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While these have been successful NASTT has modified the approach to promoting these due to the number of webinars available now and familiarity of short notice registration.
An important part of both fund-raising and social interaction is the annual NASTT Education and Charity Fund auction. This informal social event has generated over US$1million, which goes directly into trenchless technology education and knowledge programmes. It is themed each year, based on location, with auction lots donated by companies and members. Usually held ‘on the night’ this year NASTT was able to provide the auction online. This enabled the organisation to promote the event fully, create a marketing campaign and host an online social evening with costumes and entertainment as well as extending the bidding time available. This was a very popular event and has provided an alternative way of providing this event.
NASTT was also able to utilise social media platforms to reach new contacts. This provided beneficial in promoting courses and is something that will be looked into to use more in the future.
– 2020 has been a unique year, and the provision of NASTT’s mission this year has created some changes in practices which have created new opportunities for the organisation’s members.
Printed show guides are likely to be reduced in the future with more content being provided through apps. This expands the delivery of information but also saves an incredible amount of time editing and producing any programme.
This is highlighted by the provision of all ten of the NASTT’s Good Practice courses online. This has been better for delegates as they have not had to spend time away or cover the cost of travelling and hotels. It has also saved NASTT’s volunteer instructors from the same and so allowed the organisation to reduce training
charges. “At the start of these we were sending out printed course documents and manuals but have now switched to electronic format which has enabled us to respond faster and extend deadlines of participation. The attendances from these courses have in many cases been higher than attended sessions.” commented Matthew Izzard, Executive Director, North American Society for Trenchless Technology (NASTT). “At the annual No-Dig Show we also host each of our 12 Regional Chapter meetings. As this was not possible this year we instead arranged for a quarterly meeting with each Chapter Chair and Vice-Chair invited to communicate our activities. This has been a huge success in providing a forum for an exchange of ideas which has resulted in the extension of many of the activities each has provided this year. This critical local involvement has seen our membership increase to date. One initiative was to distribute the various NASTT Good Practice publications to municipalities and public utilities in their area to create awareness of trenchless technology and NASTT – membership has increased there 35%! As a result we have extended this out to our 18 Student Chapter Advisors which is further strengthening the link between graduates and the No-Dig industry.” Matt continued.
The collection of data has been critical in selecting the most effective methods for members, non-members and the NASTT organization to thrive in difficult times. NASTT has utilised surveys, sharing to both plan and maintain networking channels for everyone. This has resulted in the creation of a report on the effects of COVID-19 in the industry, which is available through the NASTT website:
nasst.org. NASTT has also expanded its on-line job board, promoting available positions in the industry making this facility freely available to both members and non-members. The use of the members’ community has also increased significantly with the use of chat rooms on various topics and sharing of information becoming more popular.
Overall the operation of NASTT has not been affected by COVID-19. Members of staff are home based, working remotely and the increase in video conferencing has enabled those involved to meet more effectively which has improved communication.
“It is still not the same as meeting face-to-face and I do not think anything can beat that! The best we can do in these circumstances is to work together until we can. We have deliberately made a more personal approach to members this year and provided as many contact opportunities as possible. This has only been possible due to our volunteers being prepared to give their time and knowledge in new formats and providing solutions to our challenges. Something the
10 drain TRADER | November 2020 |
www.draintraderltd.com
trenchless technology industry is very good at!” Matt concluded.
WHERE TO NEXT?
Whilst the above is a very small overview of just some the adaptations that have been made to meet the demands and challenges brought forward by the presence of Covid-19, what has become very obvious is that business in general has responded very well to these challenges. As always it has become the advent of adversity that has encouraged if not forced businesses to review their options, look at the technologies that might help and establish news means of communications with existing and potential new clients.
What is also obvious from talking to various people in the preparation of this article is that the idea of face-to-face interaction has not been overridden by the advent of Covid-19. Most people are still looking forward to being able to meet up interact and exchange ideas on a non- digital basis at trade events, face-to-face client customer meetings etc. Why is this when the option is there to do away with travelling and the costs and time saving that may be associated with using digital? First and foremost humans are a social species they like the interpersonal aspects of the work they do and the social aspects of the events they attend (yes some do still see these events as a nice little jolly once the working day is done). The potential for interchange of ideas also improves at live events when more than the one person you may speak to digitally is in the group and new ideas get formulated with several minds working together.
So whilst for now the digital revolution has really been useful in coming to the aid of industry and commerce, it is very much a stop-gap. More people may in the future work from home but that does not mean they will stop travelling to meet clients and customers, just that the follow- up may be easier and the daily commute may be limited to a few days a week or just a couple of time a month.
The world I think is looking forward to the day when we can have personal interaction back to at least almost normal. So whilst the digital arena has been highly useful over the past year, it does not seem that it will replace the face-to-face contact in meeting and events just yet.
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