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Older Americans Month and Senior Citizens Day
Event Planning and Promotion Guide

The Department of Aging urges communities, organizations and individuals to host an event (or events) to commemorate Older Americans Month and Senior Citizens Day. We offer this guide to help you plan and promote your celebrations.

• Plan it. Pick an event or series of events that thank your supporters, showcase your programs and services or simply provide an opportunity for socialization and celebration. Partner with area businesses, attractions and others to give your event a special local "flavor." For a wider reach, make your event intergenerational, with activities and attractions that will engage all ages at once. Use our list of event and activity ideas to help you get started.
• Post it. Create fliers and posters announcing your event(s) throughout your community. Post them in your own facilities, but also check about posting them in grocery stores, public offices and other places. Design your own or use our customizable poster design.
• Proclaim it. A proclamation is an official declaration from a top local official that recognizes occasions of significance. Ask your mayor, county commissioners, legislators, city council members, area agency directors, senior center directors or others to announce Older Americans Month in your area. Use our sample proclamations as a guide. Post the proclamation in your organization, on your Web site and at your event. Consider presenting it to a notable individual in your area in a small ceremony.
• Release it. Create a news release announcing your plans for Older Americans Month to the media. At least three days prior to your event, fax or email your news release to the news or feature editors of your local newspapers, television and radio stations, as well as to reporters with whom you have worked with in the past. Use our sample news release as a guide.
• Talk about it. Have your organization's leader, local elected officials or other notable individuals write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper to talk about Older Americans Month and promote your event. Or work with your local radio stations to arrange an on-air interview.
• Have fun with it. The most important element to a successful event is that those attending have a good time and take something from it.

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