On Monday, we had the privilege of providing event services (registration, check-out and auction services) for The Bridge Youth & Family Services of Palatine.  If you are a regular visitor of our site, you may have noticed that we are a huge supporter of The Bridge, which provides programs and services to children and their families in northwest suburban Chicago, regardless on one's ability to pay.  

The event was their annual Peter D. Cunneen Memorial Golf Classic, named for past executive director Peter D. Cunneen.  At the Inverness Golf Club, nearly 200 golfers and dinner guests. bid on live and silent auction items, entered a raffle for a chance to win some cool prizes (iPad, 60" Smart HDTV, Bose Headphones, or One Week Vacation for 4) and best of all, participated in goodhearted competition in Fund-a-Cause (you may know it as a paddle raise).  

Do you need another reason to go to The Streets of Woodfield?  Here you go...  

On Thursday, July 31st from 11 am to 2 pm,  grab lunch at Chipotle at The Streets of Woodfield, 601 N. Martingale Rd., Schaumburg, IL 60173 and 50% of the proceeds will go to The Bridge Youth & Family Services, a non-profit organization in Palatine, IL.  The Bridge’s mission is "to help young people and their families achieve social and emotional health”.  They provide services to all Palatine Township residents regardless of ability to pay.  The Bridge has been serving the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago for nearly 50 years, focused on children 0 to 17 and their families. 

So in The Art of Check-in, I touched on tech at events and promised to get back to it in another post. Well, that is has turned into two. A discussion of the Hybrid Approach and Full Tech Approach.

With all the different ways tech is apart of my everyday life some think I would be gung-Ho for a fully computerized event. But I'm not.

Take for instance the event that Danico provided registration and check-out services for on March 15. The event was for The Bridge Youth and Family Services, it was their annual gala. For this event the Hybrid Approach was used for the the guest check-in, donation entry, auction tracking, and guest check-out. The evening was structured in a way where except of a few guests who needed or wanted to leave before check-out officially opened, that by the time things wrapped up from a program perspective and moved to more entertainment, everything was entered and ready for the guests.

So, let’s talk about event check-in.  I know it’s not a “sexy” topic but it is one that needs a discussion.  And no, I’m not talking about checking in with Foursquare, Facebook or any of those social media things.  I’m talking about the “Welcome, to our event.  May I have your name please” kind of check-in.  (I will discuss the pros and cons of using technology during your event in future posts).

A little known fact about me, I used to be a Girl Scout.  It was only for a few months but it was long enough to appreciate their mission ("Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.”) and develop my love of their Thin Mints, Trefolis and … well their cookies.  In past years, I’ve relied on office co-workers to come around with their order sheets for my yearly fix.  However, with the transition to Danico full-time, I’ve missed out.  Sure, I would come across a stand or two at shops in my neighborhood, but usually after they’ve sold out of my favorites.  Not this year!

solstice-mobile.com | Solstice Mobile | Kelly Manthey | Company Blog | May 7, 2013 | Is Mobile Making Us More Productive?

Why I like it:

I saw this and had to read it as I love streamlining-process-improving-getting-more-done-in-less-time.  To Kelly's point there is more opportunity to complete tasks on the go.  I don't recall where I heard it but, the other day I heard about "mobile blinders".  Basically, the assertion was that because of the mobile device, the candy, gum, magazine sales at the checkout counters is far lower since we are checking mail, updating social media or like Kelly, balancing our checkbook while we wait.

Event season is nearly upon us. One of the many tasks is a site visit.  Every planner does it and you should too. There are many checklists on the web, in books etc. but none of them will speak exactly to your situation.  Over the years I can say I have never used the exact same checklist twice and I've been working events for a decade. Each time some addition/subtractions are necessary.