As lockdown rules are eased, churches, businesses and voluntary groups must choose whether to go on meeting via the internet. Gazette columnist Alan Hayman looks at what some are deciding locally.
TO Zoom or not to Zoom?
That’s the question facing churches and social groups now they no longer need to hold meetings on the internet during the Covid lockdown, when face-to-face social gatherings were both dangerous and illegal.
So it was Hobson’s Choice. Meet on Zoom or one of its rivals - or not at all.
The first task was to master the dark arts of Zoom technology.
People I know managed that with varying levels of speed and skill.
At Colchester’s University of the Third Age (U3a), our over-50s philosophy group liked to think we were not short of graduate-level brain cells.
But maybe we’d been living on fantasy island, as barely half our members managed to turn up when our monthly meetings went online.
It was a different story at our faith community.
Going virtual actually boosted the turnout on Sundays.
Perhaps that was because those who don’t drive no longer faced travel problems in getting to online services.
The candle lit to start every gathering was given its own Zoom camera and cheerily nicknamed Charlie Chalice.
Recordings of hymns and organ recitals appeared more or less on cue and online worship was broadly hailed a success.
A bonus of the Zoom experiment was that people separated by long distances got to know each other and new friendships resulted.
So with lockdown restrictions hopefully ending soon, will face-to-face meetings make a comeback?
Some clearly hanker for the old days.
Gazette contributor Alan Hayman
After months of online drinking, the U3a Wine-tasting group hope to mark “Freedom Day” on June 21 with some al fresco quaffing in a back garden.
And at the Wooden Fender, the U3a petanque players are already at it again. Throwing heavy metal balls across the pub car park, that is.
However, most faith communities favour a more cautious timetable.
Our church’s first indoor service may not happen until July.
And there may be a need for hybrid events, where some come along in person and others join in via the web.
That won’t happen by magic.
Some venues will need extra kit for hybrid meetings - monitor screens, cameras, speakers and Wifi – just when cash is short.
While heating, lighting and travel costs dropped during the pandemic, so did church incomes. No collection plates could be passed around, but the clergy still had to be paid.
The business world is also recovering from turbulent times.
Some firms were fast out of the gate in adapting to the lockdown.
Marketing companies like Blueprint Partners closed their office completely and transformed themselves into a virtual business.
Their employees, and many others, say they’re happier and more productive now they work from home.
A daily commute to Liverpool Street no longer looks attractive to staff who’ve grown used to starting the working day on time.
Oh, and with the price of a season ticket still in their back pockets.
So whether to stay forever in the virtual world may be a hard call.
Some want the buzz of the office back again, while others love the so-called New Normal - Zoom conferences, hybrid meetings and the lot.
One size won’t fit them all, but hopefully everyone will find the solution that work best for them.
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