Chapter Building Training Videos

I've been what I describe as the 'imbedded' designer with the committee that shapes and tests new strategies for building bigger, stronger and more evangelistic chapters--chapters that area healthy and growing. Each year I prepare materials for their staff training in June--posters, worksheets, diagrams--but this year was a little different. This summer, on a few projects, I became a producer and communications coordinator not just a graphic designer. 

The committee had a few great concepts from the previous year's Alpha test and wanted give the Beta test staff a way to share concepts with their students. So, they asked if 2100 would film all of their training sessions. Well, that's where I step in and help by saying: what are students actually going to watch? What do we actually have man-hours to do? I discovered the trainers would be coming in a day ahead of the training. With the video team, we decided to have them prepare and record 5 min trainings on the topics they thought were most important. It was alot to ask of trainers-- taking their 30 min segments down to 5 min, but as InterVarsity staff, they are all talented storytellers. In one morning, while preping other materials for the training, we recorded sessions with stories and simple tips on how to structure your communications and interactions. Videos were on new student outreach, casting vision, raising up leaders, etc...and my favorite--how to do great follow-up. 

Follow-up is one of the places we often fall down on the job. We might get a lot of contacts at all our beginning-of-the-year events, but then students are too burned out or feeling too timid and awkward to actually contact and befriend the students that expressed interest. Sam's story reminded me that God works through the risks we take--and that while--yay!--most people are interested when they sign up, even the ones that seem not to be are people, just like me, who can become great friends, not to mention great followers of Christ. 

Our intern Adam Joe worked hard to film and edit these, and did a great job. I'm so excited we have communications that will take these valuable concepts to a student level, in a compelling and easy way. On top of academics, students won't have to watch 6 hours of workshops. They can watch a 5 min clip together and discuss.

And I had fun story boarding and art directing the opening animation. :) 

See all the videos in the chapter building vimeo album, or watch Sam's here.