For the second year in a row, members of the Junior League of Salt Lake complete most of their league duties virtually. For some, it is a struggle, which does not imply that members are not handling their roles well; everyone is doing the best they can. But navigating everyday tasks and league roles without a lot of human interaction while also trying to stay safe from illness is a struggle no matter what.
Before the pandemic, members were required to show up to in-person meetings either at headquarters, a restaurant or a member’s home, along with numerous in-person events and social functions. It’s no surprise that this may be our new normal, not only for the League but for our personal and work lives as well. We’ve all become experts on Zoom, FaceTime and Google Hangouts, but will the day finally come that we can sit down again and face each other without worry?
I myself do not feel quite as involved in the League as before, not only because I gave birth to twins shortly before the pandemic happened but because I am also navigating a new job, while – like everyone else – trying to do things virtually, which is just not the same. Tasks can be forgotten, Zoom meetings missed due to bad internet or missed emails. I often find myself navigating between working, watching toddlers, or the Junior League.
I spoke with Chanda Jenkins, the 2021-2022 League Recording Secretary, a role I held in 2019. This role requires attending board meetings and recording what is discussed at the meetings while also contributing to decisions being made. Chanda has been in the League since 2010 and has held numerous positions since then. I asked her if she wanted to tell me what it’s like doing board meetings on Zoom compared to in-person meetings.
“I think because almost everyone has, is or part-time working virtually, I think everyone has a good grasp about the virtual meetings. I think the board would like to meet in person, but with numbers being what they are, we are always going to move on the side of caution,” said Jenkins.
It is well known by now that the pandemic has gone in waves, with case numbers dropping in the summer months and then rising again in the winter. The omicron variant brought an extremely high case count during December and January, with even the fully vaccinated and boosted getting breakthrough infections, which no League member wants to deal with.
Jenkins admits that virtual meetings have their benefits. “We can still cook dinner with our families, and we can still wear sweatpants! I feel I get those few more moments of prep time working virtually. However, it has been a bit more work building those relationships that make working virtually easier.”
According to a 2020 Forbes.com article, there are ways to build relationships and have a little fun in virtual meetings, including:
- Start with some personal chat.
- Share photos unrelated to work.
- Introduce your pets.
- Ask a “connection question.” Do exercises and movements to lighten the mood, and ask everyone to share a story around a shared topic.
- Celebrate birthdays.
- Get creative with your video background, such as a favorite place visited; this can serve as a meeting icebreaker.
- Have virtual coffee and lunch meetups.
- Organize contests and happy hours.
- Have different team members act as host.
- Give everyone their moment in the spotlight. Try to end the meetings with activities where every employee can get a little time in the spotlight.
No matter what the future holds, members of the Junior League of Salt Lake City are here to continue doing what they do best: serving the Salt Lake community.
