CHIP SUMMIT 2010
Advanced Leadership Give & Take Session
Wednesday, Nov. 18, 3:00-5:30 pm
Facilitators:Sandra Kolliniatis & Kathy Reynaert of Fort Myers, FL CHIP
Agenda:Alumni Programs (a. increasing attendance, b. programming)
Advertising / Marketing
Schedule of CHIP Program
Food Samples / Menus
Synopsis: (including topic, speaker, contact info & CHIP location)
ALUMNI TOPICS
1. Alumni Supper ClubNancy Loper, phone 541-562-9239, Cove, OR
Cove CHIP has a weekly supper club on Monday evenings. Each attendee contributes a dish to suit the evening’s theme—breakfast, ethnic, brown bag lunch, etc. Once a month supper club is followed by a regular alumni meeting.
2. Alumni Programs Kathy Reynaert, , Fort Myers, FL
Program ideas:a. review one of the “daily handouts” from the CHIP program
b. have a demo on sprouting or raw foods
c. have a speaker or video on organic farming or excitotoxins
d. increase attendance using:
email announcements
phone those who have been absent for several meetings
have a drawing & give away the food demo as a door prize
make CHIP food available for sale at alumni meetings
(bulk items, homemade bread, cashew cheese sauce, etc.)
e. keep alumni feeling connected with an email newsletter
3. Alum. Prgms+Spiritual OutreachGordon Rayner, ,London, ON
London, Ontario CHIP has had a monthly alumni program for the last 7-8 years. Each program usually includes a DVD (often Dr. McDougall or 3ABN) and three food demos. Also, the alumni use their talents to present an annual CHIP Christmas Concert for the church. They also do a fundraising supper (charge is $7.50 for the meal) with an attendance of about 35. Their alumni are about 75% non-SDA. What’s the Connection? is used as follow up. It begins with supper at 6 pm then the study is led by their pastor.
They have also started a weekly Bible study with the CHIP people who have come toWhat’s the Connection? at the Rayner’s house. They studied the book Messiah for 1 1/2 years and now are studying Daniel and Revelation. They start with supper at 6pm and do the Bible study from 7-8:30. The pastor comes and assists most weeks with the study. They also did a week of Celebrating Life in Recovery with Cherie Peters last year.
4. Popular Alumni ProgramsSandra Kolliniatis, , Fort Myers, FL
Two of the alumni programs that attracted a large number were:
a. meeting at a restaurant that had added a lot of new heart healthy menu items
b. “CHIPnic” at a local park including a potluck picnic & a fitness walk led by an exercise specialist
5. Alumni Program Ideas + ScheduleWendy Gable, , Alhambra, CA
a. Program topic idea: using herbs & spices (Wendy has a PowerPoint available for this.)
b. Dr. McDougall’s website ( has an advanced study DVD set which includes some great ones on diabetes and cancer that are useful for alum. mtgs.
c. “Forgiveness” program is popular at the holidays.
d. Best attendance is on Sabbath afternoon. Alhambra’s alumni meetings are open to all who are interested and also serve as a recruiting tool to attract future attendees.
6. Alumni Newsletter, etc. Jerome Kellner, , Kahului, HIGoogle Docs (docs.google.com) is free and very useful for creating and sharing alumni newsletters as well as other documents, spreadsheets and presentations, etc.
7. Alumni Fundraising, etc.Laura Alfonso, , Kahului, HI Alumni at Kahului enjoy purchasing packets of “snacks on the run” and “soup on the run” (which include barley, spice pkts., etc. & instructions) at alumni meetings. These packets make their lives easier and also raise money for CHIP. They also do a “Walk for Health” event as an annual fundraiser. Walkers get sponsors and are treated to breakfast just before the walk. The alumni sponsors a Christmas potluck & party, too.
8. Alumni RelationshipsHarold Burden, , Adventist CHIP Assn. It’s important to go beyond alumni meetings to true connectedness using informal contacts, especially one on one. Seek opportunities to meet with individual alumni and keep in contact by phone.
9. Alumni CommunicationKathy Rayner, , London, ON Maintain contact with weekly emails to alumni and by mailing out flyers. She also phones about twenty alumni each month from whom she hasn’t heard for awhile.
10. Alumni Field Trip Rose Gomez, , Bury, England Their chapter took a field trip to Stanborough Press’s “Open Day” open house event where Dr. Diehl was there in person and signed their certificates.
11. Alumni Meeting Schedule Ron Sigler, , Wickenburg, AZ Question: When does everyone have their alumni meetings? Answer (by show of hands): Weekday evenings are most popular. Some meet on Sunday afternoons.
12. Alumni Priorities Pat Bullock, , Apopka, FL It’s important to make friends and meet needs in the community.
MARKETING TOPICS
13. Newspaper Advertising Nancy Gable, , Savanna, IL,
Press releases (newspaper articles) create credibility for the CHIP program and attract participants more successfully than newspaper ads. Note, though, that newspapers are more likely to print press releases for you if you also buy an ad. She used before & after photos (first of herself & later of participants with their permission) to accompany her press releases. She also uses these photos in newspaper display ads. The before & after photos have been very effective in attracting participants. She now takes before photos of each participant who grants permission. They are told about it a few days ahead so they can come prepared.
14. MicroCHIP for MarketingSandra K. & Kathy R., , Fort Myers, FL One alumnus wanted to share the CHIP message, so borrowed the microCHIP DVD’s and did presentations at her holistic living center. As a result fourteen participants attended the full CHIP program afterward. In January, this approach will be tried at the hospital and in several golf course communities in hopes it will serve as a feeder program for CHIP. The Healthy Beginnings DVD’s will be shown, along with one food sample, and a brief talk or demo on a basic health principal. Handouts have been prepared and are available from them.
15. expo booth+AARP partnership Kathy Ft Myers, FLFort Myers CHIP had a booth at the local Mature Living Expo. They used the opportunity to network with people from other organizations as well as the public. The AARP/Walgreen’s Wellness Tour Van was there doing free health screenings. CHIP partnered with them, giving info to people as they received their health screening results. As a result, CHIP was allowed to partner with AARP’s Wellness Tour at other locations around the community in the following week. Also, she recommended making CHIP relevant to current events by using appropriate buzzwords (example: Do-It-Yourself Healthcare Reform).
16. CHIP ShirtsSandra Kolliniatis, , Fort Myers, FL
During CHIP sessions and marketing events, CHIPers should wear CHIP logo shirts. The Fort Myers chapter has polo shirts & aprons with an embroidered logo. They were purchased at a very reasonable price from Wholesale Screen Printing & Embroidery, where our logo is already digitized. Their contact info is phone 239-263-7061 or 888-383-4876; ask for Kelley Steffan, ext. 111 and ask for info on their specials. They will ship sample shirts to be tried on at an alumni meeting so that people can order correct sizes. This is highly recommended because various brands are sized very differently. If you prefer your shirts done locally, check your yellow pages under “embroidery.”
17. Marketing in Malls & through Doctors Urma Tomby,, Toronto, ON
A. She runs CHIP DVD promos in malls in Toronto. She approaches the mall management and tells them she’d like to do some free B/P monitoring , nutrition, weight loss & diabetes counseling, and that the Canadian Cancer Society and Heart and Stroke Foundation will also be there. (She piggy-backs with these reputable organizations to add credibility to CHIP untilher reputation iswell established there. ADRA’s booth goes too.) With a lap top the 11 minute CHIP DVD can be shown or the one with Dr. Diehl talking about weight loss. Brochures and invitations are distributed for upcoming CHIP programs. And those interested can sign up with their contact info to be contacted about future CHIP events.
B. She also has established relationships with doctors that now refer patients to CHIP.
18. Marketing with Chamber of CommerceHerb Sorensen,,Escondido, CA
He contacted the Chamber of Commerce CEO & Director & sent them info on CHIP preparatory to meeting with them in person. This led to an opportunity to submit an article for free publication in their news magazine with a circulation of 15,000. They will soon begin submitting a regular column called Healthy Perspectives.
19. Marketing that Did Not Work Larry Shipowick, , Kelowna, BC
He’s learned what doesn’t work and why: Dr. Barnard spoke at Kelowna Health Forum and CHIP had a booth there just two days before their first info session. They assumed a big response would result, but no attendees resulted from this promotion. Potential registrants apparently got an overdose—too much message at once—and were scared off.
20. Marketing at Hospital+ Elsewhere Kathy , London, ON
She puts up posters/flyers on the bulletin boards on each floor of the hospital where she works, and posts them by the hospital elevators, too. If they disappear she puts up more. This is their most successful marketing because sick people are open to making an effort to regain their health. The hospital’s chief educator went through CHIP and loves it and agreed to let them do a free info session at the hospital. Also, they’ve gotten a few participants from posters on grocery store bulletin boards. The CHIPers always carry flyers to give out as the opportunity arises. Also, their website—londonchip.org—has recipes, etc.which generates calls/emails requesting more detail.
21. Marketing at Health Food Stores LaNaya acoma, WA
Her most successful marketing is through info sessions done at health food stores. She wanted to do info sessions at YMCA also, but that isn’t allowed in her area.
22. Mass Marketing Ideas Frank McMiller, , British Columbia Conference
A. Branding is important. Contact a sign company that does car wraps and ask for a rear window wrap promoting CHIP that also includes the sign company as sponsor.Negotiate with them for free or almost free. It serves to promote them and you. Frank would be pleased to help you design a universal sign or two that would work for most windows.
B. Bring a major speaker to town (Diehl, Campbell, Barnard, etc.). Visit other agencies to develop cooperative relationships and draw on their data bases.Get corporate sponsorships for this.Ask other agencies to help pay for things you want to do and then get their names/logos in print to demonstrate that you are giving back to them. Do this in the local newspaper when writing about what CHIP is doing locally--mention your sponsors and corporate donors in articles and send the articles (or photocopies of them) to the sponsors. Never assume that they read them. Force them to notice. They will see it is important to you and favor supporting you again. Phone them and thank them, too. Be in their face....in a nice way. Frank has proven over and over again that with this effort, you will get sponsors to pay entirely for your event expenses.
C. Train CHIPers to talk about CHIP. Develop lingo/verbage so they are able to talk about CHIP with those in need who cross their paths, inspire hope, and get permission to contact them later. Then do follow up with people and many will be motivated to at least come to an Info Session. People respond to others when they see the interest in their life is one of genuine concern and caring. And people have nothing to lose in coming to a FREE Public Info Session.
D. Visit service clubs (Lions, Rotary, etc.). They are usually looking for speakers. Use a response devise so you can get in touch with people later. (At the Summit, Wes Youngberg revealed their amazing offer of Health Lectures, backed by 1200 slides for PowerPoint. These will be excellent for presentation ideas.)
E. Get brand new graduates to write or tell their testimonies (strike while the iron is hot.) One option for this is to provide time at one of the CHIP Sessions with soft music playing and supply paper & pens, plus take photos.People must sign a waiver that allows the chapter to use their testimony with or without their name or photo. A page can be designed to include space for them to write their testimony and sign the waiver at the bottom of page.
F. Frank has developed a PVC stand alone pipe frame with a banner to take to the mall where one could sit and talk with people to inspire hope, show compassion to people and talk with them one on one, getting the word out about CHIP. The pipe frame instruction sheet could be put on line as PDFs for downloading if there is enough interest. It shows exactly what to buy at Home Depot, exact length to cut pieces and how to glue it all together. Approximate cost is $75. It works in conjunction with an 8 ft. table and would even work with a banner on each side and a table on each side for a dual team to manage traffic going both ways in a mall setting.
23. Marketing with Fair Booth Sandra Kolliniatis, , Fort Myers, FL
Having a booth at a health fair or senior expo is a great opportunity to network with other vendors who may be in a position to refer participants to CHIP. One tool is to have binders of local CHIP alumni testimonies to display and share (“life before CHIP & what CHIP did for me”). Their booth also did a drawing to give away a CHIP scholarship and some cookbooks. This captured contact info for those who stopped at the booth. She can share the master for printing the sign up cards used in the drawing.
24. Marketing to Doctor’s via Alumni; Parish NursesGinny Gabel, , Tillamook, OR. To sell doctors on CHIP, have them speak for alumni meetings. Prepare the alumni in advance by training them to respond appropriately to a doctor who has little knowledge of CHIP principles. Before the doctor’s talk, start by asking alumni to say what CHIP meant to them. Typically this impresses the doctor & gets his attention. Also—connect with parish nurses of other faiths. This is an opportunity to spread the word about CHIP to a ready audience.
25. Resources & Strategies Jody Perrecone, , Corporate CHIP
In reproducible documents there’s a one page article, “What Is CHIP?” that’s a good resource for marketing use. Also remember the brochures and posters available from LMI—have alumni distribute these in their workplaces and at the businesses they frequent. Remember that with their tightened budgets, newspapers now appreciate having people write articles for them, even regular features every couple weeks. The book Health Power is a resource of articles intended to be used in publications.
26. Marketing at Graduation Rex Sokolies, , Winnipeg, MB
Plan ahead and have brochures for the next session printed and ready to give out at graduation. This reaches the guests and gives alumni and new graduates something to begin handing out right away while enthusiasm is at its highest.
27. Innovative Marketing Ideas BonnieStathem, , Lebanon, OR
A. Has a custom designed business card to carry at all times…comes in handy when someone in line at the grocery store remarks on healthy items in the grocery basket, etc.
B. Brings healthy goodies to the clinic where she works to develop positive PR for CHIP. (They like these better than the donuts and sweets that are the usual fare there!)
C. Has info sessions at employee staff meetings at the clinic.
D. Contacts employee health manager of Samaritan Health (for that area) to send the CHIP announcement to each computer station in the district (all clinics and hospital and support staff.)E. Employee Health at their hospital pays 100% of the CHIP program for any employee, as part of the employee health benefit program.
F. Hospital now hosts CHIP at no charge--they are partnering with the local hospital to hold CHIP sessions there four nights a week for four weeks. Hospital has been very supportive in not charging for CHIP classes.(When financial times were better, they also supplied brochures to use as handouts.)
G. Will do CHIP banner across the highway in her town prior to the nextCHIP program.
H. She’s been visiting doctors to market CHIP, and provides them with CHIP tri-fold handouts to give to patients at their discretion.
28. Marketing in Non-SDA Churches Bill Dysinger, , Centerville, TN
After building relationships with other businesses, he was motivated to build relationships with churches of other faiths. He presented info on CHIP to the largest church in town (a Church of Christ) which resulted in many new CHIP participants from that congregation.