How to Plan a ConventionIn Feburary 2016 23,

In Feburary 2016 23,
An organization’s goals for a convention are not always the same as the convention attendee’s goals. Learn the organization’s reasons for hosting the convention. It might be to attract and retain members, generate profits, provide board and committee members with a vacation perk or generate media publicity for the organization.
Set Your Tactical Plan
Once you know your strategic goals, set your tactical objectives for reaching them. These can include choosing seminars and speakers to attract specific attendee types, having a revenue-producing trade show, adding spouse activities to increase attendance, organizing social functions such as a golf tournament or river cruise, having an awards banquet or conducting an annual vote of the membership. Your marketing plan should include the advertising, public relations, promotional and social media strategies to promote the convention.
Plan the Budget
Determine the organization’s financial goals for the convention, and review your numbers. You might be limited to a specific budget if the convention is an expense. The organization might have a profit target, or you might be allowed to spend based on your expected revenue. Create projections based on optimistic and conservative registration and sponsorship revenues.
Outline Your Agenda
Next, plan your event agenda. Choose your date, venue and activities. Many conventions have a theme that explains the event’s overall purpose and helps attract attendees. You might need to solicit input on dates and potential locations from your board or attendees and conduct site visits to multiple venues before you choose one. Review information about previous conventions to learn about venues, attendance, financial performance and attendee and sponsor feedback. Create a calendar that starts with attendee check-in and outlines each day’s schedule.
Research Logistical Needs
Begin contacting venues, speakers, caterers, entertainment options, audiovisual companies, printers and travel companies. Determine how to handle marketing, registrations, sponsorships, badges, check-ins, trade show booths, gift bags, program books and website pages. Send requests for proposals for external vendors such as resorts, caterers, golf courses and travel agencies. Put together your desired vendor list and costs.
Write a Proposal
Prepare a document that shows your board or convention team your plan for the convention. Include your understanding of the organization’s goals and how you plan to meet those objectives. Provide an agenda of the event with a detailed daily schedule. Present a complete budget. Explain why you selected the theme, location, seminar topics, speakers and social activities. Justify your attendance, expense and revenue projections based on your research.
In Feburary 2016 23,

How to Throw a Successful Lunch PartyIn Feburary 2016 11,

In Feburary 2016 11,
Choose a theme for your lunch party. Pick a theme that you can have fun with, such as a beach-themed party.
Send out invitations at least four to six weeks before the lunch party, which will give guests plenty of time to plan ahead for your event. Choose colorful invitations, create fliers, send out an email or verbally invite everyone by phone. Regardless of whether the lunch party is for co-workers, friends or family members, it's essential that you ask guests to RSVP so that you know how many people will be attending.
Set a budget for the lunch party once you know how many people will be attending. To throw a successful lunch party, you'll need to provide guests with a variety of tasty food options without putting yourself into a financial bind.
Prepare a menu that features food appropriate for lunch, such as sandwiches, salads, vegetables and appetizers. It is also important to have a variety of foods available to ensure that you can accommodate everyone's diets and food preferences.
Select appropriate beverages for your lunch party. Water, iced tea and soda are fine choices. Decide whether to serve alcohol. If you are on a tight budget, you may elect to not serve alcohol, which can be costly. Additionally, if you are hosting a lunch party at work, serving alcohol may not be appropriate. If you do choose to serve alcohol, keep them light and refreshing, and avoid hard liquors and dark wines, which are typically more potent.
Purchase decorations that accent your theme. For example, if you are throwing a beach-themed party, serve beverages in sand pails filled with ice, or fill vases with seashells to use as table centerpieces.
Prepare the food, which can be done the night before or the morning of the event. If you do not have time to prepare food, schedule a catering service a week before the party, and ask them to deliver the food at least a half-hour before the start time of your event. Since you will have a variety of foods, arrange the plates on the table buffet-style.
Entertain your guests. It is not necessary to have a disc jockey at your lunch party, but do liven the mood by playing music for your guests. Set up a table for card or board games so that guests can sit down and enjoy their lunch over a game. If you are holding a picnic lunch party, choose outdoor games that will encourage guests to socialize.
In Feburary 2016 11,