Here are some of my favorite resources for my fellow sex educators educators, event producers, artists and entrepreneurs…
[If you’re looking for COVID resources for day-to-day life, go HERE.]
[Last Update: June 30, 2022]
Now that we’re going on 2 THREE years into the pandemic… I wanted to gather the COVID resources and best policies and approaches I’ve found to help make for safer in-person events… While there is no such thing as a completely “risk-free” event, there are LOTS of ways to make your events safer and role model for your communities more informed, empowered ways of navigating the pandemic!
Like everything during the pandemic, information and recommendations are always changing as we have new information and respond to new variants, etc. I’ve done my best to confirm that what I’m sharing is medically accurate, psychologically sound, and will reduce harm rather than spread panic —Please endeavor to do the same!
And PLEASE try to be kind to one another. This INCLUDES BEING KIND TO YOURSELF. Inform yourself as you have the bandwidth. Trying to learn EVERYTHING in one sitting isn’t healthy. We all have limits — Myself included (even though I don’t want to admit it!). Everyone has their own unique struggles. And those struggles, just like my struggles, are invisible to onlookers. This pandemic won’t be over in one night, so remember to pace yourself and take care.
My wish is that these resources help you, your communities, and your businesses as much as they’ve been helping me. Please share this page with your peers and loved ones as you feel called to.
We Ran the IN-PERSON Sex Geek Summer Camp Recap… COVID Happened. Here’s the Recap:
Quick Summary: 19 out of 60 people ended up testing positive for COVID from Camp. No one went to the hospital. No long COVID reported as of this writing. And no roommates, partners, or children caught COVID when Campers arrived home.
Bullet-Point List of the Actions We Took at Camp:
- We had a covid policy & safety plan in place before Camp, and every Camper had to read and sign off on it.
- Our policy meant that every Camper would show proof-of-vaccination and proof of at least one booster in order to attend Camp.
- Two weeks before Camp, I had a phone call with Sarah Roy, Infection Prevention and Control Nurse for Oregon’s Covid19 Facility Outreach and Outbreak Team. On our call, we walked through additional ways to reduce risk and make Camp safer above and beyond the policy and safety plan we already had in place.
- Sarah’s sage advice was passed along to all Campers via email and also brought up again with everyone during Camp’s opening lecture.
- Before Campers were allowed onto the campground property, everyone took a rapid antigen test to ensure that they were still testing negative.Campers were asked to wear masks when waiting in line for meals, and encouraged to wear masks and check-in with other Campers often about mask and social distancing needs as well as pro-actively informing others anytime they were feeling any symptoms.
- All Campers had access to multiple rapid antigen tests while at Camp and were invited to re-test as many times as they liked during Camp.
- On the first day of Camp, we represenced the policy and talked as a group about the statistical risks that COVID-19 was among us even with everyone testing negative on the first day, and that the coronavirus would most likely make an appearance at Camp at some point.
- We encouraged everyone to re-test as many times as they wanted for their own peace of mind, especially if they felt any symptoms. (This is how we knew when someone tested positive on the last evening of Camp.)
- We alerted everyone at Camp within 90-mins of the first Camper testing positive, re-introduced the CDC’s current guidelines for exposure and testing positive, and had a group check-in about it.
- As Campers were leaving Camp, we reminded them of the CDC guidelines and asked everyone to stay in touch with us so we could track who was testing positive and how everyone was doing.
[End of June 2022 Update]
Here is THE best example of COVID protocols for LIVE, high-touch social events…
- The Bonobo Network’s COVID-19 Guidelines Google Doc — These are some of my favorite smarty-pants event producers. I love their guidelines. Feel free to share with attribution to these amazing nerds!
FREE Discussion Panels on LIVE, In-Person Event Protocols & Approaches During the Pandemic…
In 2021, after we had widespread vaccinations happening and some event organizers were going back to running live, in-person events, I found the smartest sex-positive educators/event organizers I knew and moderated two discussion panels focusing on the COVID protocols and policies they’d be using — The first panel was recorded in June of 2021 BEFORE the organizers ran their events, and the 2nd panel was recorded in November AFTER the events were done.
The events would span group sizes from 150 people to 70-THOUSAND! Want to learn what worked, what didn’t, and what they’re changing for their 2022 events? Register to receive access links to both call recordings HERE.
Resources from 2021 and 2020 That I Still Find Useful…
Website post: How to Protect Your Online 12 Step Meeting against Trolls, Zoom Bombers and Griefers
Great post for all virtual facilitators using Zoom right now… https://medium.com/@nanea/how-to-protect-your-online-12-step-meeting-against-trolls-zoom-bombers-and-griefers-53ffe08b529c
Website post: Things to think about as an event producer…
Hat tip to Rachel Rickards for this informative post for event producers that she shared with me on Facebook —
https://commchat.substack.com/p/communities-events-and-the-impact
Article: I need you to read this and decide about Coronavirus
I think this article is REALLY useful reading for all event producers and workshop leaders… Please give it a read and let me know what you think!
https://medium.com/@phoebetickell/i-need-you-to-read-this-and-decide-about-coronavirus-6dd184745b33
Facebook LIVE: Social Distancing and Taking Your Events Virtual During COVID-19 with Cassandra J. Perry
Courses Designed To Help Your Business During the Pandemic…
Free online course: Let’s Make an Online Course…
The idea of making an online course about making an online course while YOU make an online course is SO meta to me! One of the ways I self-regulate and find grounding is to merge helping others with creating things tools and courses that alleviate people’s challenges… A LOT of my friends and peers get paid from organizing or performing in-person at IRL (In Real Life) LIVE events. Many had their livelihoods canceled, which inspired me to help them figure out how they can bring their brilliance to their fans and followers virtually (and, hopefully, help them make some rent money)… Are you an event planner, teacher or performer? Join us for this free “How to make an online course” training…
https://reidaboutsex.mykajabi.com/lets-make-an-online-course
Paid 6-week online facilitation and virtual workshop skills course for educators: Virtual Conservatory
If facilitating online workshops and upping your virtual teaching skills will help you pay the bills, let’s build your confidence and online teaching savvy so YOU can give GREAT Zoom that has attendees and clients coming back for more!
http://ReidAboutSex.com/are-you-coming-to-virtual-conservatory
Paid 6-week business skills course for educators: Virtual Camp
If you were thinking about coming to Sex Geek Summer Camp, let CAMP come to YOU! http://ReidAboutSex.com/are-you-coming-to-virtual-camp
