CWRT HYBRID MEETINGS SURVEY ANALYSIS

As we emerge from the lockdown restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many CWRTs have begun to consider hosting in-person meetings augmented by online technology. These types of meetings are known as hybrid meetings. Some CWRTs have experimented and found them to be especially attractive while others have determined that they will never do so. And still, there are those willing to take the plunge given encouragement, training and helps from others.

• • Although inferior to in-person meetings, online meetings are a viable substitute for a variety of reasons including continued Civil War education, maintaining contact with members, increased speaker access, continued meeting attendance and the ability to reach enthusiasts who may be unable to attend in-person meetings because of health or distance.

• • Leaders discovered that those CWRTs that held online meetings during the lockdown period could overcome many of the obstacles they believed would have precluded them from that medium if they received coaching from others on equipment setup, software settings, marketing and how to manage that type of meeting. Moreover, the satisfaction level of the online audience was on average 4 out of 5.

• • Leadership also discovered that aside from equipment acquisition and software setup, most of the issues they experienced were human in nature – practice time, camera control and technical assistance.

• • The attitude of those CWRT leaders who did not hold online meetings was rather negative about doing so in the future. However, given more exposure, the fear of not being perfect, plus training and experience, they might be persuaded to do so.