Meet me at the fair. . .

Ideas for your peace exhibit

Design your space to draw people. Use principles of good design. Ask a person who works in decorating or marketing to work with your committee. Try to arrange your space so you draw people into the booth. Do not stand behind a table, if all possible. Ideally, workers should stand, so keep workers' shifts short and warn workers to wear comfortable shoes.

Keep things lively and colorful. Make it "homey" by bringing in an area rug, plants and flowers, backdrops, fabrics, etc. Use table skirts, extra lighting, balloons, and plenty of posters, banners, etc. Think about getting people's attention with mascots. Use pegboard backdrops to hold books. Use literature racks if you have lots of brochures. Include a hands-on activity which will draw children's attention.

Workers should be energetic, enthusiastic and up-beat looking. Costumes, attention-getting hats, peace t-shirts covered with plenty of buttons all help attract attention. Be assertive in getting people to stop by the booth. If you succeed in getting one or two people into your booth, you'll likely have six or eight.

Young children love to have stickers put on them, or handed out. They often can be attracted into the booth and parents have to follow. Kids also like candy, coloring books or pages, ink stamps on their hand. Kids get tired at the fair and want to sit down. Make a story circle of small chairs and have a storyteller, reader or video. Keep the stories short.

Older kids like information for school reports. Develop or purchase materials which include facts and figures or other information suitable for reports and promote it this way. Topics could include racism, the arms race, conflict management, etc. Middle and high schoolers will respond to this if you offer it to them with the suggestion that school reports are just around the corner. Note: if they follow through, you've reached a teacher an entire classroom! Older kids go for posters and free stuff of all kinds.

Parents and grandparents and other adults go for free pens, "golden rulers," refrigerator magnets and car litter bags (environmental concerns). Parents are looking for information about conflict resolution at home and at work, how to have a "peaceful" family, how to teach peace to children. Be sure to have plenty of practical, easy-to-read information.

A door prize drawing is a great way to collect a mailing list and get people into your booth. While they are signing up you can talk to them or give them a brochure. (This is called the "momentum of compliance." When they sign up, and talk to you, they're more willing to take information from you.)

Your PRIZE can be donated by a generous individual who wants free advertising. It's nice if your prize can be displayed in the booth. The bigger and more exciting, the better. Prize that work well include a Berlin Flyer Wagon, picnic tables and outdoor furniture (especially handmade) or a "peaceful vacation" at a bed & breakfast, camp, or retreat center.

A printer can make up a pad with space for name, address, phone and a box to check if they'd like to be on your mailing list. Include a message, slogan or logo on this. (You can also make these.) Have them stuff their address in a colorful box with a slit in the top. (Tell them to keep the pen.)

Another idea: "A cup of cold water in Jesus' name." People at the fair get thirsty and the drinks are all pretty expensive. You might be surprised how happy people are for a cup of cold water, and it's another low-cost way to establish the "momentum of compliance!" Check to see if the Culligan Man is willing to place water in your booth.

What is all of this going to cost? Quite a bit! This is home missions; budget for it or ask members for donations. A booth such as the one described here might cost $1000, including some materials which could be re-used. A local business might agree to order "freebies" with your message and their name in the corner or on the back. This is a big PLUS to them because they can get their name out in the fair without having to BE there. They might even want to sponsor the whole booth! Some may be satisfied with a large sign that says:

Peace It Together stickers provided by The Olde Dutch Quilt Shoppe.
 

Posters about racism were provided through a grant from the Greater Mennoville Coalition for Equality.
 

The interactive computer program in this peace booth was designed and created by subsidiaries of Cyber-Menno: your link to a peaceful solar system.