From the Executive Director of the KBA/KBF

Embracing the Hybrid

by Stacey Harden, Executive Director, KBA/KBF

A(nearly) comprehensive list of things I knew were hybrid before the summer of 2020: ligers (half tiger half lion), cars that are battery operated and gas powered, mules (half donkey, half horse), and the mythical sphinx (half woman, half lion). As the summer of 2020 fades, my list of hybrid things has grown. I now understand that school, work, graduations and networking events are, for the foreseeable future, going to be hybrid.

As Kansas children return to school near the Labor Day holiday, teachers are formulating lesson plans to educate, and students are preparing to learn in a new hybrid model that blends in-person teaching with remote learning. Meanwhile, parents are attempting to maneuver this hybrid world by juggling not just the demands of work, but also the requirements of their students’ school schedule, all while attempting to maintain a safe physical distance during the pandemic. To say that it is a stressful time for many is an understatement. By the time this edition of the Journal goes to press, the newness of these hybrid models will be routine. It begs the question: is a hybrid-world the new normal?

Similarly, the KBA staff is working diligently in a hybrid environment. Some members of the KBA staff are hard at work in our office, while others work diligently from their homes. I could not be any prouder of the endless effort, the positive attitudes, and the work product that the KBA staff continues to produce. A shining example of the KBA staff’s efforts was the first-ever, completely virtual KBA Annual Meeting held in August. I hope that you were one of the many people

who attended this event and were as wowed by the event as I. While virtual meetings are no longer a new thing for most of us, a virtual meeting that is stunning in every single moment from the registration to logging in to the quality of the presentations and presenters is not always the norm. The virtual annual meeting did not have the feel of a first-time virtual annual meeting – it was a superb showcase put on by the utmost of professionals, all working in hybrid environments. I am proud that those professionals are on the KBA team. Don’t worry if you were unable to attend the KBA’s Virtual Annual Meeting; certain portions of the event will soon be available on demand. Check our website and social media pages for information on how to access these on demand programs.

As soon the Annual Meeting concluded, KBA staff began focusing its efforts on new and exciting membership options for 2021. While no one knows exactly what 2021 has in store for us, our goal is to offer a variety of membership options and bundles that will best serve our members in a rapidly evolving hybrid world. KBA staff is currently researching and working on membership options that will not just walk-the-walk, but also talk-the-talk in the hybrid world. The KBA wants to be a one-stop-shop for resources that will make practices stronger, access to benefits easier, and networking more efficient. If you have an idea or comment, drop me or any other KBA staff member an email or phone call. I am excited to speak with you and learn how the KBA’s dedicated team of professionals can help you achieve your goals while embracing the hybrid. (Not ligers, I do not recommend embracing those.) n