How can your chapter strengthen its Project Graduation efforts this year?
Promotion, flexibility, high school and community involvement, and recognition
were strategies employed by the Indiana Region to ensure Project Graduation
success. Indiana led the Society in Project Graduation participation
with 17 chapters enrolling - 64% of the total chapters in the region - and
collecting more than 5,500 items region-wide. Plus, the region reports
that community support for chapters increased as a result of Project Graduation.
Consider the following ideas for success and help your chapter's efforts
flourish this spring.
Promote your cause.
Indiana's
regional officers took an active role in promoting Project Graduation
at regional meetings and in their travels throughout the region. Throughout
last spring, the region highlighted Project Graduation in its weekly newsletter.
Additionally, the Project Graduation PowerPoint
was presented at the summer planning meeting for advisors and chapter presidents.
The
chapter at Vincennes University-Jasper used the media
alert to gain publicity in the community concerning their collection
efforts. The customizable media alert was sent to the local newspapers,
radio and television stations. The chapter also did something unique with
the alert by tailoring and sending it to all graduates. As a result, more
than 300 items were donated to women and children's centers and local schools.
"We relied heavily on the local media for promotion," reports Holly
Weyer, Project Graduation Coordinator and Indiana Regional President.
Flexibility
matters.
Some colleges prefer that Project Graduation
activities take place prior to commencement ceremonies. The Ivy Tech State
College-Madison chapter collected items during the two weeks prior to
their graduation ceremony by placing bins around campus for students and
faculty to contribute to their efforts. By collecting food items and books
during the week, the chapter was able to surpass their donation goals and
provide much needed goods to their community service agencies.
Ivy
Tech State College-South Bend's chapter also saw the benefit of organizing
their Project Graduation event before commencement since the ceremony
took place off campus. "We posted flyers around campus and sent out flyers
to all the graduates about the event. We received permission to place collection
barrels in key locations around the campus," states Brenda Strope,
Project Graduation Coordinator. "We donated over 500 items to our local
food bank and 117 books to the YWCA. By sponsoring the food and book drive
for these organizations we have built on our already solid relationship
between our chapter and college."
Involve your community.
Beginning
in 2003, chapters across the Society inspired high schools to participate
in giving back to their community through Project Graduation. The Ivy-Tech
State College-Sellersburg chapter captured the essence of engaging high
school students. "Project Graduation was a way for these youth to contribute
to our community. All of the high school students were excited about being
involved in this service project," affirms Debra Reisert, Vice
President of Service. Their chapter's donations now fill the shelves of
a new neighborhood library.
Recognize chapters' efforts.
The Indiana region handed out awards and certificates
to chapters that contributed to Project Graduation. "At last year's Regional
Convention the regional officers presented certificates to the chapters
that took part in Project Graduation," reports Indiana Regional Coordinator
Sue Jackson. "At our summer planning session the regional officers
gave a spray-painted Golden Can Award, which had the Project Graduation
logo affixed to it, to all the chapters that participated the prior year."
Indiana's
chapters took Project Graduation to heart as they promoted their events
to the college and community and surpassed expected goals for the year.
Enroll
in Project Graduation today to give back to your community, one can of food
and one book at a time. For further details about Project Graduation and
the chapters participating please visit the Project Graduation website
or contact Public Relations Specialist Dana
Van Deman at 601.984.3577.
