Satellite Events


As some satellite events could take a while to pull together, it is better to start early on them rather than later. Please let Wes know if you are planning an event, so that staff has ample time to help you. Below are some starting points and things to take into consideration when planning an event around the Walk.

Events to involve members of your Walk team

Hosting a Satellite Walk

This is the ideal event to hold in conjunction with the main Walk in Portland. A satellite walk can focus either on your personal Walk team or, better yet, involve the community at large!  Steps to consider:

  • Location - in terms of location within your city, consider whether it is easily accessible for everyone. Is the route itself accessible for most people, in terms of length, conditions of the path, and other physical considerations? Have you ever walked the route before?  Is there available parking?  Is it free? If not, can you negotiate an exemption for a non-profit event?
  • For most municipalities, if you are only gathering a small group, you will not need any sort of permit for public assembly. As satellite walk with just your walk team is essentially just a gathering of friends. 
  • If you open the walk up to the broader community, and have ATA promote the event as a satellite walk on our web page, we will need to keep an eye on the possible number of participants. If it looks like you might have a significant number of walkers, ATA can help with the logistics of securing a permit.
  • Please have at least one clipboard and some paper for recording the names of attendees, particularly those who may not have registered ahead of time. In addition, if you receive any donations at the time of the walk you will want to have an envelope in which you can store them. ATA can provide you with a template that you can use to print out some registration sheets.
  • Let ATA know you are holding a satellite walk!  If we know the details of your walk, we can promote it on the Walk web page.


Morning Coffee / Brunch / Cocktail Party

Invite the local members of your Walk team (friends, relatives, co-workers, etc.) over to your house or a local restaurant to celebrate ATA’s Walk to Silence Tinnitus.  Share with them your reasons for being part of ATA and how their gift is supporting research.

  • If you choose to meet your Walk team at your home, ATA can provide you with some materials that you can distribute to your guests.  Ear plugs, tinnitus information, or copies of Tinnitus Today would be available for you. 
  • If you elect to meet your group outside of your home, there are several considerations to take into account:
  • Is the location convenient for most members of your community?
  • Is it welcoming for families or large groups?  Do they perhaps have a private room for the gathering?
  • Be clear with your invitees as to whether you are hosting the event (i.e. covering the cost of food and beverages) or if you are simply inviting everyone to a group gathering, for which they are responsible for their own costs.

 

Ideas to involve the community at large

  • Host a Satellite Walk! – See above for details.
  • Gathering at a causal restaurant or pub
    An event open to the public, hosted (but not necessarily paid for!) by you.
    • Many of these locations have a large group room, and often will make it available for free. 
    • ATA can provide materials for the event and you should plan on saying few words about tinnitus, the American Tinnitus Association, and the Walk.
    • Have a registration form available so that we will know who attended the event.  You will also want something for storing any donations you get on site and tracking who made them.
    • Be clear in the invitation that this is a no-host event supporting ATA and providing information about our mission
  • Hosting a talk
    Many groups might be willing to have you speak about tinnitus and the ATA.  Local libraries, social or business groups (Rotary, Elks, etc., etc.), Senior Centers, audiology clinics, or any place that you think might be good!
    • ATA would be happy to help you prepare materials (electronic and physical) and to provide you with information for your talk.
    • Share your story, your experience with ATA, and the message that you are not alone with tinnitus and that ATA is here to help.
  • Radio or TV interview
    Local radio and TV stations are always looking for stories to air on the weekends.  Information about tinnitus, particularly in light of the huge incidence of tinnitus among veterans and returning military personnel, will appeal to broadcasters.  They may be interested in either a live segment or recording something to be aired during a locally oriented show.  If this is something you would like to pursue, ATA staff can give you some pointers on how best to identify and approach the stations you are interested in.

If any of these ideas sound exciting to you, or if you have an idea of your own that you would like to pursue, please contact Wes Breazeale as soon as possible so that yout event can be incorporated into the main Walk page.

Thanks for your support everyone!