A good way to gauge the success of an event is to have participants fill out an evaluation form. But what type of information should you collect and how can you get more women to turn their forms in? Today, we have some answers!

The first thing a good evaluation will tell you is... did your event meet the needs of the women attending. The most important think in event planning for women's ministry is to know the needs of the women in your church body and plan your programs around those needs.

Evaluations will also help you determine if the event fulfilled its mission or purpose. Not only must it meet the needs of the women, but your event should fulfill a specific purpose. Whether it is fellowship, education, discipleship or fun; know why you are holding the event and what you want women to "take away."

And finally, evaluations will help you know what worked and what did not work at your event. Sometimes it is glaringly obvious what needs to be changed for the next event, but often that is not the case. There are little things that can make a big difference, and evaluations can help you identify ways to fine-tune your event.

Evaluation Information

Evaluations are typically most successful when they are anonymous. Women are more likely to give you an honest answer and you will collect useful information. So, I would encourage you to not include a place for name and contact information unless you have a specific reason to do so. If you are looking for volunteers for future events, have a separate sign-up sheet available at the event registration table and have someone there during or following the event to collect volunteer information.

So, what information should you include on an evaluation?

Another good way to do an evaluation is to have a form where various topics are ranked 1 (low) to 3 (high) with room for comments for each topic. This is a simple way to gather responses. Here is a quick list of topics that could be included:

Last, but not least, how do you "encourage" women to turn their forms in? Well... honestly, the best way I have found is to use have a grand finale drawing for a really great doorprize. I spoke at a retreat where the grand prize evaluation drawing was a Key Word Study Bible and coupons for three free study books at their church's Bible studies in the next year. What a smart way to encourage participation in their ministry and in the Word.

Once you collect all the evaluations, you can drop all the data into a spreadsheet for a quick look at the overall statistics for the event. Use the information you receive to set guidelines for the next event. Type up a short "to do" list and follow up on it.

In Him... Robyne Beaubien, Editor

The best information we receive about the nuts and bolts of Women's Ministry is when we hear what you all are doing "in the trenches." Our weekly poll is your opportunity to share your expertise and knowledge with all of our subscribers!

Each week we ask a question, and share a link for you to post your answers. The following week we provide a link where you can see the results of the question, along with a new question. It takes just a minute, and your input is immediately added.

This week's question is:

What is the primary goal behind the special events you do for your women?

Answer the question HERE.

Here are the results from the last three polls.

What kinds of classes do you offer for women in the summer?

• 12-week Bible studies - 10%
• Shorter Bible studies - 45%
• Book clubs - 19%
• Devotional series - 7%
• Topical workshops - 15%
• No classes in the summer - 31%

20% of you engage your women in other activities that ranged from weekly picnics in a local park to a summer retreat. Overall, it looks like summer is a difficult time to engage women; creativity with a healthy dose of relaxation is likely the best answer.

How many women are on your leadership team?

• Church size: 0 to 100 - Average # team: 4
• Church size: 101 to 300 - Average # team: 6
• Church size: 301 to 1500 - Average # team: 6
• Church size: 501 to 1000 - Average # team:8
• Church size: 1001 to 5000 - Average # team: 10+
• Church size: 5000+ - Average # team: 6

How much time do you devote to Women's Ministry each week?

• WM Directors (part-time paid staff) - 71% serve 16+ hours per week
• WM Directors (part-time volunteer) - 40% serve 6- 10 hours per week
• Bible study leaders - 57% serve 0-10 hours per week and 34% serve 11-25 hours per week
• WM team members - 75% serve 0-10 hours per week and 22% serve 11-20 hours per week
• Pastor's wives - 62% serve 0-10 hours per week and 28% serve 11-20 hours per week
• Staff who oversee WM - 70% serve 0-10 hours per week and 9% serve 31+ hours per week
• Authors, speakers, and musicians - 50% serve 0- 10 hours per week and 34% serve 11-15 hours per week
• Parachurch staff member - 50% serve 0-15 hours per week, 33% serve 16-20 hours per week and 17% serve 40+ hours per week
• Provider of resources - 86% serve 0-10 hours per week

Book your 2008-2009 event today! Catch Bridget this Spring - Tampa, FL; Elkin, North Carolina; Monroe, Louisiana; Springfield, MO; Tokyo,Japan. Listen to her new cd "The River" at bridgettaylor.com. First single "A New Day" coming soon to Christian radio.

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This idea was sent to us by Kathy Olson of New Community Church.

We hosted a free evening of music, an excellent meal, gospel message, testimony, gifts and door prizes to single moms and their children. Our target was unsaved women, but the event was open to all single moms.

Women's ministry leaders came together from several area churches to host this evening of outreach to single moms and their children. Women heard an encouraging message of hope and healing, inspiring music, and enjoyed a delicious meal.

Flyers were distributed at various locations throughout our communities where single moms could be found. A fun program of games, BBQ dinner, puppet show, and message was planned for the kids. Many unsaved women came forward to ask for help, healing, and some asked Christ into their lives for the first time.

A group of about 10 women gathered to pray, plan and carry out the event. Our various churches helped to fund the event. Our key coordinator also held a garage sale to help raise funds. Musicians and speakers donated their time. One local leader blessed us with donated gift bags for attendees. Door prizes were also donated.

When an event is blessed by God, all the details come together in an awesome way! The event blessed all who attended and especially opened our eyes to the spiritual and physical needs of so many women in our local community.

Java with Jennifer is an informal monthly ministry update specifically for friends who want to keep up-to-date on what is happening with Jennifer Rothschild's ministry of writing, speaking, and singing.

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This activity is a fun way to acquaint women with each other and build relationships. It can be a great way to kick off small groups at a retreat or encourage interaction at a table for an event.

You can assign women to groups using a colored sticker or nametag, or if there are five or more at a table, make that their group for this activity.

Provide each group with a piece of paper and something to write with.

Have one woman act as a "scribe" and ask the group to make a list of things that they have in common. Some of the first answers will be superficial, like where they live, the color of their eyes, that they are all at this event, etc... but encourage them to dig deeper to find other commonalities.

Give them ten minutes to make their lists and then have one representative from each group share three things that they have in common.

Now, have them get back together and start brainstorming what makes each of them unique. Encourage them to find at least two strengths or differences for each person in the group. Again, ask them to look beyond the surface and find some unique-uniquenesses.

Give them ten minutes and then have each group stand and ask each woman to share what is unique about the woman standing on their right. (Of course, if they are in a line, the one on the end will share about the first woman in line.)

This will take some time, but will also allow women to see the faces of all the other women in the room and find common ground with them.

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Carol, a women's ministry leader emailed me looking for some creative ideas to name her new ministry. I started to think about it and realized that you all are so creative, I know you can come up with something amazing! So... let's brainstorm together!

Here is Carol's request:

We are starting a new event at our church where we will meet once a month just to talk and snack and work on projects like sewing, scrapbooking, photos, whatever. We just bring our projects and work on them together for as long as we want to stay. We will meet in the evening and there is no limit on how many attend. No speaker and no program; we just invite them to come. We are looking for a catchy name... any ideas?

If you have a great idea for Carol. Email Robyne! We will share your answers in next week's newsletter.

Our popular WomensMinistry.NET Directory of Speaker, Authors, and other Gifted Communicators is where Women's Ministry leaders and event planners find great speakers for their events. Also, Silver and Gold Listings receive special pricing on eNewsletter Sponsor Ads.

From one tool to another, I thank you from the very depths of my heart for your wonderful article, "Tool Talk." It was amazing timing on God's part as I am sitting in a hotel room right this very minute. This weekend, I am one of two speakers at a conference in North Carolina. By the way, they found me through womensministry.net and flew me in from California. May God continue to use and bless your fabulous ministry! ~ Dori Drabek

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