold, which is more than Medford sold in the past three years.

The Top Selling Troops

Senior Troop 65007 – 6,608 Packages
Cadette Troop 65456 – 3,279 Packages
Junior Troop 68137 – 3,003 Packages
Brownie/Junior Troop 69039 – 2,899 Packages
Brownie Troop 62974 – 1,656 Packages

The Top Selling Girls and 500 Club Members

4408 – Marianne (65007)
1000 – Allie (65007)
750 – Victoria (65456)
750 – Lorelai (65456)
531 – Alessandra (72096)
500 – Katherine (65007)
500 – Ellie (65007)
500 – Dylan (65456)
500 – Aubrey (65456)

All girls in Eastern Massachusetts who sell at least 500 packages are in the 500 Club. This year, girls in the 500 Club will receive a free ticket to Canobie Lake Park for a special 500 Club event on May 20, 2018.

Special thanks to Monique O’Connell, our Medford Cookie Coordinator, and Sammy Parris, our Cookie Booth Coordinator. In addition, we are deeply appreciative to the local businesses that host our cookie booths. A big shout out to:

Rite Aid in West Medford
Stop & Shop in Wellington Circle
Modell’s in Wellington Circle
Medford Public Library
Post Office in Medford Square
Tufts University

Medford Girl Scouts Take It To The Next Level

June 18, 2017June 18, 2017Leave a comment

The Troop numbers will stay the same but over 130 Medford Girl Scouts are bridged up from one level to the next this year. Many of the girls participated in the City-Wide Bridging Ceremony that was held at St. Raphael’s Parish on June 15. Thanks to Jenna LaBissoniere, Lynda Panico, and Jenn Iacopucci for organizing the event, and thanks to all the girls and their families for participating!

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Bridging Troops

Daisies to Brownies

Troop 72091 (Leaders: Sharon and Melissa)

Troop 72095 (Leaders: Kathy and Keely)

Troop 72103 (Leaders: Debbie and Tracy)

Troop 72027 (Leaders: Jenn and Stacey)

Brownies to Juniors

Troop 72102 (Leaders: Paul and Kathryn)

Troop 72094 (Leaders: Flo, Andrea, and John)

Troop 72069 – 2 girls in the troop bridged (Leaders: Jane and Lisa)

Troop 69039 – Half the troop bridged (Leaders: Jenna, Lynda and Brooke)

Juniors to Cadettes

Troop 65264 (Leaders: Ann, James, Christine, and Liz)

Troop 65456 (Leaders: Andie and Leigh)

Cadette to Seniors

Troop 71205 (Leader: Caren)

Troop 65007 – 2 girls in the troop bridged (Leader: Monique)

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Girl Scouts in Medford’s 2017 Patriot’s Day Ceremony

April 17, 2017April 17, 2017Leave a comment

Special thanks to all the girls and their families who came to the Salem Street Burying Grounds to participate in Medford’s Patriot’s Day Ceremony. The girls collectively recited the Pledge of Allegiance, helped place flags on the graves on the Patriots, and then marched down to Medford Square to wait for Paul Revere to ride through town. It was perfect weather and a great turn out with girls from Daisy to Cadette troops represented.

Spring Renewal re-registration has incentives for girls, troops, and Medford!

April 4, 2017April 6, 2017Leave a comment

1489495718491 The Girl Scout membership year officially runs from October 1 to September 30 but Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts is offering special incentives for girls, troops and for Medford when girls and adult volunteers re-register early.

To re-register, go to http://www.gsema.org/en/about-girl-scouts/renew.html or call customer care at 844-306-GSEM (4736).

Please note, the membership fees for next year will go up to $40 for girls ($25 for Girl Scouts USA and $15 for Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts) and $25 for adults (for Girl Scouts USA). Girl Scouts is committed to making sure that ability to pay will never be a barrier to being a member and financial aid is available upon request. Look for the check-box to request financial aid in the renewal process.

GIRL INCENTIVES

Email_Patch Girls who renew before April 25 will receive:

Spring Renewal patch
$5 girl program credit for GSEMA programs
a coupon for $5 off a purchase of $25 or more at a GSEMA shop

If a girl renews between April 26 and June 13, 2017, she will receive the Spring Renewal patch.

TROOP INCENTIVES

Girls_Choice_Results_960x960 (002) (1) Renew 75% of your girls in your troop (and two adult volunteers) by June 13 and receive:

a coupon for the NEW 2017 Girls’ Choice Troop Camping badges for Daisy through Ambassador Girl Scouts, redeemable at any Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts council shop. This badge is the first-ever for Daisy Girl Scouts. (Coupon will be valid for number of badges equal to number of girls renewed.)
a link to the Troop Camping badge requirements. Badge requirements will be ready for download this summer and in council stores by August.

Note: To qualify for troop incentive, troop must renew a minimum of four girls and two adult volunteers, have no Product Sales debt, and submit a troop financial report by June 30, 2017.

MEDFORD SERVICE UNIT INCENTIVES

If we renew the following percentages of girls by June 13, we will receive a cash bonus that we can use to benefit Medford Girl Scouts:

75% of girls (which is 237 out of 316 girls): $500
65% of girls (which is 205 out of 316 girls): $400
50% of girls (which is 158 out of 316 girls): $300

20170106_145152 Last year, we re-registered more than 50% of our girls and we received $300 that we used to buy a set of Girl Scout flags which we can use for city-wide events and which troops can use for their own flag ceremonies. Click here for more information about our new set of flags.

Additionally:

The three service units/areas with the highest percentage of renewed girls will receive lunch with GSEMA’s CEO, Pat Parcellin, and Chief Membership Services Officer, Carrie Weatherbee.
The service unit/area with the highest percentage of renewed girls will also be awarded a complimentary table for eight at GSEMA’s signature breakfast event, the 2018 Leading Women Awards.

Medford’s 2017 Cookie Sale was a Huge Success!

March 17, 2017March 18, 2020Leave a comment

16708751_1040803459359154_4615841677668724837_n The Cookie Cupboards are closed, the Recognition Orders have been placed, and the Cookies-for-a-Cause have been delivered, all of which adds up to the end of another successful Girl Scout cookie season. We are proud to report that this year’s cookie sale far surpassed last year’s totals. This year, 23 Medford troops sold 33,852 packages of cookies, a 27% increase over last year’s total of 26,515 packages. Way to go girls, volunteers, and our supportive Girl Scout families! We look forward to seeing how the troops decide to spend their earnings to pay for dynamic troop activities and to help make the world a better place.

Medford’s Top 5 Selling Troops were:

Senior Troop 65007 – 4146 packages
Brownie Troop 69039 – 3354 packages
Junior Troop 68137 – 2705 packages
Cadette Troop 71198 – 2200 packages
Junior Troop 65456 – 2096 packages

This year, Medford has 7 girls in the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts 500 Club for selling over 500 packages, they are:

Marianne (Troop 65007) – 2,050 packages
Allie (Troop 65007) – 1,041 packages
Jennifer (Troop 71198)- 1,000 packages
Abby L (Troop 71198) – 755 packages
Bridget (Troop 68140) – 515 packages
Allesandra (Troop 72096) – 501 packages
Ellie (Troop 65007) – 500 packages

Each member of the 500 Club will receive a ticket for themselves (and one for a chaperone) to Canobie Lake Park, to attend the park and participate in the 500 Club ceremony event.

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2017 marks the 100th Anniversary of Girl Scouts selling cookies and from the first cookie (Shortbread) to the most recent addition to the lineup (S’mores), Girl Scout cookies have been teaching girls how to run their own business, learn financial literacy skills, and work together as a troop to set goals.

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Special thanks to our Medford Cookie Mentor, Monique O’Connell, and the Medford Booth Coordinator, Sammy Parris, and congratulations again to all Medford Girl Scouts for great work they do selling cookies, and all year ’round.

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Medford Girl Scouts

Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachuetts Service Unit 406

Tag: Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachuetts