20. Become Friends with a Columnist
If you look in your local newspaper you’ll see that there are weekly columns which focus on various aspects of your community. While all local papers are slightly different, chances are you will find one on the arts, sport and education, and the authors are likely to be ordinary people who are involved in these sectors.
Make friends with the columnist who discusses issues relating to your organisation. Feed them information about what your organisation is doing, and what events you may have coming up. They are always hungry for issues to discuss, so you will be doing them a favour by keeping them in the loop.
Showing posts with label community. Show all posts
Showing posts with label community. Show all posts
Tuesday, 13 November 2012
Tuesday, 6 November 2012
Toolbox Tuesday - Enter Awards
19. Enter Awards
Entering awards is a great way to put the spotlight on your organisation and the people within it. Whether it’s business awards, volunteer awards, community spirit awards or something else, simply by entering you are saying to the community ‘we believe we are good at what we do, and we are prepared to stand up to scrutiny’.
The awards themselves always bring a degree of publicity, so make sure you piggy-back on that publicity and tell your own story about why you are entering. Whether you win or not, your willingness to be scrutinised brings valuable credibility.
To find awards offered in your region check with your local council and Chamber of Commerce.
Entering awards is a great way to put the spotlight on your organisation and the people within it. Whether it’s business awards, volunteer awards, community spirit awards or something else, simply by entering you are saying to the community ‘we believe we are good at what we do, and we are prepared to stand up to scrutiny’.
The awards themselves always bring a degree of publicity, so make sure you piggy-back on that publicity and tell your own story about why you are entering. Whether you win or not, your willingness to be scrutinised brings valuable credibility.
To find awards offered in your region check with your local council and Chamber of Commerce.
Tuesday, 23 October 2012
Toolbox Tuesday - Events Websites
17. Use Events Websites
There are literally hundreds of websites which will promote your event free of charge – all you have to do is submit the details. Depending on the site, you can list anything from fundraisers through to conferences, weekly programmes or one off community events. Listing your events can take time, but it is worth it. Perhaps you can find a volunteer to take regular responsibility for this task?
Useful Events Websites
The following websites offer opportunities for community groups to promote themselves and their events. Most of the sites can help you out in more than one way – so browse through the list and see what each site can offer you.
www.exult.co.nz
www.community.net.nz
www.webhealth.co.nz
www.newzealandnz.co.nz
www.maori.org.nz
www.yourevents.co.nz
www.communityconnect.co.nz
www.nzlive.co.nz
www.eventfinder.co.nz
www.sportevent.co.nz
www.te.co.nz/community/events
www.motorsportevent.co.nz
www.fourcorners.co.nz
www.viewchristchurch.co.nz
www.bethere.co.nz (Canterbury Region)
www.wellingtonnz.com/events
www.wotzon.com
www.feelinggreat.co.nz (Wellington Region)
www.gisbornenz.com/events (Gisborne / East Coast Region)
www.hamiltonevents.co.nz
www.eastlandnz.com/events
www.ashburtondistrictevents.co.nz
www.viewdunedin.co.nz
Most local councils also offer Event Calendars and links through to local community groups. To
find your local council website visit www.localcouncils.govt.nz
There are literally hundreds of websites which will promote your event free of charge – all you have to do is submit the details. Depending on the site, you can list anything from fundraisers through to conferences, weekly programmes or one off community events. Listing your events can take time, but it is worth it. Perhaps you can find a volunteer to take regular responsibility for this task?
Useful Events Websites
The following websites offer opportunities for community groups to promote themselves and their events. Most of the sites can help you out in more than one way – so browse through the list and see what each site can offer you.
www.exult.co.nz
www.community.net.nz
www.webhealth.co.nz
www.newzealandnz.co.nz
www.maori.org.nz
www.yourevents.co.nz
www.communityconnect.co.nz
www.nzlive.co.nz
www.eventfinder.co.nz
www.sportevent.co.nz
www.te.co.nz/community/events
www.motorsportevent.co.nz
www.fourcorners.co.nz
www.viewchristchurch.co.nz
www.bethere.co.nz (Canterbury Region)
www.wellingtonnz.com/events
www.wotzon.com
www.feelinggreat.co.nz (Wellington Region)
www.gisbornenz.com/events (Gisborne / East Coast Region)
www.hamiltonevents.co.nz
www.eastlandnz.com/events
www.ashburtondistrictevents.co.nz
www.viewdunedin.co.nz
Most local councils also offer Event Calendars and links through to local community groups. To
find your local council website visit www.localcouncils.govt.nz
Tuesday, 25 September 2012
Toolbox Tuesday - Sponsors Newsletter
13. Use Your Sponsors Newsletter
If your sponsor has a regular newsletter which they send out to clients or customers, ask if you can have a regular column or advertisement to promote what you do. Let’s face it, if they have been willing to write you out a cheque, chances are they will be willing to give you a little space in their newsletter. This lets you reach people you wouldn’t ordinarily have contact with, and makes your sponsor look extra community focussed.
If your sponsor has a regular newsletter which they send out to clients or customers, ask if you can have a regular column or advertisement to promote what you do. Let’s face it, if they have been willing to write you out a cheque, chances are they will be willing to give you a little space in their newsletter. This lets you reach people you wouldn’t ordinarily have contact with, and makes your sponsor look extra community focussed.
Tuesday, 11 September 2012
Toolbox Tuesday - Letter to the Editor
11. Write a Letter to the Editor
It is not always possible to get an article published, but it is always possible to have your say and draw attention to specific aspects of your organisation. The ‘Letters to the Editor’ page is a well read part of any newspaper, and it provides an avenue for real discussion and debate about your cause.
The best time to send a letter is when there has been a news item which relates to your organisation or the need that it meets within the community. Send a letter commenting on the item and expressing how your organisation can help, or how your organisation has been affected.
It is not always possible to get an article published, but it is always possible to have your say and draw attention to specific aspects of your organisation. The ‘Letters to the Editor’ page is a well read part of any newspaper, and it provides an avenue for real discussion and debate about your cause.
The best time to send a letter is when there has been a news item which relates to your organisation or the need that it meets within the community. Send a letter commenting on the item and expressing how your organisation can help, or how your organisation has been affected.
Tuesday, 28 August 2012
Toolbox Tuesday - Guest Speaker
9. Be a Guest Speaker
Without a doubt, the best way to engage people in your organisation is to speak to the face-to-face. Regardless of who the audience is, being a guest speaker allows people to see, hear and feel the passion you have for your organisation. That excitement and commitment helps build excitement and commitment in them.
To achieve the most impact in your talk, make sure you tell real stories about how your organisation has benefited the community. Make it personal and focus on the stories, not the statistics. By all means use power point as a tool, but avoid simply reading screens of information – it’s boring and forgettable.
Local service groups such as Lions and Rotary are always on the look out for interesting speakers. You can find your local clubs by visiting the following websites:
Lions Clubs
Rotary
Round Table New Zealand
Zonta New Zealand
Kiwanis International
Without a doubt, the best way to engage people in your organisation is to speak to the face-to-face. Regardless of who the audience is, being a guest speaker allows people to see, hear and feel the passion you have for your organisation. That excitement and commitment helps build excitement and commitment in them.
To achieve the most impact in your talk, make sure you tell real stories about how your organisation has benefited the community. Make it personal and focus on the stories, not the statistics. By all means use power point as a tool, but avoid simply reading screens of information – it’s boring and forgettable.
Local service groups such as Lions and Rotary are always on the look out for interesting speakers. You can find your local clubs by visiting the following websites:
Lions Clubs
Rotary
Round Table New Zealand
Zonta New Zealand
Kiwanis International
Friday, 1 June 2012
Fundraising Friday - Membership
The easiest and most reliable way to raise funds is through membership. If you've been to a GB national AGM you would have heard this before. Membership fees cover our day to day operations. Then we can focus our energy on targeted fundraising to add value to our organisation.
When was the last time your membership fee was reviewed? Just because your membership fee has always been $20, doesn't mean it has to stay that way. Costs/services/facilities change - our membership fees reflect the value we place on our services. Ask yourself the question - how valuable is the service you provide? While you don't need to increase fees every year, they should be reviewed at each annual meeting. I have been in GB since I was 7 years old, it has changed my life, and has been invaluable to me. $80 per year, $100 per year or whatever it was - the membership fees that my parents would have paid as I grew up through GB were all worth it, GB helped to make me the person I am today. The experience and development was and is invaluable.
Make sure you have a system in place so that people know how much to pay, when is the deadline for payment, and give them multiple ways of making a payment i.e. cash, cheque, online. AND make sure you follow up on late payments. This year our company has enforced a tough policy on payment of fees, and while it may seem harsh, parents have not complained and they have seen that fees are important to the running of the company. Mostly payments are made quite timely.
And finally increase your membership numbers. The more members, the easier funds come in to run our awesome programs. So get out in your communities, not just by advertising, but by being visible in your communities and show them what you do and what a difference you can make. Let everyone know that Girls' Brigade EXISTS!
When was the last time your membership fee was reviewed? Just because your membership fee has always been $20, doesn't mean it has to stay that way. Costs/services/facilities change - our membership fees reflect the value we place on our services. Ask yourself the question - how valuable is the service you provide? While you don't need to increase fees every year, they should be reviewed at each annual meeting. I have been in GB since I was 7 years old, it has changed my life, and has been invaluable to me. $80 per year, $100 per year or whatever it was - the membership fees that my parents would have paid as I grew up through GB were all worth it, GB helped to make me the person I am today. The experience and development was and is invaluable.
Make sure you have a system in place so that people know how much to pay, when is the deadline for payment, and give them multiple ways of making a payment i.e. cash, cheque, online. AND make sure you follow up on late payments. This year our company has enforced a tough policy on payment of fees, and while it may seem harsh, parents have not complained and they have seen that fees are important to the running of the company. Mostly payments are made quite timely.
And finally increase your membership numbers. The more members, the easier funds come in to run our awesome programs. So get out in your communities, not just by advertising, but by being visible in your communities and show them what you do and what a difference you can make. Let everyone know that Girls' Brigade EXISTS!
Thursday, 17 May 2012
F.R.O.G - Part 1
Term 2 @ GB - its time for our annual presentation! This years theme - F.R.O.G. - Fully Rely On God
Usually we run this on our usual Wednesday evening - this year we are bringing GB to our church and community, our presentation will be a full Sunday morning service.
We have 4 groups that the girls choose based on what they'd like to do rather than their age.
This year we have:
Music group - including a saxophone, 2 clarinets, a trumpet, 2 guitars, keyboard
Drama group
Decorating group
Food group - making morning tea for after church service
And Olivia is making a mini-doco on us that we can use for promoting GB
Plus all the girls are practising 2 FROG songs + actions and the GB song.
Songs:
Everymove I Make
Fully Rely on God
Usually we run this on our usual Wednesday evening - this year we are bringing GB to our church and community, our presentation will be a full Sunday morning service.
We have 4 groups that the girls choose based on what they'd like to do rather than their age.
This year we have:
Music group - including a saxophone, 2 clarinets, a trumpet, 2 guitars, keyboard
Drama group
Decorating group
Food group - making morning tea for after church service
And Olivia is making a mini-doco on us that we can use for promoting GB
Plus all the girls are practising 2 FROG songs + actions and the GB song.
Songs:
Everymove I Make
Fully Rely on God
 |
| Talia on trumpet and Zoe on Sax |
 |
| Frog decorations |
 |
| Making origami lily's |
 |
| 144 cupcakes made, yet to be decorated |
Friday, 23 March 2012
Fundraising Friday
Often a topic with any community group. I bring to you Fundraising Friday - ideas, tips, check-lists, planning, sponsorship, and grants. Just a list of a few ideas today - check back next week for more thoughts on Fundraising.
- Auctions
- Discos / Dance Parties
- Food stalls i.e. BBQ's, cake stalls
- Raffles
- Coffee Connoisseur Evening
- Event clean-up
- Online auctions
- Photo sittings try Frogprints or Pixifoto
- Quiz nights
- Scavenger Hunts
Thursday, 2 February 2012
Funding and Marketing Resources
Meetings coming out my ears!
But loved last nights company AGM and planning night - lots of debate and opinions shared - so productive. Love to have such a great team involved in an awesome ministry.
Like all of you not only are we looking at our programme for the year but also looking at fundraising and grants.
So a couple of links for you:
But loved last nights company AGM and planning night - lots of debate and opinions shared - so productive. Love to have such a great team involved in an awesome ministry.
Like all of you not only are we looking at our programme for the year but also looking at fundraising and grants.
So a couple of links for you:
- Fundview - you can access it free at your local library. Below is the link to the Auckland Council site, if you're an Aucklander and have a library card you can use this from the comfort of home. http://www.aucklandcitylibraries.com/DigitalLibrary/resourcepages/fundview.aspx
- Exult - I have the The Seriously Good Guide to Fundraising, Top 40 Checklists for Community Groups, and 40 Marketing Must-Do's. Absolutely fantastic resources - they have been a huge help and I definitely recommend Exult. An excellent company dedicated and passionate about the not-for-profit sector. I have just signed up to receive Tonic magazine for a year and also their Sustainable Funding workshop on DVD. So I will bring you some info from these wonderful resources during the year. http://www.exult.co.nz/
Tuesday, 24 January 2012
Advertising
It's Advertising Week (well not officially).
Tasks for the week - done and to-do
Website updated - (partly) www.westaucklandgirlsbrigade.org.nz
Started to create a new poster
List of all schools in the area - to email for advert in their newsletters
List of all churches in the area - to post out flyers for noticeboards
Prepare press-release for the Pt. Chev website and e-newsletter
Got in contact with Laidlaw College - to prepare something to go in their newsletter + send posters
Make further enquiries with Volunteer Auckland
Send posters out to local libraries, CAB, and community centres
Since the end of last year I already have 4 girls keen to join for this year
Phew its getting busy! But its going to be awesome year - I hope you're part of it.
Tasks for the week - done and to-do
Website updated - (partly) www.westaucklandgirlsbrigade.org.nz
Started to create a new poster
List of all schools in the area - to email for advert in their newsletters
List of all churches in the area - to post out flyers for noticeboards
Prepare press-release for the Pt. Chev website and e-newsletter
Got in contact with Laidlaw College - to prepare something to go in their newsletter + send posters
Make further enquiries with Volunteer Auckland
Send posters out to local libraries, CAB, and community centres
Since the end of last year I already have 4 girls keen to join for this year
Phew its getting busy! But its going to be awesome year - I hope you're part of it.
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