November Calendar

Here are some fun things you can do in November. (On pages 18-20 of your R&R.) This is just a sample of what we have in R&R this month.

NOVEMBER

HUNGER AWARENESS MONTH
Thanksgiving is the perfect time of year to host canned food drives for the needy. Or, collect and then donate turkeys, Thanksgiving dinners, clothes, coats, sneakers -- anything you can get your hands on. Remember to report back to residents how much was raised, “We collected four GIANT boxes of canned goods. The Downtown Homeless Shelter estimates we fed 25 families for a week as a result of our efforts.”

SOME RESOURCES TO HELP:
Salvation Army
Check out www.salvationarmy.org
Disaster Relief Effort
Phone: 1.800.SAL.ARMY.

Feed The Children
Visit www.feedthechildren.org
Phone: 1.800.525.7575.

3RD SANDWICH DAY
Enjoy a six-foot sub donated by your local Subway or sandwich shop. Or, have a make your own sandwich party. Give away ice cream sandwiches (17¢ each!) to those who pay their rent on the first. If you’re ready to go for it, have a sandwich-making contest -- snowmen sandwiches with carrot noses, “pizza sandwiches,” beach-scene sandwiches... you get the idea.

11TH VETERAN’S DAY
Hang American flags throughout your community today.

Bring cookies or donuts to your local VFW.

In your newspaper advertisement this week, thank all Veterans for their service.

12TH GRACE KELLY’S BIRTHDAY
She was born in 1929. Rent some of her wonderful movies.

13TH YOUNG READER’S DAY
There are lots of fun Thanksgiving books available at your library. Check some out to read to the kids (or have the older kids read to the younger kids) in your community. Ask the librarian if she’ll stop by your community to read some books.

THIRD WEEK OF
NOVEMBER:
KIDS’ BOOK WEEK
Host a story telling party after school or on Saturday morning.

THANK YOUR RESIDENTS WEEK
Thanksgiving is approaching and many of your residents will be away visiting family or busy preparing for guests. So don’t wait until next week to be thankful for all of your great residents. Even a small token gift or gift basket can go a long way in reminding residents that you care. Or you can have an appreciation party sometime this week. At the very least, a big sign in a common area giving sincere thanks to your residents is perfect.

15TH RECYCLE DAY
Encourage your residents to recycle by making it easier for them with separated garbage bins and a clear recycling method for your community outlined in your newsletter and move-in materials.

15TH GREAT AMERICAN SMOKEOUT
Have gum and candies on hand for the smokers in your community and office. Support is a huge part of helping them kick the habit.

15TH BUNDT CAKE DAY
Easy! Ask residents to bring their favorite bundt cakes and have a party! Have plenty of coffee and hot chocolate on hand. It’s also neat to have residents bring their recipes, and for you to make copies of each recipe for the entire group. Tie the recipes together with a ribbon.

16TH ASSISTANT MANAGER’S DAY
Let your assistant manager leave an hour early today. Remember to let them know how much their work is appreciated! Take them to lunch, buy flowers, write a list of the top 10 things you like about them.

16TH PINCH PENNIES FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Things can get a little out of hand financially around this time of year. Make sure you stay on budget both personally and with the leasing office. Being a penny pincher now (brown bagging, clipping coupons, etc.) can allow you to splurge a little around the holidays.

17TH HOMEMADE BREAD DAY
Mmmm. Nothing tastes quite like homemade bread. Borrow a bread maker and make a loaf right in your office. You really only need counter space and something to warm the water. The smell will be heavenly. Offer a bread-baking class to interested residents. Ask a local cooking school to teach the class in return for free advertising.

17TH FAMILY VOLUNTEER DAY
We have lots of suggestions for volunteering spread throughout our newsletter. The New York Times recently featured an article (July 27, 2007) on how the trend in Cranford, New Jersey is to give donations, instead of gifts, at children’s birthday parties. Kind of a new twist – and meant to take the focus off of presents and towards celebrating the event. One family collected donations and gave the money to the local firehouse. The article details what other families have collected in lieu of gifts: canned food, clothes, and toys for the children’s hospital.

19TH POP TARTS ARE INVENTED IN 1965
Give Pop Tarts to residents as they leave for work in the morning. If you do one idea in these calendars, do this one. It’s a riot and has been very successful for many of your fellow managers. Also give Pop Tarts to prospects – it’s just funny to celebrate the day Pop Tarts were invented!

20TH DON’T BE A DRIP DAY
Education is the key. Teach residents to conserve water and report those leaky faucets immediately! You must put water conservation tips in your newsletter.

Ask your local water company for water conservation pamphlets to have available for residents in the office. The Internet is also a terrific resource for water conservation tips.

(Full calendar for November and December on pages 16-22 of your Rent & Retain.)

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