Regular carpool insurance might pay for damages to your vehicle or lost work time or other important things. On the other hand, the best carpool insurance is a good relationship with your carpool buddies, and what better way to build relationships than to have a party!? Whether you have a Back-To-School Carpool Buddies party or a "meet new co-workers at the new job" carpool party or "Thanks for Carpooling with me while our kids were in high school" type of party, any excuse is a good reason to visit with friends, build relationships, and strengthen your carpool insurance.
STEP 1: Choose Carefully
Choose your carpool buddies carefully. You need a good match of similar activities, in particular, so that the schedules will be similar. For example, if three friends are in band together, that's great, as they will have similar practice times. If a fourth friend is not in band, but instead is in chess club that meets before school, well....it can still be done, but it's not really ideal.
It is also important to choose a carpool buddy carefully because you could be together for several years, if things go well.
Make sure you trust the driving of people you invite into your carpool group. If you are driving children, make sure you have at least a broad general similar approach to parenting, as you'll both be influencing each other's children on a regular basis. It's important that everyone feel comfortable with honest and frequent communication.
STEP 2: Schedule date and time for party
Plan a date and time for your carpool insurance party. A good time (for school carpools) is the last weekend before school starts again. Invite everyone who will be sharing rides, including children and parents. If some other friends will help out now and then on an as-needed basis, it is nice to invite them, too.
STEP 3: Make plans for food
Make a plan for food at the party. Sharing food together is one of the most key ways to build relationships and community. Most carpool groups will have about 2-4 families involved. A suggested menu for your carpool insurance party might be:
Host Family: Drinks (since these need to be refrigerated)
Other Family: chips and muchies
Other Family: dips and salsas
Other Family: dessert
Or, you could have a full meal, either potluck or at a local restaurant.
STEP 4: Entertain children
Make plans for entertaining the children. Depending on their ages and what you have available, a pile of legos or a swimming pool are great ideas. A movie is not recommended for this particular party, since the goal is community building. Talking with other and doing activities together are better ways to get to know each other (for a new family) and renew friendships with people you might not have seen much during the summer.
STEP 5: Finalize procedures
During the party, review several important things:
* Who will pick up or drop off, and when (specify times as closely as possible)
* What route to take (help each other decide the best routes)
* Where (exactly) to meet each other (the steps, the sidewalk, the tree, the porch, etc)
* Trade phone numbers with each other
* Enter numbers into cell phones
* Give phone numbers to children, as well, if they have phones
* Add your carpool buddies names and numbers to your Emergency Pick Up list (for school kids)
* Make plans about how to contact each other when plans change
(notice that is "when" plans change, not "if" because it's sure to happen!)
With a good plan in place, your carpool group will operate more efficiently and be more fun and relaxing for everyone. True carpool insurance comes from good relationships with people who care for each other.
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