Did your boss ask you to plan the Earth Day party at work? In today’s economy, every opportunity counts when you’re in the spotlight. No one wants to be the one who got fired for putting on a crappy Earth Day party.
Here are some Earth Day Party tips to make you a star at work:
1. It’s all in the packaging. As it is with any product or item you’re trying to build excitement around, your Earth Day party at work is no different. You want the office to be buzzing about how cool the party is going to be. Google “Earth Day” or “Go Green” to get some ready-made ideas for graphics, signage, and how to get other people involved in making your party great.
2. Hype, hype, hype. Did I mention “hype?”. With the permission of your manager and anyone else that needs to approve, pre-plan and send out Earth Day party emails starting about 2 weeks prior to the event.
The first email is to introduce your work group to Earth Day basics and let them know you’re having an Earth Day party at work. Make sure to include all the “W’s” WHO is invited, WHAT can the guests expect, WHEN is the party, WHERE is the party being held, and WHY are you having a party in the first place?
After the initial email to introduce your Earth Day party at work, send out daily factoids about going green, saving the planet, etc. Make them short and sweet and, if your email policy allows, include a cool picture that’s related to your daily topic. Hey, we’re Americans… we like words with pictures.
3. Have a little fun. Food, drinks, and music are a must for any cool party. Give guests plenty of room to mingle and make sure they have a place to set their drink and plate down while they’re chatting about what a great job you did throwing the party. Tip: Don’t try to do it all yourself. Enlist help to set up tables, prepare the food and drinks, provide the music, and decorate the party area.
4. Give your guests some tools to Go Green. If your budget doesn’t allow for your company to provide washable coffee mugs for everyone, ask participants ahead of time to bring in their favorite washable coffee mug. Either way, have a “dubbing” ceremony where you (or some equally glib person at work) dubs the new washable mugs the official coffee mug at work. Get creative with it and have the employees hold up their mugs and repeat after the Emcee. Example: “I, genius employee of ABC company, do hereby dub my favorite coffee mug as the only coffee mug I will use at work. I solemnly swear not to sneak in styrofoam to compensate for my failure to wash my favorite coffee mug. Even if my new Green coffee mug looks like it is the subject of a 7th grade science experiment”... you get the idea. Have fun!
5. Inform, Educate, Evaluate. Let people know where the new recycling bins are, remind them of some facts from your emails about how much they can make a difference for the Earth, and let them know you’ll be sending out updates for the next year or so to celebrate their success as they generate less trash and more recycling!
