It's Convention 2020 - but not quite as we know it!

At this time of year, many fundraisers across the UK are usually preparing themselves for a trip to London to take part in the biggest annual gathering of fundraisers outside of North America, the Institute of Fundraising’s Convention.  For many this is a chance to learn, connect, be inspired and to celebrate all that is great about fundraising.  Whether a first timer or a many timer, Convention is a key date in the fundraising calendar.

But of course life in 2020 has become different from anything we have experienced previously and this year’s Convention is no exception, as delivery goes on line.  Inevitably the experience for delegates will be different, however what will be consistent is the richness of content and the time and effort being put into the development and delivery of speaker sessions - with the added complexity of making and editing video!  The Convention Board, IoF team and all speakers are to be commended for all the hard work which is going on to ensure smooth, high quality delivery.

It’s always true that the more effort you put into preparation for your time at Convention, the better the experience you have across the three days and this is as true as ever for this year’s Convention.  The THINK team and I are preparing for our attendance this year, following many of the same planning techniques as if we were going to be going to the Barbican Centre, rather than accessing via our Macs from our homes.  Here’s some tips on how to get the best out of Convention 2020:

·      Plan your days – each day different pre-recorded sessions will be released and a number of  live session will be hosted.  Take the time to plan what sessions you are going to watch and ensure you are watch them on the day of release.  Of course you will be able to revisit recorded sessions, but if you plan a day’s worth of sessions just as if you were going to be physically there, you can focus on the ones that are the most relevant and important for you, and join in with the conversation around those sessions on social media.  Resist the temptation to surf across a range of sessions, only partially listening or watching –  this might impede your learning 

·      Protect the time – make sure your diary is clear and you commit the time to watching sessions across 6, 7 and 8 July.  Don’t let anything else creep into your diary and don’t let yourself become distracted on those days.  Put an ‘out of office’ message on your email, so people know what you are doing and when you will be able to respond.  Don’t try to watch sessions whilst doing something else – you will not get the value of the session unless you give it your undivided attention.

·      Find your spot – try to watch sessions in a different place in your house from the one where you have been working during lockdown.  If the weather allows and you have outdoor space – and strong wifi! – consider sitting outdoors.  A different location will help to put you in the right mindset.

·       Sort the technology – a key part of the experience will be making sure before the first day that your technology is working.  We understand live sessions will be delivered via Zoom and pre-recorded sessions via YouTube, with networking done via the app. So make sure you test that all of those elements are working for you.

·      Take breaks – it can be hard to keep fresh and focused when you are watching and learning on line.  So schedule 15 minute breaks between each session and an hour for lunch and make sure you get up, walk about and grab drinks and food during those breaks.  And stop watching by 5.30pm!

·      Network via the app – the fabulous networking offered by Convention will feel different this year.  Use the app functionality but also think about how you can use the other communication tools you have for connecting to colleagues and other contacts to chat and debate what you have been watching.  How about setting up a WhatsApp group or arranging virtual drinks at the end of each day to discuss what you've learnt?

·      Join the conversation on social media – use  the # to tag your comments and see what other people outside of your usual network are saying about sessions.  Another good way to find new contacts and expand your network.

And most importantly, set out to enjoy!  Lockdown is tough, so treat Convention as a respite from what has become the norm of your working day.  We look forward to seeing you there!

This article first appeared in THINK Consulting Solutions enewsletter.  You can sign up to receive this regularly here: https://thinkcs.org/enews-request/