My Christmas Card To You

     Hopefully, you're seeing that the Marketing Matters for Advent are titles of Christmas Songs.  And you're probably saying, "I've never heard of that Christmas song before!"  Well, since we're all about new ideas, this is a new Christmas song from Marni Nixon.  While you may not recognize the name, you'll recognize the voice - you can find out more about her here and about the song as well - http://cdbaby.com/cd/marninixon

     You've may have seen a previous Marketing Matter that says to include a gift request with your school's Christmas card greeting which you send to your constituencies.  But what about those cards?  Did you buy them last year after the Christmas rush to get them for half price?  Did you run out and buy them this year (and become upset when all you could find were cards that said "Happy Holidays?")?

     How about making your own?  Have your students design your school's Christmas card.  It can be a small invitation-sized one, and ask a printer if they'd consider printing them as their gift to you, and a local office supply store to provide the invitation sized envelopes.  Give the child whose design was chosen credit on the back of the card - maybe even select several designs.  It's not necessary to give a prize to the designs selected - it's a great lesson to learn that publication is reward enough.  It is their gift to the school - sharing the talents God gave them and helping to do good things for a good cause.

     If you have some extra funds, perhaps enclose a $5 gift card to some choice constituents to a local coffee shop or restaurant, encouraging them to slow down this Advent and take sometime to have a cup of coffee or tea - maybe even enclose a scriptural quote which they can meditate upon while the hustle and bustle of the world goes by them.

     Granted, you may have wanted to start on this project a little earlier...however, remember that the Christmas season STARTS on Christmas Day, and continues through the Feast of the Epiphany.  So, if you want to do it now, what's wrong with your card arriving between Christmas and New Years' Day, the Feast of Mary, the Mother of God...or even a couple of days after that?  Extending the joy of Christmas is something we ALL need to do - especially today!

© Michael V. Ziemski, SchoolAdvancement, 2008 (Original Publication Date: 20081208)

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