Suggested Steps for Organizing an Event
- Decide who you want to be involved in the organization of the initiative. Will it be the whole community, the local hospital, a coalition of groups or just your own family? Agree on objectives. Choose an activity that meets the objectives and is suitable for your intended audience (politicians, youth, the community at large, etc.).
- Discuss your plans with as many people as possible. Solicit their ideas, and gauge whether or not there is enough support. Do you have the proper resources? Is the activity logistically sound?
- Establish a committee to help organize your public events. If it is a family event, get family members involved and coordinate schedules.
- Identify the tasks that need to be done and when they should be completed. Assign different people to different roles. If possible, match up each person's strengths and interests with the most appropriate task. Have someone prepare a budget. Make a list of potential partners who might contribute goods or services and have a committee member approach these partners.
- Hold regular progress meetings to ensure that nothing is missed. You might want to have back-ups for each of the tasks. That way, if one of the organizers has a change of plans or becomes too busy, someone is immediately ready to take over.
- Once the event is well on its way (place, event, time and concept have been finalized), start publicizing it.
- Implement your MIAW initiative or hold your MIAW event.
- Follow up. Meet with the committee after the event. Discuss what worked and what didn't work. What changes should be made for next year? What should be done the same way? Write thank you notes to volunteers, sponsors, media who publicized the event and others who contributed.
- Tell us about your event. We can post it online and/or tell the media about it. Media look for local events during MIAW to tell the stories of real people and communities.
