Terrific alumni club events can be small and e-hosting a group with a common interest can offer a connection that’s accessible to everyone in your club area. The Cornell Club in Western Washington for example recently hosted a “Low-Waste Lifestyle” Zoom. Board member Anavi N. lead a discussion on how to reduce all kinds of waste – from clothing to food to packaging and beyond. She prepared 20 minutes of content and then lead a discussion among the dozen participants on Zoom. “Everyone had ideas to share!” Anavi said.
Here are tips to create your own mini-Zoom. Let us know if your club does one!:
- Find a host with a passion—it could be pie baking, beer tasting, winter gardening, selling on Etsy, fantasy football, etc.—and a convenient date. Weekday evenings seem best.
- Send out a Zoom invitation and make sure to ask people to RSVP, even though it is free, so you can send reminders.
- Remind folks 2 weeks out, 1 week out, and the day before, to tune in.
- The host should prepare 20 minutes of content and in the Zoom, ask participants for ideas, thoughts, and let the conversation flow!
- Send your guest list to alumni affairs, which helps them know what’s happening around the country. Ask your participants for any feedback to improve in the future!
written by Julie Weed ’86, Peer Advisor and President of the Cornell Club of Western Washington