Tuesday, March 27, 2007

A bus to the prom?

Sure sounds awful, doesn't it - if you're a teenager - to be forced onto a bus for prom transportation? Lexington High School in Attleboro, MA is joining a handful of other schools in requiring that juniors and seniors travel to and from proms this spring on chartered buses. As you might expect, many students are reportedly furious and protesting. Read the entire story...

We don't need to enter into a debate about prom bussing - goodness knows the purpose is the same that motivated me to write the After Prom Party Guide. First and foremost we want to keep our kids safe on what has become one of the deadliest nights of their lives. The after prom party addresses that challenge, but there is still the transportation to and from the prom and the party.

Over time, we may see more and more schools take this stance. An accident in a community or rightful concern for school liability issues may prompt some to consider this as an option. This may be the strongest case for hiring a limo for most parents. We may not like the additional expense, but knowing the kids are safe and not behind the wheel is a good thing.

NOTE: If you are weighing such options, please take a moment to look at the Limos.com feature in the resource area of my website. Limos.com has a neat service that lets you shop for a limousine from virtually any city in the country. For parents, remember this service when you need airport transportation, too. Try Limos.com free quote service.

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Prom party to be cancelled...

"Time is running out for parent volunteers to come forward... After more than 50 years as a staple of the spring prom, the parent-sponsored prom-to-dawn event is on death row due to an absence of volunteers. "As of this date, we don’t have anyone to do it,” said superintendent".....

You can read the rest of the article here, but this caption provides the essence of the story. A sad commentary on funding concerns and parents not being involved.

No, this is not a commentary on the parents of this particular high school, sadly this is happening in too many schools across the country. People are busy managing their lives, and most parents just don't realize the full reason for having an after prom party.

Ask any parent of any high school student that if having a party would save the life of one senior, could they find the time and money? If we could ask that question of each parent, this year's party would be the largest, most attended event in history. Unfortunately, most parents just don't know.

In my case, our high school was experiencing the same problem, there were no plans (or budget) to hold an after-prom party the year my daughter was asked to the prom. When I learned this I took it upon myself to do something about it. What you don't know is that I pulled together our affair in less than eight weeks.

Ideally, planning something like this should begin many months before the prom, but it can be done in a hurry if you are late getting started. I learned the hard way - what to do - and what not to do to stage a successful After Prom celebration.

If this scenario is being played out in your community, you can make a difference. You don't need an expensive event planner and a budget budget to make this happen. For my daughter's after prom party, we started with no dollars and no parents and ended up having the best party our high school ever had! The missing component is "you". Someone who will make the commitment of time and start the process to get other parents involved. Once that happens, nothing can stop you. THAT is why I wrote my book, the After Prom Party Guide.

It is easier to walk in the footsteps of others than blaze a new trail yourself.

Let me help you save time and show you how to raise the money for your community's after prom party. Hey, together we just may save a child's life. Learn more about the book...

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Prom Party Resources

Hey folks, have you have spent any time on the party resource area of our website yet? This is where we link to many of the helpful resources I mention in the book. If you are in the process of planning your prom party, take a few minutes to see what we have pulled together. We have links from everything from discount party decorations to corsages and even free prom dresses. Check it out here.

One of the really helpful links we found is a nationwide search company called Limos.com that can find and reserve a limousine for the big night. They also are a great resource for airport trips and other such transportation needs. Take a test drive of their reservation service here.

I've heard from many of you who are now fully absorbed in the planning of your school's after prom party. I wish you all the best and hope that because of my book, you were able to save money or get at least one good idea that will help make your event a success.

If you are a new visitor to this blog and haven't yet discovered the After Prom Party Guide, I encourage you to visit our website and see what the book is all about. These after prom events are VERY important and just may save a teenager's life.