Event Idea Bank

Whether planning your next chapter meeting or organizing a social or fundraising event, we've got some ideas for you. We've also indicated which ideas could be executed virtually!

Meetings

Consider the needs and interests of chapter members when planning your meetings. What are they most interested in learning? What info is most relevant to them at this time?

Ice Breakers [All Virtual Ideas!]

  • Guess Who: Ask members to write their name on a piece of paper along with three little-known facts about them. Throughout the meeting, read a member's facts without disclosing their name. Let everyone guess who you're describing.
  • Two Truths and a Lie: Ask each member to tell three quick facts about themselves (one is a lie). Let everyone guess which is the lie.
  • Why (in 6 Words): Ask each member to share why they chose your school or major (in just six words!).

Knowledge Sharing [All Virtual Ideas!]

  • Provide info about National NSSLHA membership (including the difference between chapter and National membership) 
  • Review National NSSLHA and ASHA resources (Recorded National NSSLHA Virtual Events, ASHA Practice Portal, and ASHA journals)
  • Hold a video conference call with NSSLHA's National Advisor or one of our Executive Council members
  • Attend the ASHA Convention and/or other local/state-level conferences
  • Host a faculty lecture series—ask students to vote on topics for discussion
  • Host a clinical exchange—students can share client experiences/methodologies
  • Host office hours or sessions (with Q&As) on topics like going through the grad application process; Praxis prep; Clinical Fellowship/Externship process; what to do when you're accepted, waitlisted, or rejected to a grad program; etc. Psst, invite alumni to participate too!

Chapter Membership Recruitment and Retention

  • Hold a membership drive

Socials and Networking

Consider the needs and interests of chapter members when planning your social events. What are they most interested in? What resources (including funds, locations, volunteer time, and professionals!) are available to you?

With Chapter Members

  • Welcome-back gatherings at the beginning of each semester [VIRTUAL IDEA]
  • Homecoming activities
  • Block seating at sporting events
  • Faculty appreciation day
  • Potluck meals
  • Ropes courses
  • Game nights
  • CSD trivia nights [VIRTUAL IDEA]
  • Host a book club [VIRTUAL IDEA]
  • Host a movie night (use the Netflix Party Chrome extension if doing it virtually) [VIRTUAL IDEA]
  • Hold a cooking (or "Zooking," aka Zoom Cooking) competition [VIRTUAL IDEA]
  • Get involved in grassroots advocacy efforts [VIRTUAL IDEA]
  • Host a "Great Debate" over a professional topic [VIRTUAL IDEA]
  • Offer students to give mini poster sessions in prep of their ASHA Convention or local/state conference poster sessions [VIRTUAL IDEA]
  • Field trips to professional settings (NICU, rehab hospital, nursing home, etc.)
  • Banquet honoring graduating seniors and/or graduate students

With Students in Allied Organizations

  • Meet-and-Greets with students from allied organizations (physical therapy, occupational therapy, special education, etc.) [VIRTUAL IDEA]
  • Friendly sports competitions (NSSLHA chapter versus another allied organization on campus)

With Professionals [All Virtual Ideas!]

  • Put together a panel of recent graduates to talk about their real-world experiences
  • Invite local alumni to share their Clinical Fellowship and/or Externship experiences
  • Hold a faculty lecture series—students can vote on topics of discussion
  • Invite audiologists and speech-language pathologists within your community to chat with students
  • Arrange for demonstrations of audiology and speech-language pathology products

Fundraisers

Raise funds to go toward chapter operations and donations needed for the NSSLHA Loves campaign and/or the ASHFoundation's NSSLHA Scholarship (both required for National NSSLHA Chapter Honors).

  • Auction and/or raffle (solicit giveaway items from area merchants)
  • Talent show (charge admission)
  • Athletic event (e.g., student versus faculty volleyball game)
  • Sales (e.g., baked goods, candy, flowers, fruit, T-shirts) [VIRTUAL IDEA]
  • Car wash
  • Talk-a-thon to benefit individuals with communication disorders [VIRTUAL IDEA]
  • 5K walk/run—if doing it virtually, use the Charity Miles app (even if you don't have donors, the app's sponsors will pay 25 cents per mile for your daily walk! [VIRTUAL IDEA]

Service Projects

Consider organizing service projects that will have a large impact on your local community:

  • Client party for children who attend your clinic
  • On-campus hearing screenings
  • Adult spelling bee to increase awareness of language disorders
  • Read to children in libraries, pediatric clinics, and/or schools [VIRTUAL IDEA]
  • Support groups for individuals with communication disorders [VIRTUAL IDEA]
  • Email or mail encouraging notes to your clinic's clients [VIRTUAL IDEA]
  • Contact a skilled nursing facility to see if they'd like chapter members to send letters and videos to residents [VIRTUAL IDEA]
  • Donate your voice to VocallD's Human Voicebank [VIRTUAL IDEA]
  • Check Zooniverse for an ever-evolving list of research projects for virtual volunteers, like classifying babies' speech sounds [VIRTUAL IDEA]
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