Lesson Learned: Backup Plan

This semester my public relations class has been working with Georgia College & State University Athletics to develop student involvement with the athletics program. Last semester, we developed a PR campaign and planned one specific game. This semester, we were each assigned one game to plan.

1.) My game was against USC Aiken. It wasn't hard to find an event because I was told by Athletics that the Milledgeville chapter of the Rotary Club had already expressed interest in doing something that day. I contacted the Rotary Club's contact, Renee Fontenot, and we began a dialogue of what the Rotary Club was doing at the event. About a week before the event, the Rotary Club backed out. Working with Athletics, we scrambled to come up with something to replace her event only to be told several days before the game that the Rotary Club event was back on.

A lack of communication proved to be disastrous in this case as she told all the details of her event to Al Weston, sports information director at GCSU. While Al assumed I knew all the information, Renee assumed that by telling Al she had secured the various things the Rotary Club needed at the game. The day of the game Renee was supposed to give me a script that was to be read during half time and the Rotary Club members were supposed to be recognized and give information out to anyone interested. Renee got sick the day of the event and I couldn't get in touch with her until the game had already been underway. We were approaching half time and I had to hastily find the president of the Rotary Club. He briefed me on some of the things their organization has done globally and locally. Then, I wrote a script.

2.) With so much miscommunication the game went surprisingly well. Al filled out the various commercial timeouts and other stoppages with Valentine's Day events and after the script was done I had time to enjoy the game. I periodically checked on the Rotary Club and asked them if they needed anything. They seemed happy with the brief recognition they had received and enjoyed the basketball game. The crowd that day was large although I think it had more to do with who we were playing than with the Rotary Club being present.

3.) So, the lesson I learned? Always have a backup plan. When things fall through have a simple and easy to execute plan. This will not only save you countless hours of anxiety but will impress clients and show initiative.

4.)I wish I could have had a backup plan. I could have done something very easily since the game came the day before valentines day. I could have done raffles and games to celebrate the holiday. We did have some of this (there was a Hershey kiss eating contest) but we could have done much more.

5.)If I had to grade myself, I would give myself a C. I felt completely unsatisfied after this event. I didn't work up to my potential and felt that it was a mediocre affair.

6.)"Mean in Green" is the campaign we came up with last year for Athletics. Because of this campaign, new logos were designed and are now being used on GCSU shirts and hats. I think one way to keep Mean in Green going is to really push the sells of these hats and shirts and make sure we link the logo with the slogan visually.