Leading in the time of corona

Abstract

This article covers the early impact of COVID-19 and the resulting crisis on the Oral History Association (OHA). I explore the role of the OHA in the lives of its members and my role as the president within the association during a time of crisis. I examine the potential disruption of the OHA's 2020 annual meeting in Baltimore in depth, analyzing the financial and emotional impact of not holding an in-person meeting as well as the opportunity to increase accessibility to the meeting by shifting to a virtual model. I also recount the challenges in developing guidelines on remote interviewing. Interspersed are vignettes exploring the development of a new strategic plan for the OHA and uncertainty around its implementation.