Community Breakfast Table Captain Resources
Rise and Shine, Table Captains!
We are grateful for your participation as a Table Captain for HCI’s annual Community Breakfast Fundraiser.
2025 Community Breakfast Fast Facts:
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We are still looking for Table Captains!
We encourage you to personally invite people you know to fill a table of eight at the HCI Community Breakfast. Please use this email template and share the Table Captain Expectations outlined here as you reach out to folks.
Where & When:
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
7:30-8:30 a.m.
St. Olaf College, Buntrock Commons Ballrooms
Important Deadlines:
- By Monday, February 17th – Table Captains Confirmed
- By Saturday, March 15th – all Table Captains follow up with invitees and confirm RSVPs
- By Monday, March 17th – Table Captains email their final RSVPs to staff and the Master Guest List is complete! HCI staff begin creating the seating chart and printing name tags for the event.
Thank you again for your important work in making this year’s Community Breakfast a success. If you have any additional questions, please email our planning team, or call us at 507-664-3524.
Before the Event
Tips for Inviting Guests
- Practice – Spend a couple minutes reviewing HCI’s website – including the vision/mission and HCI’s supported programs – before sending invitations to your prospective guests. Personalize your message to invitees to include a note about why you’re excited to support HCI. Consider what could be accomplished with more community support.
- Make Connections – Connect your prospective guests’ interests with HCI’s mission. Highlight HCI’s programs and priorities you feel will best resonate with your guests.
- Be Clear – Let your guests know what to expect. This is a one hour event serving free breakfast where guests will be asked to consider giving a gift to HCI.
- Have a Backup Plan – What if your prospective guest says they cannot attend your event? It doesn’t have to be a complete loss. Be ready to offer alternative ideas such as, “Do you know anyone who would appreciate an invitation?” or “Can I send you some materials to look over when it is convenient for you?”
- Thank them! No matter their RSVP, the opportunity to talk with community members about HCI raises awareness in the community.
Making the Most of Hosting a Table
- Be prepared to share your reasons for supporting HCI – Share your insight, experience, and stories that connect you to HCI’s mission. If they motivated you to donate, they may inspire others, too.
- Encourage donations – Let guests know that donations can also be made online or by mail after the event.
Digital Resources
Inviting Guests to Your Table
- Digital Invitation to email to guests (or, download text for copy/paste)
- Master Guest List – HCI staff will use this to track Table Captains, invitees and RSVPs. This Google Sheet is available for ‘View Only’ – edits/updates will be completed by staff in order to preserve the data. The best way to communicate with HCI staff about needed edits/updates is by email.
- Donation Webpage
Recruiting Table Captains
- Email Template for recruiting captains (download for copy/paste)
- 2025 HCI Community Breakfast Table Captains Expectations
Learn more about HCI
