DOn't Make this Mistake on Cyber Monday

12/2/2019

Happy Cyber Monday!

I interrupt your online shopping to bring you today’s mistake: not taking my own advice.

A couple weeks ago I wrote about how to get a meeting with a principal using some different subject lines to get the principal’s attention to open the email. I even wrote that no matter your work or profession, most of us send email. And most of us want the email we send to be opened and read, and so being a touch more creative with our subject lines is a good skill to have. It’s an especially good skill when the receiver of your email doesn’t know you very well or you really want the email to be read.

Also a couple weeks ago, I was trying to connect a church with a school. The subject line of the email I sent to the school was this: Church partner for ABC School (obviously the school’s name wasn’t ABC, but you get the drift).

I didn’t even follow my own advice!

I sent out perhaps the most generic, most vanilla, most boring (or is it boringest?) subject line I could write. I didn’t do any work on the subject line. I didn’t give the school any reason to open the email. I wasn’t creative. It was haphazard and quick and I just expected the school to open the email.

Breaking news: they didn’t.

Who knows if a few more minutes of thought would have led to the school opening the email? Who knows if brainstorming 10 or 20 subject lines would have led to an opened email and led to a beneficial partnership?

Sure, the story has a somewhat happy ending, at least for the church, as we were able to connect them with a different school and it’s a good fit and yes things can work out. Like I get that. I get all of that. But I’m not proud of this instance where I failed to take my own advice.

When have you not taken your own advice? Or what’s some advice you do your best to follow? Let us know in the comments.

2 Comments

Bonnie Brrock

12/2/2019 01:44:38 pm

I have always found it helpful to give something to the school for the teacher's staff room such as paper cups, plates, napkins, and plastic tableware. When I substituted there were never enough of these as teachers would use them but if there was a surprise party they would also need them. I put a note with them stating: Just thought you could use these and my church is willing to assist in other ways. I look forward to meeting with the Superintendent/Principal to see if there are any needs that we could work cooperatively on. My phone number is: number and name.

Another good thing to do is to have a kick the school off coffee time where the teachers and staff are invited to a special coffee in their honor. Each setting would have a pack of sticky notes and a pen with a note attached that would say: We will be praying for you all this year. If there are any ways that we could work in partnership this coming year let us know. We are small but we will do our best. Phone Number: Name:

This is a good way to meet the teachers and staff and to visit with them about their ideas. We have also had a teacher appreciation coffee at the end of the year and asked what would you like to do this coming year that our church could assist you with? Do you need volunteers to for example furnish books for the library or people to listen to youth read? Would it be helpful to have snacks donated for the lower grades so everyone has a snack at a break? Could you use Kleenex for the winter months? (By listing a few things you may be able to provide it sometimes sparks their interest. Another thing that can be done is the first of December send a letter to the teachers and say something like: If you could have a wish this Christmas that could be taken care of with $--- money what would you buy? List name and phone number. This way they know they have a set amount of funds to spend. These are just some ideas.

As a teacher in the past I appreciated when the pastor or someone would make an effort to come and meet me at the beginning of school so I had a face to a name and a group, or a card with information on it as to how to get in touch with someone if I had a need. There are always labels that are collected and many times they could just use someone to count the labels and put them in bundles. Do you have laminated items that need cut out?

The last ideas are could you use a game for your class and if so what is it or what is the cost?

Pastor Bonnie Brock/Greeley, Scotia/North Loup UMC's.

Brian Stroh

12/2/2019 01:52:49 pm

Thank you Bonnie- great ideas!

DOn't Make this Mistake on Cyber Monday

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