Area Coordinator's (AC's) Corner

Area Coordinator's (AC's) Corner
Nichole Bethel, Zone 22 AC

CONVENTION UPDATE

Ta da! A Convention announcement!
We just signed the papers and we thank you for your prayers as we worked on moving, well, a whole lotta details in just a few days.

Drum roll #1: The Gaylord Palms in Kissimmee, FL (Orlando area) was able to welcome us (in the midst of many conventions needing to move).

Drum roll #2: We're able to keep the registration fees the same, so some of you might decide to come early or stay late, and enjoy the Orlando amenities with your friends (or family).

And thanks for all the great ideas of cities! You helped our future dreaming. 'Twould be fun!
And again, it will be great because of Who we'll be with: "Where(ver) two or three (thousand) are gathered in my name, there am I with them." (Mt. 18:20, our year's theme verse with my additions).

Naomi Cramer Overton

Convention Details:
The MOPS International Convention will be at the Gaylord Palms, Kissimmee, FL (Orlando area). Dates will be the same, August 5-7, 2010. Speakers and artists will be the same great lineup — Julie Barnhill, Margaret Feinberg, Donald Miller, Naomi Cramer Overton, Shelly Radic, Go Fish, Mandisa, The Katinas and Richie McDonald.

Convention registration will re-open on Monday, May 17.
The early bird registration deadline will be extended to June 7.
We are working with the Gaylord Opryland for an official letter we can provide to anyone who has already purchased airline tickets to use with airlines to avoid rebooking fees. This letter should assist you in rebooking airline tickets — it will be posted online at www.MOPS.org/convention.
We continue to pray for families and businesses affected by the flooding and we have sent MOPS materials to local MOPS leaders who are distributing supplies in the Nashville area.



MOPS International Convention 2010

August 5-7, 2010
Gaylord Palms, Orlando FL



Check back often for more information!



Your MOPS International Convention Checklist:

Register for Convention (re-opens May 17)
Reserve a room at the hotel (register first!)
Schedule shuttle transportation



MOPS Convention ~ August 5-7, 2010

MOPS Convention ~ August 5-7, 2010
Registration for Convention is open on Monday, May 17th! Click on the picture.

Thursday, March 08, 2007

Getting Donations and Sponsors for Your MOPS group

Hi Ladies,

I got this great information from a CC in Atlanta. If you are not pursuing donations and sponsors for your group is can greatly help your budget. If you are getting some donations here are a few great ideas to help you get more. Get a donations committee going under your Finance Team Leader and reap the benefits for your moms.

Get Donations & Sponsors
(For all MOPS Groups & Leaders)


1. Donation/Sponsorship Letter


Living Hope Church
3450 Stilesboro Road Kennesaw, GA 30152
770-425-6726 www.livinghopevision.com

Dear Manager :
I am writing to you on behalf of the MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group at the
Living Hope Church. MOPS is a non-prof i t organization designed to encourage
mothers with children under school age through relationships and resources. These
women come from different backgrounds and lifestyles, yet have similar needs and a
desire to be the best mothers they can be! As well, I feel our group is unique to the
area because we will be meeting in the evenings twice a month, which will reach out
to all moms (stay-at-home, working, single, and even teen moms).

A MOPS group provides a caring, accepting atmosphere for today’s mother of
preschoolers. Here she has an opportunity to share concerns, explore areas of
creativity, and hear instruction that equips her for the responsibilities of family and
community while her children are being cared for in a pre-school like sett ing.

On behalf of the MOPS group, we are requesting:

Sponsorship for dinner for our meetings.
Gift certificate for a “Date Night Out ” Dinner . . . many of our Moms do not have it in their budget to go out, especially when babysitting costs as much as dinner, so itis our goal to give each mom a free dinner out.

Gift certificates or store items which our MOPS Moms can use around theirhomes, for/with their families or to relax and enjoy for themselves.


We have a small budget and a big mission of providing mothers of preschoolers the
opportunity to grow and gain confidence in their abilities. Any assistance would be
greatly appreciated.

As a “Thank You” for your donations & sponsorship your business will receive a year
(or more) publicity on our Partners/Sponsors section of our website. We encourage
all of our moms to help support these businesses because you are a vital part in us
supporting our moms.

Sincerely,
Bobbie Jo Ryan
Finace Steering Team Leader

Living Hope MOPS

770 332-4242

mops_coordinator@bellsouth.net

Kim Ruch
Donations/Sponsorship
(770) 332-4242
ruchk@bellsouth.net




2. Brainstorming Form for Donations/Sponsors

Prepare a donations/sponsorship letter.
Know the needs of your MOPS Moms & Group.
Think outside the box.
Know who can fill those needs.
Don’t give up when you hear “No”… it doesn’t always mean Never!

Know the needs of your MOPS Moms & Group…

List the needs of your group below.

Needs of MOPS Moms:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Needs of MOPS Families:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Needs of MOPS Group:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Needs of MOPPETS:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Other needs you can think of.







Think outside the box!

Here are some examples of the items my group received as donations.

Things for MOPS Moms & Families:

Gutter Cleaning
Carpet Cleaning (for whole house)
Car Wash Gift Cards
Oil Changes
Grocery Store Vouchers
Gift Baskets for businesses
Christian CDs, DVDs, & Books (for Moms & Kids!)
Tickets for Family Outings: Zoo & Museum Tickets
Gift Cards for Mom: Pottery, Massage, Tanning, Haircut, Manicure/Pedicure
Date Nights: gift cards
Things for MOPS Group:
Office Supplies: Paper, Ink, Pens, Binders, Dividers, etc.
Hospitality Supplies: Table Cloth, Plates, Plasticware, Cups, Decorations, Food, etc
Creative Activities Supplies: Craft Items or Ready-to-Complete Crafts, Prizes for Games
MOPPETS: Resurrection Eggs, Christian DVDs, Food for MOPPETS Program

Know who can fill the needs of your MOPS Moms & Group:
The first place I start is by going to www.local.yahoo.com this will help me search out businesses that are nearest me (or my group). You can also narrow your search by clicking on specific choices on the left side.

You have to think outside the box with this too… example:

If you want someone to donate t-shirts to your MOPS group.
You can ask someone who does screen printing or embroidering and ask if they can supply the shirts as well.
If they are not able to supply the shirts… go the next step, ask if they have any vendors you may contact to see about a donation… if they don’t search out places that supply t-shirts (Michael’s Craft Store has a variety as well as Wal-Mart). Another idea is to have those who want t-shirts to supply their own, that way you know everyone will be happy with the fit.

Tips:

It’s okay to contact businesses that are not local.
You should always have a “sales pitch” ready for the potential Sponsor.
Mine is that we will publicize for one year on our website that they have sponsored our group, that we will let our MOPS Moms know so we can promote their business and that we will use word of mouth advertising when the opportunity presents itself!
Think positive and don’t give up when you hear “No”.
Sometimes “No” really means “Not Right Now”, so be sure to ask if there is a better time you could contact them. If they give you a time, make sure to follow up!
As a MOPS group… you have the added benefit of letting the businesses know that you have Moms who are new to the area joining your group, they like having contacts who are reaching out to their “new neighbors”.
If the company doesn’t have a way to do a gift card/certificate offer to make one for them so they have not hassle! But be sure to get all the contact info and the name of the person who approved it.
Be sure the offer doesn’t expire before the MOPS Moms have time to get and use it!
When I get someone as a food sponsor I always ask if they could also donate a gift card for a MOPS Mom to have a Date Night Out (and I explain a little of the financial woes of having small children.)
If the company says NO to everything… ask if they wouldn’t mind donating a coupon (free kids meal with any adults meal, 15% off any service, buy one get one free)… some companies just want to be sure they are getting customers out of it!
It’s very, very important to have something to give them in return… the website advertising is what I have found works the best… it is something they can view themselves, check our MOPS website out (click on Sponsors & Partners)

Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have!

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