An annual board retreat can help build camaraderie and focus the organization’s direction for the coming year. In regular times, this is a great idea for your association and its members, but how can you plan and facilitate a board retreat in this post-coronavirus world?

If You Want to Stay Home

Virtual retreats are an option for many associations that want to keep their members safe. Conference calls and webinars will substitute for in-person retreat activities while eliminating the need for travel or group gatherings. The drawback to this option is that it can be difficult to focus. A retreat is meant to remove all outside distractions and intensify your board members’ focus, but if they are all at home on a video conference call, then it’s much easier to lose that focus.

If You Don’t Mind Traveling

All travel is risky these days, so a local retreat will pose less health risks. Depending on your location, there are retreat centers within driving distance that still feel secluded and unplugged. Not to mention that a short road trip is a great way to team build and get closer to each other. (Pro tip: Rather than jamming everyone into one car, have a caravan where everyone drives separately with walkie-talkies to keep the communication going.) When booking a retreat center, be sure to ask what their policies are for guest and employee safety.

Be mindful and cautious when planning your annual retreat, but don’t feel bound by coronavirus into cancelling it. Sage & Rosemary Consulting has experience in developing consensus-based strategic plans, effective facilitation skills, and a deep understanding of the structure and purpose of national membership organizations. For help in planning the details, contact Sage & Rosemary Consulting today.