[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.6.6″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.6.6″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.6.6″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Intro Text” _builder_version=”4.6.6″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n
From exercising to shopping to eating at restaurants, the pandemic has changed the way we do many things. So, it\u2019s no surprise that many things we do on campus have also changed\u2014and running student clubs and organizations is a big one.<\/span><\/p>\n I asked a handful of our WSU club leaders what they\u2019re doing to not let COVID-19 negatively impact their members\u2019 experiences. Here\u2019s what they had to say:<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_testimonial author=”Morgan Reddekopp” job_title=”Editor-in-Chief” company_name=”The Winonan” portrait_url=”https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/campus-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/10\/Morgan_Reddekopp_Winonan500.jpg” admin_label=”Reddekopp Testimonial” _builder_version=”4.6.6″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n I\u2019ve been putting in a lot of effort to connect with my editing staff. One of my editors is currently residing back in the Twin Cities, so we\u2019ve been doing our best to include him in layout meetings over Zoom.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Otherwise, the largest difficulty that we\u2019ve faced as a newspaper<\/a> is not being able to physically publish our first few issues due to the campus-wide quarantine. But we\u2019ve tried to stay positive and use the extra time to write more in-depth articles for our readers.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_testimonial][et_pb_testimonial author=”Kayce Redican” job_title=”Co-President” company_name=”Colleges Against Cancer” portrait_url=”https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/campus-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/10\/Kayce_Redican_CAC500.png” admin_label=”Redican Testimonial” _builder_version=”4.6.6″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n I\u2019ve begun using social media much more for promoting the club and attracting new members. We\u2019ve been hosting giveaways to encourage recruitment. Current members can win a club T-shirt if they recruit two new members.<\/span><\/p>\n Additionally, CAC<\/a> decided that the main event we host in Winona County\u2014Relay for Life\u2014will be virtual. This is, of course, disappointing because Relay for Life is a very popular fundraising event. But the good news is that teams can still raise money for the American Cancer Society to find a cure for cancer. Despite not physically coming together, this is what we\u2019re all about.<\/span><\/p>\n Otherwise, we just have to go with COVID-19 and hope that we can do our typical activities next year.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_testimonial][et_pb_testimonial author=”Megh Khanal” job_title=”Board Member” company_name=”International Club” portrait_url=”https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/campus-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/10\/Megh_Khanal_Int_Club500.jpg” admin_label=”Khanal Testimonial” _builder_version=”4.6.6″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n International Club<\/a> isn\u2019t just a club. It\u2019s a family of all the international students at Winona State.\u00a0<\/p>\n Everyone wants to be with their families during these uncertain times. But traveling precautions, lockdowns, and time zone differences have prevented many of our international students from being with their families. That\u2019s why we\u2019ve been going the extra mile to connect with and support our members.<\/span><\/p>\n To stay safe during the pandemic, we\u2019ve been hosting our regular meetings over Zoom. We also host fun events online, like game nights and \u201ctalks\u201d where we discuss our cultures.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Our hope is that involving our members in as many activities as possible, although remote, will make them feel more at home while they\u2019re away from home.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_testimonial][et_pb_testimonial author=”Hannah Hippensteel” job_title=”Co-President” company_name=”Her Campus” portrait_url=”https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/campus-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/10\/Hannah_Hippensteel_HC500.jpg” admin_label=”Hippensteel Testimonial” _builder_version=”4.6.6″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n Her Campus<\/a> thrives on an inclusive and social nature, so a big challenge has been creating that same feel over Zoom. I encourage members to keep their mics open while editing, so we can have fun conversations and bounce ideas off one another.<\/span><\/p>\n We\u2019ve also struggled to establish a finite \u2018active membership\u2019 set of standards because our situation on campus changes daily. However, the level of care that I put into writing, editing, publishing, and promoting articles remains consistent. We also have an incredible events planning duo who brainstorm activities that can be carried out in multiple formats and reach even more writers.<\/span><\/p>\n I\u2019m constantly trying to learn the best ways to foster trust with our members when I can\u2019t make connections with them in person. I frequently offer my support on social media because I want our writers to know that they\u2019re greatly appreciated.<\/span><\/p>\n Being a club leader during a pandemic has ultimately taught me to be adaptable and more understanding, which will prove useful in the future regardless of where I am.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_testimonial][et_pb_testimonial author=”Keagen Zibell” job_title=”President” company_name=”American Marketing Association” portrait_url=”https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/campus-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/10\/Keagen_Zibell_AMA500.jpg” admin_label=”Zibell Testimonial” _builder_version=”4.6.6″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n As one of the largest student organizations on campus, it\u2019s been difficult holding all our meetings over Zoom. AMA<\/a> has also had to put many popular in-person activities\u2014like the bags tournament, pancake breakfast, and other social gatherings and community charity events\u2014on hold, which is disappointing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n However, we\u2019ve been able to overcome these challenges by keeping a sense of normalcy in the club. I\u2019ve scheduled tons of interactive, online meetings for our members to attend.<\/span><\/p>\n We invite corporate speakers who are looking for interns and full-time workers. We host workshops to help our members with writing resumes and business emails, as well as setting up LinkedIn profiles. We also host virtual competitions where our members can showcase their skills and have a chance to win money. And on top of all that, we\u2019ve planned some community service and fundraiser events.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We\u2019re very optimistic for next semester!<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_testimonial][et_pb_testimonial author=”Mary Rooney” job_title=”President” company_name=”Winona State Panhellenic Association” portrait_url=”https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/campus-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/10\/Mary_Rooney_Panhellenic500.jpeg” admin_label=”Rooney Testimonial” _builder_version=”4.6.6″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n As a club leader this semester, I\u2019m trying my best to think outside the box for ways that we can continue to bring people together. But I won’t lie, it definitely has been difficult. When it does get hard, the best thing about my position is I have the support of some amazing, smart, and energetic women on Panhellenic Council<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n With COVID-19, some of our leaders can\u2019t do what\u2019s described in their position descriptions. When that happens, I\u2019ve been able to oversee women who are willing to go the extra mile to work together and still plan fun events.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n That\u2019s one of the best things to me about working in a group: the collaboration and team effort to make things happen.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Everyone on the council and the three national sororities on campus have been great to work with because we all have the understanding that so much is unknown and out of our control. Now that Fall Primary Recruitment is over, we hope to continue to strengthen the Panhellenic community between the three sororities by planning events, whether those are virtual, hybrid, or in person.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_testimonial][et_pb_testimonial author=”Jarred Schmitz” job_title=”President” company_name=”WSU Ambassadors Honorary ” portrait_url=”https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/campus-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/10\/Jarred_Schmitz_Ambassadors500.jpg” admin_label=”Schmitz Testimonial” _builder_version=”4.6.6″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n Tackling COVID-19 has been a challenge, but one that I\u2019ve been happy to face. I\u2019ve been trying to ensure the safety of all my Ambassadors<\/a> by offering different ways of safe participation within the honorary, including virtual meetings, Kahoot! trivia games to maintain our knowledge about the campus, and community service opportunities. The latter allows us to not only give back to the university, but also increase our membership.<\/span><\/p>\n As a club, we\u2019ve encountered issues with having enough tour guides to fill our times. We want to accommodate everyone\u2019s needs as much as we can, but our mission is to \u201cgive the best tour ever.\u201d If we don\u2019t have guides, we can\u2019t give tours. As a result, we\u2019ve reduced the amount of weekly tours that we give and ramped up our recruiting to meet these issues head-on. For the tours we do give, our Ambassadors wear masks and are equipped with microphones, so they can physically distance themselves from prospective students and family but still be heard.<\/span><\/p>\n We understand it\u2019s very hard to be available all the time, but our members have been incredible in working around their classes and other responsibilities to continue their involvement in our organization.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_testimonial][et_pb_testimonial author=”Annika Culver” job_title=”President” company_name=”Women\u2019s Rugby Sports Club, Black Katts” portrait_url=”https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/campus-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/10\/Annika_Culver_Black_Katts500.png” admin_label=”Culver Testimonial” _builder_version=”4.6.6″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n As a club leader, I\u2019m making sure that I stay informed and up-to-date with any new and changing information about COVID-19. For a sports organization that\u2019s all about in-person interactions, activities, and competitions, one obvious challenge we\u2019ve faced is keeping up our players\u2019 interest in remaining in the club virtually.<\/span><\/p>\n But to combat this, we host weekly practices over Zoom where we go over basic skills, rules, and anything related to rugby. The Black Katts<\/a> also a part of the National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) Virtual Season, which assigns us weekly challenges that we split up between club members. These challenges change each week, so we\u2019re always on our toes. At the end of the season, NCR picks a winner, and that campus will be awarded a brand new rugby kit. I\u2019m grateful for the Virtual Season because it\u2019s a great way for us to still get the competition vibe against other teams in the country without risking our safety.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_testimonial][et_pb_testimonial author=”Sulaiman Bada” job_title=”President” company_name=”Computer Science Club” portrait_url=”https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/campus-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/10\/Sulaiman_Bada_CSC500.jpg” admin_label=”Bada Testimonial” _builder_version=”4.6.6″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n Two of the most predominant problems we faced as a club was figuring out how we would meet and how we were going to keep our members engaged. We decided to host most of our meetings over Zoom and one meeting per month in person. Doing so allows us to stay safe and \u201cshake up\u201d our routine, which helps everyone from becoming bored.<\/span><\/p>\n Additionally, Computer Science Club<\/a> been hosting workshops where we teach WSU students about various computer science topics, like building a LAMP Stack. These workshops are a fun way to promote our organization and recruit new members because we\u2019re open to teaching anyone interested in learning more.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_testimonial][et_pb_testimonial author=”Gabbie Bogolin” job_title=”President” company_name=”National Society of Leadership & Success” portrait_url=”https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/campus-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/10\/Gabrielle_Bogolin_NSLS500.png” admin_label=”Bogolin Testimonial” _builder_version=”4.6.6″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Fall 2020 is our very first semester at Winona State, so we\u2019re brand new. We\u2019ve had to overcome a lot of hurdles relating to starting the club. But now that we\u2019ve been officially approved by the University, our next challenge is to find creative ways to recruit members and instill some sense of excitement into extracurricular activities.<\/span><\/p>\n We\u2019ve had to completely switch to online communication tactics, like many other clubs. We send out email newsletters, host open Zoom events, and even pop into virtual classrooms to promote our organization.<\/span><\/p>\n The advantage NSLS<\/a> has over other clubs, however, is that we\u2019re set up to be completely online. I think it\u2019s easier now more than ever for us to be \u2018connected\u2019 to the WSU community from a distance.<\/span><\/p>\n We\u2019ve had a less than perfect journey thus far, but we can handle a challenge moving forward and not be deterred.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_testimonial][et_pb_testimonial author=”Clara Kuerschner” job_title=”President” company_name=”Student Senate” portrait_url=”https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/campus-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/10\/Clara_Kuerschner_Senate500.jpg” admin_label=”Kuerschner Testimonial” _builder_version=”4.6.6″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n