Part II - Preparing Your First Meeting

Set Up the Time and Place

Choose a convenient time and place. Most schools will require groups to reserve the room ahead of time. Plan the meeting to last about an hour. It is always a good idea to have some snacks and refreshments during the meeting for everyone to enjoy.

Advertise the Meeting

Child survival certainly transcends political and religious differences; therefore many students on campus will be interested in the campaign when they hear about it. Therefore, successful advertising will lead to a large attendance. Here are some ways you can advertise:

Personal: Personally talk to people whenever you have the chance. When your friends ask why you’ve been so busy recently, take the time to explain SCCS to them. This is by far the most effective way.

Flyers: Post flyers that specify the exact time and location of the meeting on bulletins across campus. Put them up according to the rules of the school but make sure you blanket the campus.

Class Announcements: Make an announcement at the end of related classes (i.e. Economics of Development) that may have interested students in it. You do not have to be a student of the class but make sure that you ask the professor for permission ahead of time.

Mass Email: Prepare a blurb about the meeting and send it to students in charge of large email lists that pertain to student activities or community service. Ask that the details of your meeting be forwarded to the entire email lists or be included in the next newsletter.

Tabling: Put up a table at a high-traffic, convenient location. Prepare a large poster advertising SCCS to attract people’s attention. Have lots of material about the group and about child survival that you can liberally hand out. Prepare a twenty-second explanation that will inspire people to come to the meeting.

Quarter Sheets: These are good to slip under dorm room doors and to pass out personally in high traffic areas. Some groups find this easier than tabling since the message can be dispersed to many people in a much shorter time than tabling requires.

Ideas? Need help? Contact our National Organizer by e-mail here.

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