What to Expect from Your First THON™ Meeting 

Congratulations! You’re a THON™ committee member! Now what? 

The entire THON community is so excited to have you as part of our family, and we can’t wait to get the year started.  It’s completely normal to feel overwhelmed at first, but know that you’ll be comfortable in no time. Read this guide to better understand what to expect from your first meeting before you head in and get excited for your new journey as a THON committee member! 

Flow of Committee Meetings: 

Committee meetings generally run by the same structure week-to-week. Here is what you can look forward to from these meetings: 

Mission Statement 

At the start of every meeting, you and your committee will recite the mission statement. Don’t worry, you won’t have to memorize it! Agendas with all the information for each meeting are projected on a screen. 

For your reference, here is the mission statement: 

THON™ is a student-run philanthropy committed to enhancing the lives of children and families impacted by childhood cancer. Our mission is to provide emotional and financial support, spread awareness, and ensure funding for critical research—all in pursuit of a cure. 

Important Dates 

Your captain(s) will remind you of important upcoming dates, including committee events, form due dates and various THON-wide events. 

Introductions and Icebreakers 

During the first meeting, your captain(s) will introduce themselves and tell you a bit more about who they are. After that, you’ll do committee member introductions and an icebreaker to get to know your committee better! 

“Our Stuff” 

The bulk of your meetings will be going over items in the “Our Stuff” section of the meeting agenda. This includes presentations and trainings specific to your committee, expectations and reminders, tasks to complete, crashes from other captains or committees and more. 

Family Education Program 

Each meeting, you will read a story about a THON family. Your committee will learn about the family and their paired organization as well as gain knowledge about cancer-related terms pertinent to the family’s experience. Committee members typically take turns reading the story aloud. After you finish reading, your captain(s) will present a feedback form where you can thank the family for sharing their story and let them know what parts you found particularly impactful or inspiring. 

THON Education Program 

THON Education Programs provide committee members with more information about THON’s mission, history, structure and events. These programs are designed to help committee members become familiar with THON to be the most knowledgeable volunteers they can be! 

Committee of the Week 

Each week, you will learn about a different committee, including their directors and roles and responsibilities within the committee. This is a great way to learn more about your other THON volunteers and understand how every person works to make an impact. 

Highs and Lows 

Every meeting ends with captains and committee members going around the room to share both a high and low from their week. This allows the committee to get to know more about each member’s life and helps provide a sense of closeness and community. 

Action Items 

At the end of each meeting, your captain(s) will present you with action items to complete before the next meeting. This could include filling out forms, signing up for one-on-one meetings with your captain(s), placing merch orders or completing committee-specific tasks. 

The THON community is filled with supportive and welcoming people who want to see you succeed. We’re here for you! Remember to take a deep breath and smile. We can’t wait to see the impact that you’ll have!