Have you ever considered offering virtual learning to your members? In 2019, the Washington Metropolitan Area Chapter (WMAC) decided to introduce webinars as a less expensive and more time-efficient option for chapter members to earn RCHs.
The DMV (District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia) area is busy no matter the time of day you travel, so getting to and from a chapter meeting can be a big time commitment. While we are continuing to offer in-person chapter meetings to give local payroll professionals a chance to network, we are also incorporating webinar opportunities throughout the year for members who may not be able to leave their office for part of the day.
If you are interested in offering webinars to your chapter members, consider the following:
Cost
Initially, you may need to invest in a platform to offer your webinar. However, if you utilize a vendor speaker, they may have their own software that you can use. Webinars are cost efficient and require no meeting space or catering expenses. WMAC chose to offer webinars at a much lower cost than an in-person meeting as a member benefit.
Versatility
A virtual session significantly widens your speaker pool to beyond your local area, even including those dynamic people you’ve met at Congress who live in another state! For webinars, you can also try shorter, 60-minute sessions and topics that might not have the draw for a full 90 or 120-minute session. Experiment with hosting at different times of day to see what works best for your members.
Compliance
Be sure to review APA’s RCH guidelines when planning your first virtual session. You will need to be able to record the webinar and report the answers to survey questions so that you can provide RCHs for the session.
Offering webinars is a great way to engage your chapter members in a new way. Discuss with your board and reach out to your members to see if virtual learning is right for your chapter!
Julia Lopez Divack, CPP is the President-Elect of the Washington Metropolitan Area Chapter.
