This week I’ve been talking to a few people from different professional associations about their 2022 conferences. It looks as if many still can’t be fully face-to-face this year, and that’s giving organisers a headache.
The thing is, when an annual conference is at its best:
- It connects people, including those who may feel isolated, and sparks conversations that continue well after the event itself
- It inspires and excites people about the latest developments in your field
- It demonstrates your association’s leadership in the field, and willingness to innovate in order to deliver for your members
- It delivers value for sponsors and other stakeholders
- It drives conversations around your central theme
- It provides a space for members who want to air specific issues with their colleagues
- It’s a space for real learning and sharing, not just being talked at
- Members will talk about it and believe that on its own, it was more than enough to justify membership
- Those who did not come, including not-yet-members from your field, will regret not being there!
Over the years I’ve had some brilliant experiences at conferences, even though I’m something of an introvert. I know that an injection of that kind of energy, maybe once or twice a year, improves the quality of my thinking and the breadth of my network.
Now, here’s the big question. Is it possible to create a professional association’s conference online, or in a hybrid format? One that delivers all the benefits listed above?
Yes! We’ve worked on loads of them in these last two years. The fact is that it really doesn’t have to be technically difficult or expensive to deliver a high-quality experience online, blending learning, connection, innovation and more.
It does require considerable thought, design and preparation. Perhaps what’s needed may be beyond what your current voluntary committee can achieve without help.
That’s where we at Rees McCann come in.
“I’m so grateful for the support that Steve and Judy were able to offer us as we prepared for our first really interactive online conference! They were knowledgeable, kind, creative, listened to our needs, and were fun to work with to boot! Anyone looking for facilitation support would benefit from working with Rees McCann.”
Karen Rayne, PhD, CSE, AASECT 2021
Let me be direct: if your professional association seems to have decided that it’s all too difficult, and you want a highly-engaging online or hybrid conference to happen, point them in my direction.
“Rees-McCann provided just what we needed, right when we needed it! When our in-person conference was cancelled last minute due to unrest in the region, we switched it to be an online event with 100+ participants from all over the world. Judy’s remote facilitation training the week before our event provided our team with the skills and confidence we needed to pull of a highly successful event.”
Peter Transburg, INEE – Inter-agency Network for Education in Emergencies
Tell them that a great online association conference is possible, and it’s wanted. Show them this post. And perhaps book a call here.