Connecting for a cause...
The Vibrant Women’s Network
Established for local, female entrepreneurs, leaders & professionals to stimulate creativity, collaboration & motivation, exchange ideas, knowledge & interests, while establishing friendships, networks & opportunities.
In this article, discover the experience that planner Marina Atwell of Velocity Event Management developed for a recent Vibrant Women's Network event at the Halifax Lake House. Learn more about the experience and the value-added services that planners can bring to any meeting.
Why did you decide to meet in person vs virtual?
With “virtual-meeting fatigue” being experienced with daily interaction, both personally and professionally, it was time to give members of The Vibrant Women’s Network a special occasion to feel important and alive with real human, social, contact. With the group’s mandate of stimulating creativity and collaboration and establishing relationships and opportunities, virtual encounters just do not achieve the same objectives. We are all experiencing the changes and stress imposed on us by this global pandemic, so sharing genuine, in-person dialogue and interaction is invaluable. The memories created with unique interactive activities will last a lifetime and provide excitement and positive anticipation of the future and the next physical encounter.
Do you feel your group was more engaged than they would be in a virtual environment?
The conversation and laughter that rang out throughout this spectacular, natural environment was proof everyone was completely engaged in this much-needed, exclusive opportunity to interact, network and team build safely. You truly cannot translate hospitality, friendship and fresh air with technology. It was refreshing on all levels to remove all barriers and provide the desired boost of excitement and enthusiasm everyone has been craving.
What kinds of things are being done to ensure safety of clients and meeting attendees?
Marina has set the bar to the highest point yet! With an 18-year business build on being unique, innovative, out-of-the-box thinkers, the additional attention to detail required to administer safe Covid19 protocols is a challenge accepted, embraced and proven. Networking events such as this ensures 6-foot distancing, ongoing disinfecting procedures, and individualized food & beverage service. Networking and teambuilding engagement where guests move to various locations throughout the property, inside and outside, entails things like the guests’ own monogrammed pencils on neck lanyards, dice, score cards and even their own snack trays when moving from table to table if that’s what the movement and set-up of the activity requires.
Did meeting in-person provide greater value than virtual?
Absolutely. If the desire is to grow personally or professionally, the value of real-life interaction far outweighs any online experience. Seeing facial expressions and body language is key to the genuine, human experience and learning. Having the opportunity to converse, share expertise, and laughs while networking and teambuilding only really connects with the soul when you’re afforded the opportunity to actually get to know various sides of individuals and how they respond in various settings.
As an attendee, do you feel like you have been provided a safe and well managed environment?
I speak on behalf of all the attendees when I say hosting such a fabulous physically-distanced event at the Halifax Lake House exceeded expectations. All in attendance felt not only safe but very welcomed, comfortable, and special. It’s great knowing that somehow event specialists like Velocity can make “the new normal” when it comes to meetings and events even better than what we knew it to be before!
Is your company planning on having other live meetings this year?
Absolutely! Knowing how successful, comfortable and safe our live meetings can be with the right venue and professional planner involved, any former apprehension we may have had has been alleviated.