ABOVE: Last year’s UNICEF members attend their first meeting. This year’s officers are trying to come up with new ideas in order to raise money. “Although we may not be able to meet in real life, we’ll try our best to help our community,” senior Samuel Cobin said. (Photo courtesy of Samuel Cobin)
illustration by | RHEA PATNEY & DANIELLE ZHANG
LEFT: Senior Diya Diwakaran and the members of CARE Animal Allies club volunteer at an animal shelter. Like most clubs, the CARE Animal Allies club is trying to adjust to going virtual. “Because most of our activities revolve around volunteering and animals, we’ve had to rethink some plans,” Diwakaran said. (Photo courtesy of Diya Diwakaran)
CLUBS GO VIRTUAL CARE Animal Allies and UNICEF adjust plans for new school year
HANSIKA SAKSHI staff writer
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any clubs and organizations are making adjustments in order to meet virtually during the upcoming school year, as in-person meetings are not possible due to the ongoing pandemic. “Since our main events revolve around volunteering and gathering donations for local animal shelters around St. Louis, we now need to come up with new activities,” senior Diya Diwakaran, president of the CARE Animal Allies Club, said. Because of safety recommendations, people need to maintain six feet of distance between one another. As a result, clubs that focus on volunteering and socializing must think of new ideas for their members. “We can get a guest speaker or watch a movie, but it can be hard to ensure people are paying attention,” Diwakaran said. “Last year, we had guest speakers come in and also made dog toys to donate. However, our club mainly wants to volunteer at events around our community.”
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UNICEF, another club at Ladue, However, Diwakaran sees more seeks to raise money and awareness cons than pros in the virtual club about issues that affect children fair. She believes it will be harder for around the world. Senior Sam Cobin, students to learn about clubs because president of UNICEF, agrees that it is all of the information is virtual. difficult to engage with people virtu“For a club to gain more members, ally. However, clubs like UNICEF are I feel like people need to tell others much easier to about it,” Dimanage online wakaran said. because their “For example, Even though clubs are meeting events don’t someone tellrequire meeting someone virtually, don’t let that deter you ing in person. there’s a from getting involved.” “We’ve meeting in JENNIFER STROHBECK | activities director this room already set up a GoFundMe at this time page,” Cobin said. “We have a lot of and [that] they should come is much plans for adapted fundraisers that will simpler than signing up and going to work online.” a Zoom meeting.” Jennifer Strohbeck, the activities Despite these new adjustments, coordinator, has helped organize Strohbeck hopes that everyone finds clubs at Ladue for the past eight clubs they wish to join. She encouryears. One event she plans is the ages students to reach out and join as annual fair. many clubs and organizations as they “In previous years, we had the want for the school year. activities fair in the cafeteria,” Stroh“We have had so many clubs probeck said, “but this year, because we vide information for the virtual fair,” are going virtual, we’ll be placing Strohbeck said. “This shows that stulinks to different clubs and organizadents still want to be involved, even if tions on the activities website.” it’s online.” p
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