Publicity Questers

Q-Unique Ideas for Publicity

By Cheryl Miller
International Publicity Chair

Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success.
If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.
© Albert Schweitzer

Contact a local magazine – The states of Colorado, Michigan, and now Ohio have a great means for advertising Questers. The editor of Miss Kitty’s Tea Journal has Quester members write articles on collections. We are able to include our Quester chapter name at the end of each article. One issue even contained a 500-word article about Questers. At the top of the article on the left is: Questers are a diverse group of people who share common interests such as the love of antiques, love of learning, and the desire to preserve and restore historical buildings and sites. For more information, contact:              )

Contact your local library – Libraries always have a display case that is available for a collection of some sort. Libraries will be pleased to have unique, interesting collections in their cases and Questers will soon be their favorite source. And guess what – it’s free! Many libraries are more than happy to let you have a Quester display, brochures, or sign-up cards on top of the case - just ask.

Contact a local newspaper – Local newspapers will often feature Questers, especially if there is an article about historic preservation. If you are featured in your local newspaper, be sure to send a copy to the Quester International First Vice-President. She appreciates knowing as she collects and archives articles from various states/provinces.

Historical Society/Historic Preservation – Get involved with your local historical society. They often sponsor cemetery crawls, home tours, etc. In exchange for Quester participation, they will let you display Quester brochures. It’s a win-win situation! Also, volunteer at local history museums and historical events - especially where Quester P&R projects have occurred.

Talk Incessantly About Questers to your Friends – Talk about Questers with your friends, book group, etc. Their curiosity will get the best of them and they eventually ask how they can get involved. This is an excellent way to start a new chapter.

Display Board at Antique Shows – Create a Quester display board featuring events, projects, and contact information. Antique shows often allow you to place the board, brochures, candy, and sign-up cards with your display. Typically, there is never a charge to groups such as Questers. If you would like more details and templates for creating your display board, please contact me.

If you make jewelry or are a scrapbooker – Go to your favorite craft or scrapbook/craft store and make a big production about buying up all of their Q’s for scrapbooking. People are so curious about why anyone in their right mind would buy all of the Qs in the store! They’ll ask and then you can tell them about Questers. It’s that simple! Be sure to keep brochures handy in your purse.

I urge you to be bold. Life isn’t changed from the balcony.
Get onto the floor and dance, dance, dance.
© Jennifer Granholm

Quester Zeal – Have you ever been in an antique store when several Questers were around? What do you notice? I notice a lot of laughter and shouting out of names as we find a treasure for their collection – and we know what EVERYONE collects, don’t we? I notice that people smile at our antics and enthusiasm. I have a story to share and as author Dave Barry always says, “I am not making this up.”

One day after giving a program at an antique store, several of my Quester friends and I shopped in search of treasures. One of the participants at the program ran into me and commented, “You all seem to be having so much fun. Are you all friends?” I told her we were all friends and we all belong to Questers. I went on to explain to her about Questers and now Julie is a member of a Denver chapter. Our current State President, Carol followed up with Julie and her kindness and genuine desire to have her join Questers helped convince Julie to join us.

A good laugh makes us better friends
with ourselves and everybody around us.
© O.S. Marden

Quester Informationals

Host an informational at a local antique store and invite other chapters to attend. Encourage members to bring a friend/guest. The informationals have great potential. Host them in a local senior center, library, school or other facility and provide a program and refreshments (provided by members). Always have Quester brochures on hand. People love to learn and have fun and they’ll see that Questers can provide that and much, much more. Contact me if you want more details about hosting a Quester Informational.

We love the things we love for what they are.
© Robert Frost

Programs at Antique Stores – Antique stores will often invite Questers to give programs on their collections. Ask in advance if you can have Quester brochures available at your presentation.

Plant a Seed for Questers from Leah in Ohio

In January, 2007, our Ohio State Publicity Chair, Leah sent a letter to her Ohio Chapter Presidents letting them know that “chapters need to grow.” She encouraged them to add at least one new member to their chapter this year. She is coupling her challenge with seed packets.

We are going to expand upon Leah’s wonderful idea by contacting a seed company that will print Quester contact information directly onto the packet. Don’t you think Forget-Me-Nots would be great? We’ll have additional information regarding this program in the very near future.

In addition to her Plant a Seed For Questers program, Leah presents programs on Questers to various women’s groups. She has told her Ohio Questers – “If you have a group you would like me to talk to about Questers, give me a call.” She has also encouraged everyone to carry brochures in their purses and give them to potential members.

I love and appreciate Leah’s creativity and enthusiasm. She is making a difference for Questers and having fun in the process. Thank you so much Leah!

I hope some (or all!) of these ideas work in your state/province. Please contact me if you need additional information for any of the above programs. Also, I would love to hear success stories in your state/province. Please send them to me and I will share with others. Let’s spread the word about our wonderful group and make sure that Questers does not remain the best kept secret around!

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