I receive several dozen e-mails a month, asking me if I am attending a particular event. I now use a numeric code to indidate the likelihood I will attend events that I publicize.

  1. I am the host or co-host of this party and thus I will obviously attend.
  2. I am not the host of this event, but I am playing a role in organizing the event — I am on the committee, I am officially endorsing the event, and/or I am attracting a significant number of the people who will be attending the event.
  3. I will definitely attend this event, but I am not involved in organizing it.
  4. I am likely to attend this event.
  5. I might attend this event.
  6. I have not decided whether I will attend this event.
  7. I probably will not attend this event.
  8. I definitely will not attend this event.

Just because I will not be attending an event does not mean I don't think it is a good event — on the contrary, I would not be sending you the invitation if I didn't think the event was good. There are many reasons why I don't attend a particular event — I may already have plans, I want to stay home at least one night a week, or I may be out of town.

My name is listed in the "From: " portion of the Evite invitation e-mail you will receive. After you click on the link to go to the Evite Web site to view the invitaiton, my name is also listed as the host or one of the hosts of the event. I put this numeric code immediately after my name. Examples include:

If there is another host listed, then the conjunction will also indicate my involvement in the event:

  1. "and" means I am a co-host or otherwise involved with the event — e.g., "James Mitchell (1) and Robin Reed", "James Mitchell (2) and the Boston Public Library Foundation"
  2. "with" means I will definitely attend the event (3) or I am likely to attend that event (4), but I am not involved in organizing that event.
  3. "on behalf of" means I might attend this event (5), I have not decided whether I will attend this event (6), I will probably not attend this event (7), or I will definitely not attend that event (8).