The Yearbook World of Scott Geesey
from Jostens Yearbooks of central/northern Pennsylvania
ARCHIVE - MARCH 22, 2020
LET'S TURN THIS LEMON INTO LEMONADE: Dealing with the Coronavirus Situation, Part 2...
Hello! Well, here we are in week two of this pretty amazing journey. How are you coping?
I actually journeyed out late last week, to visit my friend the tax preparer (but right before they extended the deadline to mid July, wonderful.) Then next door I hit a supermarket for a few things and WOW, I couldn't believe the empty shelves.
I'd say we're still in the "gee whiz" phase of this no school quarantine, which I expect will be extended at least until Easter. But if that happens I also expect people to start getting a little stir crazy here in the coming days.
How to avoid that? By keeping busy. And for yearbook staffs that shouldn't be hard to do at this point because there is PLENTY to do, no matter if you're a spring or fall book staff.
And our Jostens Renaissance folks have kicked their help into overdrive. From Mike Smith's recent fantastic Harbor video and other pertinent videos to share at www.jostensrenaissance.com (and seriously, share those unlocked episodes out with students and parents) to some Facebook Live chats on helping with food distributions to kids in need, those folks are really leading.
Please take some time to check out what they are offering, follow them on Facebook, and then see how you can use their materials with your audience.
And I've been heartened by some things I've seen recently...
Observations and ideas from this crazy situation...
We'll go a bit random here because it's just that kind of time...
Has some panic set in? Absolutely, let's not deny it. Note that supermarket reference above. And all those toilet paper stories. Our State College contact Micah saw this at a local dollar store last week - a "little old lady" with a cart FILLED with toilet paper.
And rumors everywhere - the whole country will be shut down. ALL stores will close. My big fear is that some politicians will buy into this panic and make decisions that will harm people more than this virus would.
As I write this I expect PA Governor Wolf to extend the school shutdown another two weeks to Easter, and that would be warranted. But I fear he'll just shutdown for the entire school year like a few other states have done - THAT would be a BIG mistake. Take two weeks at a time, one step at a time, and I think we can still salvage the end of this school year.
But what about the yearbook front? Some thoughts...
HIT FINAL DEADLINE: Yeah, I'll repeat this one from last week. For those spring books who have a final deadline THIS week, let's work hard and hit it by Friday. Do that and you'll have made a great accomplishment, one that your school audience will appreciate when your books arrive on time in mid May.
WORK REMOTELY AS A TEAM: I've really been excited to see some yearbook advisers and staffs step up and work together remotely, using Zoom or Skype live video, or the What's App service or direct messaging to stay in touch, or just through normal texting or phone calls. This is a great experience for now and for the future.
And if you haven't tried this and really didn't do much last week, now's the time to start. I bet you'll find some eager yearbook staffers who can't wait to do some work from home, maybe just for something to do. You don't have to be tech savvy yourself - heck, ask your kids to take the lead and you might be surprised at what they show you.
TRY SOCIAL MEDIA: Let's repeat this one from last week as well. Find a staffer or two who are already savvy with social media and launch a yearbook-themed outlet - Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, even Snapchat. Have them start reaching out to other students - they're all out there without much to do - and start swapping images and stories of what they're doing during this historic break.
FILLING EMPTY PAGES: Nearly everyone has this problem - what about those cancelled events that were going to be covered in the book or spring supplement? For my Jostens advisers stay tuned because I'm compiling a list of ideas to use for the remainder of the school year.
This could be the silver lining in all this craziness. Most yearbooks fall back into the same coverage every year of the same events and the same teams or groups - all they essentially do is swap out the photos for new photos.
Now we have a chance to try some fresh new ideas, tell more and different stories, cover people in the book who might not normally be covered, or cover some human interest or around town stories that always get missed.
If you've been wanting to give your book a real makeover, THIS could be the golden opportunity. If you're one of the many schools who aren't doing any real online learning for regular classes right now, or at least not yet, now's the time to investigate new yearbooking ideas. But don't do it alone - get your staffers involved and see what you can develop.
CHECK OUT THE DIGITAL CLASSROOM: And I'll repeat this one as well - Jostens advisers, with plenty of free time in the coming days, please check out the Digital Classroom on Yearbook Avenue. This amazing resource is at your fingertips, yet few advisers actually take the time to use it or even look at it.
NEW LOOK BOOK COMING IN APRIL: I was told last week that the shipments of the 2020 Jostens Look Book to Jostens high school advisers will be delayed into April because of the current situation. Sorry about that folks, some things take precedence. The books are printed, I already have some copies, but our shipping time needs to be devoted elsewhere right now. We'll get them out as soon as we can.
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Once again let's stay safe, wash your hands frequently, keep your distance - but also stay in touch with others. One concern right now is for people who are almost barricading themselves in their house without any communication with others. That's not healthy - stay in regular contact with family and friends
By the way, it's perfectly safe to go outside and enjoy the weather. Take a walk, take your dog for a stroll, and here's an excuse to get some exercise in. Personally I've tried to get out for my jogs around the neighborhood, for exercise and just to work off this home prison frustration.
And remember - your Jostens team (me, our friend Micah Martin in State College, our entire crew) is here to help and support you. Reach out anytime with questions, problems...or if you just need someone to converse with. As your trusted partners we're here for you!
Here's our chance - let's turn this lemon into some really tasty lemonade!