Finding Real-Live Adventure in a Virtual World

My inaugural column published in the Q2 issue welcomed members to “experience ACOMS differently,” including through upcoming association meetings and events in exciting new destinations. I’d like to elaborate on that message in the context of Q3’s theme of “Adventure.”

That means, at least for the purpose of this conversation, revisiting COVID-19.

Thankfully, the darkest days from that chapter of history are over, and the world has learned to keep turning in the wake of a catastrophe that fundamentally changed everything, including the way we work, receive education, and socialize. The intersection of all three effectively redefined what meetings look like, with platforms such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams revolutionizing the act of gathering. Routine staff huddles, client touchbases, annual conventions, and other events were forced to pivot to virtual attendance, with remarkably resilient results. There was a collective realization that we actually could get things done this way, including continuing education (CE). Yet and still, something got lost in translation: our sense of adventure.

Adventure Lost

Pre-pandemic, ACOMS staged fly-fishing and Kentucky bourbon-tasting events: smaller, more intimate activities designed to provide a memorable experience while carving out a portion of time for focused, concentrated CE. Each aligned nicely with the ACOMS “lifestyle” concept and generated a wildly favorable response that created momentum for the future. Until, that is, COVID-19 rocked the world and sent everyone scurrying online. It’s been a lasting effect, with virtual proving to be an easy and affordable pathway to earning CE even post-pandemic. But what are you missing as a result?

Pre-recorded online content allows you to check off the box in front of CE, and of course it’s a great option if you can’t make an event in person; but choosing it every time means missing out on the adventure. You forfeit the ability to ask questions, compare notes with other attendees for real-world perspective, and “talk shop” in a more relaxed and casual setting. You lose the chance to pick the brains of ACOMS’s carefully curated speakers — truly dynamic, nationally sought-after subject matter experts with whom you might not otherwise mix and mingle. You sacrifice that intangible component of collegiality — chatting with peers, catching up with those you know, and making new connections with those you don’t. In-person attendance even facilitates networking for members looking to explore opportunities for organized professional engagement, such as participation on committees.

Adventures With ACOMS

Making contact with people and building relationships is highly valuable, and while the pandemic pinched some of that away from us, ACOMS is committed to hosting one-of-a-kind opportunities for learning, engagement, and human connection that simply cannot be missed.

That said, we encourage members to get out from behind their desks and bring the adventure back to in-person meetings. The ski-in, ski-out experience of our winter event in February at the Whistler resort in Whistler, British Columbia is a perfect example, but it won’t be the only. ACOMS is working toward a series of smaller, “pulse” events in the years to come that bring CE to members against exquisite backdrops where they can spend time with their families but also learn. That’s work-life balance at the highest level.

Think the Four Seasons in Maui, which is locked in for the 2027 meeting. Think Napa Valley Wine Country adventure or a dude ranch concept, which are being explored as possibilities for the future. We don’t know yet if every idea will make it off the drawing board, but we can promise that whatever does will be, unlike CE on a screen, an unforgettable adventure.