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Restaurants, movie theatres, casinos, bars and salons have much in common, but as the seriousness of COVID-19 and its deadly potential came to light, I could only think of one.
Public interaction.
While COVID-19 has brought many changes, the industries who rely on public interaction have been hit the hardest and, with them, the associations that cater to their professionals. Without the ability to gather, to touch or travel, these associations have struggled with how to approach this situation. How is an association supposed to support its members when the entire industry is paused?
Just be there.
As leaders in their industries, associations are looked to for support when times are tough. We all want answers, and we all want guidance. Yet there are no foolproof steps on what to do when everything stops. Just being there for your members means the difference between navigating these waters or being stranded at sea.
How do we ease their concerns?
I reached out to Erin Walter, the brand manager for the Professional Beauty Association (PBA), about its membership’s biggest concerns. She described the fear over financial strains expressed by her members, and how they want to safely go back to work. As we know all too well, fear is an emotion felt by many around the world, so I asked what steps PBA was taking to ease these fears.
What do we do now?
The simple answer: whatever we can. Put yourself in your members’ shoes and think about how you would want leadership to treat you.
While still awaiting the board’s approval, Rainer Jenss, the president and founder of the Family Travel Association (FTA) said “we are trying to say to our members ‘we don’t want to lose you, pay us when you’re able.’”
Allowing existing members the chance to continue accessing FTA’s resources when many cannot justify these added expenses shows how dedicated Jenss and his team is to their members' comfort.
Take a page out of Walter and Jenss’ books, and do whatever is necessary for your membership to thrive.
Ashley Neal joined the Sidecar team in March of 2020, right as the COVID-19 pandemic began to shut down life as we knew it. Having to adapt, overcome and predict the changes needed to survive in the new normal, Ashley now has the skills needed to juggle any obstacle thrown her way.
A graduate from Southeastern Louisiana University in the field of Strategic Communications, Ashley spends her days balancing her work with her love of dogs. Taking her large pack of dogs to restaurants, hiking trails, vacations and even participating in dog shows and sports is the highlight of her weekends.
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Ashley Neal joined the Sidecar team in March of 2020, right as the COVID-19 pandemic began to shut down life as we knew it. Having to adapt, overcome and predict the changes needed to survive in the new normal, Ashley now has the skills needed to juggle any obstacle thrown her way. A graduate from Southeastern Louisiana University in the field of Strategic Communications, Ashley spends her days balancing her work with her love of dogs. Taking her large pack of dogs to restaurants, hiking trails, vacations and even participating in dog shows and sports is the highlight of her weekends.
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May 07, 2020
3 min. to read
