Insight into the Interior Design Society’s Virtual Chapter
Updated: Apr. 16, 2020 | Pivoting to Virtual Engagement, Pivoting to Virtual Engagement On Demand | Subscribe 33
Insight into the Interior Design Society’s Virtual Chapter
Presented by Maddie Landers
Maddie Landers the Marketing and Communications Manager for the Interior Design Society (IDS) speaks to why the IDS virtual Chapter was created in 2018 and its evolution since then to give actionable advice on how to sustain your organization virtually during the COVID-19 Era.
33 Comments
Lisa Chenevert
Apr. 7, 2020
Also how do you come up with topics for your events. Do members suggest topics or is there a different method?
ReplyMaddie Landers
Apr. 7, 2020
Hi Lisa! We normally utilize our national sponsors for the topics. For example, we'll reach out to a window treatments company (who already sponsors us at a national level) and they will present something educational about window treatments. It's a great added benefit for our national sponsors!
Lisa Chenevert
Apr. 7, 2020
Do you offer professional development/CE's ect for attending virtual events
ReplyMaddie Landers
Apr. 7, 2020
Hi Lisa! We do offer CEU credits at some of our in person events, but we do not usually utilize the virtual chapter for these. We might in the future, however!
Allison L
Apr. 7, 2020
Hi Maddie! Thanks for the great info. I have a few questions relating to the structure of the virtual chapter. Based on my understanding: the virtual chapter is run by the national IDS organization. Does this lose value from a specific, local standpoint? I.e. if I am in Orlando, FL, maybe I want to gain more local info/local contacts? Also, Do do you automatically get access to the virtual chapter if you are a member of a local chapter? You might have mentioned this but I missed it. Additionally, you said all chapter officers are at the meeting? You mean national officers? Thanks again!
ReplyAllison L
Apr. 7, 2020
Thanks so much for those great answers! They all made perfect sense.
Maddie Landers
Apr. 7, 2020
Hi Allison, all great questions. I do think the virtual chapter loses value for our industry partner members. However, I don't think this is the case for our interior designer members (which is the majority of our membership). The interior designers participate in the virtual chapter simply because they want to learn! You do get automatic access to the virtual chapter even if you are a member of a local chapter. All of our members can attend virtual meetings, even if they are a part of a different chapter locally. And we actually have chapter officers for our virtual chapter just like any other chapter. They are volunteers: President, VP, Secretary/Treasurer. They "run" the meeting on camera. A staff member is normally on to monitor the meeting and chat box but they don't appear on camera as a presenter. Hope this makes sense!
Lisa Chenevert
Apr. 7, 2020
Thank you for the presentation Maddie!
ReplyMaddie Landers
Apr. 7, 2020
No problem, hope you enjoyed it!
Russell Watson
Apr. 7, 2020
How do you deal with members who want to ask a question or make a comment at your meetings? Surely just open mic would be impossible.
ReplyMaddie Landers
Apr. 7, 2020
We allow virtual meeting attendees to type in the chat! They can also submit questions via zoom's Q&A feature. We set the meeting up as a webinar, so only the chapter leaders and presenters appear on camera/can activate their microphone. After the meeting, we jump to our zoom room (different link) for the post meeting social half-hour. We normally don't have more than 10 or 15 attend this - at the very most. This is where the attendees appear on camera.
Jay Thomas
Apr. 7, 2020
Can you share a bit about your programming/pricing strategy for virtual events, compared to in-person chapter events?
ReplyAllison L
Apr. 7, 2020
So the virtual meetings have webinars and now in recent times you are offering additional webinars to everyone as well? Good idea!
Maddie Landers
Apr. 7, 2020
We actually don't charge any differently for our virtual chapter. You just have to join IDS at any level to attend meetings, just like you do with our physical chapters. In our recent virtual webinars (different from our virtual chapter), we haven't charged for these either. We feel it is our duty to provide these to the industry right now.
Russell Watson
Apr. 7, 2020
Nice presentation. Do you have any issuers with local chapters losing membership to the virtual chapter?
ReplyMaddie Landers
Apr. 7, 2020
Hi Russell, thanks! So far we really haven't. It's a different kind of experience and so I think our members see the value in both kinds of meetings. If I had to guess, I would say the members who attend our virtual meetings are about half who have a local chapter, and half who don't.
Julie Levier
Apr. 7, 2020
Hi Maddie - apologies if this is a duplicate question. Does IDS offer continuing education certification credits? If yes, do you use these virtual events for those?
ReplyMaddie Landers
Apr. 7, 2020
Hi Julie! Thanks for asking. We do offer CEU credits at some of our events, but we do not usually utilize the virtual chapter for these. We might in the future, however!
Lonna Heshelman
Apr. 7, 2020
Maddie, you mentioned that the virtual chapter is a pretty inexpensive option, which I can see that it would be. Do you utilize the virtual meetings to generate funding, and if so how?
ReplyMaddie Landers
Apr. 7, 2020
Hi Lona! We definitely try to drive our national programs through the Virtual meetings. We try to promote things like our awards program, and our national conference, which are revenue generators for us. However, we do not currently have the option for companies to pay to sponsor the meeting. We give this opportunity to our existing national sponsors.
Rosemarie Abraham
Apr. 7, 2020
Hi Maddie, Thanks for giving such a great presentation! Have you found it difficult to find leaders for your virtual chapters? How does IDS staff participate in virtual chapter functions?
ReplyMaddie Landers
Apr. 7, 2020
Rosemarie, that's a great question. It can be hard to find leaders, but we find it important to use succession planning and always have someone who is ready to "move up the ranks." IDS Staff has increased participation in this chapter. We set up the meetings on zoom, send all announcements and emails regarding the meeting, and normally at least one staff member attends to monitor the meeting and answer questions. The chapter leaders line up the speakers and topics!
Jay Thomas
Apr. 7, 2020
When you host virtual meetings, what's your typical sequence of activities and "open mic/networking" opportunities?
ReplyMaddie Landers
Apr. 7, 2020
Hi Jay, generally the first 10-15 minutes are for the chapter leaders to make introductions, announcements, etc. Then 30 minutes for the presentation from whoever is lined up for that meeting. Then 15 minutes for Q&A. And then an optional post meeting happy half-hour where more of the networking happens! Hope this helps.
Dawn
Apr. 7, 2020
Is there a itinerary or format that each you use for each webinar? If so, can you please share?
ReplyMaddie Landers
Apr. 7, 2020
Hi Dawn, generally the first 10-15 minutes are for the chapter leaders to make introductions, announcements, etc. Then 30 minutes for the presentation from whoever is lined up for that meeting. Then 15 minutes for Q&A. And then an optional post meeting happy half-hour! Hope this helps.
Jay Thomas
Apr. 7, 2020
Hi Maddie, I'm looking forward to your video presentation and am sure I'll have questions later. Thanks!
ReplyMaddie Landers
Apr. 7, 2020
Awesome, I'll be here to answer them!
Jeff Kaufmann
Apr. 7, 2020
A bit confused after first session. So the speaker presents and all Q&A is in the thread format, correct?
ReplyMaddie Landers
Apr. 7, 2020
Yes, that's correct Jeff!
Mary Tylus
Apr. 7, 2020
Yes -- that is what the Chat people tell me and the speaker is frantically trying to answer all questions with 1000 people signed in. I don't see ANY answers and I have been telling them the speaker should stay on video live, answer the questions in the thread. You can do that in zoom, etc. I think this is a poorly run webinar in my opinion and I have participated in many webinars/conference calls since COVID-19 started in IL.
Lonna Heshelman
Apr. 7, 2020
Hi Maddie! Looking forward to this session! I am involved in an NKBA chapter in Louisville, KY; so I'm sure this session will be very relatable!
ReplyMaddie Landers
Apr. 7, 2020
Great, Lonna! Glad you can tune in.