Sarah Smith, Sarah Finnell, Kathy Birch, Marylee Bates, and Nikki Merryweather discussed the picnic and made recommendations for next year. Feel free to comment with your thoughts as well. Thanks again to everyone for helping out!
Positives (be sure to do again):
- Volunteers who came enjoyed it
- Delicious Food!!!
- Speeches (pastor Dave, Sarah F., Marylee)
- Donated gifts solicited by Kathy
- Music
- Decorations
Wishes (to do differently):
- Would be nice to have all of the staff there (Nikki)
- Have staff take care of food & serving while board goes around and thanks people individually and personally (Nikki)
- Great music—but next time we should introduce Mel to everyone more personally and thank him publicly
- Need 1.5 hours of set-up
- Have extra person at church for take-down (kids may like to help)
- Invite youth to participate if interested
- More space for donations- put on display and have volunteers choose one as they arrive
- Create list of jobs assigned to each set-up person
- Figure out a way to encourage more participation/attendance- is there a better time of year? Summer is busy! October? February/March? Civic Center at Pioneer Park may be free if public event and free.
- Sarah S: put it on your calendar sooner so you don’t double book!
- Sarah S: write names on thank you cards and seal them before giving so it feels more individualized.
- Kids table was under-utilized, maybe get someone to sit there and encourage use?
- When soliciting donated gifts- always ask for the manager first (Kathy learned this)…
Just want to add the note of caution for next year’s event- Barb’s purse was stolen from the pavillion- we need to be vigilant about security next time.
Also- Barb was at the kid’s table and some were not allowed to participate (by parent request) which could have contributed to the under-utilization of the table.