Tabling Tips

 Planning Basics for Your Successful Tabling Event

1) Select a Date for Your Safe Driving Week

2) Follow IFC and your university’s rules

3) Identify key table locations and confirm 3-5 fellow students at each

4) Create a fun, valuable experience

Review university and IFC calendars. Pick a time when you’ll have sufficient support, participation and visibility to collect the most pledges. Allow six to eight weeks of planning time.

Every college regulates campus events and activities. You may need to apply for/register your event well in advance. Make sure you are complying with your university’s rules.

Don’t pick random spots. Observe where students are most likely to gather or pass and go there! Consider the Student Center, entrances to classroom buildings, bus hubs, etc. Have a Plan B for rainy days – follow university guidelines for setting up indoors in these busy spaces. Six-foot tables work best; borrow from your university or another organization, if you can. It may be helpful to organize a schedule of fellow students to rotate shifts at each table.

You want students to want to participate! The goal is to get as many students as possible to sign a pledge to drive free of distractions. Those signing receive a free “Don’t Drive Distracted“ wristband and “I Signed Hunter’s Pledge” sticker to wear. You can provide other takeaways, or even a chance to win something in a drawing. Encourage them to take a selfie showing they’ve pledged and post it on social media. Work to provide an experience around their decision to pledge that will become a lasting reminder with the potential to change their long-term behavior.

5) Pair it with an established program

Even a good location doesn’t guarantee success. Especially if you’re competing with other social activities. So you may find even more success if you conduct your campaign alongside an established campus program like a career fair, sporting or registration event, or other activity that brings students together. Connecting with an existing program enables you to piggyback on happenings that already have students’ attention and interest. That way you aren’t competing, you’re joining in!

6) Get as many pledges as you can

A successful distracted driving tabling event will collect individual pledges, contact information for continued education follow-ups, and donations, or all of these. But the best way to measure the success of your event is the number of pledges you obtain.