• Get personal! – Hand delivered, hand-made invitations, students personally inviting a club, personal calls

• Get commitment. – RSVP’s, sign-up sheets, response cards

• Follow-up/reminder calls – They're vital!

• Send "save this date" postcards five weeks before the event and invitations three weeks out.

• Use the press! – Community newspapers should be part of this effort.

• And remember to focus on the 75 percent of the population that does not have children in the school system.

Ask for input

One of your goals is to help members of the community feel connected to their schools. Conduct a Q&A session or a simple exit survey about what they saw that impressed (or concerned) them, or ask them for suggestions. Any of these makes the guest part of your team.

Continue the connection

• Send thanks to those who attended.

• Add their addresses to your mailing lists.

• Start a neighborhood/school newsletter to keep them informed – when school events will create traffic, what they might like to attend, updates on education issues, etc.

• Invite them to art shows, fun runs, science fairs, school barbecues, carnivals, assemblies and concerts.

• Survey them about issues concerning the schools, children and education.

• Offer meeting rooms.