How to Get People Involved at Your Events
Consider the event (e.g., tone, audience) and find an activity that suits the occasion:
Official Greeters. Assign people to be a “welcoming committee”. Ask them to introduce themselves to new participants and help them start mingling.
Name Tags. Ask alumni to add their major and/or grad year to their name tags (or grad decade if they prefer). Other examples are their maiden name or the dorm they lived in as a freshman. This provides a simple conversation starter.
What’s Up on Campus? Search uwalumni.com, On Wisconsin Magazine or www.wisc.edu to find out what’s happening on campus. Everything from cutting-edge research to student trends to campus politics. Post the latest campus “happenings” on a flip chart or message board (butcher paper works great). Have markers on hand so alumni can write comments and feedback.
General Opinion. This is a sneaky way to get alumni to tell you what they like to do. Again, using markers and large flip chart paper, pose questions like “What’s your favorite local restaurant and why?” or “What do you like to do on a sunny day?” or “What’s your favorite area event and why?”
Where Are You From? Ask guests to write their hometown on their name tags as a way to spark conversation. “Both from the East Coast? Who knew”? or “From Lodi? So am I.”
Pocket Polaroid Cameras. Assign one or two people, armed with instant pocket Polaroids, to take pictures at an event and post them on a central board or flip chart. The decision about allowing participants to caption them is up to you.
Badger Bingo. Alumni and student versions are available at uwalumni.com/chapterleader or contact your staff liaison.
Official Greeters. Assign people to be a “welcoming committee”. Ask them to introduce themselves to new participants and help them start mingling.
Name Tags. Ask alumni to add their major and/or grad year to their name tags (or grad decade if they prefer). Other examples are their maiden name or the dorm they lived in as a freshman. This provides a simple conversation starter.
What’s Up on Campus? Search uwalumni.com, On Wisconsin Magazine or www.wisc.edu to find out what’s happening on campus. Everything from cutting-edge research to student trends to campus politics. Post the latest campus “happenings” on a flip chart or message board (butcher paper works great). Have markers on hand so alumni can write comments and feedback.
General Opinion. This is a sneaky way to get alumni to tell you what they like to do. Again, using markers and large flip chart paper, pose questions like “What’s your favorite local restaurant and why?” or “What do you like to do on a sunny day?” or “What’s your favorite area event and why?”
Where Are You From? Ask guests to write their hometown on their name tags as a way to spark conversation. “Both from the East Coast? Who knew”? or “From Lodi? So am I.”
Pocket Polaroid Cameras. Assign one or two people, armed with instant pocket Polaroids, to take pictures at an event and post them on a central board or flip chart. The decision about allowing participants to caption them is up to you.
Badger Bingo. Alumni and student versions are available at uwalumni.com/chapterleader or contact your staff liaison.
One Question. Hand out an index card to every person. Ask them to write down a question they would feel comfortable asking a complete stranger. Have them pair up and ask each other their question. Once answered, they switch questions and each moves on to repeat the process with another person. Or simply provide the direction and question (e.g., introduce yourselves and describe the details of your ideal dream vacation).
4 C’s. Each person writes down on an index card their favorite: color, cuisine, country to visit and closet dream. Participants can pair up, exchange C’s and move on.
4 C’s. Each person writes down on an index card their favorite: color, cuisine, country to visit and closet dream. Participants can pair up, exchange C’s and move on.
