2. ADVENTIST CHRISTIAN EDUCATION MARKETING ON A CONFERENCE LEVEL Larry Blackmer, Vice President, North American Division

3. No More Prizes For Predicting Rain; Prizes only for building arks.

4. Looking for other right answers Other ideas, resources, blueprints, and ways for building arks.Other ideas, resources, blueprints, and ways for building arks. Looking at the same thing differently.Looking at the same thing differently.

5. The Challenge of Change The challenge of change is to make something new that is built on the values of the old, to take a long look at what is at the core of our lives and churches, and to do something better and more Christlike, clearer and more refreshing and vibrant. We cannot run from the future, so lets get specific now about change and what we need to do to make a difference.

6. A Few Challenges Commitment level on the part of parents Commitment level on the part of parents Students making decisions vs. parents Students making decisions vs. parents The increased cost of doing business The increased cost of doing business Perceptions Perceptions Issues of communication Issues of communication

7. North American Division 966 Schools 123 Academies 123 Academies 164 Jr. Academies 164 Jr. Academies 679 Elementary 679 Elementary 60,542 Students 45,198 K-8 45,198 K-8 15,344 9-12 15,344 9-12 5,077 Teachers

8. General Conference 5,404 Schools 906,755 Students 45,614 Teachers

9. What is marketing? RelationshipsRelationshipsRelationships

10. Marketing Strategies Finding other right answers for doing something different while building a plan for success Doing the _______thing, over and over again, and expecting __________ results! Definition of Stupidity:

11. What is marketing? RelationshipsRelationshipsRelationships

12. Practices Establishing a list of potential students and making contact with those families not sending their children to your school. Establishing a list of potential students and making contact with those families not sending their children to your school. Ben Smith Joe Black Susan Hitchcock Frank Jones Mary Sterns

13. Practices HomeVisitations

14. Practices Church Appearances Church Appearances

15. Practices Utilization of marketing materials and methods

16. What is marketing? RelationshipsRelationshipsRelationships

17. A Good Idea Establish and nurture a working relationship with your pastor that includes consistent communication Establish and nurture a working relationship with your pastor that includes consistent communication

18. What is marketing? RelationshipsRelationshipsRelationships

19. Pastors Be involved in the school These are your students/parishioners Three opportunities for ministry Students Staff Parents Evangelism is more than a series of meetings

20. Five assumptions –Jesus really is coming again soon –Between now and then EVERYONE would be happier if they were a converted Seventh-day Adventist –All teachers are youth pastors –The work of the church and the school are the same – personal relationship with Jesus –The school is an important part of the church –Every student is either a missionary or a mission field, either a soul winner or in need of having their soul won –We have each group of students for a short time Have a plan

21. Working the Plan The week after school is out, gather your list of names of families who did not sent students to your school. The week after school is out, gather your list of names of families who did not sent students to your school. Send letters to SDA & non-member families who made inquiry about your school during the school year Send letters to SDA & non-member families who made inquiry about your school during the school year Follow up with a phone call to those families who received letters Follow up with a phone call to those families who received letters Develop a visitation list from your phone calls Develop a visitation list from your phone calls Visit homes/families with the pastor – close with prayer Visit homes/families with the pastor – close with prayer Visit current students if/when in the area Visit current students if/when in the area Send the families visited a thank you card for their time Send the families visited a thank you card for their time A follow-up phone call to those undecided A follow-up phone call to those undecided

22. Explore all options Visiting community churches Visiting community churches Quality radio ads Quality radio ads Newspaper ads Newspaper ads Yellow pages ads Yellow pages ads Signage and banners Signage and banners Memorandum Of Understanding with Home School families Memorandum Of Understanding with Home School families Newsletters/posters/photos in church(es) Newsletters/posters/photos in church(es) Regular communication with non-attendees Regular communication with non-attendees Invitations to school programs, etc. Invitations to school programs, etc.

23. Staff Involvement Staff should have membership and attend the church(es) that directly support the school in which they serve Staff should have membership and attend the church(es) that directly support the school in which they serve Staff should attend school functions at all costs Staff should attend school functions at all costs Staff could send cards before school starts to make a connection with incoming students Staff could send cards before school starts to make a connection with incoming students

24. What does the plan do? Restores confidence in the school program Restores confidence in the school program Establishes a partnership with the pastor(s) who are the most important factor in getting students to your school Establishes a partnership with the pastor(s) who are the most important factor in getting students to your school Establishes relationships with families visited Establishes relationships with families visited The Lord does bless our efforts The Lord does bless our efforts

25. Have You Heard This? You are the best kept secret around!

26. Brag! Test Scores Certificated Teachers Coordinated Curriculum Part of a world-wide educational system Alumni give back significant service Over 80% go on to college Spiritual/Safe learning environment Spiritually Safe learning environment CognitiveGenesis

27. Marketing Socially Acceptable Professional way to brag Takes coordinated effort Program is what consumers Feel it is We still suffer remnenants of were here, theyll come Take us to the next level Cutting edge schools Waiting lists

28. MARKETING ON A CONFERENCE LEVEL Benefits of Marketing as a Conference: Marketing an Adventist Christian Education System a. set level of excellence b. economies of scale b. economies of scale c. whole greater than the sum of the individual parts c. whole greater than the sum of the individual parts d. raise level of importance d. raise level of importance

29. MARKETING ON A CONFERENCE LEVEL Administrative Challenges: 1. We have two separate systems that need to be put back together - Churches and schools function separate - Churches and schools function separate - President: of churches & schools, - President: of churches & schools, pastors and teachers - Deliberate contact w/ schools & teachers - Deliberate contact w/ schools & teachers - Both needed for healthy growth - Both needed for healthy growth

30. MARKETING ON A CONFERENCE LEVEL 2. Society has changed the way they think about purchasing a product - people today want more choices - people today want more choices - people today demand more customer service - people today demand more customer service - people today want not just a product/service but an experience - people today want not just a product/service but an experience - people want best quality that their money can buy - people want best quality that their money can buy Dont confuse me with the facts…….

31. MARKETING ON A CONFERENCE LEVEL 3. Demographics 4. Old School Thinking 5. Finances are stretched 6. Facilities are oldest in Conference 7. Members less committed to Adventist Christian Education 8. Mindset that our schools will not survive till the end of time 9. Mindset that we cannot grow a church and a school at the same time 10. Mindset that being good is enough

32. Remember! Good is the enemy of Great!!!! Good is not enough! We are representing Christ!

33. Ontario Conference Education Vision We envision in the next five years that we will improve the perception, attitude, and ownership of Adventist education in the Ontario Conference as we ignite in our membership a passion for children and youth. We will all work together as pastors, teachers, and membersto produce excellence in spirituality, academics, funding, facilities, location, and marketing. We envision our schools becoming a bridge, not a moat, to the world. We envision in the next five years that we will improve the perception, attitude, and ownership of Adventist education in the Ontario Conference as we ignite in our membership a passion for children and youth. We will all work together as pastors, teachers, and membersto produce excellence in spirituality, academics, funding, facilities, location, and marketing. We envision our schools becoming a bridge, not a moat, to the world.

34. Supporting the Vision NAD Marketing Seminar - Fund 2 individuals from each school community NAD Marketing Seminar - Fund 2 individuals from each school community Create Think Tank brainstorming group Create Think Tank brainstorming group Board of Education Planning Board of Education Planning Initial planning - begin with educational brochure and DVD Initial planning - begin with educational brochure and DVD

35. Rationale Set out to purposefully change a mindset Set out to purposefully change a mindset Be more intentional of Informing and educating the constituency Be more intentional of Informing and educating the constituency Make very public the vision, mission and goals of Ontario Conference education Make very public the vision, mission and goals of Ontario Conference education Set in motion a 3-5 year process for positive long term results Set in motion a 3-5 year process for positive long term results

36. Results? Another conference First year of big push – Approximately a 2½% Increase in enrollment First year of big push – Approximately a 2½% Increase in enrollment Second year a 1½% decrease Second year a 1½% decrease Third year 3 % increase Third year 3 % increase Transitioning Mindset – As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. Transitioning Mindset – As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. Planting new schools Planting new schools

37. Our Goal? Change a mindset and increase enrollment through education and marketing

38. IF… If Adventist education is as important to us as we state, then we must: Continue looking for other right answers for doing something different while we continue to build a plan for success It will be a focus of MAJOR collaborative efforts between the church-school-conference We must Keep on keepin on!