Virtual events can be a great way to education people about the importance of organ, eye, and tissue donation without having to reserve a space or factor in travel time

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Virtual Education Event Planning Timeline​

A few months before the event

• Inform your Organ Procurement Organization (OPO) of the event. They can attend and/or provide support.​

• Select a virtual event platform, like Zoom.

• Create a format for the event, and consider the event's theme. Try to keep the event below an hour to hold the audience’s attention. (Sample agenda: 5 minutes of introductions, 30 minutes for speakers, 10 minutes of Q&A.) 

• Pick a speaker and host. Remember to coordinate with your speaker & keep them updated. Your OPO is a great resource for speakers, or SODA can put you in-touch with these virtual speakers if you email us at students@sodanational.org:

  • Second Chance Fundraising

  • Smith Bios Group, LLC

  • YNOTT? Foundation

  • Multicultural Miracle Donor Foundation

• Choose a time and date. Keep in mind holidays & other big events, like exams & sports games.

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A few weeks before the event

• Create a survey to give attendees information about the event and to sign up.

• Begin promoting your event!

• Share the event registration link directly over email and text to avoid hackers.

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A week before the event

• Conduct a dry run. Check microphones, cameras, and slides to reduce day-of issues.

• Create a backup plan. What will you do if the speaker doesn’t show up? What if one of the speakers has technology issues?

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Day of the event

• Sign in 15-20 minutes before the event in case people join early.

• Have two people running the show: one person running technology and the other person making intro/ensuring the event stays on track.

• Record the event to share with others after the event occurs.

• Take screenshots throughout the event to share on social media.

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After the event

• Share the recording of the event.

• Use the event’s attendance information and reach out to students who may be interested in getting further involved with SODA.

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Promoting your Virtual Education Event

• Create flyers, sample posts, and graphics that state the purpose, date, and time of the event to post on your social media platforms.

  • Tag SODA, Donate Life America, your local Organ Procurement Organization (OPO), and any guest speakers in posts made for the event!

• Share your flyer with teachers, advisors, and other organizations that may be interested in sharing the message. Ask them to add a slide in their lectures or to send an email to the class/organization with the event information.

• Ask friends and family to join and have them relay the message to others.