Page 35 - 2017.1 voices
P. 35
designed to broadcast audio into large spaces.
It will be much easier to hear presentations,
evaluations, and comments from your remote
members if you use external speakers.
The same holds true for built-in microphones.
They are puny at best. They pick up the sound
of their own fans making it difficult for people
to separate the mechanical sounds from
the presenter voices. A better option might
be a speakerphone or an omni-directional
microphone placed in the middle of the table. Website/Social Media—Update your website
Members who join remotely also need a few and social media pages to include a note about
basic must-haves: attending online
• Internet connection White Paper—Add this article as a download to
• Computer, tablet, or laptop your website and social media page
• Webcam News Release—Create a news release and let the
• Headset with microphone world know your club is offering a VOIP solution
• Quiet space free of distractions and noise Business cards/printed materials—add a note
• Skype, Google Hangouts, Facebook, etc. to your printed club materials about the online
An Internet connecton is a must. So too is option
a computer, tablet, or laptop preferably with a No matter whether your club is bursting at the
2Ghz or higher processor and at least 4Gb of seams or there are empty chairs at your meetings,
RAM. Slower computers seem to have difficulty adding an online option is a smart strategy for
maintaining a connection to the call for a 60-90 growth and retention. Make a commitment to
minute meeting. (I suppose you could use your help your club grow and your members become
smartphone, but check your data plan and battery better connected in 2017 by adding an online
life.) option to your club mix. For more information,
As a member of Great White North Online contact me at phyllis.harmon@d77toastmasters.
Toastmasters, I‘ve found that joining remotely
does require attention to environmental details. PROTOCOL 2.3. Online
I relegate myself to a quiet space, with a blank Attendance at Club Meetings
or non-cluttered wall behind me. The spouse,
dogs, and TV are beyond the closed door. The A. Online attendance is defined as any
phone is muted, and room lighting adjusted to member participating and interacting in a club
keep shadows off my face. meeting through the use of live audio and video
A headset with a microphone works conferencing tools utilizing an online platform.
I. Participants are not in the same physical
much better than trying to use the computer location as the rest of the club members
microphone. A headset allows me to clearly hear attending the in-person meeting.
the presenters —a very important feature when II. Participants must be able to communicate
I am the evaluator! The microphone muffles with all other members in attendance at the
background noise and allows my voice to be in-person meeting.
heard. Because clutter is a distraction, a blank wall III. Online participation in a club meeting
behiind me focuses attention where it belongs— does not include voice-only teleconferencing,
on the speaker! recorded video, or recorded audio.
Choose a free Voice over the Internet Protocol B. Clubs that opt to allow online attendance
(VOIP) like Skype, Google Hangouts, Facebook, at the regular in-person meeting must specify
etc. to connect your in-house meeting to your this in the Addendum of Standard Club Options.
C. Each club determines the type of online
remote members. platform(s) to be used and must acquire it at the
Before the meeting, test your equipment and club’s expense if there is a fee for use.
connections. D. Each member participating in online club
Okay, those are the basics. Here’s how to add meetings will provide their own technology at
this option to your public relations/marketing their own expense if there is a fee for use.
efforts:
VOLUME 3 ISSUE 7 JANUARY, 2017 35
