The MSUP Advantage

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The MSUP Advantage

• PJ Hagerdorn
• PASNLC
• Peoria, IL

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Peoria Area SeniorNet Learning Center

• Launched October 1989
• Sponsors allow us to charge no fees for classes
• Longest running LC in state
• Sixth longest running LC in the U.S.

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Why MSUP for PASNLC?

• To Support regional rep-Mel
• HQ answered request for Office software, we
  support their efforts with grant
• We saw great possibilities with this opportunity

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MSUP Requirements

• 501(c)3 status
• Non-religious
• Not established educational facility
• Minimal reporting elements
• Check HQ website for more details
• www.seniornet.org

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Perceived Potential for Growth

• Revitalize program
• Something new to offer
• Creative challenges
• Baby boomers
• Potential for new volunteers
• Different perspectives
• New ideas

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What weve gained

• Greater community awareness
• New opportunities for volunteers
• Returning students
• New students
• New volunteers
• Sponsor appreciation-not same old people/same old
  thing
• Additional sponsor

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Touting MSUP Courses

• Helped us recruit new volunteers
• Helped us recruit a new sponsor
• Helped us provide a new benefit to our sponsors
  by training their staff

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Additional Benefits

• Personal growth for volunteers
• MS Certification nets employees greater income
  possibilities (One teacher made 6 hr more with
  cert.)
• Use MSUP to solicit new sponsors
• New Software curriculum

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BenefitsMaintaining the Brainwith New Learning

• Increase volunteer contribution
• Increases employment possibilities
• Reduces cabin fever boredom
• Decreases depression
• Alzheimers association study

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Alzheimers Association Stats

• Facts
• Most common form dementia
• 10 over 65
• 50 over 85
• Uncontrollable risk factors
• Aging
• Family history

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RecommendationsAlzheimers Association

• East wisely
• Stay physically active
• Remain socially involved
• Keep mentally active
• Brain maintenance-mental acuity
• Slow progression of Alzheimers

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Maintain Your Brain Campaign

• Current events, read, puzzles, games
• Tinker --hobbies, crafts, cars
• Write letters or e-mail
• Learn new skills
• Design or create something
• Computer programs

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Promote Benefits to Sponsors

• Maintaining sponsorship through program
  expansion
• Exposure through conferences
• Sponsor booth space
• Increased awareness/publicity/exposure

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Sponsor Businesses

• Offer fliers, newsletters, brochures
• Promote benefits
• To customers
• Good PR for business
• Offer staff training - MSUP curriculum
• Solicit help with publicity
• Marketing Department press release?
• Offer blurb for employee newsletter

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Publicize! Publicize! Publicize!
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Word of Mouth Advertising

• Always, always, always promote sponsors
• Ask students to thank sponsors
• Ask students to tell others about the program -
  Goodwill ambassadors
• Students may help solicit additional sponsors

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Tips Tricks Create a Demand

• Use teasers to promote new courses for new
  semester
• Short seminars to assess interest
• Course evaluations
• Include interest survey
• Focus group among students-creates buy-in

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Tips Tricks (continued)

• Distribute post newsletters fliers
• Retirement communities
• Libraries
• Churches
• Form strategic alliances
• RSVP
• Senior Centers
• Others in your area?

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Sample blurb Web Design

• Web design doesnt need to be complicated or
  expensive. Whether youre interested in using web
  design for business or personal use, this 8-week
  course will provide the basics to get you
  started. Participants must be computer literate
  to take this course. Space is limited so call
  today to reserve your seat! (call to action)

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Branch out

• Offer classes at different times
• Evenings
• Saturdays
• Find or create special events
• Health fairs
• Offer graduation ceremony
• Speakers bureau
• Retired teacher groups
• Optimist Clubs, Kiwanis, Rotary

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Old adage

• If you always do the same thing, youll get the
  same results.

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Overcoming Objections

• Brainstorm pros cons
• Pike syndrome
• Stagnate waters breed bad bugs
• Recruit new people
• Recruit new sponsor specifically for MSUP

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Personal Methods

• Distribute CDs
• Print distribute first lesson
• Charge for curriculum
• 3 hole/doubled sided advantage
• 5/8 certificates
• appeals to working class
• others like it

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Personal Preferences

• Longer course time (graphics)
• Next week, we will explore
• Save something good for last
• Open lab
• Instructor/coach availability
• Personal contact info
• Follow up
• Im a volunteer!

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The Challenge

• Take a chance and see how farit can take YOUR
  Learning Center!
• What do you have to lose?
• You dont have to return the wheelbarrow!

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World Volunteer Conference

• In response to the observation that volunteers
  are too often seen as amateurs, Just remember
  Noahs Ark was built by amateurs. The Titanic was
  built by professionals!

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Thank You!
Questions??? Email PJ Hagerdorn
denandpj_at_mtco.com