It's an issue that many committees face every year. At what point do you start talking less about fundraising and more about the actual event? Unfortunately, I don't have the answer.

But, from my own experience, you should never stop talking about fundraising. Your Team Captain Meeting Agendas should always include a Fundraising discussion. Teams should be encouraged to share what they are doing pre-event....as well as on event night. And when you get about 2-3 months before your event, you can talk about what's going to happen that night.

Team Captains need to know what exciting things will be going on at your event so they can share with the teams. Plus, if there are some activities that require pre-registration or pre-event preparation, teams need ample time to prepare.

The caution here is to make sure that event night activities don't monopolize your entire meeting agenda. Never forget that Relay For Life is a fund-raising event. It's the American Cancer Society's signature event that helps to fund life-saving cancer research. Don't feel bad if you keep talking about raising money...that is why most teams get involved in the first place!

Here is a sample Team Captain Meeting agenda. You will notice that there is a balanced discussion including Onsite Fundraising, Activity Update, Bank Night, and Team Mentoring. I encourage all committees to use this sample meeting agenda for your next meeting...then come back and tell us how it went.