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Camps and Causes in the Time of Covid

Virtually - Definitions:

      1: nearly, almost. (Synonyms: as good as; pretty much; not quit; for all practical purposes; in effect; well nigh)

      2. by means of virtual reality techniques

I’m up early this morning – 4:30 a.m. to be exact – thinking about the two definitions of the word “virtually.” And who among us hasn’t found ourselves in this very position at least once or twice? Don’t answer that, I know this is a club whose meetings are sparsely attended. So here I am, parsing out the meaning of the word in the early morning darkness with only a sleeping dog and the hum of night insects for company.

So much of life is being lived via the second definition of the word right now in the time of Covid. We meet for coffee, for cocktails and conversation, for work and for classes, in the virtual spaces made possible by technology. I cannot imagine how much lonelier this would all be if we couldn’t, and I’m grateful for the technology. Smarter people than I could probably explain why interactions in that 2D space are more exhausting than ones that occur in physically shared space, but as for me I think it has something to do with the over-reliance on just two of our senses – seeing and hearing – unlike an experience in a shared physical reality that includes smell and touch. We might be facing one another on the computer screen, taking sips from our own cups at the same time and talking just as we would have in the Before Time, but the scent of your peppermint tea and my chicory coffee is messing from the scene, the breeze coming through the window beside me isn’t brushing your skin while we talk. It’s almost like we’re together when we meet on-line, isn’t it? For all practical purposes we are, but my intractable impractical side gets a bit antsy after a bit and that when I find it virtually impossible to sit still no matter how much I enjoy the other’s company and I need to disconnect for a bit, go for a walk, stretch out on my hammock swing and just stare at the clouds for a bit.

Speaking of my intractable impractical side, I sat down here to tell you about going to camp this week – Cause Camp that is – and yet here I am going on about anything but. Writers, I tell ya. We’re a bunch of those proverbial un-herdable cats.

Cause Camp is a national nonprofit conference that cover topics including diversity, stewardship, donor experience and self-care. Julia Campbell, author of “Storytelling in the Digital Age: A Guide for Nonprofits” served as the host this year. For a newbie group like Larksong this was an outstanding opportunity to learn about what we’re getting into.

Originally scheduled as an immersive in-person event in April it, like so many events, was postponed and eventually converted to a virtual experience. I’m not going to say it was as ggod as the original plan, but it was in effect and amazing learning opportunity. We learned things we need to do, can do, should do, and try to do. Maybe the best part for me, since I can always use a little validation, we learned what we were already doing right as we build Larksong into a community organization that can last, virtually and actually.

Going to virtual camp, even one as inspiring as Cause Camp, isn’t the same as gathering together in a big room to talk and listen and learn and network, but I still have to say, I’m really glad I stayed home for this one. To have so much inspiration and wisdom delivered right to my study was virtually priceless.