Session 4

Topic: 

 Local Activities

 

Convenor:

 John Greco

Note Taker:

 Sheila Matheny

 

Participants:

 (see sign in sheet)

 

Key themes, outstanding questions, observations:

Participants reported a variety of activities--fairs, festivals, parades, concerts--ranging from a few a year to one or two per month.

 

Activities targeted to kids get better turnout

 

Activities create good visibility, publicity, positive feeling in the community

 

Having an activities director makes a big difference (this is John's job, with City of Shinnston)

 

Important to make good use of volunteers

 

Start with small activities, see who always comes out, attends meetings, then create activities committee--open to everyone but want to get key people with useful skills--e.g., banker with financial skills

 

Need to plan activities 6-12 months ahead

 

Q:  What about cost of activities?  A:  Example--Frontier Days--$1800 outlay, $5000 income

 

Business benefit--e.g., carnival staff ate three meals a day at one restaurant

 

Keep fees low to keep prices low for local people--alt example cited of fair that charges vendors $1200 each vs. $100--objective is to break even, not make money, the idea is to benefit the community broadly.

 

If you hire an activities director, pay salary not wages, the job would have a lot of overtime if wages, base salary +/- $11.50/hour.  Start part time and expand from there.

 

Establish relationships with media from surrounding area.

 

Send fliers home with schoolchildren

 

Fundraiser—pizza and movies for kids, nice dinner for adults

 

Start out small and grow

 

Free events sell—take donations, sell refreshments, sell advertising in booklet

 

Other events:  Battle of the Bands/Talent Show, Car shows, niche gatherings—e.g., antique outboard motors meet

 

Sponsors can provide banners (Pepsi, Coke) and goodies (bags, hats)

 

Extension CEOS clubs, FFA, 4H clubs also may be a resource for putting on events

 

 

Wiki recorder: Peter Hille