Plan far ahead for all the materials, equipment, and supplies you'll use at the shower. Your own list of needed materials will reflect the specific activities planned for your shower. Here are some suggestions:
o Reception area: welcome signs, tables, chairs, name tags, markers, and information packets/bags for guests.
o Opening session: chairs and podium for VIP guests, microphones, and colored posters illustrating shower themes.
o Game workshops/exhibits: tables, chairs, table coverings, signs and posters for exhibit booths, easels, tabletop displays with props and literature, lighting, decorations, TV monitor/VCR, colored markers, and game materials.
No party is complete without food! Whether you serve snacks or a full luncheon, make it a festive and sociable part of the shower. What you serve depends on the time of day, your resources, and the generosity of your sponsors. Here are some basics:
o Table/food center: Be sure you have ample space for food preparation and serving and a place to seat your guests. You also may need a refrigerator for storage; a coffee maker, stove or microwave for hot foods, as well as the following items: tables, tablecloths, napkins, plates, cups, eating utensils, trays, serving dishes, ice, and plastic trash bags and trash cans for cleanup.
o Healthy snacks: Fruit and juice reinforce good nutrition messages.
o Box or bag lunches: Try to get a local supermarket to contribute food, such as sandwiches, drinks, and fruit.
o Decorations: Baby-related centerpieces and other decorations will brighten up your shower.
If your shower includes exhibits displaying health and safety information or baby-related products and services, be sure your facility can accommodate this. Provide each exhibitor with this list:
o Set-up and take-down times.
o Space dimensions.
o Table dimensions allowable (whether provided by facility or by exhibitor).
o Dimensions of backdrop allowable (whether provided by site or by exhibitor) and if items can be hung from it.
o The number of items (literature, samples, etc.) needed based on the number of guests expected.
Everyone loves receiving gifts, and your shower guests are no exception.
Supermarkets, drug stores, baby stores, and specialty shops are great places to ask for contributions of gifts and prizes. Remember that your invited guests are potential customers -- and merchants are always looking for ways to establish a good reputation in the community.
Try to get some donated items related to baby safety, such as cabinet locks or electric socket plugs. Also include products every parent can use: baby bath items, disposable diapers, baby food, toys, and baby clothing. Moms also may welcome special treats for themselves -- like a makeover or gift certificates from local stores.
You may want to give a prize to game winners, or even better, to all participants in a game. A "goody bag" filled with product samples, discount coupons, gift certificates -- and safety literature -- would delight all your guests.
Save your best and biggest prize for a raffle or door prize. Finish off your shower with an exciting finale!
Whether you plan a large or small event, develop a realistic schedule for the day. The suggestions below may help you with a large event. Make arrangements ahead of time with the building management to reserve the room, tables, chairs, partitions, kitchen, and other facilities or equipment at the site. Allow sufficient time before and after the shower for setup and cleanup.
Make sure volunteers help set up the room. Consider traffic flow around room entrances, game workshops, exhibits, food tables, and child-care area. Room arrangements may include:
o Registration table. Provide chairs for volunteers helping with registration. Have name tags and paper, and pens for signing in. Keep "goody bags" of prizes, products, and other materials here.
o Refreshment table. Use simple table decorations that reflect the shower theme.
o Game workshops. Make sure there are enough chairs, tables, and materials for each game area.
o Exhibit booths. Arrange enough floor space for each booth.
o Signs. If needed, post signs to designate game workshops, exhibits, and rest room locations.
o Audio-visual equipment. If used, make sure all equipment works before the day of the shower. Provide extension cords and duct tape. Tape loose cords to the floor to prevent tripping.
Register each guest, hand out name tags, and provide materials about the day's event. Consider including refreshments and entertainment as ice-breakers.
The primary organizer welcomes the guests, sets the theme, and reviews the overall shower program. Consider asking a parent to relate a human interest story based on the importance of child safety in the home.
At the start of the shower, each guest is assigned to a game workshop focusing on one topic or room area. Throughout the hour, guests rotate to each of the other game workshops. Or, if your group is not too large, you might hold one session where all the games are played.
The primary organizer summarizes the game workshop messages, encourages guests to use the products and materials given out, and thanks all the sponsors and organizations who contributed to the event.
If time and resources permit, serve a meal, like lunch. This allows time for further exchange of information with your guests.
Schedule time for guests to visit exhibits for additional health and safety information. This can be done during the lunch hour or after the program's closing remarks.
After the guests leave, clean up! Make arrangements with the building management for janitorial services or tell your volunteers ahead of time what they need to do before leaving the facility. A simple checklist might include such duties as packing up unused workshop materials, sweeping the room, cleaning kitchen facilities, and removing trash. Be sure to leave the facility in clean condition.
GO TO PART FOUR: Attachments
GO TO THE TABLE OF CONTENTS
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission protects the public from the
unreasonable risk of injury or death from 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's
jurisdiction.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury and for information on
CPSC's fax-on-demand service, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter
at (800) 638-8270.
Consumers can also report product hazards via electronic mail by sending a message to
info@cpsc.gov.
Comments: info@cpsc.gov
Revised: May 5, 1996
URL: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/shower/showerp3.html