acsrelay.org Monthly Newsletter - The Relay Times
Folks,
Each month I'll blog post some ideas on things that you can be focused on to make your event the best that it can be!... I used to send out variations of this newsletter for the Relay Ideas and Information Site I have maintain, http://www.acsrelay.org , as well as for the Relay Link extranet site we had for the South Atlantic Division. Thanks for all the folks who have shared great ideas in the past to create a brighter future for Relay For Life!
Going forward, I'll post this newsletter as the "Relay Times" on http://www.relayforlife.org as well as on the acsrelay.org blog I maintain. Hope you find it helpful! Note that these are my ideas as well as enhancements/additions from a wonderful cast of volunteers across the nation, and several wonderful staff leaders in the South Atlantic Division. Thanks for all the folks who have shared great ideas in the past to create a brighter future for Relay For Life!Find below the October 2007 installment:
Relay Focus Areas of the Month
1. Team Retention
First thing on the agenda for any committee should be getting teams to return from the previous year. The only way to make sure this happens is by making personal contact with team captains and asking them to return. Divide your team list up among the team recruitment committee or the entire planning committee and call each year's previous team captain thanking them for their support from the previous year and asking if you can count on them again for this year. Some team captains may not be able to come back – but don't stop the conversation there. Ask why? If they have another commitment, or are just plain tired, make sure you ask if there is another person on the team who'd be willing to step-up into the team captain role. It would be a shame to lose an entire team because the previous year's team captain cannot return for whatever reason.
2. Team Recruitment Plan
Do you have a team recruitment plan? Hold a mapping exercise with committee to see where your teams are coming from, then target areas in your community where there are few teams. Develop a list of prospects and determine who will contact each of them. Here are some links to great tools that you can use to get started.
3. Fundraising How-To's
Now that you've retained those teams from last year and recruited new teams, it's time to talk about fundraising. Don't assume your teams know how to fundraise, give them tips and ideas to help them set their fundraising goal.
And fundraising with kids can be so important too! Here are some ideas for kids from A to Z! Get them involved early and help make it easy for them to do fun things to raise money.
"Taking Good Care of our Friends in Your Community" Tip of the Month
As the team retention committee is making their contacts with all of last year's teams, make a concerted effort to acknowledge their value to this community's fight against cancer – a nice note and/or personal call to each team is an added touch to show their significance in this Relay.
Other Hints and Suggestions
- When on http://www.relayforlife.org:
- Talk about your questions and ideas in the Forums - you can reach them in the left side navigation bar - "Relay For Life Forums".
- If you have a set of people that you'd like to share information with, a Group is a great way to communicate with them - see "Relay For Life Groups" in the left side navigation bar.
- Use the Search box at the top right to search for information you are looking for. Chances are you are not the first person with that question, and that prevents duplication!
- Remember to always check with your event committee and staff before applying an idea to make sure that there are not local/state considerations that you must take into account (sales tax rules in your state, particular things about your event or community that would make the idea inappropriate, etc.).
- If you have any feedback about this blog and its ideas, please send comments and suggestions to rflvolunteer@gmail.com.
There Is No Finish Line Until We Find A Cure!
Ramesh Moorthy
rflvolunteer
moderator, http://www.relayforlife.org
webmaster, http://www.acsrelay.org
posted by R @ 5:18 AM
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