The following are recommendations developed through past experiences in coordinating an Adopt-a-Chair program.

• A sample of an existing theatre/auditorium chair should be removed and returned to Irwin Seating for sampling. Irwin Seating will restore that chair incorporating the customers choice of fabric, paint color, decoration, etc. A mounting board for the display of that chair will also be provided. This is a very effective demonstration and sales tool that will show just how beautiful a restored chair can be and become the Number One marketing element for the Adopt-a-Chair program.
• The sample will be provided on a no-charge basis.
• Sample chair should be prominently displayed in lobby of the theatre or school with an appropriate sign indicating the Adopt-a-Chair program placard. The placard should contain the following information:
• Usually $250 – $300 per seat donation.
• Announcement that a donor plaque will be attached to each chair as a permanent testimony to the contributor. Plaque will be bronze, professionally engraved and will be shown on the sample.
• Placard should also contain information regarding the approximate number of chairs needed to be restored and a realistic goal for completion of the campaign.
• Name of the organization running the campaign, address, and phone number where contributions should be sent.
• The marketing of this program should include several other placements of the sample for maximum exposure.
• Front window of a local business establishment willing to advertise and display the product. Community functions such as Fourth of July parade, where the chair and placard might be prominently displayed.
• Alumni reunions and class reunions where the chair may be set up on a table for display.
• PTA/PTO meetings with the sample display, placard, brochure and sign up sheets
• Lions Club, Rotary Club, K of C and Masonic Lodge Meetings, functions etc.
• In order to explain the program and promote its sales, a brochure should be prepared giving details, photos, testimonials, and subscription card.
• Write up an article and advertise in a local newspaper. Very often for a small advertisement, the local paper will provide a feature article about the program and throw in their support.
• Most campaigns that are successful have sponsoring organizations that spearhead and coordinate all activities. That organization might be the local Historical Society the PTA/PTO Lions or Kiwanis Club, local Arts Council, etc. Sponsoring organizations usually have experience in fund raising campaigns and are able to provide better results than a grass root, start up organization, just raising funds for theatre restoration.
• Cost: Generally speaking, east restored auditorium chair is going to cost in the neighborhood of $250 – $325 per chair. This number will vary depending on the condition of the chairs, type of fabric used, etc. During the sampling period, Longo will provide you with an accurate figure as to cost once we have analyzed the chair and determined what will be needed for a quality restoration. Because the chair is the most visual, and will be the item displaying the donor tag, it is generally considered the most marketable of the restoration process. To cover additional costs involved in the restoration of items such as draperies, curtain, rigging, carpeting and painting, you might consider increasing the donation per chair. For a school program, any contribution over $300 may be prohibitive or may greatly slow down your campaign. For historical theatres with wealthy clientele, $450 – $650 is not out of the question.
• Campaigns have also been successful in utilizing a donor plaque with the names of all donors attached to a wooden plaque displayed in the lobby of the building rather than individual tags per chair. Some have even done both.
• In order for people to track the progress of any campaign, the use of a giant thermometer showing progress towards the goal of 100% is effective. This thermometer, placed outside the building for all to see, could also be reprinted occasionally in a newspaper, again reminding people of the campaign and progress being made towards the goal.
• If a campaign begins to slow down and needs a major boost, you may want to consider restoring part of the auditorium, such as the main floor, balcony, or center section without doing the side sections. People will see the effect the chairs have on the overall appearance of the auditorium and this will give your campaign a boost. Doing a small portion of chairs may slightly affect the price because of increased freight rates, etc.

If you have any questions or seek additional information, contact Longo Associates, Inc. at (201) 825-1500 and/or email at info@longoinc.com

Project:  Union City Demonstration High School

AIA Firm:  RSC Architects

Products:  Casework (Wood Laboratory Casework, Art Room Casework, Music Room Casework, Health Center Casework)

Related Website Links & Downloads:

Planning Science Lab Facilities for Education Presentation

Sheldon Art Room Furniture Catalog

Sheldon Home Economics Casework & Furniture Catalog

Sheldon Wood Laboratory Casework link

Sheldon Wood Casework Brochure

Sheldon Wood Casework Specifications

Sheldon Axis Student Lab Tables link

Axis Lab Table Brochure

Axis Lab Table Specifications

Axis Lab Table Engineering Drawing

Sheldon Fume Hoods link

Bid No: MRESC 11/12-12

NJ State Approved Cooperative Pricing System

#65MCESCCPS

Longo Associates, Inc.

Longo is now able to make available to New Jersey’s public school systems, colleges/universities and municipalities a full range of classroom furniture, auditorium seating, library furniture and laboratory furniture products. This includes classroom seating and desks, classroom activity tables, computer furniture, wood laboratory casework, metal laboratory casework, fume hoods, student lab tables, adjustable-height lab tables, art room furniture, elementary science furniture and much more from leading U.S. manufacturers!

And do not forget Longo’s FREE architectural planning and design on library & laboratory construction projects that require the service.  School facility planners, administrators, and construction departments wishing to learn more about this service should email Nat Longo (nlongo@longoinc.com).

How To Join MRESC (www.mresc.k12.nj.us):

Potential members are to fill out the MRESC agreement and resolution (see links below).

1. Member Agreement
2. Certified Board Resolutions (School Districts)
3. Certified Board Resolutions (Municipalities)

Potential members are to mail both resolutions in the same envelope with original signatures.  Faxes and emails will not be accepted by the Commission.  Mail to:

Middlesex Regional Educational Services Commission

Attn: Patrick M. Moran

Business Administrator/Board Secretary

1660 Stelton Road, Second Floor

Piscataway, NJ 08854.

There is NO FEE to join the MRESC Co-op.  Once your membership has been approved by the state of New Jersey you may begin to utilize all current and future contracts listed on our website.  Please be advised that the “How to use MRESC Co-op” flyer will be emailed to you.

Project:  Union City Demonstration High School Library

AIA Firm:  RSC Architects

Products:  Wood Library Furniture (Shelving, Seating, Study Carrels, Reading Tables & Circulation Desk)

Related Website Links & Downloads:

Library Floor Plan (1) of Union City Demonstration High School Library

Library Floor Plan (2) of Union City Demonstration High School Library

Library Floor Plan (3) of Union City Demonstration High School Library

Wood Library Circulation Desk by Tesco Industries

Wood Library Reading Tables by Tesco Industries

Wood Library Shelving by Tesco Industries

Note: Longo sincerely appreciates the opportunity to use the photos above that were found on Wikimedia Commons.

Longo’s seating consultants’ success is built upon educating school business officials, facilities departments & architects. We specialize in all aspect of public seating for auditoriums, lecture rooms, and theaters.

• Chair Evaluations
• Repair & Restoration
• New Seating
• Planning and Layouts
• Installation Services

Below are some recent auditorium seating projects completed by Longo in New Jersey: Town, Project – Product

Allendale, Brookside Elementary School – Citation Chair
Bergenfield, Bergenfield High School
Bridgeton, Bridgeton High School
Camden, Dudley Elementary School – Patriot Chair
Camden, HB Wilson Elementary School – Patriot Chair
Chester, West Morris Central High School – Citation Chair
Cresskill, Cresskill Jr./Sr. High School
East Hanover, Hanover Park High School – Millennium Chair
East Orange, East Orange Campus High School – Patriot Chair
East Orange, East Orange School #5 – Patriot Chair
Glen Ridge, Glen Ridge High School – Citation Chair
Gloucester City, Gloucester City Jr./Sr. High School
Harrison, Harrison High School – Citation Chair
Jersey City, Cornelia Bradford School #16
Lakehurst, Manchester Twp. High School
Lawrenceville, Rider University
Livingston, Livingston High School
Livingston, Rutgers University
Madison, Drew University
Madison, Madison Jr./Sr. High School – Citation Chair
Manalapan, Manalapan-Englishtown Middle School
Marlboro, Marlboro Middle School
Montvale, Pascack Hills High School
New Brunswick, Rutgers University
Newark, Newark Science Museum
Oradell, River Dell High School
Paramus, Paramus Catholic High School – Millennium Chair
Passaic, Passaic High School
Pompton Plains, Pequannock Township High School
Princeton Junction, West Windsor-Plainsboro High School – Citation Chair
Ramsey, Don Bosco Prep School
Randolph, County College of Morris
River Edge, River Dell Middle School – Citation Chair
Saddle River, Saddle River Day School
Somerset, Sampson G. Smith School – Citation Chair
Sparta, Sparta High School – Citation Chair
Succasunna, Eisenhower Middle School
Sussex, High Point Regional High School – Citation Chair
Union, Kean University
Union, Union High School
Vernon, Vernon Twp. High School – Citation Chair
Wayne, Wayne Hills High School – Citation Chair
Wayne, Wayne Valley High School
Wayne, William Paterson University
West Caldwell, James Caldwell High School
West New York, West NY ES #2 – Citation Chair
West New York, West NY ES #3 – Citation Chair
West New York, West NY ES #4 – Citation Chair
West Orange, West Orange High School

If you would like an auditorium seating evaluation, please call (800) 635-6646 or email info@longoinc.com.

Related Website Links and Downloads: