ACC Program Area:Celebrating Anniversaries - Program

Program

Clubs should be aware of upcoming anniversaries, and plan to take advantage of them. Anniversaries are a very special time for a club; an important time.

An anniversary can be used to `hype- up' the membership and to get your members excited. It can be used to obtain media exposure and to increase membership. An anniversary can be used as an occasion to announce something very special, perhaps a special project, a grant or endowment or a new member service.

When we speak of anniversaries, obviously we think of anniversaries of the club, itself--10th anniversary, 25th anniversary, and so on. But there are also other types of `club related' anniversaries. Your club may support a hobby area that is celebrating an anniversary, such as the 100th anniversary of the teddy bear in 2002 or the 85th anniversary of Raggedy Ann & Andy. Perhaps the creator or manufacturer is having an anniversary. The 100th birthday of Walt Disney was a great anniversary time for Disney Clubs. Product lines such as Fiesta, Van Briggle, Lenox, Coca-Cola, John Deere, Hamm's Beer, G.I. Joe, Avon or Ford Thunderbird all provide anniversary milestone for the clubs of collectors of these items.

Likewise, event-related collecting clubs can tie to special anniversaries of an event, like the 75th anniversary of Lindbergh's flight in 2002. This was a great anniversary project for Lindbergh collectors. World's Fair collectors can celebrate special anniversaries of a particular World's Fair. Political collectors can celebrate a particular campaign, election or inaugural anniversary event. Sports collector clubs can celebrate the anniversary of a significant sporting event. Military collecting clubs may wish to celebrate the anniversary of a specific battle or the end of a particular war. There is no end to the possibilities for these types of anniversary-related events.

Some suggested steps and procedures.

Identify your anniversary far enough in advance to allow for adequate planning. If it is to be a major anniversary celebration, 2 to 3 years in advance is certainly not too early to start planning.

You probably want to establish an anniversary committee, but beyond this, get the membership involved. Create ways to make the members aware of the anniversary and how they can directly become a part of it.

Develop a plan with clearly defined goals and objectives. The plan should be tied to a calendar with defined dates for each step. There should also be a budget supporting the plan. This can be handled in a couple of ways. The anniversary committee can be instructed as to what their budget will be and can develop the plan accordingly. Or, the committee can submit an anniversary plan accompanied by a fund-raising plan for financing the anniversary festivities or project.

Components to an anniversary celebration.

There may be a special club anniversary logo or image that would be used for the duration of the anniversary period. This may last an entire year or be for a shorter period of time.
All segments of a club's activities may be considered as targets for the anniversary. The anniversary should be recognized on the club's official stationery, in any club publications or newsletters, on the club website, at the annual convention, and at shows, chapter events, etc.
If your club has a publication, consider a special anniversary issue. This could include highlights of club accomplishments and milestones, a history of the club, interviews with club `pioneers,' then and now comparisons (both for the club and perhaps for the specific collecting area the club represents). Don't allow the opportunity of a special anniversary issue to just be a `backwards' look. Have the club president and perhaps other appropriate people offer their vision for the club or collecting area for the next 10 years, 25 years, etc.
Media publicity is an important part of this anniversary plan. Be prepared to offer features to collecting publications, radio and television, columnists and Internet news websites. By sending your releases to the NAC/ACC Collecting Clubs News Service (which is free), your release automatically covers the entire antiques and collectibles industry going to over 600 publications, columnists and news sources.
A volunteer members' speakers bureau, as a special anniversary service, may be worth consideration to promote your club and collecting area.
Production of a special anniversary memento, perhaps distributed to members only, can create a lot of interest in the membership. Such a memento needs to be appropriate for the occasion, and perhaps more appropriate for some clubs than for others. If your club has budgeted for such a memento it can be given to members free, or it can be sold to members as a fund-raiser. A third option would be to secure a benefactor to pay for the mementoes for which they would receive due recognition.
Obviously an anniversary "event" merits strong consideration as a focal point. This usually can be included in the annual club convention, if your club has a convention and committee creativity can make such an event as elaborate and meaningful as they choose to...without costing a lot of money.
An anniversary history book may be appropriate for your club, particularly if it is a significant milestone anniversary. Probably a history book and a feature issue in the club publication may not both be necessary. The committee can decide on one or the other. Remember, too, if your club has a website, be sure to have the anniversary committee involve the webmaster. A club history can be placed on the website much easier and for far less money than a printed history book, plus it can make far better use of photos and visuals than a printed book...unless you have a gigantic book printing budget!

More anniversary ideas and suggestions will be added as clubs provide their input and experiences.