PROGRAMS

Coming up with new and fun program topics and activites for local clubs can be time consuming and frustrating. Here are some ideas that other clubs have come up with. Please feel free to submit your club's ideas for posting here also.

• Disney and Hallmark - NEW - 8/26/01

• How do I find those missing ornaments? - (Diane Z - WI) Different avenues of finding ornaments you would like to have in your collection. ie. internet, swap and sells, magazine adds. Bargain hunts

• Display Ideas - (Diane Z - WI) - Have a round robin discussion of unique ways of displaying items. Have them come prepared to tell of the most unusual display they have seen or heard about. Pictures welcome! Bring in a display and show how it was put together.

• My Favorite Ornament - (Diane Z - WI) Have everyone bring in one their favorite ornaments and tell why.

• Decorating Contests - (Diane Z - WI) Easter time..have everyone bring in any self- hand decorated egg. --- Halloween tree from a real branch...decorated --- July 4th Swag..decorated --- Christmas miniature tree ...decorated ---have ballots for best/worst with prizes for both

• Visit Another Club- (Diane Z - WI)

• Take Pictures! - (Diane Z - WI) Have a group picture at the Mall or other inexpensive place with the Easter Bunny, Santa, etc...just for the fun of it. Can put in album and post in sponsor's store to generate some interest in our club. Color copies would be available to any member.

• Tree Toppers - (Diane Z - WI) Can discuss the early tree toppers that Hallmark came out with . What everyone's favorite one is and why.

• Cookie Cutters - (Diane Z - WI) Cookie trade by all who attend. Everyone brings in at least 2 doz. cookies. Each attending member takes one of each kind. The ones left can be packaged up for a charity. Can bring in some of the different cc's made. shapers,eyelet,painted,hard/soft plastic

• Merry Miniatures - (Diane Z - WI) History and samples of these little figurines

• Tender Touches - (Diane Z - WI) History of these porcelain figurines by Ed Seale. Samples

• Stocking Holders - (Diane Z - WI) History and samples

• Miniature Ornaments...Growing in popularity - (Diane Z - WI)

• Spotlight a specific artist...Ed Seale, Linda Sickman, Duanne Unrah.etc. - (Diane Z - WI)

• Race For Space... different styles of outer space ornaments - (Diane Z - WI)

• Sports Figures....cars, basketball, football, boxing, fishing,etc. - (Diane Z - WI)

• Kiddie Cars... nostalgia many... different sizes for collectors - (Diane Z - WI)

• Betsey Clarke..been around from the beginning of ornaments - (Diane Z - WI)

• AOT's ...the history of the artist on tour...how, why, what. - (Diane Z - WI)

• Maxine...Hmk is starting a new [sub] club with her as the head icon. - (Diane Z - WI)

• Crayola...Hmk. has a lot of close ties with this company - (Diane Z - WI)

• Any of the Series can be a topic - (Diane Z - WI)

• Lapel buttons by Hmk. ....There are tons of these out there! - (Diane Z - WI)

• NON-HALLMARK IDEAS - other collectibles, many of these can tie into Hallmark ornaments and Merry Miniatures - Radko and other blown glass companies [can be held in conjunction w/ Hmk glass]; Charming Tails..cute by Dean Griff; Cherish Teddies...popular Precious Moments ...been around a long time; TY beanies..now THERE'S a hot one for you! Margeret Furlong..does lovely seashell ornaments; Silver and other precious metal ornaments; Department 56; Fontanini...beautiful nativity pieces,esp.; Dolls...Madame Alexander/ Barbie/Raggedy Ann & Andy; Bells; Harbor Lights...lighthouses are very poplular; Disney; Plates; Crystal and Glass; New Millinium ornaments...lots coming our way..Should be interesting; Flowers... their meanings ,etc; Furbys & other toys that make the top 10 list at Christmas; Bears; Any odd thing that someone might collect..baby bottles, glass insulators, snowmen, angels, rocks, tins, stamps, coins Ask members if they collect anything in particular.

• Wreath Decorating Workshop - (Mary L. - MMMM, Tropical Trails of TX) Because AOT is having the wreath contest I called the local craft store to reserve their craft room and have a store employee lead us in a wreath making workshop. Members are to bring their ornaments that they are going to hang on the wreath. Get cost of workshop basic materials and deadline members have to RSVP in newsletter. Meet after workshop for lunch or dinner. Have another store personnel judge the finished wreaths and give a top first, second and third place prizes from the sponsoring Hallmark store.

Spring Hat Contest - (Mary L., Tropical Trails of TX) Hat can be any type or material. Painted or covered with fabric, bows, etc. Hat must contain Hallmark product such as ornaments, pins, MM, or any Hallmark item. At our hat contest some that we had were a fishing hat with fishing ornaments on it. Easter ornaments on tissue flowers decorating a big brim hat. Chef hat with food ornaments hung from it. Sombero hat with Feliz Navidad ornaments. Wool Stocking hat with Frosty Friends.

Flash Cards - (Mary L., Tropical Trials of TX) This can be used with Christmas Dream Book or Easter Ornament booklets. Scan ornaments on a scanner to enlarge or just cut them out of book. Tape or glue to index cards and write correct name of ornament on back. "Flash" to club members. Whoever says name of ornament first wins card. Person with most cards at end of game, wins prize.

"Pin" on some fun contest - (Mary L. - MMMM....Mary's Miniatures Only Club) Select a season when there is a lot of the Hallmark plastic type pins. i.e.-Easter, Valentine's, Halloween or Christmas. Tell before meeting in your newsletter or phone your members that they are to wear every pin they have with this season's theme on clothes to next meeting. Member with most pins wins prize.

Local Club Trivia - (Donna S - VA) Test your members on how well they know their own clubs history. Name of our Newsletter? first Prez?, current VP? etc. Prizes to those who know the most.

Holiday Cooking - (Herb and Donna S - VA) Have people bring in their favorite holiday dish for attendees to taste/share, a copy of the recipe, hmmmm already submitted ahead of time and copied, for an impromptu club cook book.

Insuring your collection - this one is better suited for new collectors. Most "die hard" collectors already know all about this one and may find it kind of boring.

Decorating Contests - (Submitted by Donna S) - Decide what kind of decorating you want to do... wreaths or miniature trees make nice mobile "pallettes" on which to paint with your Hallmark ornaments. Have each member bring their creation to the meeting. Provide attendees with voting ballots and supply a nice prize for the winning entries. Some variations: Themes: have everyone create a wreath or tree based on a theme. Seasonal: how about an Easter or Halloween themed wreath or "tree."

 

Costume Contest - (Submitted by Donna S) - This one would be really nice for the Halloween time frame meeting or for those brave enough how 'bout using the costumes during Premiere weekend and recruiting some new members! Have each member design a costume based on a Hallmark ornament. Participants wear the costumes to the meeting, meeting attendees get to identify the ornaments and vote on the best costumes. Why not give out prizes for "best costume design," "most creative," etc.

 

"My Collection" - Have members bring in and share their personal collections.

 

Round Robin - (Submitted by Diane Z) - Each year 3-6
people host an open house to view decorations. Done in Jan. ..after the
holiday crush, we all meet at sponsor's store, get a map and car pool .
Only stay about 15-25 min in each home. Finger snacks are usually out,
but we all bring our own soda/coffee. Lets the host join us at the other
homes. This year I brought a camcorder and showed it at the next
meeting. Was a hit and will add this extra to our yearly outing.

 

Protecting your Collectibles From Theft - Have a Crime Prevention Specialist come and speak to your club about protecting your collectibles from the bad guys.

 

Club Auction of donated items held as fund-raiser, and provided great deals to members.

 

Swap Meet with admission “fee” of canned goods for charity food drive and drew interest from public concerning collectible ornaments, Hallmark, our club etc.

 

Hallmark Sales Reps - Have your sponsoring store set up a meeting with the Hallmark Sales Rep. Then it's time to get down to the nitty gritty (and hey if you here any good rumors be sure to let me know!)

 

Member Experts - You probably have members in your very own club that could speak on their own particular area of expertise, such as computers/Internet, Sec. Mkt, etc.

 

Hallmark themed Scavenger Hunt

 

Social Hour - Use any excuse you can think of to hold club socials. It doesn't have to be a "meeting" with a "program" - get together, eat, schmooze and above all talk Hallmark!!! If you're really creative plan some Hallmark games or fun activities, serve some snacks or have a Bar-B-Que. Just be sure to have some FUN!!