The Meetings Experience

Meeting #1

Created by: Tiffany and Joan

Type of Meeting: Building Membership

1. Topic – Key Content (Is it overstated?)

Membership moving members…Fishing for new members

2. Catchy Theme/Title for meeting

Hook! Fishing for New Members…Keep calm and get a new member (fish). Let’s go fishing…

3. Learn

How to fish for people that catch bigger fish for membership.

4. Help

Need members who are interested in hooking fish that add new fish to members to savor.

5. Meet:

Let’s go fishing for new members.

6. Make it Fun!

Wear favorite fishing gear or bring fishing pole or favorite lure.

Meeting #2

Created by: Dr. Judy Riffle, Dr. Phyllis Renninger

Type of Meeting: Quarterly

1. Topic – Key Content (Is it overstated?)

Using GuideStar and 990’s to find information.

2. Catchy Theme/Title for meeting

Catchy theme/topic: Digging for Hidden Treasure (pirate theme—attendants said “Arrrr” to presenter).

3. Learn

See topic (#1) above.

4. Help

Educating people who are applying for foundation grants the first time.

5. Meet:

Area expert on foundation seeking (chapter member)

6. Make it Fun!

Pirate theme, speaker dressed up as pirate, powerpoint slides have pirate theme.

Meeting #3

Created by: Micki Vandeloo & Deoranda Harrison

Type of Meeting:

1. Topic – Key Content (Is it overstated?)

International Growth

2. Catchy Theme/Title for meeting

Go Global! How to Write the World’s Best Grant

3. Learn

How to market your grant writing expertise to international organization on how to grow your business by writing international grant.

4. Help

You can help by bringing your success stories or your questions about international grants.

5. Meet:

Flag at tables. Go to table that matches your flag.

6. Make it Fun!

International buffet, best foreign accent contest, match national anthem flag with country. Clip of Sheldon’s Fun w/Flags (Big Bang Theory). “Why in the world wouldn’t you attend? Sign up today!”

Meeting #4

Created by: Nancy, Mary & Jane

Type of Meeting: Program/Luncheon Seminar

1. Topic – Key Content (Is it overstated?)

Budgets that show the way. “Money Maps”

2. Catchy Theme/Title for meeting

Show Me the Money! Creating Budgets that Tell a Story

3. Learn

Learn to create a budget that fully describe your project. Building blocks graphic. Write something using numbers. “Can you read this?”

4. Help

Help your organization keep their budget ducks in a row.

5. Meet:

Bring your best and worst budgeting experience to share with your table group.

6. Make it Fun!

Chocolate coins on tables. Have a worksheet with silly examples as an experiential project.

Meeting #5“Like the sands of time, So Go the Days of a Grant Writer’s Life”

Created by: Maureen Stabile – GPA Chicago Stacey Smith – SETC (Houston)

Type of Meeting: “Best Practices” – Round Table

1. Topic – Key Content (Is it overstated?)

Time Savers Tips and Tools

2. Catchy Theme/Title for meeting

“Stop the Clock” – learn time saving tips and tools to stop wasting time and get that grant submitted.

3. Learn

Save timeLess frustrationLearn from peers

4. Help

Help busy grant writers with time managementBuilding relationsMembers as presenters – informal workshop

5. Meet:

Meet new members.

6. Make it Fun!

Give away an egg timer as party favor

Meeting #6

Created by: LaToya Ricketts, Cecilia

Type of Meeting: Meeting – November – Exercises, Training, Professional Development

1. Topic – Key Content (Is it overstated?)

Five steps to a successful worded proposal: Battling the war (words) on words

2. Catchy Theme/Title for meeting

Celebrate Veterans Days: How to Be a Five-Star General Grant: A Starter to Grant Professionals.

3. Learn

Five step to a successful winning proposal Grammar & Go Gain Presentative Writing

4. Help

Wage the War on G or gain/ Grammer in Grant Lead a table top discussion Decorate room

5. Meet:

Meet the troops of grant writing. Veterans and new cadets. Grammer Professional English Professor

6. Make it Fun!

Ask them to wear your camouflage outfit. Decorate in military fatigue themes. Battle of words: Bring key word then Picture your old worn generalization

Join our meeting. Exercises & training. Call all troops.

Meeting #7

Created by: Zac/Todd

Type of Meeting:

1. Topic – Key Content (Is it overstated?)

First in-person meeting of state chapter.

2. Catchy Theme/Title for meeting

“At the Other End of the Line”. Come put a face with the Chapter names that you know.

3. Learn

Learn about the different types of expertise available to you, through introductions.

4. Help

Help chart a new course for the chapter and decide our structure going forward.

5. Meet:

Structured activities that group and mingle people according to their background and interests.

6. Make it Fun!

Start off with a game that has people guessing who others are based on their voices, since we’ve only met virtually for years.

Meeting #8

Created by: Belinda & Christy

Type of Meeting:

1. Topic – Key Content (Is it overstated?)

Grant Writing Training

2. Catchy Theme/Title for meeting

“I’ll Get You My Pretty and Your Little Grant, Too!”Escaping common mistakes.

3. Learn & 4. Help

Join us to learn from each other in a round table discussion on common pitfalls in our grant proposals.

5. Meet:

Bring business cards to share during our networking time.

6. Make it Fun!

On the invite – “Follow the Yellow Brick Road to find out if your fellow grant professionals make the same mistakes as you.”

Meeting #9

Created by: Lisa and Howard

Type of Meeting: Quarterly Grant Educational Session

1. Topic – Key Content (Is it overstated?)

Thinking beyond traditional grant funders and recipients. Bringing in presenter(s) to inform attendees of “non-traditional” grant-funded programs/organizations and partners.For example: Non-profit loan funds, non-profit community development loan funds, unknown foundations, corporations with giving programs

2. Catchy Theme/Title for meeting

The Grant World is Bigger Than You Think… Stretching the Grant Envelope?

3. Learn

Broaden knowledge of potential funders and partners.

4. Help

Provide attendees specific contacts/info to be used to connect their organizations to these non-traditional partners.

5. Meet:

Have opportunity to brainstorm in groups to think about/put together list of non-traditional funders and/or grant partners.

6. Make it Fun!

Meeting #10

Created by: Laureen & Gayla

Type of Meeting: Chapter Meeting

1. Topic – Key Content (Is it overstated?)

Meeting Proposals Stand Out Proposal Formatting and Graphics

2. Catchy Theme/Title for meeting

Are Your Proposals Standing Out?

3. Learn

Tools and techniques for writing tighter Using graphics to better tell the story

4. Help

Ask attendees to bring favorite resources or tools/techniques they have used

Share techniques at meeting, friends and individuals to share

5. Meet:

Team-building/Ice-breakers Pick a penny, look at year, share what happened that year.

6. Make it Fun!

Sheet with list of items, same and different lists. Find member with same list, up to three members, personal or work-related item.

Meeting #11

Created by: Jodi Reurl and Cori McLaughlin

Type of Meeting: Wine tasting at wine bar

1. Topic – Key Content (Is it overstated?)

How to Make Your Writing More Fruitful.

2. Catchy Theme/Title for meeting

Proposal Too Sweet? Proposal Too Dry? How to Make the Ask Without the Whine

3. Learn

Learn about different wines and relate it back to their writing.

4. Help

Suggestions for speaker, location.Reserving location.Social media – tweet / Facebook

5. Meet:

Cheese name tags, bottles on each table – find table with bottle that goes with your cheese!

6. Make it Fun!

Wine!

Meeting #12

Created by: Alan Tiano & ___________

Professional Development

Type of Meeting:

1. Topic – Key Content (Is it overstated?)

Grant management/closedown of grant

2. Catchy Theme/Title for meeting

The Party’s Over – How to Close a Grant Without Opening a Vein

3. Learn

Key content – Effective map to plan closing grants – from the beginning!

4. Help

Bring your horror stories to share!

5. Meet:

Groups of four to discuss closedown scenario – share stories and provide solutions to group.

6. Make it Fun!

Every time someone says “reconcile” (the “magic”/”forbidden”, “x” word), takes a shot!

Meeting #13

Created by: Lauren Steiner Lisa Chutjian

Type of Meeting: Holiday Party – Networking

1. Topic – Key Content (Is it overstated?)

2. Catchy Theme/Title for meeting

Sick of Your Ugly Sweater? Come Shop Sweaters with Another Grant Professional

3. Learn

Local clothing exchange, thrift store

4. Help

Make a new sweater gift to the Clothing Exchange

5. Meet:

Name tags having matching pairs – find your swap-mate and start a conversation. (If the sweater doesn’t fit, donate it!)

6. Make it Fun!

Prize for the ugliest sweater!

Meeting #14

Created by: Jennifer Mangieri & Janice Simpson

Type of Meeting:

1. Topic – Key Content (Is it overstated?)

2. Catchy Theme/Title for meeting

Let’s Make Deal – Choosing the Right Door (or Funder)

3. Learn

Which door to choose – which funder is most appropriate for your project.

4. Help

Helping more people in the community win the grand prize.

5. Meet:

Groups will “vote” for which door and play the game together – interactive..

6. Make it Fun!

Pictures of doorsGiveaways/prizes/incentiveGuess the prize.

Meeting #15

Created by: Robyn Gibbeney & Johnna Rodgers

Type of Meeting:

1. Topic – Key Content (Is it overstated?)

Programming Planning Based on Member Needs

2. Catchy Theme/Title for meeting

Speed Dating: Mix and Mingle MatchmakingNeed Dating: Matching Member Needs to Professional Development

3. Learn

Learn new strategy for making a professional friend (phone a friend – to make a friend).

4. Help

Help everyone grow and work in a group(s) to solve identified issues.Get volunteers to do presentations.Get program community volunteers to “implement” ideas.

5. Meet:

Special name tags.Colored name badges for non-profit sector. Number of years in grant profession.Spend time with different people.

6. Make it Fun!

Bingo card with answers you have to get.(Matched to 8 GPC Competencies).

Meeting #16

Created by:

Type of Meeting:

1. Topic – Key Content (Is it overstated?)

Managing Rejection – What to Do When You’re Told No

2. Catchy Theme/Title for meeting

(challenge, hook/subtitle, outrageous)“They’re Just Not That Into You. She Said No.”Learn how to get over that funder and get in with another – under the deadline..

3. Learn

What to do after rejection letter – program content. Tips for follow-up

4. Help

Participative component of session. Get audience tips. Bring your worst rejection email.

5. Meet:

Rejection Letter Exchange

6. Make it Fun!

Share Your Worst Rejection Story

Meeting #17

Created by: Fayre, Mara, Emily

Type of Meeting: Workshop

1. Topic – Key Content (Is it overstated?)

Improving Time Management / Time Management Skills

2. Catchy Theme/Title for meeting

Big time? No time? Lost time?Making Every Minute Count

3. Learn

Improved time management skillsDelegationWhat does it look like when you’re in control of your time?

4. Help

Share your tips, tools, work arounds, apps for better time management.Volunteers can help for decorations, prizes, etc.

5. Meet:

Pair up “speed dating” learn to work effectively and quickly as teams.Opportunities to network with people who know how to manage their time effectively.

6. Make it Fun!

Minute-to-win it games – showing what you can do in short periods of time.Buying time-prize winners to get time-management tools.Decoration with clocks – table as a clock.Ice breakers – Talking about time of day that is most valuable.