4. Event Planning
Start with your Kick-Off!
PUT YOUR CLUB ON THE MAP:
Typically, the kick-off introduces your club to your school at the beginning of the year or semester. Its main purpose is to build a BUZZ and help you recruit new members.
USE PLANNING TOOLS FOR ALL ACTIONS & EVENTS:
Regardless of where you are in the year, these event planning tools will help you organize all of your events.
Kick-Off Pro Tips:
- Kick-off is usually first action or event of the year. Gives people something to do right after you ask them to join. Shows them what your club is about.
- If there’s a Club Fair Day, hold the kick-off after to capture new members at the fair.
- Goal: Recruit new members and get students excited about joining your club!
- Big Sign: Display a sign or hand out flyers so people see you and feel invited to join in.
- Greeters: Be sure you have a few people greeting newcomers and making them feel welcome.
- Stick with Level #1 or Level #2 actions.
- Be sure to have a sign-up sheet or app and keep in touch with people right away.
- Have flyers showcasing your next event to keep the momentum flowing.
Activity #4A:
Plan Your Kick-Off
Main Goal:
Recruit new members and gain visibility for your club.
Two ways to introduce your club with a Kick-Off:
- 1. Action
- Pick something like a: rally, strike, art project, potluck event.
- Gives your club visibility—potential members will experience what the club is all about.
- 2. Informational Meeting
- Hold a meeting so potential members can ask questions, see photos, and/or watch a video of what your club is about.
- Roll out your roadmap: let them know general direction.
- Have students pair up and talk about why THEY want to take action on climate (see page 83).
LIST Kick-Off Action & Event Ideas Here:
Go to page Creative Collaboration and review Step #3 for specific ideas.
Activity #4B:
Event Planning 101
PART A: Choose:
- Select an idea.
- Use the SMART chart tool (p. ___) to see if your idea will work
- Assemble a team (p. ___)
Pro Tip:
Plan up front to avoid scrambling to get things done at the end…
PART B: Make your idea a reality:
- Fill out event planning logistics chart
- Break down tasks into manageable steps and put into an Event Planning Timeline (see sample)
- Implement Plan
- Hold event
- Share event on social media, post photos, tell stories about your event
- Debrief as a club
GO FOR HIGH IMPACT!
Grab People’s Attention: Make a Splash!
Plan some DRAMA into your events. The more people you draw, the more interesting it becomes to a larger group.
Gain traction by planning in conjunction with a larger regional or even world-wide action, like the Climate Strikes.
Places to Start:
- Use social media to promote event.
- Break down tasks into manageable steps and put into an EventMake large banners for your event and hang them in prominent spot.
- Give a quick pitch to classes.
- What would make it fun for people to attend?
Get Media Coverage
Alert news media to the larger actions and events you’re organizing. The more powerfully you represent your event, the more likely you are to get coverage. Start with your school, the neighborhood newspaper, and expand out to your community’s main newspaper.
Press Release Tips:
- Describe your event and reasons you’re organizing it.
- What you hope to get out of it (be specific: you are demanding urgent action on the climate crisis, or)?
- What exactly are you urging people to do?
Activity #4C:
Event Planning Worksheet
1. Action/Event:
2. Event Chair:
3. Assemble a Team:
Review and assign leadership roles (see next page).
4. Fill out the following chart on logistics:
-
Chair?
Who will take the lead? -
Timing?
When do you want to hold event?
How much time do you need to plan it? -
Volunteers?
How many people will it take to put on such an event?
Make a list of roles and who has volunteered to fill them: -
Location?
What’s the best place to hold this type of event?
How many people do you expect? -
Supplies?
What kind of supplies and equipment are needed to pull off a successful event?
5. Break it down into manageable steps:
Put steps into an Event Planning Timeline(see sample) and implement plan.
6. Hold event! Post about
7. Debrief:
At your next club meeting, review event. Acknowledge all the hard work and fun your club had!
Activity #4D:
Event Planning Step-by-Step
Chairs:
Get together with your team and meet as a sub-committee to divide up the tasks
| EVENT PLANNING LEADERSHIP ROLES | DESCRIPTION |
| Event Chair(s) | – Puts together team. – Keeps things on track (uses team!). – Creates event planning timeline, complete with checklists by day or week. – Creates “Day of Event Schedule,” outline of timing on the day of the event. – With team, figures out logistics, materials, supplies needed during event |
| Volunteer Coordinator | – Determines specific roles for volunteers. – Finds people to fill them. |
| Promotion Coordinator | – Plans and organizes how to bring more people to the event. |
| Media Coordinator | – Contacts media for coverage at event. – Prepares Press Release for event. – Creates social media posts: info/photos |
| Graphic Designer | – Plans signs, colors, graphic designs to promote event and at actual event. |
| Posters Maker | – Organizes sign-making parties: signs with clear messages for people to hold during the event (in conjunction with designer). |
| Music/Chant Coordinator | – Plans how event will sound, arranges for live or recorded entertainment. |
| A/V Tech Coordinator | – Coordinates sound system, speakers, mega-phones, other equipment |
| Admin Liaison | – Communicates and coordinates with school administration, as needed |
Pro Tip:
Hold weekly team sub-committee meetings.
| ROLES DURING EVENT | DESCRIPTION |
| Event Chair(s) | – Makes sure things run smoothly. – Available to answer questions and troubleshoot issues. |
| Moderator | – Student MC to run the program and introduce speakers (and keep them on schedule). |
| Speakers | – Line them up ahead of time. Give them plenty of notice. – Emphasize topic and content you’d like them to cover. Review expectations for exactly their point of view. – Be clear on amount of time they’ll have. – For youth speakers, make sure they’ve practiced their talk several times! |
| Greeters | – Signs people in, hand out materials, answer questions, welcomes, etc. |
| Setup/Breakdown | – Volunteers to set-up and clean-up after event. |
| A/V Techs | – Works with AV Coordinator to set-up, monitor, troubleshoot, and safeguard sound system, slide show, etc. |
| Music/Chant Coordinator | – Leads chants during event. |
| Social Media / Photography | – Documenting event at the time, share on social media. |
Sample: Event Planning Timeline
| EVENT/ACTION: Kick-Off 2020 DATE: February 17, 2020 |
EVENT CHAIRS |
| ACTION DESCRIPTION: Kick-Off Event: Documentary showing of the LORAX and vegan cupcake sale | Robin & Jacob |
| TIMELINE | LEAD PERSON FOR EACH TASK |
| January 15-31, 2020: | |
 Put together sub-committee team (3-5 people) |
Robin & Jacob |
| Ask administrators for permission to hold |
Bethany |
| Select appropriate location and timing |
Julia |
| February 1-16 2020: | |
| Make list of volunteers needed for day of event. Find committed volunteers (tech to run movie, set-up team, clean-up, bakers, volunteers to sell baked goods, ticket-takers) |
Robin |
| Make list of supplies needed |
Julia |
| Who will introduce movie and run discussion afterwards? Include experts on a panel? |
Robin & Jacob |
| Make: Day of Event Schedule |
Jacob |
| Promote event: posters, flyers, art build |
Bethany & Team |
| Confirm with Speakers (be clear with speakers and performers what your expectations are: carefully review with each what their main talking points will be and how much time they have) |
Robin |
| Confirm with timing and tasks with volunteers |
Jacob |
| February 17, 2020: | |
| Day of Event: Follow schedule |
Team |
SAMPLE: Day of Event Schedule
EVENT: Kick-Off 2020
DATE: February 10, 2020
EVENT COORDINATORS:
Robin: 444-444-4444. Jacob : 222-222-2222
TIMELINE:
| 3PM | Bake Vegan Cupcakes |
| 5:30PM | Set-up in Auditorium (ticket table, cupcake table, tech runs through to ensure everything working, tables set up for panel) |
| 6:30PM | Door Open |
| 7PM | Start Movie |
| 8PM | Panel Discussion |
| 8:30PM | Wrap-up/Clean-up |
Meet: Annie Do
Serra High School, San Diego, CA Class of 2022
HOT TIP:
“Don’t try to do it all on your own! Working with others spreads your cause, helps you network, and makes things easier for yourself.”
WHAT I’VE LEARNED:
“You don’t have to be the biggest or most experienced person in the room to make things happen. Just start speaking up. If you’re loud enough, people will listen.”
Annie is a member of her high school club “Serra Students for Environmental Action.” She organized her school’s 2019 Climate Strike, with approx. 200 students attending.
Highlight: Annie’s opinion piece on why students are walking out of school to demand climate action published in Union Tribune newspaper.