RSVP and Reminders: Never Miss a Group Meeting

No More "Are We Still Meeting Tonight?" Texts

Every group leader knows the routine: Tuesday afternoon rolls around, and half the group texts to ask if the meeting is still happening. Then you spend 20 minutes sending individual messages to figure out how many people are coming so you know whether to set up the living room or the dining room.

Flock eliminates all of that. Members RSVP with a single tap, automatic reminders go out before every event, and you can see the headcount in real time. No more chasing people down.

How RSVP Works

For Members

When an event has RSVP enabled, members see a response button right on the event card. One tap is all it takes:

Response	What It Means
Going	"Count me in — I will be there."
Maybe	"I am not sure yet, but I might come."
Not Going	"I cannot make it this time."

Members can change their response at any time before the event. If plans change from "Maybe" to "Going" (or vice versa), they just tap again.

RSVP does not require any extra steps. There is no form to fill out, no email to send, and no text to compose. Just one tap.

For Leaders

As the group leader, you see all RSVP responses at a glance on the event detail screen:

Total Going — Your expected headcount
Total Maybe — People who might show up
Total Not Going — People who cannot attend
Not Responded — Members who have not answered yet

This gives you the information you need to plan: how many chairs, how much food, whether the venue is big enough. You can check the list anytime and see exactly who responded what.

Automatic Reminders

Flock sends push notifications to remind members about upcoming events, so they do not forget and you do not have to send reminders yourself.

Default reminder timing:

24 hours before — A heads-up the day before the event
1 hour before — A last-minute reminder to get ready and head out

Reminders include:

The event title
The date, time, and location
A quick-action button to RSVP if they have not responded yet

Why Automatic Reminders Help

People are busy. Even committed group members forget about meetings when life gets hectic. A gentle nudge 24 hours ahead gives them time to plan, and the one-hour reminder catches anyone who lost track of the day.

The result? Fewer no-shows, fewer "I totally forgot" texts, and a more consistent group.

How RSVP and Attendance Work Together

RSVP tells you who plans to come. Attendance tells you who actually did. Together, they give you the full picture.

Here is how they connect:

Before the event: Members RSVP. You see the expected headcount.
At the event: You take attendance (photo or manual). Flock records who was actually there.
After the event: You can compare RSVP to attendance. Did everyone who said "Going" actually show up? Did anyone come who said "Not Going"?

This comparison is useful for understanding your group's reliability and engagement patterns. If someone consistently RSVPs "Going" but does not show up, that is a signal worth paying attention to — not for judgment, but for a caring check-in.

Tips for Getting More RSVP Responses

Mention it at the meeting. "Before we wrap up — if you haven't RSVPed for next week, take a second to tap 'Going' in the Flock app." A verbal reminder during the meeting is the single most effective way to boost response rates.

RSVP yourself. As the leader, be the first person to RSVP "Going." Members are more likely to respond when they see activity on the event.

Use RSVP for special events especially. For your regular weekly meeting, everyone knows the routine and may not feel the need to RSVP. But for social events, guest speakers, or anything outside the norm, RSVP is essential for planning.

Follow up with "Maybe" responses. A "Maybe" often means "I want to come but I am not sure I can." A quick message — "Hope to see you Tuesday — let me know if you need a ride" — can turn a Maybe into a Going.

Do not pester people who have not responded. Some members will never RSVP, and that is okay. The feature is there for those who use it, and the data you do get is still valuable for planning.

Notification Preferences

Members can customize their notification settings to control what they receive. If someone finds reminders too frequent, they can adjust their preferences in the app's settings without affecting notifications for other features like prayer or chat.

For more on customizing notifications, see Notification Settings: Control What Alerts You Receive.