Plan a motivating campaign kickoff

Let's face it -- no matter how fun, inspiring and energetic your workplace is, there are only a few times during the year that employees get genuinely excited about coming to work. However, there is one day each year that combats the daily routine around the watercooler: Kickoff Day.

We've talked to dozens of individuals from all industries: banking, engineering, advertising, nonprofit and architecture. They come from all levels within the company and levels of tenure. Their common message is one of excitement when they mention their campaign kickoff. Across companies, the day of the United Way campaign kickoff is a day that employees do not call in sick, and they schedule their time to be a part of the campaign, and by extension, your corporate culture.

The campaign kickoff reminds your team that your company cares about the community. It gives them a sense of solidarity and makes them feel that their company supports their need to feel connected to something bigger. The campaign kickoff is a perfect opportunity for your company to boost employee morale because you are reminding your employees that you care about them and your community.

You do not have to break the petty cash bank to have an effective kickoff. Below are a few tips to having an effective United Way kickoff while boosting your employee morale for just a day or an entire week. Incorporating just a couple or all five will help your campaign be successful and give your employees a fun and impactful break from the daily grind.

1. Feed everyone!
This is the easiest way to add a spark to your kickoff day. Whether it's a coffee and doughnut cart that visits employees at their desks, a barbecue at lunch, or an ice cream social in the afternoon, do something to brighten your team's day.

2. Include your leadership in an unexpected way.
Ask someone unexpected to host your feeding frenzy. Whether it's your CFO handing out scoops of Moose Tracks, your CEO flipping the burgers and dogs, or your VP pushing the doughnuts and coffee cart, the gesture will be appreciated by your team. It reinforces the message that your company cares about the culture in your workplace and drives home the level of commitment your company has to the community.

3. Have a United Way speaker
Whether your kickoff is a short announcement during your Monday staff meeting (with fruit, bagels and coffee!) or an all-day picnic extravaganza, invite a United Way representative to share in the moment. Our speakers are trained to talk in 3 minutes or 30 minutes based on your needs. This simple addition adds credibility to your campaign. After all, who better to answer questions and talk about our work than a trained United Way speaker. As a rule, campaigns that have United Way speakers have higher contributions from employees because it builds understanding about where their hard-earned dollars are going, and the results those dollars are creating in the community.

4. Add some humor or play a game.
Kickoff is an easy way to build camaraderie and team spirit. Many companies like having tricycle races or other forms of competition that invite employees to loosen up and have some fun. One of our insurance companies has an executive from Michigan State University and one from University of Michigan. They schedule their kickoff around the Michigan/Michigan State football game. During the week leading up to the game, employees drop change into either U of M or MSU buckets. At the end of the week, the alumni from the school that has the least amount of change in its bucket has to wear the opposing team's colors and take treats to all of the employees (this could be on Kickoff!). The change is then donated to United Way, and believe us, it adds up! Another example is a local architecture firm that invites teams of employees to create mini-golf holes throughout the office, with the final hole being in the Office Managing Partner's office. The team with the best hole design wins a prize!

Lend your voice, cast your vote

The unemployment rate is at a high, foreclosures are on the rise, and more and more people are struggling to meet their basic needs. You may feel like you don't have the power to change conditions this region faces. But you do.

Advocacy is an important element to provoking change in your community. By using your voice and speaking out about issues that are important to you, you can influence others to share a stake in what you believe. One form of advocacy is to simply cast your vote.

This year's election offers an excellent time to speak out and take a stand on issues. The presidential race is in the forefront, but there are also 264 candidates running for 55 positions at the federal and state level across Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties, and those individuals have even more power to make changes to this region than the person who is elected president.

Through our research, we've learned the issues that are important to you and formed our Agenda for Change based on those issues. We know you want people to have an education that leads to a steady job, an income that can support a family, and access to basic needs in times of crisis. We urge you to think about those important issues when considering who you want to serve as your elected representatives.

Now is a great time to become educated on the candidates seeking election in your community, and if necessary, contact them to learn their thoughts about the issues that matter to you. A little investigative work will go a long way in helping you make an informed decision during the primary on August 5 and the general election on November 4.

Below is a list of questions you can use when communicating with candidates. These are based on the three issues you told us are most important to a thriving region: Education, Income and Basic Needs. To find a list of people running for office in your community, as well as their contact information, click here and enter your ZIP code.

1. If elected, what would you do to help ensure long-term financial stability for all Americans?
2. What would you do to enhance job growth and opportunities in Michigan?
3. If elected, what would you do to increase the chances of all children graduating from high school?
4. What attempts would you make to improve public education?
5. What would you do, if elected, to ensure quality, affordable, accessible healthcare for all?
6. If elected, what would you do to help ensure that all families can meet their basic needs of food, heat, and shelter?

Volunteer Spotlight
Volunteer for United Way -- Use Facebook

Do you enjoy social networking and meeting others who share common goals and values? Then we have the perfect volunteer opportunity for you!

United Way of America has created a challenge on Facebook among United Ways across the nation to heighten awareness of the impact we are making on communities each day. The challenge is taking place in three phases, with cash prizes awarded to the top United Way in each phase. All money won during the challenge will be used to increase our work with young adults and college campuses across the region.

Phase one concluded on June 29 and thanks to the hard work of our volunteers and friends on Facebook, we took home the top prize of $2,500 with our cause, 10,000 Strong for ASB Detroit 2009.

Though we won, the challenge isn't over yet. We need to keep the momentum going to win the second phase, which has a cash prize of $5,000 attached to it. The winning United Way in this phase will have the most "Active Recruiters" on its cause -- meaning the most individuals who recruit three or more people to join the cause.

If you're on Facebook, we know you have at least a few friends you could ask to join this important cause that will help revitalize metro Detroit through United Way's Alternative Spring Break program. If you're not on Facebook, now is the perfect time to join. Simply log on and follow the instructions to create a profile.

Once you have a profile, go to the Applications section of your Facebook page and search for the Causes application. If it isn't already, download it to your Facebook page and search for the Cause entitled "10,000 Strong for ASB Detroit 2009". Then, join the cause and invite three or more of your friends to also join. As they join, please ask them to invite three of their friends. This allows our cause to spread across your group of friends and their friends and their friends and so on, which will ultimately help us win phase two. If you are already a member of the cause, simply become an active recruiter by inviting three more of your friends who haven't joined yet.

Phase two continues until August 31 when the winner will be announced before the final phase of the challenge begins on September 1.

Facebook is a great way to stay connected to colleagues, friends and family as well as make a difference in issues that matter to you. Please take a few moments to participate in this challenge next time you log on to your Facebook page. Just a few mouse clicks can help bring $5,000 to your community.

Upcoming Events
Vote this primary season

On August 5, many cities in our region will have primary elections for federal and state government. At United Way, we believe public policy is a necessary tool to creating lasting change in our region. That policy starts with our elected officials.

The upcoming primary season is an important opportunity to cast a vote for the representatives you believe can make a difference in our community. To learn about the candidates running in your district and to locate your polling place, click here and enter your ZIP code.

If you aren't registered to vote and are over the age of 18, now is a great time to do so. With the general election just a few short months away, you have the opportunity to impact the future of our region, state, and the entire nation simply by casting your vote. United Way can help you register by clicking here and clicking on "Register to Vote".

Tip of the Month
Order your campaign supplies

We know you’re probably in the midst of planning for your campaign and checking things off of the to-do list. In between securing the location for your kick-off rally and making sure your solicitation process is ready to go, don’t forget to order your campaign supplies.

Beginning in August, United Way will have supplies available for use in your campaign. These items emphasize our new Live United theme and include the United Way for Southeastern Michigan logo. This year we have mouse pads, coffee mugs, post-it notes, pens and pencils, balloons, and popcorn available. These items make excellent additions to your campaign events or can be used as thank you items to reward employees for participating in the campaign. Additional United Way-themed products such as plaques and recognition gifts are available through United Way of America.

To order your supplies, simply contact your United Way representative who can help you complete the process.