Over 90's Party

[aaron]

With all the focus on the "Boomers" and singles groups, here's an idea to balance activites across the age continuum.

Last Friday we hosted a longevity celebration with entertainment, ballons, gifts and a wonderful family style luncheon.  Everyone over 90 and their escort were treated as our guest others paid $5.  Over 100 attended and 45 of them were over age 90.  The oldest gentleman was 103 and the eldest lady was 104.  I asked three local nursing centers for $250 each to cover the party costs.  One of the staff brought her two young (5 & 7) granddaughters and it was so delightful we will make this an intergenerational event next year.  We had cards at each table with a few questions like "Why you think you have lived so long.  What do you miss the most and what is your fondest memory...with answers like: living a good life; running the roads and sex.  I would appreciate any feed back for next years event.  aaron

[alice]

Aaron,
That sounds great. I think we will try that in the Spring.  We are having a "Made in Michigan" party tomorrow.  The menu is Koegle hot dogs, Better Made Potatoe Chips, Stroh's Ice Cream, Sanders Hot Fudge, Faygo and Vernors.  Following lunch we are having a three round Michigan trivia game.   St. Julian Sparkling Juice and Sander Candy for prizes.   It should be fun.

[Jo Arnold]

Hi, Aaron and Alice - we had an Over 90 party years ago and it too was wildly successful.  We were talking just recentlyabout scheduling another... We had a student intern who interviewed all those who were coming and put a short vignette about their lives and words of wisdom in a small booklet we passed out.  Now we would probably do a power point!  We issued a news release and invited those in the community over ninety as well as those of our members whom we knew to be the appropriate age.  We, too, invited an escort.  I don't remember how many came, but they filled the multi-purpose room.

[RhondaZiethlow]

Aaron left out an important part: letting the public know this happened and acknowledging sponsors.

We first put in the newpaper under upcoming nonprofit events.  Then we invited our local newspaper to come (lots of times they do).  This time they did not, so I made sure to take pictures and write my own "feature" press release on the party and sent to reporters and editors of three papers.  It was printed in 2 with at least 12 col in of space and then pictures too.  This encourages the continued sponsorship, because sponsors were named in the article and puts the center "out there" so people know about what's happening.

The point is: if media don't respond, don't be afraid to send in your own stuff.

[molasconp]

I love this idea -- I may do this before the snow flies