Page 38 - May 2019 Voices
P. 38
ONLINE CONNECTIONS
BLENDED IS SPLENDID!
Connecting from Coast to Coast
Michelle Alba-Lim, DTM
In the January 2018 issue of Voices!, page 18, Hillarie Hunt and Venessa Peterson shared
a behind-the-scenes look at how to create a blended club (one that has local and online
members). In this month’s article, Michelle Alba-Lim (District 7’s champion and chief
supporter of blended clubs) revisited Toast of Old Town’s success with Hillarie Hunt, club
treasurer.
The Toast of Old Town Club, chartered in 2017, Being a blended club is amazing!! But don’t
is located in downtown Portland, Oregon, right take my (local) word for it; our remote members
across the street from the Chinese Gardens in the can speak for themselves:
Old Town China Town neighborhood. But you
don’t have to fight downtown parking to visit the As an online club member,
club. The club has a blended format, meaning I have the privilege of working
that club meetings are simultaneously in-person with a great group of colleagues
and online. Using Ring Central web conferencing who make me feel like a valued
technology, and a bunch of individual web cams member. During our meetings,
and microphones, club members who live in the people in the office make
New Jersey, Chicago, South Carolina, Texas, sure all of the remote workers
and Atlanta can, and do, easily participate in are included, are introduced
club meetings. This blended model works very when needed, and they always take a moment
well for the dispersed workforce for NWEA, the to ask if we would like to speak. Our faces are
corporate sponsor of this open community club. up on a large screen so everyone can see us and
It also allows ANYONE to join the meeting from we can see the people in the room. This type of
anywhere in the world! meeting dynamic has really helped me want to be
Our club is 100% Pathways, and we use the more mindful of my presence while on the video
FreeToastHost service for our club website and chat.
agendas. These electronic systems allow us Nicky Vandergriff, Georgetown, TX
to organize and facilitate meetings, track our
learning, and share feedback online. Although I reside in New Jersey, I joined
38 ONE COMMUNITY