Online Promotion Guide: Families in Action Promoting Your Program Through Public Speaking
Introduction Preparing for Your Workshop Planning Your Workshop Promoting Your Workshop Sample Letter to Parents Promoting Your Program Through Public Speaking Promoting Your Program Through Public Relations	Sample Public Service Announcement Sample Press Release Promoting Your Program with a Photo Promoting Your Workshop: The Final Details Research Ordering Program Kits and Parts

PROMOTING YOUR PROGRAM THROUGH PUBLIC SPEAKING

Designate a committee member to contact membership organizations that attract parents or teens who might be good candidates for enrolling in your Families In Action group and ask if you could make a brief speech promoting your program. Making this type of direct contact with potential participants is a very effective strategy. It allows you to tell teens or parents about Families In Action, why you think both of them will enjoy the experience, and what everyone can expect to get out of it. Most importantly, it allows you to personally invite people to attend the course.

When presenting, you may want to outline a five- to ten-minute speech as follows:

• State who you are, who the sponsoring organization may be, and the specifics of the workshop, such as the time and location of your Families In Action program.
• Briefly summarize the specific topics covered in the Families In Action program.
• Describe the benefits for parents of attending the course, and how the activities are designed to keep teens coming back for more.
• Point out the fact that this is a research-based program.
• Describe the six-session format of the program.
• Conclude with a "call to action." Encourage parents to register right now. Have flyers and registration forms available. Offer to stay after the meeting to answer questions.

Remember that your enthusiasm will be more important than anything you will actually say. Have a sign-up sheet available for those who need to check on dates or cannot sign up right then for any reason. Make sure that they are contacted later in the week to get their commitment. If someone isn't ready to sign up, find out what is keeping him or her from making a commitment. You may be able to overcome their objection.