Announcement texts for clubs, churches and schools: 12 examples

A good announcement text answers three questions: what is happening, when, and what the reader should do. If your message covers those three, it can stay short.

Below you will find the pattern, twelve sample messages you can adapt, and a note on when a phone call is a better choice than a text. Every sample is an example. Replace the bracketed parts with your own details.

What makes an announcement text work?

Use the what-when-what-to-do pattern. Say what is happening, give the date and time, and finish with one action.

• What: the change or news, in a few plain words.
• When: the day, date and time, written out in full.
• What to do: one clear step, such as reply YES, bring an item, or visit a page.

Name your organization at the start so the reader knows who is writing. Furcata adds your account name at the start and an unsubscribe line at the end of every bulk message, so you do not need to write them yourself. STOP and HELP keywords are handled automatically.

Why keep each text short?

Each message is counted in segments, and a longer message uses more segments. In the US and Canada, one segment uses one credit. Emojis take the space of several characters, so they use up a segment faster.

Every message also carries one flat messaging fee, whatever its length or type. Current prices are on the pricing page, and the billing guide explains what you are charged for.

The header and footer count toward the length of every bulk message, so a short English message usually uses 2 segments. One accented letter moves the whole message to Unicode, which fits fewer characters in each segment. The samples below are short on purpose, and the note before the first sample shows how each one is counted.

What are 12 announcement texts you can adapt?

Schedule changes

Furcata adds your account name at the start and a short unsubscribe line at the end of every bulk message, and both count toward the length. With them, the examples below use 2 segments each. In the US and Canada, one segment uses one credit, and every message also carries one flat messaging fee.

Practice moves to [day] at [time], same place. Reply YES if you can come.

Our service time changes to [time] starting [date]. Doors open 15 minutes early.

Pickup is at [time] on [date] because of the early dismissal. Please plan ahead.

Meetings

Our next meeting is [date] at [time] in [room]. Please reply with your agenda items by [date].

Board meeting [date], [time], at [place]. Agenda is on our page: [link].

Parent night is [date] at [time]. Reply with the number of guests so we can set up seats.

Cancellations

Tonight's [event] is canceled. We will text the new date as soon as plans change.

School is closed on [date]. Classes resume [date] at [time]. Check [link] for updates.

The [date] class is canceled. Your next class is [date] at [time]. Reply HELP with questions.

News and reminders

Sign-ups for [program] are open until [date]. Add your name at [link].

Our free event is [date] at [time] at [place]. Bring a friend and a dish to share.

Thank you for helping on [date]. We could not do it without you. Next date: [date].

How do you reuse these messages?

If you send the same kind of notice each week or term, save it as a template. The templates guide covers how to write, test and reuse the messages a service sends.

When you send to a large list, the broadcasts guide explains how to send one message safely, in batches.

When is a call better than a text?

Consider a call when the news is urgent for a small group, or when the message needs a tone that text cannot carry. A change to a funeral service or a closure that affects safety are examples. If a reader would rather hear the news than read it, a call gives them that option.

Furcata places outbound phone calls and robocalls, and the robocalls guide covers spoken messages at scale, in more than one language. You could pair the two: a text with the key facts, and a call for anyone who needs to hear it.

Phone calls and texts are billed differently, so check current prices before you choose. If you would like to see how each message type is counted, the billing guide lists what is included and what you are charged for.