Wanna get your Region/Division/State all in One Room? (virtually)
Here are seven things we learned doing the All-U.S. Young Life College Club
Here are seven things to consider as you strategize a virtual club for your own state, region, or division.
IDENTIFY THE WHY - Do your kids, leaders and staff need this tool? Have they not been able to have a club? Have they tried and it’s difficult? Would leaders love to have deeper conversations with students? Are they tired and could use a tool like a virtual club? Do they struggle to have the time or resources to put on something like this? Would this help them reach students they know and maybe some they don’t?
STRATEGIZE THE TIMING - If yes, then when? When the pandemic hit, many of our staff were asking “how do we finish the semester strong?” We scheduled our All-U.S. Club to provide closure as students transition into summer. Our next club came in August, the most strategic month of the year for meeting new students during “welcome” weeks. Timing is everything!
DEFINE YOUR AUDIENCE - Our audience was college students seeking community, adventure, and significance. It was also graduating high school seniors and incoming freshmen all across the country. For you, maybe it’s your state, region, or your entire division? Maybe you engage incoming 6th graders or high school freshmen? While you define a certain audience and direct production accordingly, know that it can also be used to bridge incoming students or even reach donors, adult support, friends, and families.
UTILIZE SMALL GROUPS - This was our biggest “why!” The small group post-club discussion is crucial for utilizing virtual clubs to launch relationships! Our videos ended with a prompt for groups and questions on the screen. All our best stories from our two virtual clubs came out of discussion during post-club small group time! Staff and volunteers must be prepared to lead these conversations.
PLAN THE PROGRAM - Plan everything (music, humor, games, skits, and talk) with your entire audience in mind including kids that don’t know Young Life or Jesus. Get as many faces and people involved as possible. Think through the use of live interaction through social media, Zoom, commenting, or texting and aim for less than an hour in length.
MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE - We pre-recorded the Club and streamed live on YouTube through OneStream.com. We utilized Instagram to provide the direct link and make it easy to access 15 minutes before the start. The video went “live” with pre-recorded “commercials” 15 minutes before advertised start time to allow a window for accessing the direct link.
MAKE IT WORTH IT - Create a budget that includes high quality video editing. Prioritize buy-in from staff and leaders. Plan to use the virtual club video after for virtual banquets, newsletters, etc. If you’re going to do a large-scale club, maximize value and excellence!
More questions? We’d love to help! JOIN OUR VIRTUAL CLUB COHORT!
**We are offering a cohort Limited to 6 teams within a Regional/Divisional/National/International Ministry Models.
Review the criteria below and respond to Bill Reazer (BillReazer@gmail.com) to be included. We will offer one Zoom training session and upon completion you will receive money to go toward your production!
Cohort Criteria
Virtual Club must be Metro/Region/State-wide or larger geographic context. (US or International)
Completion of the Club is overseen by the supervising National office (Regional or above)
Virtual Club must be launched before February 1, 2021.
Team members must attend 90 minute zoom cohort training.
Additional ‘input’ or coaching dependent on teaching team availability.
$1000 transfer to designated MU to help offset expenses after launch of virtual club