The Speakers Bureau Webinar Team is embracing a new leadership structure. Instead of relying on a single program lead, all webinar coordinators are stepping up to share responsibilities. The team recently held an engaging and productive training session to prepare for their roles.

Under the guidance of Andrea Salzman, Hedwig Van Den Broeck, Holly Sauer, and Monika Witte, the team planned the 2025 webinar lineup while also focusing on volunteer recruitment and training. Each Webinar Coordinator selected their preferred programs to oversee, ensuring alignment with their interests and expertise.

The training session was packed with valuable insights and collaborative discussions. Here's a snapshot of what was covered:

Highlights from the Webinar Training Session:

1. Overview of Speakers Bureau Roles and Partnerships (including the Contra Costa County Library collaboration).
2. Navigating the Box File Sharing Site.
3. Style Guide and Templates for Presentations and Handouts.
4. Step-by-step walkthroughs of webinar processes, including vetted and new talks.
5. Marketing strategies for webinars.
6. Dry runs and day-of logistics for library-hosted webinars.
7. Monthly meetings and reporting guidelines.
8. Group discussions on leadership questions and team meeting frequency.

Next Steps: The Webinar Team is diving into their new roles with hands-on mentorship and actionable tasks. For February and March Webinars Coordinators will collaborate with mentors (Andrea for February and Tery for March) to refine their processes. Each Webinar Coordinator is crafting a checklist tailored to upcoming programs, and they will reconvene in a week to share insights and make adjustments. They will also contact their 2025 speakers, providing essential information such as folder links, timelines, and templates for presentations and handouts. For new webinars, Coordinators encourage speakers to start preparing materials and schedule vetting sessions.

This collaborative approach ensures everyone is well-supported as they step into their leadership roles, creating a solid foundation for a successful 2025 webinar series.

If you are passionate about public speaking or want to contribute to the Speakers Bureau, contact Andrea Salzman at andreasalzman@hotmail.com. We would love to have you on board!