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- Take a close look at your PTA’s capacity before deciding which or how many events to host. You can plan just one event or host a series of events over the course of a week or the month.
- Be open and creative about the timing of your events. Consider whether a breakfast, daytime, or weekend event might allow more people to attend than something scheduled in the evening.
Think strategically about the events that you plan and what their long-term effect on your school community might be:
- A family 5k walk might get your community interested in creating a walking club.
- The winning recipes from a healthy recipe contest could be compiled into a cookbook that could be sold to raise money for future wellness programs.
- Turning off the school’s vending machines for a day could launch a campaign to remove junk food from the school grounds.
- Take pictures, and provide a comment book in which attendees can write down their thoughts. Photos and stories can be extremely useful in discussions with community leaders.
- Set up a membership table. Community events are a great way to illustrate the value of becoming a PTA member. Don’t forget to let community members and extended family members know that they don’t have to have a child attending your school to support your PTA with their membership.
- Have a sign-up sheet for parents and other community members who would like to help with future PTA Healthy Lifestyles programs.
- Find those passionate volunteers who will become your next champions for schoolwide change.
- Make a point to introduce yourself to every community leader in attendance. If you have a particular issue that you would like to discuss with them, let them know that you will be calling their office to schedule an appointment shortly. Don’t corner them for a conversation at the event.
- Send a survey to parents to collect their feedback and suggestions. Carefully analyze the survey responses and use that information in planning your next event.
- Follow up with community leaders who attended your event. If possible, send them a picture of their family at the event, along with a thank-you note for their support of your PTA.
- Send a thank-you note to parents who attended, especially the new members you recruited. Let them know that you appreciate their support, as well as their recognition of the importance of promoting healthy lifestyles.
- Evaluate your relationships with partner organizations. Would you like to work with those organizations again? On what other projects could your organizations partner? Are there members of those organizations that you would like to recruit to join your PTA?
- Submit a press release to the local media that talks about your accomplishments and your future plans.
Consider approaching the following groups for donations of money, food, goods, services, or time:
- Community foundations
- Student groups at local colleges and universities
- Grocery stores, coffee shops, bakeries
- Stationary supply stores
- Athletic and outdoor recreation stores
- Local gyms
- Do some research. Many corporations and national organizations also offer grants to support local physical activity and nutrition programs.
- Distribute the guide to families in your community; make additional copies if necessary.
- Give away copies of the guide as door prizes or as prizes for a competition.
- Hand out copies of relevant sections of the guide at healthy lifestyles events.
- Use the information in the guide to create a column in your newsletter that talks about healthy lifestyles.
- Make copies of the information your school decision makers would be most interested in. Send those copies to your school decision makers along with an invitation to meet and discuss how these issues affect your school community.
- Send a copy of the guide to an organization with which you would like to partner. Invite the organization’s leaders to coffee to discuss how you might work together to implement a healthy lifestyles event.
- Hold activities in areas that are accessible to wheelchairs, walkers, and strollers.
- Offer activities at different times of the day and on different days of the week to accommodate a variety of schedules.
- Hang welcome signs and directions in multiple languages.
- Have all participants—family members, teachers, volunteers, etc.—wear name tags.
- Plan menus with options. Take into consideration vegetarian diets, peanut allergies, religious food restrictions, etc.
- Personally welcome participants and thank them for coming.
- Don’t let costs keep families away. Seek sponsorships and grants to provide discounted or free admissions for those who may not otherwise be able to attend.
- Consider having the whole event sponsored.
- Ask for feedback. Distribute a survey, set up a comment box, or provide an e-mail address to which participants can send comments.
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