Bill wants to do more than give a speech or two; his goal is to impact your entire community. Bill wants to be a bridge builder between students themselves, students and teachers, students and their parents as well as the school and the community. By giving attention to the details presented below we are positive that Bill's visit to your school will be a wonderful experience for everyone involved.
BEFORE BILL ARRIVES:
CALL AND GET TO KNOW US.
It's very important that you are comfortable and confident in what Bill can
do for you. Bill likes to talk to every school and organization that books
him so they can hear first hand his enthusiasm and desire to serve them.
Very few speakers have spoken to over 5 million people and helped plan as
many programs as Bill has. He will listen to your concerns and needs and
will help you decide what programs would work best. If you haven't heard
Bill speak in person he will gladly send you a sample talk so you can hear
and see first hand how he entertains, inspires and educates each group
leaving them desiring to make their lives and their school a better place.
CHOOSE THE BEST POSSIBLE DAY.
Check your school calendar to make sure there is no major event that will compete with the success of the evening parent/community program. Very few days are completely open on any school calendar. Call us and we will put our calendar beside yours and come up with the best possible date that will help insure success.
RETURN THE CONTRACT.
Please include key phone numbers (cell and home phone) for the person who will be Bill's main contact person so he can call to insure them of his safe arrival if he is flying in the night before, or if any last minute changes occur. We will arrange for air travel if needed, as our travel agent is very creative at getting the most inexpensive tickets possible. We will carry the price of the ticket on our charge card so we would greatly appreciate it if you could reimburse us as soon as possible. If Bill needs a rental car just let us know. Send a detailed map and written directions along with the phone number of the motel. Please make arrangements for payment of the motel. If it works better for you that we pay and then send the bill to you, just let us know. Please make sure that the check for Bill's fee is ready to give to him on the day of the program.
ASK YOUR STAFF FOR INPUT ON THE DAY WITH BILL
It is very important to the overall success of the day that your staff has some ownership in what is to take place. Ask staff members what they would like Bill to make sure and include in his talks with the students or at the In-service. Asking a team member for their opinion is one of the greatest compliments we can pay a person. Studies show that feeling needed in an organization is directly related to the enthusiasm in which we perform our duties. We feel follow-up is so important that we have an entire sheet of tips devoted to it. Your staff should be asked to contribute to the follow up ideas and how to implement them.
CONTACT AREA SCHOOLS.
Quite often schools will go together to bring Bill to their area. He might spend one day at one school, the next at the other or they may share the day. This will allow each school to split expenses and almost always insures a larger number of parents at the evening session. If you would send us the names and addresses of the schools in your district we will be more than happy to contact them telling of our coming to your school in hopes of signing them up for the day next to yours. If this happens we will discount both of your days.
INVITE BOARD MEMBERS, PARENTS, and ANY ONE FROM THE COMMUNITY TO LISTEN TO BILL.
Please let it be known when Bill will speak to the students so parents, board members, and others from the community can see first-hand the high caliber of professional speakers you are bringing in to your school to help direct the lives of your students. You will receive many positive notes and comments from those who attend.
CONTACT THE NEWS MEDIA.
Positive media coverage on what your school is doing to touch the lives of young people, their parents, and the community at large is priceless. Bill will send along a Press Release after you confirm the date. Send this to area newspapers, TV and Radio stations. They can contact Bill ahead of time as well as come and capture the excitement of the different motivational talks during the day. Students who are interviewed immediately after Bill's assembly, give some of the best testimonials of how their life has been touched and their behavior changed. Again, this will be a direct reflection on you and your school and your wisdom in bringing Bill in for the day.
HOW ABOUT A VIP LUNCHEON?
Bill's number one goal is to touch young people's lives. What better way than to have Bill eat lunch or dinner with key people from the community such as the Mayor, Chief of Police, Fire Chief, Dare Officer, School Board members, Service Club people, Superintendent, Child and Family Services, and so on. Bill will share with them briefly about what other communities are doing around the country to ban together to help our kids. This is done at no extra cost. Each of these groups will be a good source of funding to help with Bill's expenses as well as future speakers.
A GOOD SOUND SYSTEM IS A MUST.
If Bill's audience can't hear well their time has been wasted. If your sound system isn't adequate please consider renting one. Bill has spoken in gyms since 1978 and if anyone can make your system work well, Bill can. He will work with your sound technician prior to the talk and get the most out of your system. Of course at this point before the talk it will be too late to get another system so please evaluate your situation and make other arrangements if needed. We are not trying to add to your list of things to do or to your expenses. We merely want this to be the most effective day for everyone involved.
