At first, COVID-19 posed an existential threat to voluntary bar associations, hobbling the economy and forcing them to cancel some of their biggest draws — networking opportunities through luncheons, awards dinners, barbecues, and happy hours.

But six months into the health crisis, some of the most active and recognizable VBAs say they have weathered the storm, largely through remote technology and hard work.

Some are just beginning to ramp up in-person gatherings, or “hybrid” get togethers that are simulcast online. One VBA has been transformed.