Planning an event is a lot of work and for many of the events around town, they couldn’t be possible without their valued event committee members. Building and maintaining a highly productive and high-functioning event committee is not easy and takes time and work to maintain. The committees that are the strongest have one thing in common, recognition. It may sound easy enough to do but with all of the distractions of producing an event many forget this important step and by doing so have a high turnover.
Here are a few simple ways to show appreciation to your event committees this year that will help you with retention.
- Online Recognition: Let’s start with the easiest and most important thing you should never forget to do. Add committee names, images, and bios to your event website. This effort costs you nothing other than a little time to make sure that it’s formatted well. Want to leverage your committee members’ social reach? Announce them on social media and link their bio to the event website.
- VIP Perks: Many events host a VIP reception for their top-tier sponsors but some take it further by hosting something special for their Committee Members. This could be an exclusive after-party, a spa day post-event, or simply exclusive access to the green room if you have top-tier talent performing at your event.
- Program Recognition: This should be at minimum included into your printed program if not also in the live event program.
- Post Event Thank You Letter: This needs to be handwritten and personalized. An email template really won’t cut it here. Make sure to call out all of their valued contributions to your event in this letter and end it with an assumptive “can’t wait to start planning with you for next year!”
- Memorable Gifting: This is important that you get creative here. This gift should fulfill the following criteria and be unique to each years event:
- It has their First and Last Name on it
- It echoes something from that year’s event theme in the design of it
- It’s something that can be work or displayed in social settings or an office
- It includes a small card announcing when the first committee meeting for next year’s event will be and how excited you will be to see them there.
