From the Virtual Event Chair: What to Expect from ADRP Zooms In

Noël Schiber
Senior Director of Stewardship, Medical Advancement, Washington University in St. Louis
Chair, ADRP Zooms In Virtual Event 2020

Soooo…how are you doing?

If you’re like me, your world has been rocked. In less than half a year, the boundaries between work life and family life have blurred. Tried and true strategies for building relationships are evaporating in an environment where it may be unsafe to share a table and a meal. Comforting and uplifting traditions are being deferred, delayed, and cancelled. We’re being asked to reimagine how to do what we do…and to figure it out yesterday.

It’s a lot to deal with at once.

But amid the shadows, necessity has inspired us to take chances on new technology and ideas. We’ve been able to focus like never before on having an honest conversation about what it means—and what it will take—to be part of a world that is truly inclusive. We’ve been open about sharing our problems and solutions with each other. We have a real opportunity to emerge as wiser leaders who have the tools in our backpack to bring our colleagues, donors, and friends across an uncharted landscape.

It’s a lot to be excited about!

In this spirit, it is my great honor to invite you to join donor relations and stewardship professionals from around the world for ADRP Zooms In: Exploring a New World of Donor Relations, our first ever “virtual gathering” on September 23–24. Here are just a few reasons you’ll want to make sure you register and mark your calendar:

It’s free for ADRP members and available for a low fee for non-members. That’s right—members will pay $0 for two days of networking, workshops, and big ideas. It is our hope that this chance to gather together and learn from each other virtually will alleviate some of the stress caused by pandemic-related budget trimming.

It’s what you asked for. Virtual event committee volunteers selected outstanding presenters whose topics reflected the key results of our member survey: donor relations in a virtual world; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and leadership at all career stages. You told us what you need right now, and we listened.

Thought-provoking keynotes. Christina Chang and Greg Warner are not only renowned thought leaders in their fields—they are also not afraid to challenge us or the conventions among which we work. Their ideas will take us on the kind of adventure that makes all of us stronger.

We’ll celebrate the best work of our peers. This year, you’ll be able to select the ADRP International Stewardship Awards from among the sessions offered. We’re delighted to provide this forum where we can be wowed and inspired by new levels of creativity in using digital and print media to build relationships.

Flexibility. If you can’t attend a session (or need to exit early) due to a scheduling conflict, you’ll be able to access the recording later. Networking sessions will put you in smaller breakouts for deeper conversation opportunities. There will be plenty of breaks between sessions for “zooming out,” but we’ll be waiting for you when you return with games, a virtual vendor gallery, and other surprises for you to enjoy!

If you’re like me, you’re exhausted. Personally, I’m navigating one daughter who needs to start looking at colleges and one daughter who’s just starting high school during a time when we have to think about a lot more than just finding her locker. My husband is working night and day to figure out how to teach middle school science on a screen and in person—and re-inventing his plans every day. It’s unknown at this point if or when I will join my colleagues back in our office—and I sure do miss the impromptu stewardship strategy talks that pop up around the coffee maker. I’m looking forward to ADRP Zooms In as a chance to re-charge, re-focus, and reinvigorate among my people!

Our virtual event committee volunteers have worked hard to create a journey like we’ve never taken before. Let’s take it together!  I promise I won’t take too many pictures on this trip (full disclosure: that’s a promise my family will insist I can’t keep). Please join us September 23–24 as we explore a new world of donor relations. 


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