NOVEMBER 1, 2020
(This article originally appeared in the November 2020 edition of The Arch newsletter)
For many nonprofit organizations, including Landmarks Illinois, the COVID-19 pandemic has restricted in-person events and fundraisers. Organizations have had to pivot and reimagine events to continue to engage members and donors. In June, Landmarks Illinois hosted its first virtual event, the 2020 Annual Meeting, which attracted an audience of close to 150 live viewers and continues to be watched on Landmarks Illinois’ Facebook and YouTube pages.
Since the Annual Meeting, the Landmarks Illinois’ Real Estate and Building Industries Council hosted its “State of the Industry” Educational Seminar focused on the pandemic’s impact on the real estate and building industries. Landmarks Illinois also presented a Preservation Snapshots Lecture on its Women Who Built Illinois initiative, and the 2020 Landmarks Illinois Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Awards took place. All these events were held virtually.
Landmarks Illinois is always evaluating its events and programming and finding ways to tweak the experiences for our audience. Next year, 2021, marks our 50th Anniversary. In preparation for this milestone, Landmarks Illinois developed an Events Think Tank process to assess all of its events. We want to make sure that the experiences we create engage and inspire members and supporters. The process also focuses event planning around our organizational values: Innovation, Education, Stewardship and Empowering People/Improving Lives.
Landmarks Illinois continues to facilitate meetings with many of its events committee members, stakeholders and representatives of diverse constituencies to help the organization plan creative events and educational programming that can help reach a variety of audiences and spark interest in Landmarks Illinois’ mission.
Landmarks Illinois will continue to host events virtually in the new year, including reimagining its largest annual fundraising event, the Legendary Landmarks Celebration in March. Please stay tuned for announcements regarding Landmarks Illinois’ 50th Anniversary events in the coming weeks. Like all Landmarks Illinois events since March, the RBIC “State of the Industry” Seminar was held virtually.
Visit Landmarks Illinois’ channel on Youtube to watch our virtual content.