If we are active in a guild, have a stitching group, or work in a shop we may find ourselves needing to schedule a class or workshop. Once it’s scheduled we have to set up for it.
I found this helpful checklist in a magazine for knotters and adapted ot to share with you.
- Plan Ahead.Many national teachers schedule 1-2 years in advance. Keep this in mind when scheduling. But many great classes and programs can be done using local talent. Consider shop owners and employees, local teacher, and guild members as teachers.
- Mind the details. You willl probably need a contract for the class, write it and get it signed. Do you need a materials list for your newsletter or to bring in stock? Do you need a picture and description for publicity purposes? Make sure your teacher has everything confirmed and is ready to go.
- Meal plan. Will meals or snacks need to be served during the class? Do attendees “brown bag” it? Do you take the teacher out for a meal? Does the teacher need overnight accommodation? Make the arrangements in advance. A nice touch is to provide a list of local places to eat and stay.
- Room monitor Do you have your classroom reserved? Is it big enough? Is AV equipment needed? If you are a shop assign an employee to take the class be a monitor and class angel.
- Reconfirm everything. No matter the kind of class, even on-line ones, and no matter how many people are attending, reconfirm everything a week or so in advance. This not only prevents forgetfulness from the teacher, it also acts as a checklist for you.
- Remember to say “Thanks.”We don’t hear it often enough, but tell you students thanks for attending and your teacher thanks for teaching.
Having been program chair of my guild chapters for a total of almost 12 years. I have had every one of these things trip me up. From the classroom that was too small for the teacher to get to everyone to being told the TV for the video machine fell down in an earthquake two years previously and was “too expensive” to replace, planning ahead and having a checklist you use every time you have a class won’t make ut always go well, but it will help.
By planning ahead and checking your class or workshop will go smoothly.
About Janet M Perry
Janet Perry is the Internet's leading authority on needlepoint. She designs, teaches and writes, getting raves from her fans for her innovative techniques, extensive knowledge and generous teaching style. A leading writer of stitch guides, she blogs here and lives on an island in the northeast corner of the SF Bay with her family
There’s a whole section in the ANG chapter handbook which can be accessed by anyone…on how to set up workshops with comments from one or two teachers. Based on 20+ years of setting up chapter workshops.
https://www.needlepoint.org/chapters/handbook.php
Pat Correz…permanent workshop chairman since 1980s……