Organizing High School Class Reunions

High school class reunions are an opportune time to see former classmates and get reacquainted. Successfully executing a reunion requires a lot of preparation. Some of the things to take into consideration while planning a reunion include creating a committee, setting up a bank account, establishing a budget, creating a reunion website, and choosing a venue.

It can take a few months to a year to adequately plan a reunion. All of the arrangements that need to be coordinated for the event are very extensive. You need time to contact all of the classmates, advertise the reunion, set a bank account for expenses, and pick a venue for the event. If you decide to hire an event planner, you need time to speak with different event coordinators and choose which one you want to handle the reunion preparations.

Create a reunion committee comprised of people who have different responsibilities. You can also choose to work with a professional event planner to assist with the arrangements. If the committee wants to manage all of the planning for the reunion, then it is a cheaper option that hiring an outside party planning company. An advantage of hiring a party planner is that it can save a lot of time. Party planners can come up with ideas for the event and contact vendors they work with on a regular basis. If you work with a party planner, the committee may need to merely be consulted and approve the way everything is being executed.

Establish a separate reunion bank account. Choose which committee members will be in charge of managing the bank account and handling the transactions. The bank account will be used to collect money for the reunion and pay for expenses. A record of bank account transactions is a way to keep track of the budget and the funds.

Getting in contact with the classmates may take some time. The high school and the alumni association can provide contact information of some classmates. Sending messages to other classmates through social networking sites is another option. Update information regarding the high school class reunion on the profile pages for the high school on social networking sites and on the high school's separate website. Let the classmates know how to get in touch with the high school reunion committee.

Create a high school class reunion website. Regularly update the website as more details are confirmed. Build up anticipation for the event. Upload high school pictures of classmates as well as current pictures. List accomplishments of class mates such as where they went to college and their current occupation. Post information regarding lodging that is located close to the venue. Advise people of the ticket price and how they can purchase tickets.

Select a place to have the reunion. It should be a place that is suited for the events that will occur and that will comfortably fit all of the people attending. It is important to choose a place with a convenient location that classmates can easily access. You also need to choose a location that is affordable.

Planning high school class reunions require time and effort. The reunion committee will need to remain actively involved in the preparations. Even though arranging reunions may be stressful at times, having high school class reunions can be a lot of fun.

Business Tips – Client Compatibility – Are We A Good Fit?

Want to have more success in your business?  Then take steps to qualify your clients and work exclusively with those that are a good fit. This can be done in many ways; one of which is adding language to your site asking specific questions that portray your ideal client.

Many make the mistake of taking on every client and doing everything requested of them. But the real professionals know it's better to work with a select few who are the right clients and the perfect fit. When you are good at what you do, you only want to work with the best and those you know will benefit from the services you provide. By being "picky" and not being the "jack-of-all-trades," you have the opportunity to do just that. Plus, when you specialize in select tasks, you can focus on getting the training you need to become an expert at those specific tasks so you will constantly be at top of your game.  It's truly a win/win for everyone.

Want another advantage of being selective with the clients you work with? Referrals. If your clients are happy with your services, they will often provide referrals, which can result in more growth for your business. Those referrals are the bread and butter of a business and consistently keep your business prospering. Best yet, those referrals are usually the exact client type you are seeking and actively marketing to. They often have already passed your client compatibility test. Again, another win/win.

So how can you qualify potential clients? You ask specific questions. Again this can be done on your website or in your new client handouts or whatever means works best for you.

Tips for qualifying your perfect client include:

    First define who your perfect client is. You need to know what you want to do and who you want to work with.
    Ask specifically the crucial points you want to know. For example - "Are you a professional speaker, business coach or consultant?"  Some fear that it might limit your options, but actually you weed out those prospects who would not be ideal clients for you.
    Dig deeper and define specifics to their business that would qualify them even more.  Examples would include things such as – "How long have you been in business?" "Are you new to virtual teams?"  "Are you successful and well established?"
    Define personality traits you feel would make a good match for you and your business. Here you can ask questions such as - "Are you a micro-manager?"  "Do you have a good sense of humor?"  "Are you available?"

Can you see how this pre-screening can make a difference?  Before they even pick up the phone and make that call, you have a better idea that the working relationship will be a good one.