May 2020 – Lauriane Lebrun, Marketing & Communications Coordinator

Nothing has really been “business as usual” over these last few months.  As the COVID-19 crisis changes industries, forces events to be cancelled/postponed/moved online, and adds a new element to how organizations fundraise, nonprofits everywhere have been finding ways to adapt.

To help keep your organization inspired, active, and relevant during this time, below is a compilation of ideas from some of Lexian’s clients:

  • Great Bay Rowing: Get competitive via video call.  GBR’s Junior Rowing Team is still competing in regattas – virtually, that is.  Regional coaches and Greater Lawrence Rowing put together the SCRUBS regatta series: Spring Cyber Regattas United to Beat Social distancing.  Using ergs (rowing machines) and video calls, the rowers have been competing in a variety of events from the safety of their own homes.
  • New England Livery Association: Hold a Virtual Town Hall Meeting with a local focus.  The NELA’s Connecticut Committee held a Town Hall event on May 1st to discuss members’ experiences with relevant issues and exchange information.  The event focused on the concerns of a local community – specifically, NELA members in the state of Connecticut.  The organization followed up later in the month with similar, state-by-state meetings for NH, VT, ME, MA, and RI members.
  • New England Livery Association: Gather a panel of experts.  The NELA is currently preparing for their Annual Meeting, which will be held in webinar format on June 9th.  The meeting will feature a variety of experts, from all segments of the livery industry, to present on COVID-19 concerns and answer questions. 
  • NH Dental Hygienists’ Association: Host a webinar that’s relevant to your industry.  The NHDHA’s “Dental Infection Control & Your Practice: What Will Happen After COVID-19?” course was a hugely popular webinar event that combined an important industry topic with current events to answer the questions everyone in the dental hygiene field had been asking.  The webinar was broadcast live on April 27th, but remained available to watch for continuing education credit until May 15th.
  • NH Occupational Therapy Association: Invite members to call in during a virtual Office Hours meeting.  In mid-April, board members from the NHOTA set up three “Office Hours” Zoom meetings and invited members to dial in to discuss their concerns, needs, and questions relative to the pandemic. 
  • One World Language School: Connect through shared movies.  OWLS has been keeping their community of young foreign language learners connected by way of movie recommendations.  On a weekly basis throughout the month of April, OWLS sent out a newsletter with a list of kid-friendly movies in Chinese, French, German, and Spanish for families to watch together at home.
  • Zebra Crossings: Try a virtual 5K.  Zebra Crossings didn’t let the COVID-19 crisis stop their 14th Annual Moms on the Run 5K.  This year, the organization invited participants to map out their own 5K route and run it solo or with their “household herd” on May 9th and 10th.  Runners were encouraged to enter to win raffle prizes, get competitive by uploading their time online, and submit creative photos of their “herd” to Zebra Crossings’ Facebook page.
  • Zebra Crossings: Take summer camp to cyberspace.  Zebra Crossings has been connecting community members and lifting spirits with their “Zebra Zoom Time” sessions.  The weekly video meetings give kids and teens a chance to socialize and enjoy favorite summer camp activities—with a virtual twist. 

The Lexian Management newsletter is for informational purposes only.

Always consult your attorney, accountant, and/or insurance provider to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or concern.