This blog is brought to you by your UASU's Student Group Services team!
Welcome back to your inside scoop for clubs and getting involved at the University of Alberta, brought to you by your UASU’s Student Group Services team! This year, don’t miss out on Virtual Clubs Fair—happening September 1-3 and 7-10.
In this edition, learn how you can get involved with Virtual Clubs Fair and how you can keep things running smoothly. Perhaps your group participated last year and is ready for round two, or maybe you’re a new group looking for a flexible and free alternative to in-person tabling. Whatever your reasons or experience level, we have tips for you!
1. Register for Virtual Clubs Fair
Registration is open already, and it couldn’t be easier to sign up! Just log into BearsDen with your CCID, and follow these instructions:
- Navigate to the Action Centre (click on the grid icon on the top-right, then click “manage”)
- Click on your student group’s name under “My Memberships”
- Click on the sign up button for the date(s) you want to participate in Virtual Clubs Fair!
When you’re filling out the form, make sure you have a meeting link available. The link will be visible to interested students on the day(s) that you register for. Keep that link consistent if possible! This brings us to our next tip….
2. Pick a meeting platform
Consider the needs of your group when choosing a platform type!
- If you’re a smaller group with less of a budget, Google Meet is available for free for all students.
- If you have room in your budget and are expecting to attract more students’ attention, you might want to go with Zoom and utilize breakout rooms.
- If your current members are more into messaging than voice chat or prefer a combination, Discord might be the platform for you!
Alternatively, you can leave the meeting link blank, and BearsDen will provide a “Contact” button instead so potential members can email you. Your group will still show up during the virtual fair, but you won’t have to be on call.
3. Get the team together
Staffing a virtual booth requires just as much volunteer power as a physical booth. Make sure you prepare a sign up sheet in advance, and encourage executives and members alike to sign up and help. Pro-tip: Set shifts according to class durations, so people can fit virtual tabling shifts into their schedules more easily.
4. Prep your pitch
After months and months of virtual learning, we’re all feeling Zoom fatigue. This is why it’s so important to make sure you’re grabbing the attention of students right off the bat. The easiest way to do this is by preparing an engaging pitch about your student group. Here are some things to think about when crafting the perfect pitch:
- What does your group value? How are these values expressed?
- What can your group offer to new members?
- What have you personally gained from being a member of this group?
- This pitch should be short and sweet—make sure you practice so you can deliver it effortlessly!
5. Become a mind reader
Not literally. But you want to be able to anticipate some of the questions that students will have about your group, and prepare your team to answer them.
- What’s the time commitment?
- Does it cost money to be a member?
- How involved or uninvolved can someone be?
- What kinds of events does your group put on?
Put yourself in the shoes of a potential member, or even think back to when you joined your group. What questions did you have?
Whether you opt to table on quad, chat in the virtual realm, or even both, make sure you put your best foot forward to make this your club’s best year yet!
With more than 400 student groups on campus, your UASU's Student Group Services can direct you to groups with similar interests, help you start your own group, or provide your group with helpful resources.