We are a K3-8 school. I was wondering, if we held one of these, what ages this would appeal to. The movie would have to be G rated, of course (no PG). I can't picture that the middle school would find this interesting. I'm not sure even how our parents would react--I think they might wonder what the "purpose" of it is. Does anyone else have this problem? Our PTO does mostly fundraising type activities.
Thoughts anyone?
Thanks
Shelly

Oh man, SHC. Sounds like your group is exactly why we started the School Family Nights program.

First, I think Family Movie Night appeals really, really well as a family event for kids all the way from K-8. Your choice of movie -- and what you build around the movie and how you market it -- would obviously be different depending on age group. Example: for K-3, we've seen a lot of groups doing some version of "bring a blanket" for nighttime movie (lights lower, etc.). For 5-8, you might choose science fiction something and have kids dressing up and maybe integrate a science fiction art project or science fiction games/stories. It's up to you.

More importantly, the purpose is fun and building community and building involvement. It's the most important thing your group can do. (And nicely, you'll actually raise more money in the long-run when you've changed your reputation away from just fundraising.)

I agree that parents will find it perhaps odd, if you currently do no community-building involvement events. You'll likley get lower turnout than other groups who already have a reputation for fun and community. But there's no better time to start changing your reputation than today. If you get 20 families to your first event, and it's great, and folks have a ton of fun and you celebrate it in your newsletters, yadda, yadda -- then you're likely to get 25 or 30 at your second such event. And maybe 30 or 40 at your third. It's slow, but it's so worth it.

Good luck. All of us here would love to help you out getting started.

Tim

[ 07-20-2004, 12:51 AM: Message edited by: Rockne ]

Thanks Tim. I did order some info a while back. We have had things along this line...a dinner with Book Fair and some years it's fabulously attended and other years, depending on what's going on, the attendance can be poor. I just hope that if I create one of these and it's not a booming success that it will end immediately. The thing about our school is that it's a private school so families come from all over several counties so lots of folks aren't near the school so they would have to drive in and they may not want to do that. Oh well...we'll see!! I'll run it by the principal. We do well at fundraising but that's our mindset (just raised $57,000 at an auction).
Thanks for the input.
Shelly

Shelley, I know this isn't the right forum for this but tell me, how & what kind of auction did you raise soooo much money on? My husband tells me that I can talk a donation out of a dead man but you are now my fundraising Goddess!!! talk to me.... how did you do it?

SHELLEY, I too am impressed. Please please share how you achieved so much!! Are you out there?

I cannot take any credit on raising $57,000! They always have a hard-working chairman and a big committee. For example, next year's fundraiser is in April and they're already meeting this summer (which is truly earlier than usual). They usually call parents and secure people to underwrite the expenses of the party and those people's names are printed on the invitation. Then, they do a silent auction of lots and lots of things: every teacher donates something like "pizza and a movie" or "breakfast and a trip to Barnes and Noble" or stuff like that. Some of those things go for $100-$200. Plus there's other merchandise and even some trips. Sometimes a family owns a vacation home that they'll auction off a week's use. THEN, they do a live auction of children's art items. Ooops gotta run. More later
shelly