Ann Plans

04/07/2024

The Ann Plans team wishes you a relaxing, safe and fun-filled July 4th holiday! 🎆

02/07/2024

– If you’re in the office this holiday week, this is a great time to take advantage of a quieter work week to make sure your ducks are in a row for your fall events. Before July slips away, here are some important items to check off your “to do” list for events coming up later in the year:

1️⃣ Make sure all your vendors are confirmed and contracts executed.

2️⃣ Create the detailed planning timeline and event budget.

3️⃣ Finalize your sponsorship materials.

4️⃣ Schedule your committee meetings.

5️⃣ Finalize the marketing plan.

Whether or not you are working this week, we wish you a wonderful July 4th! 🎆

27/06/2024

"15 Proven Strategies To Build A Loyal Volunteer Base” from the Forbes Nonprofit Council is filled with nuggets for retaining volunteers. These helpful tips touch on the importance of getting to know your volunteers, showing appreciation, matching volunteers with opportunities that play to their interests and skills, and sharing mission-focused stories of how their contributions are making a difference for those you serve.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesnonprofitcouncil/2024/03/28/15-proven-strategies-to-build-a-loyal-volunteer-base/?sh=2174df7e2e67

26/06/2024

🍋 We love when our personal and professional lives intersect! 🍋 Today we visited Joe & Bill's Lemonade Stand hosted by Ann’s friends Joe and Bill and a fundraiser for Gillette Children's, a wonderful Ann Plans’ client. Today is the 9th annual Lemonade Stand, an impressive event that last year raised over $13,000 for Gillette’s adaptive bike program.

Even if you weren’t able to stop by today for lemonade, donations can be made on the page through July 6 to support this important need. 🚲💛 https://www.facebook.com/donate/1090637892625283/790637816540727/

25/06/2024

– Be proactive in making sure the presenters at your conference are well supported from an audiovisual perspective. At a recent conference Ann Plans coordinated, there were five breakout sessions going on throughout the three-day conference. These elements helped ensure very minimal technical challenges:

🔸We had a dedicated AV technician who made sure all the presenters were set up before the start of their session, and he rotated amongst the sessions once they started to check that things were going smoothly.

🔸A card with the AV “help number” in large print was at the podium in each room for quick response should an issue arise once a session began.

Thanks to these proactive measures, things went smoothly for all presenters, which resulted in a great experience for conference attendees.

19/06/2024

"Juneteenth has never been a celebration of victory or an acceptance of the way things are. It's a celebration of progress. It's an affirmation that despite the most painful parts of our history, change is possible—and there is still so much work to do." -Barack Obama

18/06/2024

- Healthy snack options at conferences/meetings are appreciated! At a recent conference, we received more positive feedback on the veggies/hummus than we did on the cookies.

Bonus tip: more and more people are minimizing or avoiding gluten, so be sure there are good gluten-free options available at all meals, snack breaks and receptions.

16/06/2024

Happy Father's Day to all the amazing dads and father figures who inspire, support, and love us unconditionally! Today, we celebrate you and the incredible impact you have on our lives. 💖

14/06/2024

Last night was a picture-perfect evening for Gala in the Gardens at the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. KARE 11’s Belinda Jensen, back as emcee for her 14th year, and auctioneer Andy Imholte helped raise a lot of money for this amazing Minnesota treasure that’s enjoyed by more than 600,000 visitors annually. Ann Plans had a blast producing the program for our fourth year in a row in partnership with the AV team from Big Event Productions.

Fladeboe Advancement

11/06/2024

– Something as simple as creating and double checking a packing list can save you time and alleviate stress on event day. Include all items that need to make it to your venue including specific office supplies, registration materials, raffle tickets, signage, and copies of the script. Be sure the packing list has a column indicating who is responsible for each item making it onsite, and share the list with everyone involved to make sure no important materials get left behind.

08/06/2024

Today’s a wrap in Scottsdale, Arizona. We’ve had a great week supporting the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology - AACN’s conference at the The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa. More than 800 attendees joined us for a great week of workshops, receptions, and networking. Many took advantage of the swimming pools to cool off in temperatures reaching 105+ degrees, and some even braved the heat for a little golf.

04/06/2024

- When filming outdoors for event videos, be mindful of noise considerations such as airplanes, sirens, lawn mowers, and crowds of people. Let the individuals you are interviewing know you may need them to repeat responses if there is a noise factor that interferes with the audio quality.

Prior to the video shoot, do what you can to let everyone in the vicinity of the filming know what is going on so they can help facilitate a quiet environment. Use signage and/or people power to help direct people not involved with the filming away from the area.

Happy shooting! 📸✨

31/05/2024

Cheers to a great weekend! This morning Ann had a blast debriefing with client Elissa on the recent VocalEssence Gala – as well as catching up on running and traveling adventures. We love it when a client becomes a good friend! ☕🌟

The High Hat

28/05/2024

What did senior event producer Ann Nelson do for fun over the holiday weekend? She ran a marathon, of course! The Buffalo Marathon in New York was Ann’s 25th race of 26.2 miles or longer, and she crossed the finish line this weekend with a Boston qualifying time. Congrats, Ann!

28/05/2024

Happy Birthday, Kathy! We love having you on the Ann Plans team. Wishing you a fantastic day with your beautiful and fun family. Cheers! 🎉

27/05/2024

Today, we pause to remember and honor those who served and made the ultimate sacrifice. Their courage and selflessness will forever be etched in our hearts. Let's take a moment to reflect on their legacy and express our deepest gratitude. 🌟



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22/05/2024

Check out this easy read, “How Can You Connect with the Next Generation Using New Donation Methods?” for insights and strategies on how to cultivate Gen Z donors. While focusing on technology is super important for engaging Gen Z in your mission, these supporters are also looking for ways to be personally engaged.

https://medium.com//how-can-you-connect-with-the-next-generation-using-new-donation-methods-d1876e778a16

In the ever-evolving landscape of fundraising for nonprofits, staying ahead of the curve is essential to connecting with the next…

21/05/2024

– Now that the spring gala season is coming to a close and summer fun is on the horizon, take time this month to thoroughly complete wrap up items from your spring events – before those tasks fall off your radar. Key items for the post-event checklist include compiling the debrief report, making sure key documents including vendor contracts and marketing collateral are saved in your computer files, and double checking that all event supporters and volunteers have been thanked. ⁠
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Taking time now to make sure all your wrap up items are completed will put you in a great position when it’s time to start planning your 2025 spring events. ⁠

16/05/2024

Joan Garry’s article “The 14 Attributes of a Thriving Nonprofit” is a quick and insightful read. We especially love the first attribute she lifts up: The best nonprofits are seen as “workplaces of choice.”

https://www.joangarry.com/best-non-profit-organizations/

14/05/2024

- Want to know the best way to maximize your fundraising on event night? Take the time to set up your auctioneer for success!

Here are two of the most effective ways to help your auctioneer inspire generous giving:

🔸 Secure a number of precommitted gifts at your top giving levels to generate strong momentum for your fund-a-need.

🔸 Provide your auctioneer with clear and concise impactful messaging they can use to make the case for support during your fund-a-need.

Here’s to blowing the fundraising goal out of the water at your next event!

12/05/2024

Happy Mother’s Day! Wishing all moms a special day of love and pampering.⁠ 🌷
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11/05/2024

We are at the DoubleTree by Hilton Bloomington Minneapolis South for the VocalEssence Gala, and the singers, emcee Ginger Commodore, and auctioneer Andy Imholte are set to go!

Tonight’s “Celebration of Song” is all about singing, celebrating, and raising funds to benefit the VocalEssence learning and engagement programs that embrace the power of singing together. It’s going to be a magical evening of fun and fundraising!

09/05/2024

This article “From Passion to Action: Attract and Retain Volunteers for Your Nonprofit” has helpful tips for a number of areas related to effectively engaging volunteers including identifying volunteer opportunities within your organization, creating position descriptions, and strategies for successfully recruiting and retaining volunteers.

https://event.gives/our-blog/how-to-recruit-volunteers

07/05/2024

- Everyone knows the benefits of engaging event photos in sharing the success of an event and promoting next year’s event, but did you know event photos have another key purpose?

During your event set up, be proactive in taking photos and video from cell phones to document how all aspects of the event are staged. In our work with clients we frequently refer back to past event photos to remind everyone of elements such as how the registration table was set up, display of the silent auction items, décor on the ballroom tables, the design of the stage, and what the bid paddles looked like.

30/04/2024

– Before you or any of your vendors ship packages to your conference or event location, be sure to ask your venue contact for the specific instructions on exactly how packages should be addressed. Being proactive with these details will help prevent your deliveries from being “missing in action” when you arrive on site. Also, be sure to ask if there are handling and storage fees associated with the shipping of packages that are received by the venue or the onsite business office such as FedEx.

29/04/2024

Here’s to a great week and making the most of each and every day!

26/04/2024

Happy Friday, and it’s a wrap! We’ve been in Atlanta since Sunday supporting the National Association of Employee Concerns Professionals’ annual conference. What a great week of training, networking, and fun! A favorite highlight was keynote speaker Traci Brown, #3 ranked body language expert in the world, who delivered a very engaging presentation, “Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire.”

23/04/2024

APTipTuesday - Executing a successful event takes a village, and April, which is , is a great reminder of the invaluable role volunteers play in that success.

A great tip for setting up your volunteers for success is to have a designated Volunteer Coordinator whose role is to welcome volunteers, answer questions, and make sure all volunteers receive training and are in place during their assigned times. Be sure to provide your volunteers with the Volunteer Coordinator’s name and contact info as part of the details you send to them in advance of event day so they know who to report to when they arrive.

A huge thank you to all of our community members who make a difference through volunteering.

22/04/2024

Ann Plans wishes you happiness and joy as you enjoy your Passover celebration. Shalom to you and your family! ✡ ⁠
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16/04/2024

– A question from the venue contact for an event we’re working on is the inspiration for this week’s tip. The contact asked what the three most important expectations are that we have of their staff. Although it’s rare that you’ll be asked this customer service-forward question, make it a point to let your venue contact and other vendors know how their team can be most helpful in ensuring the success of your event.

To help formulate some thinking around how you might articulate expectations, here’s what we provided to the venue contact:

1. Quick, helpful, and friendly responsiveness to our questions/concerns onsite;

2. Great tasting and well-presented food;

3. Each venue team member is proactive in making each guest feel welcome and comfortable.