Just as much as you and I have a personality so does your organization and it's events. The traits that others perceive about your organization reflect your organization's historical behavior not necessarily the value statements you make on your website. For example at Midwest Christian Retreats we say that we value being a quality affordable solution for our groups, people will not perceive that to be true if we nickel and dime our groups at every turn. As leaders we are responsible for shaping the values and personality of our organizations going forward...     Continue Reading | Leave Comment

Today the temperatures are going to hit in the 90s here in the Midwest!  It may just be the beginning of May, but it sure feels like it is June! With that being said, your summer event is probably either coming up real soon or a couple months out.  You should be checking your registration and making sure everything is lined up and ready to go.  But don't forget about your next event...     Continue Reading | Leave Comment

Whether you are planning a youth event, couples retreat, or men's conference, and no matter how long the event is, you'll want it to be memorable and/or productive event. So as you finalize that event schedule, check it over one more time to be sure you are on target, working toward your goals. First and foremost, ask God for guidance in making certain you have all that He has planned included in the schedule...     Continue Reading | Leave Comment

Clear communication is essential for a successful event. On almost every front when you are communicating you are looking for someone to take action on the information that is shared. The shear mass of voices all speaking at once requires planners to be skilled communicators. Think of your inbox, if you left it alone for a week what would it look like? Now, when you go to tame the beast do you carefully review each message or are you just trying to clear up your inbox... Assume when you communicate in any medium that the recipient is just sorting through for the important messages. My rule of thumb for communicating to the masses is to place the most important information upfront, circling back to supporting information only if necessary, and to embed a clear call to action...     Continue Reading | View Comments (2)

In a recent blog, Zach offered some excellent suggestions for planners preparing for Day of Arrival emphasizing the importance of first impressions. But remember, last impressions can also leave lasting impressions on guests. Preparing your guests to return home and their everyday lives requires you to create a smooth check-out process. The memory you want your guests to keep is the time they had connecting with God, the spiritual energy and excitement, not a frustration over something trivial...     Continue Reading | Leave Comment

I have been going to my church for 10 years now.  It is a small church with about 50 members. There are pros and cons being in a small church.  There is a great sense of unity at my church and I love that.  But the problem comes to people being committed to helping with ministries and events.  We have a select few that always do everything. It has come to the point where some of the people don't want to help anymore because they are getting burned out...     Continue Reading | Leave Comment

Often we taut how beneficial long term planning is for a successful ministry event. But you can pull together a retreat on a short timeline and inject lots of spiritual energy into your attendees and church. There are a few keys you'll need to focus on...     Continue Reading | Leave Comment

What goes into planning a successful ministry event?  I have been to events that were awesome and rewarding.  But I have been to a few events that didn't quite meet up to expectations. How do you make sure your event is going to meet its objectives?  You may think you have everything planned out, but how do you make sure you don't miss something...     Continue Reading | Leave Comment

It is essential that the first impression your guests have of the event is a good one! A chaperon checking in a group of 50 students is likely overwhelmed from the long drive and wants nothing more than to get everyone settled and started. Make it a priority to clearly communicate about anything that needs to be accomplished prior to arrival, important information like directions, and be adequately prepared to start registration early. The object of the game is to prevent people from having to wait and anything that would be frustrating or a let-down...     Continue Reading | Leave Comment

Have you ever walked away from an event that felt more like an experience? I remember in high school, I attended several conferences for a committed I was on. Some were ok, but there was one that still stands out in my mind today. The event has amazing speakers, great dining experience, and had time for us to connect with other schools that were there...     Continue Reading | Leave Comment

Seasoned event planners know exactly what I mean when I say RFP. I have seen about 1,000 different versions of these documents. Which I think is perfect. The point is to declare all the needs and wishes of the event and receive back information from each potential host with comparable bids. Without an RFP a planner might end up with apples and oranges. When you're working towards making a decision on a big ticket item like the host venue, being fully informed allows you make the best choice for your organization. So what are the essential items you need to communicate and the information you need to create a way to comparable...     Continue Reading | Leave Comment

The temptation for creating insider language is real for every industry and organization. But within organizations who's primary purpose is to take in new members insider language is detrimental to achieving the goal. Let's put 10 seconds on the clock... I bet you can come up with 5 acronyms and insider terms used in your church...     Continue Reading | Leave Comment