March

1. Read over the draft and template documents found on Tools You Can Use page and think
     about how you might use these tools.
2. Select your project media advocate/spokesperson early so they can begin to learn about the     
     specific underage drinking problems that face your community.  Your media   
     advocate/spokesperson should begin to make contacts and prepare for interviews that will
     start in April.
3. Decide if your community effort will include a Parent Network.  Networks can be a great way to
    link parents who do not support or allow underage drinking in their homes.  If you decide your
    community needs an independent parent network, you can download the Parent Network
    sign-up card from Tools You Can Use.
4. Scout out prime locations for large banners and get permission to hang one during April
    and/or May.
5. Download and print-off the “Proclamation” from Tools You Can Use and ask your village board
    or city council to declare April Parents Who Host Lose the Most:  Don’t Be a Party to Underage
    Drinking Month.
6. Contact service clubs and civic groups about making a presentation on this project in April or
     May.  NOTE:  A PowerPoint presentation, including a suggested script, can be viewed and
     downloaded for your use from Tools You Can Use.
7. Offer to help local law enforcement recruit youth volunteers for alcohol age compliance checks.
8. Negotiate and reserve ad space in local print media.  Don’t forget the local shopper circular.

April

1. Project spokesperson or media advocate arranges interviews with local newspaper, local
    radio stations and even local television on the campaign and why adults should never provide
    alcohol to youth.  As articles and ads begin to appear in local media, the spokesperson/media
    advocate should begin to collect these clippings.
2. Make presentations to local parents’ groups, PTA, and service groups about the project – take
    yard signs so that people who don’t host can be visible throughout the community by placing
    the signs in their yards.
3. Begin putting informational handouts on pizza boxes, in grocery bags and at other heavily
    traveled locations that agree to distribute your material.  
4. Begin to put posters up around the area.  There is room at the bottom to display your coalition
    contact data OR instructions about reporting underage drinking parties. For example:  If you
    see underage drinking, call XXX-XXXX. Or dial 911.
5. Don’t forget to place coalition information at local banks, credit unions, library and post office.    
6. Ask local churches to put a note in the Sunday bulletin about April being alcohol awareness
    month and your Parents Who Host project.
7. Organize youth volunteers to place static clings with logos on every commercial refrigerator
     case and the front door of every place that sells alcohol in your community.

May

1. Once the first round of alcohol age compliance checks is complete, help local police publicize
     the results. Is there “room for improvement”? Or will the fantastic compliance of your local   
     merchants put extra pressure on parents and other adults to provide alcohol to youth?  The
     message is: Adults who purchase pour and provide alcohol for youth are breaking the law,
     endangering youth and exposing themselves to huge civil lawsuits.
2. Arrange for a youth volunteer crew to “refresh” the refrigerator clings at all licensed sellers of
    alcohol.
3. Check back with local vendors distributing information sheets to offer more materials.  Add
    florists and tuxedo rental locations to the list of places distributing informational fliers.
4. Recruit supporters to write and send letters to the editor of your local papers supporting police
    action to terminate underage drinking parties. If a police action takes place, send the letters –
    don’t wait for the backlash.  
5. Continue your media advocacy campaign by including information about hosting issues in
    articles about prom and graduation parties.

June

1. Gather all of the clippings from local media including letters, articles and ads.  You should
    keep copies to evaluate which approaches and media outlets really furthered the campaign.
2. Thank your supporters.  Consider certificates and a very public “Thanks!” to every business
     that agreed to post the window clings, the organizations that invited your group to present and
     the businesses that distributed your informational materials.  Thank the police for doing a
     difficult job.  And thank the committee members – pat yourselves on the back.
3. Prepare public follow-ups including letters to the editor thanking supporters including parents
    who did not serve alcohol to youth and articles about changing beliefs and successes from
    your project.
4. After prom and graduation, collect signs for the 2010 effort.