We’ve all been there. We try to help out by coordinating a potluck, a moms group, a neighborhood watch schedule… a whole bunch of things that require us to get people to sign up. We need to have time slots covered or food items taken care of so there aren’t 5 dozen buns but no hotdogs. It’s not east to keep track of everything. Classic example: we used to do frequent potlucks at my previous job. Our agency had several smaller sites, but EACH location had a sign up form for the potluck. We didn’t know who was bringing what from the main office. Then sheets would get misplaced and a new one circulates, meanwhile the first one gets submitted. Then the coordinator emails a reminder to sign up. Next thing you know, her inbox is full of dishes and treats.

What. A. Mess.

I am going to have to share SignUpGenius with every community event coordinator I know! I checked out their site and it would have simplified our work potlucks. It also would have been helpful when we would schedule various volunteer activities so people weren’t doubled up on times, leaving whole blocks of time wide open.

It’s FREE and easy to use too. After you register, you can set up a group event. You designate the time, the type of event, the details, and create a sign up form. You can send that link out to invite people to sign up. You can set up specific groups and allow only certain ones to sign up. There are 6 key areas that it is focused on with the templates: Home & Family, Schools, Churches, Non-profits, Sports, and Colleges.

Here’s an example of a potluck sign up I created:

You can even designate the quantity of something so ONLY 3 people can sign up to bring chips!

The event coordinator is able to eliminate mass email correspondence and loose sheets of paper. Automatic email reminders can be sent out to the group. There’s even a nice calendar that will keep track of the events. This is especially useful for recurring events. There’s a lot of potential if one takes the time to utilize it. Definitely an organized time-saver! I’m wondering if there’s a way to incorporate it in virtual event sign ups…. I’ll keep playing around!

The site has a lot of resources too. There are tutorials to help you set up your sign ups, a blog with event planning tips, and they offer contests and rewards for active members as well.

Do you coordinate any events, such as playgroups? Do you think SignUpGenius would help you keep organized?

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Disclosure: SignUpGenius is providing a gift card to thank me for my time in honestly reviewing their service and for sharing it with you. The thoughts and opinions expressed are mine based on my experience with the site.

About Darcy

Darcy Zalewski is a married, stay-at-home mom who is discovering her greener side, starting with advocating for cloth diapering. When she's not changing diapers or singing the Itsy Bitsy Spider, she can be found at Tales From the Nursery, where she shares tales of motherhood as well as product reviews, or at ShePromotes, a resource for blogger support.

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