While different campuses will tend to have different set-ups for their student planning committees, some may have a student event-chair or student-leader who oversees the MLK Challenge planning committee. This person's main role may be to support the committee, run meetings, etc, or they may serve as both the site-development coordinator AND the event chair. Either way, hopefully this page will provide some resources & ideas for supporting your committee.

One of the most important things that an MLK event-chair can do is offer guidance and great leadership to their team. On some campuses, this might mean meeting one-on-one (perhaps with your staff director as well) with each member of the committee to discuss responsibilities, answer questions, etc. You may also be responsible for running the meetings, developing agendas, etc. See timeline for ideas for what thing could be happening & when. And too, you also have the awesome & fun responsibility of helping your committee to get excited about this event, about honoring Dr. King, and educating others and yourselves about his dreams of social justice and equality.

For the most part, committees start meeting in late October or early November, and meet twice a week for about an hour. This may vary from campus to campus. With Thanksgiving break, and exams/winter break, that'll probably give you about 6 actual weeks of planning -- so there's a lot do in a rather short amount of time. Meetings that are task-oriented & allow each member to contribute their ideas (brainstorming sessions!) let people leave the meeting feeling accomplished & motivated to continue working.

Some ideas to keep your meetings interesting:

• Obviously the logistical planning piece of your meetings is essential (you are planning an MLK Challenge event after all). Don't forget about the big picture though -- honoring Dr. King through service. Perhaps spend some time at your first meeting talking about Dr. King's impact. Or include quotes on your agendas to remind people of the purpose of your event, even amidst all the crazy planning that may be going on.
  
• Encourage your planning committee members to come to each meeting with updates -- having "check-ins" with each member during the meeting means that everyone is up to speed and can offer suggestions/comments/etc.
• Spread the love -- of running the meeting. Encourage your committee members to lead sections of the meeting -- if the publicity coordinator needs help coming up with ideas for posters or advertising spots -- have him/her lead that discussion. People stay engaged when they have a piece of the responsibility.
• FOOD. Sometimes coordinating 5 busy student's schedules can mean very early or very late meetings...having food every once in a while (even if its only cookies) can serve as a pretty super motivator at 7 a.m.
• Goal-oriented endings to meetings. Having a designated part of your agenda be devoted to "what will you accomplish by the next meeting?" is a great way to end the meeting...people leave knowing what's expected of them.
  
• Setting your own deadlines. People respond better when they decide what to do, versus being told what to do. So, within the first few meetings...discuss as a group when you want your poster to be designed by, when you think club mailings, etc should begin. Once people have their "final" deadlines...they can begin working backwards to know when drafts/initial emails/etc need to be done by.
• Fun agendas. No one wants to feel like they're in class when they're really not. Entertaining agendas are, well, entertaining, and appreciated.
  

Resources:
See attached brainstorming/planning forms for day-of schedule & post-event planning.
There's also an attached agenda example from ASU's 2007 MLK Challenge planning committee meeting.
Check out http://www.mlkmobilization.org/resources.html & www.mlkday.gov for all kinds of resources for your committee & event about planning an MLK Day of Service. (not MLK Challenge specific, but lots of good info)