SOCIAL EVENTS
PURPOSE It is great to compete, to do service projects, and to meet new professionals. It is also great to enjoy the moment with other members who share the same interest(s). True connections and memories are formed at social events. If a chapter does not have enough people, do not be afraid to ask other people to join in the prep -- and fun! As a business-minded career association, sometimes work and play go hand-in-hand.
PAGE NUMBERS Ice-breakers...... 1 Athletics...... 10 Team-Building ...... 3 Parties & Dances...... 11 Conferences (Field Trips)...... 5 Cultural Experiences...... 11 Summer Time...... 6 Food Experiences...... 13 Autumn Time...... 6 Game Night...... 14 Winter Time...... 7 Notes for Success ...... 14 Spring Time...... 9 Event Planning Steps ...... 15
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COMPILERS Original Author: Taylor N. Libbert (2016-Present Activities Coordinator) Copy Editor: Chris Dzurick (2014-Present State Adviser) Content Developers: Foundation Board Adviser Development Committee Publication History: 2019/09/03; 2018/09/04 ICE-BREAKERS Icebreakers are great ways to start the year or semester(s). One might learn that a classmate has a twin sibling or has a trampoline. All those details are important when getting to know a person. However, like a polar bear, one must first break the ice – like with one of these examples.
AMOEBA The moderator yells out numbers. The group must break off into smaller groups with that number in it. Anyone who is not in a group, or in a group with the incorrect number, is out. Continue playing until only one person remains.
BIRTHDAY LINE UP Students must line up in silence based on their birthdays. They can use gestures, but they cannot write anything down. Another alternative is to line up alphabetically by middle name.
BLACKOUT BINGO Everyone receives a bingo grid asking to find someone who can identify with what’s in the square. One square might ask if someone has been out of the country while another asks if a person can whistle. If so, the person signs the square. To be fair, a person cannot sign multiple squares. The person who complete the grid first wins. This is more challenging when the squares are not the same for everyone and if they are in different spots.
BLOWN AROUND In this activity, the moderator participates. Everyone sits in a circle save one person who stands in the middle. That person says, “Move seats if you ___.” People who identify with that statement must move to another chair. The new person in the middle asks another relatable statement, and the game continues.
HELLO! Group stands in a circle One person starts, “My name is Emily, and I like to read,” while using a hand gesture for the action. Everyone says, “Hi, Emily, who likes to read,” using that hand gesture. The next person says their name and something s/he likes. Everyone repeats what the second person said and then says what the first person said. This pattern of repeating everyone’s names and interests continues clockwise until every person has been introduced.
KNOTS Everyone stands in a circle. One person holds a ball of yawn or string, states some facts about themselves, and offers a question for everyone to answer. The ball is thrown around the circle. Whoever holds the ball must introduce themselves and answer the question.
2019-20 Missouri FBLA-PBL || Guide on Active Membership Engagement: Social Events 1 SALT & PEPPER Write one half of each pair on the sheets of paper such as Mario and Luigi. Printing pictures of the pairs works great too. Tape one paper to each person’s back, then have everyone mingle and try to figure out the word or image on their back. The rule is that they can only ask each other yes or no questions. Once they figure out their word/image, they need to find the other half of their pair.
STEP WITH IT This one has a chant, and don’t forget to clap “Step forward, step back, and introduce yourself.” The person at the end steps forward. Person 1 says, “My name is Gerald.” Group says, “Yeah.” Person 1 says, “I like to --.” The group says, “Yeah.” Person 1 says, “I like to --.” Groups says, “Alright, alright, alright.” Everyone repeats, “Step forward, step back, and introduce yourself.” Person 2 introduces him- or herself according to the model. Then person 3 and so on.
TOILET PAPER TALK This activity is perfect for middle school members. A roll of toilet paper goes around the room. Each person is initially asked to take as much as s/he needs. They do not say a word. Once everyone has some, the host explains that you must say something about yourself for each square.
WALMART GAME The audience splits into two teams on different sides of the room. The moderator randomly chooses a letter. The participants at the front of the line must be the first to say something that one can buy in Walmart to stay in the game. A participant is eliminated and sits down if s/he is not the first to answer correctly. This continues until only one participant remains.
Other Ice-breaker Ideas https://icebreakerideas.com/icebreaker-questions-biggest-list-ever https://www.signupgenius.com/groups/funnyicebreakerquestions.cfm Questions Game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swqfFHLck1o ______ ______
2019-20 Missouri FBLA-PBL || Guide on Active Membership Engagement: Social Events 2 TEAM-BUILDING Team-building is group problem solving which builds critical thinking and communication skills. It also fosters leadership and trust in each other. It is best to incorporate team- building events throughout the year since it helps to make a skilled team.
BLIND DODGEBALL With this activity, it is necessary to have pairs or even numbers. One person in each pair is blindfolded while the other gives directions. The first team to successful hit the other blindfolded participant with a foam ball wins.
ESCAPE ROOM Professional escape rooms can be found in large cities, but that is not to say that interested members cannot design their own adventure.
HELIUM STICK This is a deceptively simple activity. The goal is to get the stick (ruler, broom, etc.) to the ground while everyone’s index fingers are touching it. In reality, the stick goes up because everyone is supporting it from the bottom.
HUMAN KNOT This common exercise has been done with all ages. Everyone faces each other in a circle and links hands with someone who is not beside them. The goal is to unknot everyone.
HUMAN SPRING Ask group members to stand facing each other in pairs. Their elbows should be bent, with their palms facing toward each other. Instruct them to touch their palms together, and gradually start leaning toward each other, so that they eventually hold each other up. Then, instruct everyone to move their feet further and further back, so that they have to depend solely upon their partners to remain standing.
LAVA The floor is lava! Participants who touch the floor are out. The goal is to get as many people to the other side as possible. Participants are given mats, blankets, yard sticks, etc., to help the team cross the floor safely.
SCAVENGER SUDOKU This solo number game now has a team component. Groups must work together to find numbers hidden around the room or building before solving the Sudoku puzzle on the board. Teams can write in what numbers go where, but the board must to covered in the colored squares to be marked as completed (pending time limits and difficulty finding squares).
2019-20 Missouri FBLA-PBL || Guide on Active Membership Engagement: Social Events 3 SINKING SHIP Everyone stands on (large) sheets and/or blankets. A moderator decides how quickly the ship sinks by folding or removing the sheets and/or blankets. The goal is to have everyone fit in the smallest space possible.
SPIDER WEB This event requires an entry way, string, and tape. Tape two pieces of string across a doorway, one at about three-and-a-half feet and the other around five feet. This string is the poisonous spider web. Teams must get all their members through the opening between the strings without touching it. Increase the difficulty by taping more pieces of string across the doorway.
THREE-LEGGED RACE Common among younger students, it can be done fairly quickly so long as there is plenty of string to tie people’s legs together. Be clear on where the finish line is too.
TRUST WALK One person in the pair is blindfolded and follows the other’s voice around obstacles. The challenge could be for fastest time or most items collected. Be sure that upcoming competitors (both guides and blindfolded) do not know the layout of the space beforehand.
Other Team-building Ideas http://allaboutteambuilding.com/team-building-activities-for-teens http://www.ventureteambuilding.co.uk/team-building-activities-for-teens https://blog.cake.hr/top-50-team-building-games-employees-love-play https://smallbiztrends.com/2015/09/team-building-exercises-and-games.html Marshmallow Challenge TED: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0_yKBitO8M ______ ______
2019-20 Missouri FBLA-PBL || Guide on Active Membership Engagement: Social Events 4 CONFERENCES (FIELD TRIPS) New places, new food, and new people – conferences have something for everyone! Some FBLA districts host a fall planning meeting which is usually more fun than business. Every year, Missouri FBLA-PBL hosts the Show-Me Leadership Conference (SMLC) at amusement parks and attends the National Fall Leadership Conference (NFLC). Following next are 20 FBLA District Leadership Conferences (DLC) held across the state. Students may advance in their competitive event(s) to the State Leadership Conference (SLC) in Springfield and possibly onto the National Leadership Conference (NLC) that alters locations yearly. To end the summer, the new Missouri FBLA-PBL state officer teams facilitate CLUE: Creating Leaders & Unleashing Excellence. So many new memories and friendships can be made in one year!
The local chapter can also organize its own educational outing or field trip. For example, one chapter went to Columbia to receive a behind-the-scene tour of Bass Pro, to learn the history of Andy’s Frozen custard (which started in this great state) before lunch, and to discover the entrepreneurship behind Lazer Lanes before playing a round of laser tag before returning to school.
Before attending conferences or field trips, it is best to research eateries and attractions. It also allows members to personalize the experience and to build budgets. Once an itinerary is written, share it with the attendees. A comprehension word is highly useful: “If you made it this far, please type ‘tree’ in the reply email,” or “Tell me your favorite color tomorrow morning so I know you read this.” Note other conference hacks below. ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______
2019-20 Missouri FBLA-PBL || Guide on Active Membership Engagement: Social Events 5 SUMMER TIME Summer is fun in the sun. There are many outside adventures to be had, and adventures are always better with buddies. Unfortunately, the school year gives only a limited time to enjoy the warm weather. Finally, please check with area Missouri State Parks for their events as well: https://mostateparks.com. Archery Fishing Roller-skating Axe Throwing Floating Skateboarding Beach Bubble Bingo Go-Karts Star-gazing Biking Hiking Swimming Bubble Soccer Kayaking Tossing a Frisbee Canoeing Kite flying Visiting a cave(s) Field Day Obstacle course(s) Zip-lining
AUTUMN TIME Unpack the boots and sweaters. Some events are just perfect as the leaves begin to change. Oh, how they’ll wish these days would never end. This time of year brings out salt of the Earth qualities that warmly contrast the cooling weather. That’s not to say that these events cannot be modified or enjoyed other times during the year.
APPLE ORCHARDS Why not pick the apples to caramel? People can pick them and dice them. There might also be an option to taste apple food. Lastly, the township of Versailles hosts an annual Olde Tyme Apple Festival: http://versaillesapplefestival.com.
BONFIRE Roasting marshmallows or hot dogs? Want a s’more? Just try not to be the one getting roasted. The area around the pit needs cleared of debris. To get the fire started, dry leaves do the trick. The flame lasts as long as dry sticks or pieces of wood get added. Nothing flammable should be near the fire, and only trusted individuals should have the match(es) or lighter(s).
CAMPING It requires more prep than one thinks. The tent and supplies need to be checked for quality; food purchased; bug spray found; car packed. Towels, blankets, pillows, flashlights, matches, and water are essentials too. One must talk with the adviser about school policies before planning this type of outing. For a Halloween twist, get approval from the township to camp in the cemetery.
CORN MAZE Corn mazes require long term planning: planting an image, what image is valuable to the community or holiday, the level of challenge of the maze, etc. Be cautious: Ghosts and goblins might be included after dusk.
2019-20 Missouri FBLA-PBL || Guide on Active Membership Engagement: Social Events 6 HAUNTED HOUSE For those who enjoy a good scare, haunted houses are a real treat. Many places, including small towns, have some haunted house around. Some are professional while others are made by enthusiasts. Be each other’s moral support as ghosts and zombies approach. Who will make it out alive?
HAY RIDES This classic fall activity in rural parts of the state is normally paired with bobbing for apples or corn mazes. This goes best with a story(s) or farm animal(s) to see across the fence. Lastly, adding a haunted element is entertaining around Halloween by having people jump out of nowhere or scream loudly from the darkness.
SPOOKY SCAVENGER SEARCH This requires being familiar with local lore by checking regional historical societies and requires visiting a cemetery (burial site or memorial park) for the markers of interest. People could guess the type of stone used, finding a local hero, verifying a date, locating the oldest person (truly or of the submissions), or discovering someone with the same birthday (month and day) as a team member. If maps are available, provide them; if not, try to make some. Twilight puts people on edge as the wind rustles leaves and as small animals move in the shadows. https://ktvo.com/news/local/fun-and-spooky-scavenger-hunt-to-be-held-at-local-cemetery
PUMPKIN CARVING Large or small, pretty or experimental, there is fun in trying to get the image one wants. Stencils can be found online and in stores. Large bags are useful for all the pumpkin seeds. Whatever the group is not using from the pumpkin(s), compost it rather than dump it.
WINTER TIME Winter is the time of year to show gratitude and to exchange gifts with members and other people who make your chapters strong. Events can also be geared around the season: Ho Ho Homicide Murder Mystery Night, gingerbread houses, and tree lighting with chestnuts roasting on an open fire. Many other ideas can be found online by searching “christmas party games.” If looking for event names, Snow-vember and First Snow are variations for snowfall in November. For any event this time of year, make sure people are dressed warmly in preferably non-absorbent clothes.
DECK THE TREE This fun variation of hangman asks members to guess letters and the word before the Christmas tree is decked (with around seven ornaments). Uncommon festive words like “yuletide” and “Noël” will keep members guessing longer.
2019-20 Missouri FBLA-PBL | Guide on Active Membership Engagement: Social Events 7 FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS Some communities are proud of the Christmas lights they hang. Some communities are rather competitive too. Christmas lights enthusiasts one evening can meet at centralized spot, grab some hot chocolate, and walk the streets.
GIFT EXCHANGE There are many variations on how to prolong and enjoy gift giving. Also, this is not just limited to the holiday season. Some places do “Christmas in July.” Another creative tidbit that can make the process simpler for organizers and participants is limiting the gift to fit inside a Christmas stocking – or an actual stocking! To add randomness, roll dice to decide whether someone steals, gets skipped, pass left or right, or grab a new gift from the pile. Dice Roll: Each person (groups of 5-10) brings a wrapped gift to the table. Each player takes a turn rolling one or two dice. Assign tasks to each number (i.e. 7, all pass right; 3, females pass left; 12, open present; 1, choose to keep; etc.). Continue rolling until all gifts have been kept. Gift Giving War: This is best with small, committed group of individuals. This can be sporadically throughout the year to people who really know each other. Rob Your Neighbor: Everyone brings a gift and sets it on the table. People are randomly selected to either open a present or to rob another participant. The event ends when all presents have been opened. Secret Santa: Each participant is given a form to fill out before receiving the form of the person for whom they shop. It is encouraged to have a minimum and maximum to spend. Wrapped gifts need to be brought to a certain time and place for the exchange. Sock Exchange: Participants are capped at how much they can fill a standard- sized sock to give to their randomly selected recipient. Only the organizer should know who has who. Small Christmas stockings also work for this event. White Elephant: This exchange works a lot like Rob Your Neighbor, but instead of thoughtful gifts, gag gifts are exchanged.
HOCKEY Whether on the field or on the sidelines, hockey is an intense sport. If a member has the equipment and a thick patch of ice, there’s a chance for other members to try this sport .
ICE-SKATING Some parks and communities create their own ice rink for people. There are not many ice rinks in the state. The same can be said about ski areas. One PBL chapter drove halfway across the state to St. Louis to enjoy the experience at Hidden Valley: https://www.hiddenvalleyski.com/.
SLEDDING Although the snow might actually prevent some from attending (forcing them to stay at home), snow has the unique ability to reveal people’s silly side. Be sure that everyone dresses warm and that there are safe, convenient places to park at the hill of choice.
2019-20 Missouri FBLA-PBL | Guide on Active Membership Engagement: Social Events 8 SPRING TIME Some activities are just perfect as the leaves returns. Nonetheless, these events may be modified or enjoyed other times during the year. As refreshing as it is to smell the foliage, some people’s noses might not agree with return of allergens in the air.
DIGITAL SCAVENGER HUNT Members take pictures or videos of themselves finding or doing different things within an allotted time window (or by a certain deadline). Each activity may have different point values. Some activities may even receive bonus points. For example, stealthily snapping a photo of another team completing an activity is quite the challenge. Total the points at the very end for bragging rights. For SLC, Missouri FBLA coordinates with GooseChase.com.
EASTER EGG HUNT Some people hide eggs filled with chocolate while some grandparents hide eggs filled with pennies and quarters. One may event fill the eggs with points, and the highest scorer receives a prize at the end. Some people hide the plastic eggs in yards while others choose homes, gymnasiums, and fields. It is important to have a list or map of where all the eggs are. Hiding a green egg in green grass is not a good idea.
HIDE-AND-SEEK The childhood classic is a different adventure if played inside the school or inside a predetermined boundary. To capture more interest, try a different name like cache- cache (pronounced ‘cash-cash’) which is how French speakers refer to hide-and-seek.
SARDINES Hide-and-seek has a second cousin called Sardines who does everything the opposite. One person hides, and everyone else goes to find him or her. Once found, they hide together until everyone is reunited. It is recommended to create a group chat before starting to help the seekers.
NOTES FOR SUCCESS
2019-20 Missouri FBLA-PBL | Guide on Active Membership Engagement: Social Events 9 ATHLETICS There are many ways to get athletic people excited. At a park, the inner child wants to climb on jungle gyms, to traverse the monkey bars, to spin the merry-go-round, to kick off shoes while swinging, to have a picnic, and to hunt for four-leaf clovers. Other athletic pastimes include but are not limited to the following: Apple Smear Football Rugby Bad Mitton Four Corners Soccer Baseball Four Square Softball Basketball Frisbee Tennis Capture The Flag Lacrosse Townball Cricket Pickleball Volleyball Croquet Pumpkin Ball ______ Disc Golf Quidditch ______
All of these activities permit outside enjoyment, and rainy days make the gymnasium more feasible for many of them too. Also, there are various ways to enjoy the childhood game of tag: ball tag, archery tag, laser tag, freeze tag, and zombie tag (also known as Humans vs Zombies). Some activities are more challenging in obstructive spaces and at nighttime. For any event happening during the night, be sure to have proper lighting or glow items to be fairly and properly visible.
Another option is to be a spectator. Tee-ball is regularly a laugh-out-loud experience. Many people have high school spirit and college spirit to show off. Sometimes, professional teams sell tickets cheaply to large groups. People can cheer on race cars and motocross drivers from the stands or from the couch. With any organized outing of this nature, be sure to be clear on time, place(s), and expectation(s). For those who like to be fit, hitting the gym together, doing yoga, or joining an intramural team are good options. An indoor venue accommodates those activities well in addition to providing space for bowling, dodgeball, kickball, broomball, and nine ball. It is best to foam – not rubber – if the targets are other people. One can research indoor facilities for attractions like trampolines, rock walls, or a rope gym. Another active event space is Mizzou’s Venture Out which is like an obstacle course. Once more, people can socialize while walking, jogging, or running in a 5k.
Finally, other activities may come from other cultures. The bowling variation called “bocce” (anglicized “bocci”) is popular in Italy. The area of Angers, France, plays boule de fort and pétanque. The Ancient Greeks invented tightrope walking. Local dojos might offer a free lesson on specific day(s) of the month or year.
2019-20 Missouri FBLA-PBL | Guide on Active Membership Engagement: Social Events 10 PARTIES & DANCES For large group socials, sometimes it is better to be a participant rather than a planner. Universities put on large events each year like a Back to School Bash, Spring Fling, Final Blowout. Some county fairs have carnival games. Some places host charity casino nights (no gambling) or mini Mardi Gras festivities. Some cafés have live music, karaoke nights, or lip sync battles.
For those interested in dance, there are many types to learn: Line, Swing, (Color) Zumba, Salsa, Ballroom, etc. One that note, attending school dances like Pool Party Relays, Barnwarming, Homecoming, Mocktails, Masquerades, or a formal Ball would be convenient. With Homecoming, you can have a committee that makes a float, run for king/queen, and show the most school spirit. For small home-events, try naming it “DJs and PJs” or Jammin’ Jammies.” In all, it’s a time to have fun!
CULTURAL EXPERIENCES Some people are not thrill-seekers. They could be more introverted. They might be afraid of heights or something else. Below are some activities that could interest them. Be aware that cultural events are not for everyone and may be pricier than other events. Art Gallery Mannequin Challenge Paint the Town Battle of the Books Movie Night Exhibition (Book Club) Murder Mystery Planetarium Coloring or Drawing (Mid)Night Silent Disco Craft Projects (or Fair) Museum Slam Poetry (rapping) Dance Performance Open Mic Night Square Dancing Fireside Friday Origami Stand-Up Comedy Historic Places Orchestra Symphony Historical Society Paint Party (pre- Theater Performance Karaoke Night picked image) ______ Lectures (University) ______
AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 HOURS Jules Vernes wrote the classic Around the World in 80 Days before plans existed. Now, members can build an international scavenger hunt using the internet. Unimaginable two centuries ago! Below is a sample set of instructions for the event in blue. The number of countries, difficulty, and length of competition can be edited by the chapter.
This week is International Education Week, and [our chapter] has a fun cross-campus scavenger hunt for you! The attached “passport” will give you clues, and you must decipher which offices/classroom the clues are directing you to. Each participating office/classroom will have a display of items or some type of educational piece about the international country they are representing. Once at the correct office/classroom, you will receive a stamp/sticker/signature in your passport from most of them, and at
2019-20 Missouri FBLA-PBL | Guide on Active Membership Engagement: Social Events 11 others you will need to take a photo/selfie of yourself with the displayed material to show as validation of your visit. Please try to visit offices/classrooms during business hours (homeroom, lunch, or after school) so you can view the displayed items and materials inside. Upon completion of your passport, please take it to [location] before [time] on [day]. All teams submitting correctly completed passports will be entered into a random drawing for the grand prize! Please contact [name] at [email] with any questions.
A variation of this event could become “Where in Missouri is [Carmen San Diego]?” Missouri has its own international history, odd names, and interesting places.
HISTORY “History is in the street,” or better said in French, “L’histoire est dans la rue.” The phrase signifies that history is all around us and -- to an extent -- unavoidable. Museum can be dedicated to the county’s history, pigs, vacuums, baseball, aviation, jail, industry, toys, and much more. Below are links to discover which historic finds are closest to home. http://missourimuseums.org https://nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/mo/state.html#pickem https://dnr.mo.gov/shpo/national.htm
MOVIE NIGHT Movie nights are simple aside from ensuring copyright is followed. Be sure to brush up on those rules and talk with your librarian(s) or Center for Student Involvement. In terms of technology, make sure the video players and projector(s) are working. Location affects the quality of the projection. During finals week, comedies and improv allow members to de-stress.
TOURISM Being cultured does not always mean knowing German or the biography of Czar Nicholas II. It can be knowing the local region and what brings it pride. Which town has a pig museum? Florida, MO, was the birthplace of whom? Where are the Amish? Which park is name for “smiling waters”? Those things put places and people on the map. In addition to contacting the local chamber(s) of commerce, below are some links to discover regional attractions. Tourism Office || visitmo.com Kansas City (KS) || Branson || explorebranson.com visitkansascityks.com Cape Girardeau || visitcape.com Kansas City (MO) || visitkc.com Chillicothe || visitchillicothe.com Kirksville || visitkirksville.com Columbia || visitjoplinmo.com Quincy (IL) || seequincy.com Hannibal || visithannibal.com Rolla || visitrolla.com Hermann || visithermann.com St. Charles || discoverstcharles.com Independence || Sainte Geneviève || visitstegen.com visitindependence.com St. Joseph || stjomo.com Jefferson City || St. Louis || explorestlouis.com visitjeffersoncity.com Springfield || springfieldmo.org Warrensburg || visitwarrensburg.com/548/Convention-and-Visitors-Bureau
2019-20 Missouri FBLA-PBL | Guide on Active Membership Engagement: Social Events 12 FOOD EXPERIENCES Food is universal. It is just a matter of finding what everyone likes. Below are some ideas to bring people together at a table. It is extremely important to always ask if someone has an allergy or if they have dining preferences. That changes what food can be available and respected signage. Apple Fest (Weston) Corn Boil Mocktails Bake-Off or Cook-Off Family Dinners Pizza Party Banquet Friendsgiving Restaurant Barbecue (BBQ) Hot Chocolate Jars Rendezvous Cereal Café (London) (layered) Semaine de Goût Chocolate Tasting Icing some cookies or (France) Coffee Mug cupcakes Tea Party (DiversiTEA) Decoration (fiberglass) International Dinner Walking S’mores Dinner Theater Latte Art Competition Walking Tacos Drive-In Theater Mardi Gras Wurstfest (Hermann) Cook-Out Meat & Cheese Board ______ Cooking Lesson (Charcuterie Board) ______
Bake-Off is any baked pastry that accepts the challenge of “best ___” around town. Recipes do not have to be shared since many people value family traditions. This is not to be confused with a Cook-Out which is people cooking together for the sake of cooking meats and vegetables (possibly outside).
Cooking lessons can include making pumpkin pies for Thanksgiving – possibly to donate to soup kitchens. The best thing for this activity is to keep it simple. Some peers are not culinary wizards. Also, more pots mean more clean-up which is less enjoyable than eating the creation.
Pizza party – one of the biggest motivators of middle school students – can be used to encourage participation in service projects, fundraisers, and meetings. One university, for instance, uses pizza to get seniors to attend sessions on finalizing their graduation application. A chapter can also allow members to personalize their own creation(s).
Semaine de Goût translate from French as “week of taste.” This educational program aims to promote conscious healthy eating and encourages people to try new food. Chapters can do this to try French cuisine or other international treats.
2019-20 Missouri FBLA-PBL | Guide on Active Membership Engagement: Social Events 13 GAME NIGHT Nothing is quite like Monopoly or UNO to find out who the real friends are. There are a classic board games from which to choose including many novelties. If interested, people may learn a new game at once altogether. People can also make the experience as large as life itself by making the pieces and board life-size. For that, allot a few weeks for prep and finding substitute items. If doing Monopoly, a chapter can alter what locations are available for purchase (i.e. St. Louis-opoly). All the games noted below retain their respected trademark and/or copyright. Aggravation Hit the Deck Quad-Ominos Apples to Apples Hungry Hungry Scattergories Battleship Hippos Scene-It Buzz Word ImaginIt Scrabble Candy Land Jenga Sequence Chess / Checkers Landslide Stack-Ominos Chinese Checkers Last Word Upwords (marbles) Life Would You Rather? Clue Mad Gab ______ Connect 4 Operations ______ Funglish Othello ______ GinnyRub Pente
Card games should not be forgotten: Phase 10, Skip-Bo, Rummy, Ratscrew, Pitch, Spoons, Speed, etc. No Solitaire though. Last but not least, video games are popular, but they need to be appropriate to the audience and setting in addition to having plenty of controllers. Interactive software includes Wii, EyeToy, and virtual reality headsets.
NOTES FOR SUCCESS
2019-20 Missouri FBLA-PBL | Guide on Active Membership Engagement: Social Events 14 EVENT PLANNING STEPS All service projects take time to plan and to coordinate. This is also a special skill to take forward for students interested in working with large volumes of people. It seems easy at first, but there are always ways to improve upon activities and little things that sneak up. Thus, committees are often times utilized to bring events to life through defining objectives, ensuring quality, and involving the membership. Below are some rules of thumb.
BRAINSTORMING When ideas fail to conjure themselves, google “social events for teens,” find Facebook pages for student affairs, or check community bulletin boards for ideas. You may ask friends what they have done recently, discover obscure holidays, or check the Missouri Tourism website for local unknown attractions.
PLANNING Start planning early. Plan the planning so the plan goes according to plan. A plan is never plain. One step is to know the demographic. They know what they want. Setting a goal can further help keep a chapter on track for the event. Lastly, other organizations can partner with the chapter to provide their skills and presence. Planning includes materials, time, space, duration, advertising, food, beverage, news release (when applicable) just to name a few parts.
WORKING WITH PEOPLE’S SKILLS Event planners are often planning the gathering with other people. What do they know? What are their career aspirations? How can you help them help you? By giving people tasks that they are comfortable executing or interested in trying, more investment and thought is given for a more quality program. This is where the event committee needs to understand who has what tasks, when are deadlines, and the expectations of execution.
NAMING THE EVENT Names, like first impressions, should be memorable. Giving a name works, but with many groups doing or have done the same things, it is nice to offer something catchy such as “StrEAT Clean-Up” for collecting trash along the road before dinner.
TWO WEEKS OUT Everything should be planned at least two weeks in advance for small events so to advertise the event to members or to the public. You might realize that events need to be more or less completely planned more in advance. Two weeks is a good starting point. Before this point, the event chair, president, or designated person should have been monitoring progress and maintaining communication with other parties. Finally, risks are accessed.
SOCIAL MEDIA ENGAGEMENT Social media is a great way to build hype and spread the word. Encourage participants to share the information and to invite their friends. Other methods to utilize social media
2019-20 Missouri FBLA-PBL | Guide on Active Membership Engagement: Social Events 15 include Facebook events, Facebook live, Twitter polls, Snapchat updates, and Instagram stories.
SPREADING THE WORD Other ways to spread the word is to write an article for the school or local newspaper, make an announcement over the PSA, post fliers in local establishments, send emails, and contact the local radio station.
PREPARATION Location and layout are carefully chosen. Lists are made. Items are bought in advance and brought to the venue. People are assigned tasks to do, such as tables, decoration, fruit trays, until the event starts. Having to-do lists ensures all tasks are completed.
BUFFER TIME Aside from deadlines, always plan extra time for set-up and pick up. It gives you plenty of time to prepare mentally and physically for the event. It can also permit doors to open early or to allow the event to run over time some.
DECORATION Decorations make the event more fun, inviting, and memorable. They should be appropriate for the type of event and audience. Some of the most creative ideas include donut walls, sombreros as lights, and even balloon art.
CUE TO START Sometimes people don’t know when to start paying attention. Typically, this occurs when people arrive early and chat with their friends. It helps having music play in the background. When it stops, members know the event or meeting will soon commence.
TAKING NOTES (FEEDBACK) Thoughts will cross your mind throughout the event. Some are highlights, lowlights, and suggestions. To avoid forgetting them, keep a notepad and pen ready for jot down the ideas. Text drafts on phones work fine, but phone usage during an event is normally discouraged. At the end, participants can offer ways to improve the event too.
PUBLICITY Pictures are useful to capture moment. They can be used on chapter social media, website, recruitment materials, and scholarship applications. They can further be used for national individual programs like LEAD (formerly called MAP), BAA, and CMAP. Before taking anyone’s photo, it is polite to ask for their permission. Pictures can be sent to [email protected] for a chance to see them on the website, on social media, or in other state publications. Articles can be sent to [email protected] and to http://www.fbla-pbl.org/forms/chapter-news.
2019-20 Missouri FBLA-PBL | Guide on Active Membership Engagement: Social Events 16 EVENT EXECUTION TIMELINE The more time given to a project normally leads to higher quality and overall enjoyment. The timeline is subjective depending on how timely tasks are done. For example, hosting a corn maze takes over a year of careful planning to execute while a game night might take a week from conception to clean-up. As you or your team thinks ahead, here are some things to consider.
Timeliness Description 1 semester Brainstorming +/- 2.5 weeks - Purpose / Aim / Reason / Goal / Objective / Criteria before - Stakeholders (permission from school or community too) - Naming it (doesn’t have to be catchy yet) - Planning it (basic 6 W’s at this point) 6 weeks Budget +/- 1.5 weeks - Cap on how much to spend for whole event and components before - Ensure sufficient cash inflow and outflow - Seek event partnership or sponsorship - Apply or receive grant or funding 4 weeks Skill Consideration +/- 1 week - Team or committees encourage people to get involved before - Assign duties to someone and to a back-up person - Contracts or written agreements to sign if concerned about ownership and timeliness of concern 4 weeks Preparation +/- 1 week - Room reservation, layout, supplies, and decoration before - Schedule, itinerary, and/or permission slips - Food, eating utensils, prizes, PSAV, and/or cleaning items - Risk management, obstacles, rules/regulations, and/or security 3 weeks Advertisement +/- 0.5 week - Branding / Social Media / Publicity / Posters / Flyers before - Support from school or community to spread the word 1 week Pre-Event Meeting +/- 0.5 week - Review previously made decision so everyone understands before - Share event résumé with stakeholders if applicable - Finalize last minute details and expectations Day-Of Execution - Admission, tickets, registration, and/or welcome letter Showtime! - Starting (buffer time?) - Take notes for compliments, concerns, and suggestions - Ending (getting people together, expressing thanks, etc.) - Clean-up (return space to original condition) 1 week Post-Event Consideration +/- 0.5 week - Pay remaining bills or issue refunds after - Accept feedback to improve operation - Reflection (How successful was it? Did it meet the goal?) - Update Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
2019-20 Missouri FBLA-PBL | Guide on Active Membership Engagement: Social Events 17