National Walk @ Lunch Day

Walk With Us! | Overview | Health Benefits | Rainy Day Plan | Promotional Materials

A Rainy Day Plan

We hope everyone has a sunny day and can walk outside on Wednesday, April 30th. Just in case Mother Nature showers us with rain or even snow on the second annual National Walk @ Lunch Day^SM, we have some planning tips to make your event a success in the sun, rain or snow! While we can’t control the weather, we can plan ahead to prepare for any weather that comes our way!

Here are a few event planning tips to consider:

1. Take it Inside. Research indoor venues in your area. You may consider an indoor track at a local high school, a convention center, or perhaps consider renting large tents to cover your walking event. When researching the different indoor options, remember that it is imperative to reserve these venues early.

• Nothing Can Stop Us. If you do not anticipate a heavy storm, you may want to provide ponchos and/or umbrellas for participants. You should alert your staff via e-mail that it might rain or snow but the event will still go on! If you cannot provide ponchos or umbrellas, encourage your employees to come to work prepared. It’s important to communicate throughout the week via reminder e-mails.

• All Clear in the Afternoon. Remember: the walk should not last much longer than your employees’ regular lunch break. Often, we experience bad weather in the morning and clearing in the afternoon. If you find it necessary to move your walk later in the afternoon, let everyone on your planning committee know and remember to alert your participants of the change.

Getting the Word Out

Develop a communication plan to alert all of your participants of a change in the event time or date.

• E-mails are an effective tool to quickly communicate your message. Make sure you have your list and message prepared in case you need to notify participants of any change.
  
  
• Encourage participants to log-on to your Web site to receive the most accurate event information.
  
  
• A dedicated phone line with a recorded message is a quick and easy way for participants to check the status of the event.
  
  
• Send an advisory to all your local television and radio stations. Most will make regular cancellation announcements.