Barbara Hendel: Virtual events a new reality in Toledo and beyond
Apr. 15—VIRTUAL events are a reality. The Northwest Ohio Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) hosted a virtual event in March about the future of virtual reality in communications. Leading the show was international tech leader Cathy Hackl, artificial intelligence consultant and futurist.
The bottom line is, the future of communications is turning towards technology with virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and other artificial intelligence services and tools in the marketplace.
Ms. Hackl, a pioneer in the VR industry, shared where VR/AR started, plus the present and potential future. The field of communications has remained relatively traditional for the past 50 years, however, new technology may provoke rapid change, she said. Companies previously utilized tangible products, but now the market for virtual products is estimated to reach $400 billion by 2025.
Microsoft's Ignite virtual conference allowed the participants and keynote speaker to interact via VR. For creative professionals, Adobe Aero is already available for a monthly fee. These technologies are not limited to marketing and customers, but to employee experience as well, unlocking their full potential, Ms. Hackl said.
STU and Jo-Jo Goldberg's March 2020 fund-raising dinner at The Beirut for the American Heart Association was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. Since the coronavirus is still with us, they hosted a Zoom Extravaganza 2021 and raised more than $18,000.
The virtual event made it possible for entertainers and people from all around the country to attend. After a brief narrative honoring the lives of Stu's dad, David Goldberg, and college roommate John Cerutti, virtual entertainment was provided: Mentalist, Gerard Senehi, NYC; a capella group the Zumbyes, Amherst College, Amherst, Mass.; singers Judy Radovsky and Sara Belusci, South Pasadena, Calif.; Toledo native and singer-songwriter Steve Rosenbaum, of San Diego, and electric guitarist Larry Gold of Toledo plus his son Sam's basement rock group Horse Club.
Guests mingled after the show. From Toledo were Casey Talbott, Cheryl and Stephen Rothschild, Dr. Tony Frogameni, Steve and Nancy Goldberg, Josh and Amanda Goldberg, Adam and Andrea Goldberg, Michael and Wendy Cooper, Jon and Arleen Levine, Labib and Karyn Hajjar, Diana Patton, Wendy Pestrue, Dick and Cherie Wolff, and Heidi Nafziger.
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The nearly 50 out of towners from Rhode Island, Maine, Massachusetts, Conneticut, Michigan, Maryland, Ohio, Illinois, Florida, Texas, and Arizona included Cydney Goldberg; Barry Fissel; Claudia Cerutti; Mike and Cathy Russell; Mike and Robin Pastore; Gavi Forman; Caren Goldberg and Doug Forman; Bill, Sally and Stephanie Siegel, and others.
WHILE virtual events are here to stay, in person activities are popping all over.
NORTHWEST Ohio Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) recently received hundreds of toys donated and delivered by Dave's Running Shop's Spring Training Run group. CASA volunteers, many who are meeting with the children outside due to the coronavirus pandemic, are allowed to provide gifts to the children when donated directly to the organization.
MIKE Lopinski of Lake Erie BBQ hosted his annual fish fry fund-raiser donating all profits to the New Sportman Club in Milbury. If you missed the fried perch dinners with two sides for $15 on March 27 there is another one on April 17 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
For information go to the Facebook page @LakeErieBBQ and follow the New Sportsman Club website: nscmillbury.com/
THE Toledo Ski Club members, some who ventured to warm climates during the winter, are looking forward to in-person events this summer during their multitude of outdoor activities from tennis and golf to spending time at the club's lodge in Boyne City, Mich.
