Creating a local play commission task force is one of the five commitments to meet to make your city a Playful City USA community! Learn more.
Think about all the different folks you interact with on a daily basis—your neighbors, the PTA, your colleagues, the parents at Girls Scouts or Boy Scouts meetings, your fitness class group at the gym, and more! Each could be your greatest ally in play, and together as a group with a unified message and vision, you will ensure your community has everything it needs to be playful. Forming a play committee is essential to building a strong and efficient advocacy initiative that can RALLY in often bigger ways than you alone might do.
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Once interest is piqued, it’s time to meet. Reach out to all of the folks you have shared your message with and set up biweekly or monthly meetings; consistency is key to keeping a strong advocacy movement alive. You’ll want to bring a short but well-thought-out agenda, you’ll want to bring snacks (which are always appreciated), and you’ll want to begin and end on time. Allow time for fun and getting to know each other, too.
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Lastly, consider the idea of having several “committees.” There will be folks in your group who have excellent media contacts and are successful with that kind of outreach; there are others who may be more creative and inventive, and they can be responsible for signage, marketing efforts, follow-up, and thank-you notes that are sincere, clever, and unique. There’s no limit to the number of committees you can have—and they are an excellent way to empower people and make the workload more manageable! Remember to include everyone in an area where he or she can succeed. Remember, when an individual feels personally connected and responsible to a cause or a group, he or she is more likely to remain active and engaged.
Ever put your name into a contest to win something big, and the rules say “need not be present to win"? Admit it—we all have—and what a good philosophy. Your fellow Playmakers do not need to be a part of the formal play committee or even have to live in the same city as you! Remember—this is a national movement. You can RALLY potential Playmakers all over the country through emails and phone calls, growing your very own Playmaker Network out and up. Share best practices by email or in phone conversations.
Consider the following groups as resources to grow your Playmaker Network:
"Play gives children a chance to practice what they are learning."
– Fred Rogers, American television personality, 1928–2003