The past week and a half, we’ve been focusing on millennial member engagement. We’ve investigated why associations are seeing a decrease in younger members, how to create a donor strategy that resonates, and why a strong digital strategy is a must to engage millennials. To continue with the theme of engagement, today we’re discussing ways to implement roundtable discussions into your event strategy and why it’s important for engagement.
Why in-person interactions are still important
Creating a thoughtful online community is an essential component of your association engagement strategy, but keep in mind that in-person interactions will always be superior to anything online. That’s where real, genuine connections are made. Think about your own experiences. What can you learn from conversing with others in person? How does body language, tone, eye contact change the way you feel about that the situation or the person?
The advantage of roundtable discussions
Hosting any kind of IRL event is great, but what’s advantageous about roundtables is that they allow for a deeper discussion because of the smaller groups. Explore a variety of ideas with a range of professionals from entry-level millennials to high up executives and expose important questions and themes that wouldn’t have been discovered without the open communication.
The School Nutrition Association implemented a similar roundtable structure and saw really positive results. Patty Montague, CEO of the School Nutrition Association said this about her experience. “For me to sit there, someone who’s not social media savvy, and listen to millennials talk about how important social media is, and how they use it, was incredibly valuable. The real magic happened when people went around the room to ask questions,” (Associations Now).
How to organize a roundtable discussion
Now that you’re convinced your association could benefit from a roundtable event, how do you execute it?
- Select a clear discussion topic – Before you select your sponsors, create an attendee list, or assemble a seating chart, establish a discussion topic. Choose something that’s relevant and relatable.
- Establish a moderator – After creating your attendee list, choose an individual to moderate discussions at each table. “This person has to be articulate, confident and knowledgeable about the topics discussed,” says Kevin Newman of Event MB. They must be intuitive and know when it’s time to shift the conversation or ask another question.
- Set a specific agenda – Now that you’ve got the topic and moderator, set a specific timeline. Outline the day’s activities so your attendees know what is coming up and can prepare if necessary.
Now that you know how to organize a roundtable event and why they’re important, it’s time to plan your own. Not only is it a great way to engage your members but it can also help direct your initiatives in the future.
