Local Group Events and Activities: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 05:09, 3 June 2026

Purpose

Provide an overview of how Local Groups use events and activities to support member engagement, connection, and community.

The Role of Events

Events are one of the primary ways members connect, participate, and build community.

Events help Local Groups:

Welcome new members
Build relationships
Provide intellectual and social engagement
Encourage ongoing participation

Events are important, but they are only one part of a broader member engagement strategy.

Activity Variety

Members have different interests, schedules, and comfort levels. A strong activity program offers a variety of ways to participate.

This may include:

Social activities
Intellectual activities
Active or experiential activities
Virtual activities
Casual and recurring gatherings

See Ideas for Local Group Activities.

Engagement Levels

Not all activities require the same level of commitment.

Some members prefer low-pressure opportunities to connect, while others seek deeper involvement and leadership opportunities.

See Engagement Levels Overview.

In-Person and Virtual Activities

Not all engagement happens in person.

Virtual activities:

Increase accessibility
Support remote and homebound members
Provide flexible participation options

Virtual and in-person activities should complement one another rather than compete.

See Supporting Virtual Engagement.

Planning a Balanced Calendar

A strong event calendar:

Offers a variety of activity types
Includes different engagement levels
Provides regular opportunities to connect
Communicates events clearly and consistently

See Designing Your Event Mix and Event Calendar Best Practices.

Creating Welcoming Experiences

Events are most effective when they are welcoming and accessible.

Provide clear expectations
Reduce barriers to participation
Support first-time attendees
Foster connection among participants

See Welcoming New Members and New Member Events.

Roles and Collaboration

Events are often a shared responsibility.

Common contributors include:

ExComm and event hosts
Membership Officer
Communications volunteers and editors
Area Coordinators

Local Groups may divide responsibilities differently based on their size and structure.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Words of Wisdom
+== Purpose ==
-| wisdom  =
-A strong event program is not defined by a single event or format.
-It is defined by offering multiple ways for members to connect — in person or virtually, and on their own terms.
+Provide an overview of how Local Groups use events and activities to support member engagement, connection, and community.
-Success is not measured only by attendance, but by connection and accessibility.
+== The Role of Events ==
-| success =
-* Members can easily find and understand events
-* A variety of activities are available
-* Both in-person and virtual options are available
-* New members feel comfortable participating
-* Participation reflects different engagement styles
-| best    =
-| pitfalls =
-}}== Purpose ==
-Provide an overview of how Local Groups design, organize, and support events as part of member engagement.
 Events are one of the primary ways members connect, participate, and build community.
-== Guiding Principle ==
+Events help Local Groups:
-A strong event program offers variety, flexibility, and clear entry points for different types of members.
-No single type of event works for everyone.
+* Welcome new members
+* Build relationships
+* Provide intellectual and social engagement
+* Encourage ongoing participation
-== The Role of Events ==
+Events are important, but they are only one part of a broader member engagement strategy.
-Events help Local Groups:
+== Activity Variety ==
-* Welcome new members
+Members have different interests, schedules, and comfort levels. A strong activity program offers a variety of ways to participate.
-* Build relationships and community
-* Provide intellectual and social engagement
-* Support ongoing participation
-Events are one of many ways members engage — not the only way.
+This may include:
-== Virtual Engagement ==
+* Social activities
-Not all engagement happens in person.
+* Intellectual activities
+* Active or experiential activities
+* Virtual activities
+* Casual and recurring gatherings
-Virtual activities are an important part of a strong event ecosystem. They:
+See [[Ideas for Local Group Activities]].
-* Provide access for remote or homebound members
+== Engagement Levels ==
-* Offer lower-barrier ways to participate
-* Create flexible options for different schedules and comfort levels
-Virtual and in-person activities should be viewed as complementary, not competing.
+Not all activities require the same level of commitment.
-See:
+Some members prefer low-pressure opportunities to connect, while others seek deeper involvement and leadership opportunities.
-* [[Get Involved Virtually]]
-== Types of Activities ==
+See [[Engagement Levels Overview]].
-Local Groups benefit from offering a range of activities.
-See:
+== In-Person and Virtual Activities ==
-* [[Ideas for Local Group Activities]]
-* [[Designing Your Event Mix]]
-== Engagement Levels ==
+Not all engagement happens in person.
-Not all activities require the same level of involvement.
-See:
+Virtual activities:
-* [[Engagement Levels Overview]]
-== Planning and Calendar ==
+* Increase accessibility
-A strong event calendar:
+* Support remote and homebound members
+* Provide flexible participation options
-* Offers a mix of activity types
+Virtual and in-person activities should complement one another rather than compete.
-* Includes different engagement levels
-* Provides clear and consistent information
-To design a balanced and sustainable mix of activities, see:
-* [[Designing Your Event Mix]]
+See [[Get Involved Virtually]].
-See also:
+== Planning a Balanced Calendar ==
-* [[Event Calendar Best Practices]]
-== Communication and Promotion ==
+A strong event calendar:
-Events should be easy to find and understand.
-* Use multiple communication channels
+* Offers a variety of activity types
-* Keep information consistent across platforms
+* Includes different engagement levels
+* Provides regular opportunities to connect
+* Communicates events clearly and consistently
-See:
+See [[Designing Your Event Mix]] and [[Event Calendar Best Practices]].
-* [[Event Channels and Platforms]]
 == Creating Welcoming Experiences ==
 Events are most effective when they are welcoming and accessible.
 * Provide clear expectations
 * Reduce barriers to participation
 * Support first-time attendees
+* Foster connection among participants
-See:
+See [[Welcoming New Members]] and [[New Member Events]].
-* [[Welcoming New Members]]
-* [[New Member Events]]
 == Roles and Collaboration ==
-Events are a shared responsibility across multiple roles.
+Events are often a shared responsibility.
 Common contributors include:
-* ExComm and individual hosts (planning and logistics)
+* ExComm and event hosts
-* [[Membership Officer]] (member experience and outreach)
+* [[Membership Officer]]
-* Communications / Editor (promotion)
+* Communications volunteers and editors
-* [[Area Coordinators]] (local events)
+* [[Area Coordinators]]
-Local Groups may divide responsibilities differently.
+Local Groups may divide responsibilities differently based on their size and structure.
 == Related ==
-=== Planning ===
+* [[Ideas for Local Group Activities]]
+* [[Designing Your Event Mix]]
+* [[Engagement Levels Overview]]
 * [[Event Calendar Best Practices]]
-* [[Event Channels and Platforms]]
+* [[Local Group Event Channels and Platforms]]
-=== Engagement ===
-* [[Engagement Levels Overview]]
-* [[Ideas for Local Group Activities]]
 * [[Get Involved Virtually]]
-=== Execution ===
 * [[New Member Events]]
+* [[Planning Your First Activity]]
-=== Member Experience ===
-* [[Welcoming New Members]]
-* [[Member Engagement]]
-=== Roles ===
-* [[Membership Officer]]
-* [[Area Coordinators]]