Facebook events are a great tool to leverage local social networks to build for the local Our Budget, Our Economy Town meetings.  Once you join the event and are made an Administrator here are some tactics you can use to make your Facebook Event a successful recruitment tool.

Make sure the event page has fresh content

• By continually adding new content, you can actively engage potential attendees and people that have already RSVP’d making individuals more excited about being more involved.
• Add links to current news stories about the economy and the national debt.
• Copy the URL of the news story and paste it on the Event Wall where it says “Write something…”  You should also add a brief note to get conversation started about the news story.
• Add pictures that relate to the event.
• You can upload pictures to the Wall by clicking on the picture icon underneath where it says “Write something…”
• If there is a picture on the web that you want to include, you must first save it to your computer using the “Save picture as” option and then upload it using the Attach Picture option. 

Invite people to attend

• On the Facebook Event page there is an “Invite People to Come” tool that you can use to invite people who you are connected with on Facebook or you can use the tool to invite people via email.
• Remind people they need to RSVP to the event on the website also.
• Include an inspiring note about the historic National Town Meetings with your invitation.

Message invitees to remind them to RSVP and to ask them to invite their friends

• The Facebook Event is open to the public and so anybody can invite friends to attend.
• Use the “Update Fans of AmericaSpeaks: Our Budget, Our Economy” on the top right of the page underneath the logo – remind people to RSVP on the website and ask them to invite their friends by clicking on the “invite People to Come” link underneath the AmericaSpeaks logo on the Event Page.

Engage Local Partner Organizations

• Send a Facebook message or email to local partner organizations and organizers you know asking them to invite their members and their friends to the Facebook event.
• Post a link to your event page on the Wall of Local Partner Organizations thanking them for partnering on the event and inviting people to sign up to attend.
• Ask local partners to engage in the conversation on your Facebook wall by posting information about their organization.
• When new organizations sign up as partners, thank them on the Event Wall by posting a comment:  “Hey, XYZ organization just joined our team of local organizers for the June 26th Town Meeting.”

Update attendees

• Post information to the Event Wall where it says “Write something…” and send a message to attendees with updates and pertinent information using the “Update Fans” link.
• Send attendees a message to let them know where the event will be taking place, especially if the location has recently been confirmed. 
• Let attendees know how they can help out with preparations or how they can get more involved.
• Post information about any local events or preparations they can be involved with prior to the June 26th event.

Remove List of People “Not Attending”

• If you want to get rid of the list of people who will not be attending, you can do this by going to the “Edit Guest List” link on the Event Page, and going to the “Declined” tab.  There you can click on the “x” to remove individuals from the event.