Events... Lots of Different Flavors

I came across an interesting article in the Sunday New York Times Generation B:  A Mover and a Shaker of Money Trees.  Billy Starr has built the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge charity bikeathon into one of the top performing "thons."   Imagine one event that raises $30 million.  That is something we all can aspire too.  Reading through, the hard work, time, energy, and effort appear to be the results of history and a well oiled machine.  It made me stop and think are there lessons from this "thon" that we can take away and apply at home.  Yes probably there are, but what do you when you have to run multiple events at multiple locations for multiple constituents?   Be organized - well that was a no brainer. 

I think the largest take away that I would offer is to capture your participant data in those who participate in any part of the "thon" - be it donor, walker/jumper/biker/reader/etc, volunteer, team member, supporter, advocate, etc.  If you have an event and you are getting new participants - make every interaction count and put forward your mission to build that organizational affinity.  Convert them from participants to donors!