Across the International Association of Torch Clubs, this is the time of year when many individual Club leaders are cudgeling their brains to plan for their upcoming Club years. This year such planning is even harder as we continue to face the COVID-19 health crisis that caused many to cancel the end of our season last year and is presenting a future with so many unknowns.
Thank you to our Richmond Club who has provided their roadmap
to help other Clubs make the 2020-2021 season happen!
Step 1: Identify As Many Hurdles That May Come Up During September - May Time Period
Get your Board members together early and brainstorm. The Richmond Club found that they were determined to have a Torch 2020-2021 season and then worked toward making it happen.
Thank you to our Richmond Club who has provided their roadmap
to help other Clubs make the 2020-2021 season happen!
Step 1: Identify As Many Hurdles That May Come Up During September - May Time Period
Get your Board members together early and brainstorm. The Richmond Club found that they were determined to have a Torch 2020-2021 season and then worked toward making it happen.
Step 2: Identify How You Can Host In Person/Physical Meeting & Virtual/Online Meetings
As there are still so many unknowns regarding the health situation in the Fall, planning for two types of meetings is essential. Being ready to host in-person/physical and solely virtually/online meeting is needed. A third combination option of live-streaming the in-person meetings, giving members a choice of attending physically or virtually is also an option. Finding the resources and teaching members to use virtual/online meetings carry significant technological and communications plans.
Step 3: Virtual Meeting Technology
Knowing that the camaraderie and engagement at our traditional dinner meetings is vitally important, seeing and hearing each other is key to successful virtual meeting. There are many virtual meeting vendor options and after much assessment IATC has selected ZOOM as the best technology available at this time.
Through a generous grant from the Torch Foundation,
Clubs are now be able to receive ZOOM subscriptions at NO OR REDUCED COST!
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If your club has already purchased ZOOM,
contact IATC for your options to get a credit. |
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If your Club has not yet purchased,
please contact IATC to receive your FREE subscription. |
Step 4: Stay Connected
Continue to look for new, creative ways to keep Club members connected virtually. Some ideas include:
If your Club has more great ideas for meeting during COVID-19, please email us and we will share your plan with the other Clubs on the NEW IATC website!
Continue to look for new, creative ways to keep Club members connected virtually. Some ideas include:
- Survey your members about your plans!
Simply splitting the member list and making phone calls is a great way to touch base and get participation. - Open the Zoom conference line before your Torch Club meeting a half an hour early for virtual "Happy Hour".
- Foster interest groups where members with like hobbies, professional experiences and special passions can get together in small groups if they choose.
If your Club has more great ideas for meeting during COVID-19, please email us and we will share your plan with the other Clubs on the NEW IATC website!