I have been the luminaria chair for about 9 years. I have always had good luck at getting lums but this year is bad. Our event is in two weeks and I usually have about 200 lums. As of right now I have 77. I'm at a loss. I can't seem to get anyone to get their lums. Is there something else I could do? I got ads in the paper, I set up at town events, and I pass the word of mouth. But I get nothing. I just feel really really bad. I'm open to any suggestions.
I too feel your pain. I am a new chair of a 2 year old event in NW Denver. Tonight, I am setting up at our neighborhood's "art walk" with a table. I plan on brining a bag with a tealight candle in it to attract attention. That way, people will see it lit and hopefully get a better idea of what's going on. Our Relay is in 6 weeks. EEK! I also offer bags to my friends that are teachers and have their students decorate them. Art teachers usually love this. You could then send a note home with the students to their parents, asking if they are interested in buying it for a friend or family member. If not that, you could have an "art show" and have people bid on them (starting at $10), and then they get to "name" the bag for someone. Those are my best ideas. Considering I have maybe 20 sold, if that so far, I think you're way ahead of us. We had 99 last year, and I'm hoping for 100 this year. Good luck! KARMEN- Event Chair- NW Denver/Wheat Ridge, CO RFL
-- Karmen- NW Denver/Wheat Ridge Relay for Life Committee Member
"It's one thing to wear the bracelets-- it's another to use your feet!"- KNHL
Understand your problem :< It happens to a lot of Relays - and sometimes you need some renewal... Here are a few ideas of things to do.... You might be doing some of them, so would love it if you'd post back on what might help/what you are already doing... And I know that lots of others will have great ideas!:
·Set a goal for each team for the # of luminaria the team should sell – This will give them a specific goal to target.
·Help your team members with ideas on how to sell luminaria
·Set a goal for each team member (split up the team goal) – ask them to each purchase one in honor of at least the person they participate for.
·Ask them to mention luminaria when they are asking about a donation – That will make it possible for them to get a combination of luminaria and donations
·Valentine Luminaria – This is a great idea from Fayelane!“Here I am again on the Relay For Life Luminaria Committee.This year I am on a team, the luminaria committee and a survivor.I am looking for some help in selecting inspirational music for the ceremony.We are running a Valentine Luminaria sales campaign this year.We have the Relay logo and a valentine photo on ours
Valentine Luminaria
What better way to let your love “shine” than to purchase a luminaria for your special “valentine.”The luminaria will be personalized with a message from you that will be lit during the Luminaria Ceremony as part of this years American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.The relay will take place on Friday evening, May 4, 2007 in Olmos Basin Park.Please take this opportunity to express your warm wishes to remember your loved one(s) that have succumbed to cancer, are currently fighting cancer and to those who bravely fought and beat their cancer.Luminaria are offered for a minimum donation of $5.00
Please join us as we illuminate hope at Central San Antonio Relay for Life 2007.
There's a name of the ones who still are here.
There's a name of those gone we still hold dear.
There's a name, each one shining in the flames.
And we know that every candle has a name.
- John W. Storey -
* Get companies to sponsor spelling out different words (with a sign with their company name next to it) - Like Hope... Cure... etc.
·Keepsake Luminaria – Have special keepsake luminaria for those interested, that is decorated that they can take home, that has a slightly higher donation.See Tribute Torches for an example of these.
·Luminaria Decoration Contest – Have teams pre-decorate the bags, and have a contest at Relay with 3 top prizes for the best – give a great prize to the winner, and a traveling trophy to their team! Publicize this contest, and prizes, to sell more luminaria
* Memory Wall (or Tribute Wall, or Wall of Memories) –As part of the luminaria ceremony, let people put a picture of the person they honored or got a luminaria in memory of on the wall for a smaller donation than a luminaria (as an "in addition"! - The memory wall will hopefully get folks thinking of who they have lost/want to honor.
·Luminaria Angels – Thanks to Susan of Bartlett, TN!“… Hi sometimes it is hard to sell those plain white sacks! But if you turn them into "Luminaria Angels" and add $3.00 to the $5.00 you then collect for the luminarias and add to your team at the same time…They are a site to see the night of the relay!”
How to do it:Make a “head” with a round smiley face and stick on few colored paper scraps for hair.Paste that on the front of the bag.Paste some 2 inch wide ribbon with a twist in the middle on the back of the bag as wings.
Our ACS staff partner gave us a list of fundraising ideas. One of them was going to a local pizza place and asking the manager about stapling a luminaria to each pizza delivery box. I would start there and keep going. I would also contact any other food delivery resturants in your area or surrounding towns for their help. Check with your sponsorship chair. You may even have a sponsor who would be willing to help with the luminaria campaign. Also start a email campaign with all of the team captains to get the word out. Email is a great tool!
Good Luck!
Nichole, RFL of Peotone Illinois, Luminaria Committee Co-Chair
Joined: 2007-03-29