PONY EXPRESS
2ND YEAR PLAN
The Power Of The Program Is Threefold
The Pony Express program has three great strengths:
First, it is a program of maximum involvement in the solicitation of the estimates of giving. The relay system democratizes the solicitation, giving many, many members the chance to help with the campaign in a way that is very comfortable and rewarding for them.
Secondly, it is a program of minimum resistance due to the use of the "estimate of giving" concept. While members who in the past have refused to sign pledge cards are willing to fill in estimate cards, those who have made and paid pledges treat their estimates as if these were pledges and pay them just as faithfully!
And in the third place, it is a program of total accountability within the framework of a very sound, detailed organizational structure. The various key workers are held accountable by other key workers, so that all features of the program are likely to be carried out on time and in appropriate ways. Not only is each such person in a leadership position held accountable, but each is supported in appropriate ways.
Churches For Which The Second Year PX Should Work Well
This second year program is a natural for churches that previously used the first year program successfully. No wonder eight of ten users of the first year Pony Express plan go on to use the one designed for second year usage!
Extensive research indicates the churches that, generally speaking, have the best results with this next PX program are those that (1) utilize the full program or close to it, (2) recruit new trail bosses and station agents and other key workers, where possible, and (3) remove from the saddlebag routes any members who previously held up the relay or revealed a negative attitude toward the program.
The churches whose second year results tend to be less satisfactory are ones that (1) eliminate designed steps and materials utilized previously, assuming that a lessor effort and promotion than before is needed, (2) recruit primarily formerly used trail bosses, station agents, etc., whose enthusiasm and intentionality- compared to the first year-can wane, and (3) keep on the route lists the names of families who previously demonstrated little or no interest in the program.