Host a party! Celebrate our seat at the table!
October 2006

Step 1: Decide   |   Step 2: Set Your Goals Step 3: Plan and Invite | Invitations and Tips Step 4: The Event   |    Step 5: Follow up

---

Thank you!

One of the great ways you can help WAND step boldly into the future is by getting women to come together at a table and share a meal, and our experiences. Together, we will celebrate, and discuss the many ways WAND is helping women change today’s pressing debates -- on peace and security, nuclear and budget issues, and the role of the U.S. in the world.

When you host a dinner, you gather friends and colleagues to cover these themes, and talk about WAND in such a way that your guests will want to get involved and stay involved. Inspire them to become committed givers to WAND, contributing monthly or annually to our work! Motivate them to spread the word about WAND and take action toward building a safer, saner world.

These dinners are part of WAND’s nationwide effort to inspire thousands of new women and reactivate just as many former activists to get going on the issues they care deeply about.

These dinners will help WAND take a big step toward multiplying women's seats at the tables of power. Thank you!

1) Help WAND increase its financial resources and ensure our dynamic programs remain strong and evolve over the future;
2) Raise awareness of the many exciting ways WAND helps women become “agents of change” at the community, state and federal levels;
3) Spread the word about our issues: educate, empower, and encourage women to take action today to make a difference.

Join us! And in return, we’ll send you your very own, limited edition of the WAND 25th Anniversary Apron along with heaps of thanks for pitching in!

In these critical times, help your friends, neighbors and co-workers know what a difference they can make when they PULL UP A SEAT and HAVE THEIR SAY on the vitally important experience and perspective women bring to the tables of power.

---

Step 1: Decide

If you’re considering hosting an event, don't worry: it can be simple to plan and organize.

It doesn’t have to be a sit down dinner. And you don’t have to do it all yourself! Join together with other women you enjoy and host an event together. Maybe you’d like to host a picnic, potluck or barbecue. Perhaps a brunch, tea party or wine & cheese get-together. Dessert nights are also popular. There are so many possibilities -- but they all revolve around the same basic formula:

• Invite women to gather for some food, fun, conversation and connection.
• Get women talking with one another about transforming the world through increasing women’s leadership, power and authority at the tables of power.

---

Step 2: Set Your Goals

We envision exciting conversations about how important it is to have women in elected office, women speaking out, women making a difference in every place and in every way.

Encourage women to give to the future and join us.

We hope you will keep three goals in mind:

---

Step 3: Plan and Invite | Invitations and Tips

To keep planning and decisions simple just think Who? What? Where? and When?

Who?
You know who among your friends, family, work associates and acquaintances might enjoy themselves. Be sure to over-invite! Generally, for every 30 people invited, 6 -10 will actually attend. You can have a great dinner with even as few as five people but if you need more names, ask friends to make suggestions and be willing to follow up.

What?
Food: Chances are your guests will enjoy whatever type of dinner or event feels fun and manageable to you. There is no end to the possibilities, but let simplicity rule so that you enjoy your guests rather than get stuck in the kitchen or caught up in the details of a complex meal. You may want to have at least one vegetarian dish available. And no fussy desserts that distract from the lively conversation that will be in full swing. A simple tray or two of assorted cookies is always a safe bet, and you can add some fruit for color if you like.

Drink: It’s entirely up to you; if you decide to offer alcohol, it’s nice to provide red and white wine; in general, it’s best to offer sparkling water with fresh lime or lemon and/or a selection of soft drinks. About half the crowd will appreciate a cup of decaf coffee or decaf tea after dinner.

Where?
If your party is at home or at a friend's, make sure there is no conflict with other family members or housemates. Then block out that time and date. Other locations may require a reservation and in some cases a small deposit, so don’t assume and be sure to double-check.

When?
Pick a date and time that isn’t stressful for you. Usually 4-6 weeks down the line is ideal, but be sure you have at least 10 days to plan and prepare.

Invitations and Tips

---

Step 4: The Event

Welcome your guests. It’s nice to be greeted at the door. Point out where they can put their belongings and where food and drink are located. Ask them to sign the Guest Sheet if applicable. Finally, let guests know discreetly where the bathroom unless it is obvious.

Serve dinner soon. Start serving dinner approximately 30-40 minutes after invitation arrival time if possible. People will be hungry and have limited time if it is a week night. It’s not fair to make punctual guests wait to eat due to late arrivals.

Seating: This depends entirely upon the size of your group and familiarity. Let small groups seat themselves especially if most know one another. For larger groups it’s a nice touch to indicate seating, as it reduces the chance for awkward moments among guests.

Facilitate: When you’re ready to move from general visiting and greeting to the dinner table or program portion of the evening, be clear to everyone that it’s time to get the group portion of the evening rolling. Welcome everyone as a group, introduce yourself and make other key introductions now. If you’re not the facilitator, introduce that person so they can get a quick “go around” of names and where guests are from.

Don’t assume the conversation will take care of itself, and work out ahead of time who will say what and when, so that a lively conversation ensues with ample opportunity to weave in information about WAND and why WAND is unique among women’s groups and peace groups.

Give a little background on WAND, and why you appreciate the organization. Explain that WAND has rich 25 year history and today is the only national peace and security organization educating diverse constituencies of women young and old and linking women legislators across the country with local women activists as well as women in Congress in order to address issues of security, militarism, violence and human needs.

Use the questions from the Why Women Matter? enclosure to stimulate conversation. As facilitator, you will have to gauge when to interject new questions and comments to keep the conversation fresh and stimulating. And of course, there is always the chance that someone will want to dominate the discussion -- in which case you must be prepared to gently but firmly point out the importance of everyone getting a chance to speak.

The Ask: Pay attention to time, no matter how fabulous the conversation. When it is time to wrap up, signal the person planning to make the case for supporting WAND. You’ve just given everyone a great meal and facilitated a great exchange among terrific women.

Now’s the moment to capture that energy, and encourage these women to take the next step: send a message to Congress, sign up for action alerts, host a dinner of their own, help to raise money, and donate.

Be sure to leave enough time to invite support and queries; allow an extra ten minutes to complete pledge cards or write checks.

Thank everyone for coming and let them know how much you appreciate their willingness to participate in a format that is bringing women together all around the country to share their stories, struggles and successes at bringing our voices and visions to the tables of power.

When each woman leaves, be sure to invite her to take information about WAND and WAND programs. If you need materials, please get in touch with the WAND office: 781 643 6740.

---