10 tips for Clubs & Societies during COVID-19
USU President Connor Wherrett explains how clubs can survive COVID-19
Note: Connor Wherrett is the President of Minesoc
Are you a club or society executive feeling lost and directionless? With the University’s ban of events, and general Government advice about social distancing, many clubs on campus are confused about what they should be doing.
While you may think that your club depends on face-to-face interaction, or in person socialising, you may actually find that there are options available to you online - let’s see!
Clubs staying active is vital as it means that students feel a sense of belonging on campus. We already know that a sense of belonging is vital to the mental health and wellbeing of students. The impact of COVID-19 and dropping face-to-face teaching means that students don't have opportunities to form social bonds, connections and have physical contact. It’s vital for our student community that our clubs keep running, and do the best they can to ensure that students feel connected.
If not, students could survive COVID-19 perfectly fine, but find themselves overwhelmed by the pain of social isolation, and a desire for connection - perhaps worsening the already terrible levels of mental health among students.
These are ten things that your club can be doing in order to ensure that your club continues to be active during this time.
1. Make your regular events virtual.
The Sydney University Law Society - SULS normally hosts this time of year an ‘Assignment Basics’ workshop to make sure first-year students can get ahead, so naturally this physical event in the Law Foyer had to be cancelled. Luckily, the executives have transitioned to an online version of the same event. This means that students can Zoom in to the ‘Webinar’ and get all the information they need, from home.
So for your society - take your normal events and think of ways that you can convert them into virtual events. That could mean Zoom-connectivity or anything that allows the event to still happen.
If you ran the Chess Club, for instance, you could easily convert into online chess tournaments. Similarly if you ran a political club, you could easily host an online talk - or maybe ask an MP to talk directly to students via Facebook Live.
Think creatively and think smart. The only limit to what’s possible is your imagination (and potentially your internet speed).
2. Create a digital space for members.
Recently, the Physics Society has started a Discord. This means that our budding physicists can still chat online, and Discord allows a number of different channels and discussion groups. Alternatively, make a Facebook group or even a Slack channel for your executive.
Utilise this time to build up online connections between your club members. Go to your club membership list and invite all of them to join your new channels of communication.
When the channel is set up, encourage your society members to introduce themselves - maybe with a bit about themselves and asking them to post a selfie and encourage members to talk to each other.
(Maybe even just create a space to rant about a Lecturer’s new Zoom habits).
3. Think of new virtual events that fit into your club’s goals.
This is where the real creativity comes in. Think about your clubs goals and ambitions and boost what your club can do online.
If you’re a dance society - host a TikTok dance competition.
If you’re the car society, then host your first ever Gran Turismo tournament.
Piano Society? Garageband tutorials.
Lego Society? It’s time to dust off your copy of Lego Star Wars on PS2.
This is the time to get creative and think of the ways that your club can succeed.
4. Have regular online executive meetings.
This one’s easy - make sure your exec stays in touch! Stuff always gets lost in a group chat so make sure to start up a Zoom channel and host regular meetings. That way you can all bounce off ideas together.
Here’s me chatting with some of the other Minecraft Society Executives the other day:
5. Convert to digital memberships
Now’s your chance to digitise your club! Convert to a digital membership service, and convert all your members over to these platforms. Qpay, Get or JoinIt are great recommendations, but find what suits your club.
Once you’ve done this, take that link to membership - and post it on your social media! Don’t also forget to include that link on your club page on the USU website. You can do this in ClubSuite!
Digital memberships will mean that new members can join without going to Welcome Fest, or coming to an event. It allows your society to exist entirely online!
6. Start a new collaboration project like a journal, or club diary
It’s time to bring out individual talent within your club.
A journal, or art diary by your club can be a collection of the works of your club. You can ask for Editors, and perhaps make it as big of a publication as something like Arna.
Set some deadlines, encourage students to write, and then publish the journal or piece digitally. This is a great way to nourish and enhance the voices of your society.
7. Host a creative competition
Better yet, get your members to compete! Host a competition that asks your members to send the best art, photograph, or individual contribution.
Award a prize to the winner and announce it on your social media. Don’t forget to use this as an opportunity. Maybe your club needs a new logo? Or a new cover photo to design? Or maybe the next club t-shirt? Encourage creativity from your members and get some fresh new material out of it - genius!
8. Beef up your club’s social media presence
Let’s be honest - some clubs do their social media well, and some not so well.
Now is the perfect time for the not so well clubs. Devote some of your exec time to beefing up the page likes, or even spend some $$ on advertising. Create a posting schedule and make one of your general executives a meme machine.
Get that content flowing, and make sure you’ve got all your bases covered - Facebook, Instagram, TikTok??
Also don’t forget to get a nice weekly newsletter going during this time: services such as MailChimp are great for this.
9. Think deeply about your club and what it does.
Have you ever been so busy working for your club, that you’ve just begged for a moment to slow down and reflect? Maybe now’s that time. Set some long term goals for your club. Revisit your club Constitution and see if it still makes sense. Get some changes in order. Maybe your executive roles make the society dysfunctional - maybe it’s time for a reform?
Now is the time to think about the big questions.
10. Create a book, or movie club related to your society’s goal.
In social isolation, people love books and movies. The big question is what to watch - or read.
If you make a timetable with weekly reading/watching, you can then discuss your thoughts online.
I’ve attached some starting suggestions:
Greek Society: 300
Sydney University Mathematics Society: A Beautiful Mind
Piano Society: The Pianist
I hope this list helps. Remember - the next few months depend on you. Don’t let COVID-19 kill your club. Follow this list, get active, and create a digital sense of belonging for all your members who are counting on you.
If you have any questions, the USU is here to help. Contact C+S at csocs@usu.edu.au