OK guys, I'm on the decorating comitee for the dance at school, winter wonderland themed. I need some ideas to make it an amazing dance, because some really special guests will be there. We have a pretty low budget, because it is for the JROTC program and we are not funded by the school. Any suggestions would be great.

How about going to local businesses and seeing if they'll donate or lend decorating materials in exchange for a free ad in your dance program/flyer, with a credit line like: "Decorations donated by ..."

If you have a local business that sells artificial christmas trees, you might see if that business would lend you the trees for the night.

Vasily

We actually don't have a dance flyer... its kind of a vip big deal type thing, ROTC students and theirr dates only. No flyers, no tickets excapt the uniform.

To add to the above posters response which is a great idea. Have a teacher sign off that your group is allowed to ask for donations and what will be done with them. Usually stores etc.. Like to have proof. My kids had one and their snacks/drinks were provided by the grocery store from the city we live in.

we actually dont have a dance flyer... its kinda a vip big deal type thing, ROTC students and theirr dates only. no flyers, no tickets excapt the uniform.

A couple of further thoughts: if you ask local businesses for help as we suggest, you're certain sooner or later to run into someone who has a soft spot in his/her heart for ROTC because he/she was in ROTC or has a family member in the military. You could offer to send them a thank you letter with pictures that they could use for publicity (some businesses like to post these things on a bulletin board).

Yeah, some will say no... but if you keep at it, I think you'll find some businesses who will be glad to be of help. It can be kind of intimidating approaching strangers in this way, but trust me, it's a good skill to learn and it will get easier as you go along. If you are allowed to wear your uniform in public, you might ask your teacher/mentor/CO/whatever he's called in JROTC whether he thinks that might be a good idea when you go to visit local businesses.

Vasily