Clubs give members the unique opportunity to make new friends, network with the community, gain leadership skills, participate in professional development and so much more! Consider adding virtual or hybrid events to your club’s plan.

Virtual Event Ideas

  • Host a virtual session with an employer or specialist from your field to talk about a day in the life, what to expect in the “real world,” how to navigate getting a job, what to do now to be more marketable upon graduating, the “hidden truths” for the career field, etc. You could have members submit questions in advance. Could also be hosted as a panel.
  • Invite alumni to share their experiences after graduation. You could include one or several from different graduation years. It could be interesting to gain the perspective from a recent graduate, someone who has been working for 3-5 years, and another from 8-10 years or more.
  • Pick and communicate three to five ingredients in advance and host a virtual cook off.
  • Do you have a member with a special talent or skill? Encourage them to host a virtual workshop for your members. Maybe it’s tap dancing (in any type of shoe), making a glass sing, artistic doodling, how to bullet journal, etc.
  • Use your and your members’ network to find other skilled individuals to offer virtual workshops. How about a painting party where the club sponsors supplies for members who register in advance or participate in X number of events through the semester? Maybe it’s a live yoga or meditation demonstration? (Student Life will guide you through having attendees submit a liability waiver prior to participating.)
  • Does your club or career field have an appreciation day or month? Create an event related to it. Perhaps you’ll Zoom while each person decorates a window in their home honoring dental hygienists, nurses, or medical lab techs, for example.
  • Google “fun holidays” and create ways to celebrate them. September 14 is “Hug Your Hound” Day. Have members share pics of them hugging their dog(s). Don’t have a furry family member? How about a stuffed animal instead? On Chocolate Cupcake Day (October 18), host a virtual meetup where everyone bakes a chocolate cake in a mug or full cupcakes.
  • Play board games online with Board Game Arena.
  • Know someone in the club with Jackbox Games? Everyone can join in with video chat and play the game.
  • Host a Netflix Watch Party. Each person attending will need to have their own account. The watch party feature will synchronize the viewing experience and allow a discussion via a sidebar chat. Set date and time, have participants register in advance, 15 minutes prior send out the link.
  • Never underestimate the power of a good ice breaker to get members chatting. Google search “ice breakers” or check out these articles from MindTools and SnackNation.

Virtual Event Considerations

  • As a student, you have access to a pro Zoom account. Set up your account with your NTC student email address by going to ntc.zoom.us. Use Zoom to host your meetings and events.
  • For security, you’re encouraged to set up a unique meeting ID for each meeting/event. Depending on the nature of your event, you may also want to password protect it.
  • Be sure to send out the meeting link and password to your members and any special guests you may joining in.
  • If you have a reoccurring meeting – such as club meetings every Thursday at noon – you can set up one meeting link/password for all of them.
  • Always have at least one alternative host assigned in case something comes up and the person who set up the Zoom event is unable to be “present” to start the event.
  • If you’re going to host an event where you’ll need split into breakout rooms or know the number of attendees in advance, consider having participants advance register by setting up registration through Zoom. It’s a great way for the attendee to receive a confirmation email and to add the link to their own calendar.