times. A plan was worked out with the union representative to do this
within the parameters of the contract.- Working with the computer coordinator to be sure presenters requiring
any type of computer or audiovisual equipment would find everything
ready when they arrived. - With the help of the secretaries, ordering a catered breakfast and lunch
for all presenters (the business advisory board funded this). - Arranging to provide all presenters with a thank-you gift and a packet
of materials. The admissions officer prepared PR folders on the school
and Mr. Thelen ordered a small item with an expression of thanks from
the school (a pen, a mouse pad, or the like), along with an invitation to
the school’s industry fashion show. - Setting up hall patrols of assistant principals and teachers to keep cor-
ridors clear and move students along from one presentation to another. - Collaborating with the coordinators of DECA (Distributive Educational
Clubs of America) and VICA (Vocational Industrial Clubs of America)
to provide student greeters at the door to escort all visitors first to the
principal’s conference room (for breakfast) and then to their assigned
rooms. These were pretrained student greeters who knew how to create
a fine first impression. - Providing presenters with a feedback form to help the school improve
the event in the future.
And the list of things to do went on for Principal Thelen.
All these tasks required hundreds of hours of work for one day. But
every detail was important if this affair was going to be a success for both
the students and the visitors. As time went on and Mr. Thelen became
more experienced, he was able to use the previous year’s work as the blue-
print for the next year. He felt it was worth all the time and effort because
students genuinely made the most of the day, and presenters left with a
positive image of the school and its students. Many presenters became
regulars who came back year after year. An unanticipated result was very
positive PR for the school in particular and the school system in general.
It was not unusual for a new potential presenter to call Mr. Thelen with
concerns about her personal safety. Such a call indicated that this business
executive had bought into the image of the public schools created by a
sensational press. He assured all such callers that their fears were ground-
Mind the Details 165