Saturday, October 30, 2010

Book Review -- 199 Fun and Effective Events for Nonprofit Organizations

Welcome to Planner's Pointer's Planners Pointers is a blog and talk cast to help beginning event planners with their event planning. Give them ideas on planning better events, books to read and websites to discover.


I first learned about "199 Fun and Effective Fundraising Events for Nonprofit Organizations" by Eileen Figure Sandlin and Richard Helweg as a suggestion from Amazon.com. (It's a little scary how Amazon keeps track of your purchases sometimes, isn't it?)

Always in search of a good fund raising ideas I ordered the book. If you are a nonprofit organization looking for a new idea, then here are 199 of them. No, not every idea will work for all organizations, but it does give you a jumping off point to build your own. If your organization has never done a certain type of event, the book does give a good overview. I especially like the chart at the head of each idea that covered the degree of difficulty on six major tasks of any fundraiser: Estimated Cost, Obtaining Sponsors, Finding a Venue, Recruiting Volunteers, Preparation and Execution. I liked the best tips offered by various nonprofits at the end of the book. The book is arranged from simple to complex events gives the book a nice flow.

At the beginning of the book, there is a disclaimer about accuracy and completeness. Good thing from my viewpoint because there were a several instances where I would have added more volunteers, more time to execute the event and added event insurance in some cases. However; the authors do ask the reader when scheduling events make sure there aren't other competing events. Also the book says that if you are passing out flyers, not to put them in mailboxes because it's against the law. A law that some either don't know or have forgotten.

While some seasoned fund raisers may look at the book as a been there, done that and got the tee shirt list of ideas, for the beginning special event planner, it would be a good book to add to the shelf.

Planner's Pointers is written by me, Mary Pam Kilgore, of Kilgore Business Services, LLC You may reach me through my website www.kilgorebusiness.com You can find my blog at http://plannerspointers.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Job Websites to discover

Welcome to Planner's Pointer's Planners Pointers is a blog and talk cast to help beginning event planners with their event planning. Give them ideas on planning better events, books to read and websites to discover.


Looking for work? Here are some websites that have job postings --

http://www.meetingjobs.com/ A free site to post your resume. Additionally meeting jobs have both full and part time job postings. Also the site offers webinars on how to get jobs.

www.mpiwebs.org Meeting Professionals International has job postings on their site. Postings less than 15 days old are for members only after that they are available for non members.

http://www.pcma.org/  Professional Convention Management Association posts jobs for those seeking jobs in the convention and trade show areas.

www.asaecenter.org American Society of Association Executives helps those in the association and non profit world with education and job postings. You don't have to be a member to access the job board.

If you are looking to be a meeting and event planner reading the job boards on these websites shows you what the characteristics and skills are needed to be a good planner. Also it tells you the scope of the meeting planning profession.

Planner's Pointers is written by me, Mary Pam Kilgore, of Kilgore Business Services, LLC You may reach me through my website http://www.kilgorebusiness.com/ You can find my blog at http://plannerspointers.blogspot.com/

Friday, October 22, 2010

10 + 1 Ways to stay organized in the home office

Welcome to Planner's Pointer's Planners Pointers is a blog and talk cast to help beginning event planners with their event planning. Give them ideas on planning better events, books to read and websites to discover.


The ability to work from home is both a blessing and a curse for the budding entrepreneur. It's easy to get sidetracked into doing other things like the dishes, the garden and the laundry. How do you stay focused?

Here are my 10 + 1 tips to keeping you organized in your home office.

1. Don't work in your pajamas. Yes I know that is one of the joys of working from home is not having to dress for work; however I notice I get more work done if I am showered, have make up on and dressed. I don't mean a suit, jeans and a top will work. Also if you get that last minute client meeting, you will be out the door faster if you have the basics done.

2. Have a plan for the day. I think having a plan keeps you focused. I am a list maker and that really works for me. I have lists for things that need to done this week. I usually like to put them on a tablet and cross them off in a red Sharpie. There is something so satisfying about crossing them off when completed. For things done on a weekly basis I have them listed as tasks in outlook. Again checking them off is a great feeling.

3. Prioritize your day and do the most important work first. Then move on to other items on your list. In my opinion, doing your important work while you are most alert makes for fewer errors.

4. Have the tools you need ready to go. Keep your virus checker up to date. Your phone charged. Paper and toner for your printer. Reference books that you want to use. You don't want to have to leave the office in the middle just to make a run to office supply store.

5. Timer. I don't care what type of electronic timer you use, just as long as you use one. If you are charging by the hour it tells you how much time you have spent on any project. I also use it to keep track on how much time I spend on other things like answering email and other things that might not be directly related to my work,

6. Don't get lost reading email. Yes I know that if is loads of fun to click on the links and read the jokes that your brother in law forwards but it can eat up your day so fast. Set aside to read emails. First thing in the morning, 30 minutes and the perhaps another 30 in the afternoon.

7, Take some time off for lunch and leave your desk. I know that it is temping to work. But leave even for just 30 minutes. I don't mean going out to lunch just change your location within your residence or go for a walk. Walking will clear your thoughts and re-energize for the afternoon. Weight Watchers (www.weightwatchers.com) says in its literature that eating at your desk may cause you to over eat because you are not taking the time to eat your food properly. This is also the time you could, if you wanted to, put dinner in the crock pot or run the dish washer.

8. Organize how much time you spend away from your office. I have days I call office days and days I will schedule appointments. Also I like to schedule appointments in the afternoon and do more than one making sure I allow enough time between them. Also do your office errands at that time.

9. Watch your time when you are on the phone. Like reading email, I schedule my phone calls. If someone calls and it's not business related, or one of my children I will set a timer for no more than ten minutes. I know some people who screen their calls. I don't always go that far but if I can't tell from the caller ID, I will think sales person and not answer.

10. Don't turn on the TV during the day. Yes I know watching the 11:00 AM ET "Say Yes to the Dress" on TLC is your favorite guilty pleasure, but save it till 5:00 PM ET and treat it like your own version of Happy Hour. I know some who can work with the sound on in another room; I am not that person. I can listen to music and work, but not TV.

11. Have a closing time and stick to it. Yes it is tempting that once dinner is over and the kids are sleeping to go back to your desk and send emails or spend time doing a hotel site search on the Internet. Resist the urge. If you want to do something, read a book on your favorite business topic. Take time to relax at the end of the day. One thing I have discovered by having a closing time is that I sleep better.
Planner's Pointers is written by me, Mary Pam Kilgore, CMP of Kilgore Business Services, LLC You may reach me through my website http://www.kilgorebusiness.com/ You can find my blog at http://plannerspointers.blogspot.com/ You can find podcasts of Planner's Pointers at http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/73353

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Team Work works miracles

Welcome to Planner's Pointer's Planners Pointers is a blog and talk cast to help beginning event planners with their event planning. Give them ideas on planning better events, books to read and websites to discover.
Last week we all marveled as we watch to both TV and the live stream on the Internet as the Chilean miners, all 33 of them, were rescued.

Team work works miracles. As I read and watched the news of the mine accident since August it never seemed to me that no one lost hope. They continued to work to drill the rescue shaft never losing sight of the goal. The miners themselves were always reported as being in both good health and good spirits. In a world where everyone seems to be out for themselves the absolute solidarity shown during the long rescue mission was impressive. Everyone, rescuer and miner, had the same goal. How did they do that? Communication. The miners always had some idea of what was going on high above their heads, and the rescuers knew what was happening below them.

You never do an event yourself. Clients, committees, catering sales managers, banquet staff, your staff, hotel staff, many others and you work together and share in the success of an event because everyone has the same goal. Getting everyone sharing the same goal is your job as the planner. How does that happen? Communication. Communication meaning both listening and speaking. Keeping everyone informed of changes, listening to new ideas on how to achieve the best results provide some of the necessary elements for developing a good team.

Team work works miracles.

Planner's Pointers is written by me, Mary Pam Kilgore, of Kilgore Business Services, LLC You may reach me through my website www.kilgorebusiness.com You can find my blog at http://plannerspointers.blogspot.com/ 

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Travel Safety

Welcome to Planner's Pointer's Planners Pointers is a blog and talk cast to help beginning event planners with their event planning. Give them ideas on planning better events, books to read and websites to discover.

The idea for this post came to me when I was at a hotel recently. At the registration desk there was a flyer being given to guests about leaving valuables in their cars. With the holiday season travel about to kick in, I thought I would go over "Ten Tips for Traveling Safely."

1. Travel Light. Remember the scene out of "Up in the Air" where the character Natalie, played by Anna Kendrick, brings this huge suitcase and Ryan Bingham, played by George Clooney, throws half of the stuff away and gets her a newer smaller suitcase? Remember separates, mix and match is the way to go. Here is a video about an efficient way to pack a bag. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BL9qmFRbd4

2. Don't leave valuables in your hotel room. If you aren't wearing them, then the best place is the hotel safe.

3. Along with valuables, do you really need to bring your computer? With hotel business centers and smart phones with email, leaving the laptop at home might be an option.

4. Along with leaving valuables at home, also leave behind your social security and library cards.

5. Cashier checks and one or two credit cards may be all you need when you travel. Leave unnecessary credit cards at home. Don't carry large amounts of cash.

6. If you are traveling by car, please make sure you bring everything into the car including your GPS and other things you might leave behind by under normal circumstances.

7. When you go out, be aware of your surroundings and travel in pairs or in a group. Also remember to remove your name badge when you are leaving the conference site.

8. I hate to sound like your mother, but don't accept drinks from strangers.

9. If you are going to be gone for an extended period, place valuables in a safety deposit box along with important papers.

10. Leave your itinerary along with your cell phone number with a friend or family member.

Planner's Pointers is produced by me, Mary Pam Kilgore, of Kilgore Business Services, LLC You may reach me through my website http://www.kilgorebusiness.com/ You can find my blog at http://plannerspointers.blogspot.com/  Copywrite 2010 Mary Pam Kilgore, Kilgore Business Services, LLC, This article may be reproduce in full as long as the byline is included.

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Technorati Code AAM6SRRXUNH9

I am having my blog verified by Technorati.  A site that is one of the most important blog directories out there.  Very cool. AAM6SRRXUNH9

Monday, October 4, 2010

Book Review Who's Got Your Back by Keith Ferrazzi

My intern, Brittany Brown, a student at Pittsburgh Technical Institute, wrote this review of Keith Ferrazzi best selling book, Who's Got Your Back.  She has some very interesting comments

Who’s Got Your Back by Keith Ferrazzi


Who’s Got Your Back is a book about lifeline relationship when “someone will never let you fail.” The book starts out with Ferrazzi’s accomplishments, which has much success, yet had a problem all his life. A man, who could help many people, could not figure out the problems to his life. He focused too much time on everyone else and not himself, perhaps. Even a man, which can help the world spin, needs help sometimes for motivation to keep moving. The adventures of him finding his inner circle were courageous for him to understand. Help was in front of his face the whole time. What was courageous of him was to open his eyes and actually see it. The main lessons I got out of this book is; self awareness, mentors or lifelines, and pride.

“Know who you are and where you belong”. Sometimes to understand yourself, you need feedback from other people. I noticed the more I understand why people say and act the way they do towards me is because my personality. I must have to say, one of my first lessons in life; you have no one but yourself in the end and you will not get anywhere unless you do it yourself. I only have me, so why not know my strengths and weakness to use them to my advantage. Self-awareness will get you to where you belong, as long as you are dedicated, and motivated. I have noticed it is hard to keep yourself motivated. This is one of the reasons why it is good to have a lifeline relationship. You can keep each other be motivated, dedicated and focused on your main goals. I know it always feels comforting to have someone you know you can vent, and get some weight off your chest. Sometimes just, be able to share your life experiences and give knowledge to, makes you feel like you have process in life. Some people may forget the difference between a mentor and lifeline.

A mentor is a teacher, passing their knowledge, and wisdom to a student. I have learned from personal experience not to try to compete, or argue with your mentor. Kind of like, “mother knows best”, you listen to their advice and use the terms in your life to succeeded. They are not giving advice to waste their breath, but want to see you succeed because they believe in you. On other side, the lifeline relationship is someone who is equal and shares their own knowledge with one an other. As Ferrazzi defines it, “who can be intellectual sparring partners and confidants”. They are a huge impression on your soul.

Most people do not ask for help because they have too much pride. Asking for help is a huge issue for many people I know, all ages. I maybe young, but I have observed all my life, and have experienced the worst, I think, that could ever happen in my life. My mother was a single parent with three children gave me of my wisest experiences I ever been through. . Even working three jobs everyday, she still I had to go to services to get help to take care of my family. She is the strongest woman I know still to this day, and I do not think I will ever meet anyone that could be stronger. However, the point of my story is, even though she didn’t like talking about money issues, she still swallowed her pride, and reached out for a hand to pick her back up on her feet. I give her more respect for getting the help, then to give herself more stress than she already had. People are out there who enjoy helping others. A lifeline relationship is a little different. It is not only someone helping you out, but you helping them out also.

Generosity, vulnerability, candor, and accountability are the four main things you need for your relationship. I do agree they are very important. Yet still I have trouble with some of these keys. How do you know you can trust this person for the rest of your life, to trust of all your information of your professional and personal career? A relationship with all the main keys is cherishing able and a great discovery. Someone at my age still has a while to find such relationships. I think I have been finding mine with more teachers, and more well experienced people. However, I have never had trouble asking for help from someone.

In this book, I have learned you can be any age and learn these lessons, I believe the sooner you learn it, the better off you are in life. Even though Keith Ferrazzi went to Harvard Business, he still had to learn these mental lessons by himself and the hard way. As Keith Ferrazzi is like the “professional super-man”, even super-man needs some help with his identity. Never hurts to ask for help. The world is at your feet, it is your own playground with nothing but opportunities to be successful, which is defined in many different ways. That is the beautiful thing of America. Yet, I wish more people of my generation (Generation Y) could open their eyes and truly smell the roses that are at their feet.

-- Brittany Brown, Pittsburgh Technical Institute, 2010.