The Zoom Culture! - Have You Taken Part In A Zoom Video Meeting?
In this COVID-19 environment the video conference platform Zoom has become an Icon! Have you used it to communicate with family and friends? Or even professionally? Zoom has beome very popular. And it is FREE!
There are many brands of video communication but Zoom has special significance for me. I belong to Toastmasters International as a member of several clubs. Toastmasters members meet to develop our speaking and communication skills in a friendly environment.
When COVID-10 meeting restrictions were imposed, we had to figure out an alternate way to meet and give our speeches.
Enter ZOOM!
Over the past month I have attended several club meetings via Zoom, where about 15 members participated. But this weekend our District is having its Annual Conference via Zoom. With over 100 video attendees!
Events like speech contests, guest speakers, annual business meetings have to take place. The District Director had no option but to use Zoom instead of meeting at a Hotel like we usually do.
Humorous Speech Contest
We had our Humorous Speech Contest this Friday evening. There were over 100 video attendees. I had no idea how everyone would appear on the screen. It worked out quite well.
This was a challenge for the speakers with no sound of laughter like you get in a room.
In case you are not familiar with it, Zoom is set up so that the viewer can control how the screen appears. Meaning, you can choose the matrix view where up to 25 participants appear in one screen shot in a 5 x 5 matrix. The next 25 appear on a subsequent screen shot that can be accessed by swiping sideways using arrows.
Or one can select an individual participant to fill the screen with the rest appearing in a single strip on the right or above.
Each person can mute their audio and hide their video using icons at the bottom, if they so desire. When a contestant speaks, everyone else mutes their audio to prevent extraneous noise clutter. If you need to leave your screen, it is good to hide your video.
All Zoom meetings have a moderator who can take control of the meeting setup if necessary.
International Speech Contest
Tomorrow morning at 8:30 am the business meeting will be held. The officers for the upcoming year (July 2020 - June 2021) will be elected.
Following a long break, a past World Champion of Public Speaking will be delivering a Keynote speech at 11 am.
The Grand Finale will be at 7 pm. It's the International Speech contest. Six Division winners will compete for the District Title. There is a lot at stake here.
Whoever wins the District Contest will be eligible to attend the Toastmasters International Convention in Paris this August. That is where they will compete with other speakers from all over the world. The winner will be crowned as The World Champion Of Public Speaking!
Hopefully that event will not be canceled and they will be able to attend and compete in person.
Two Day Split Because Of COVID-19
Notice the big time gaps between the various segments? This was intentional to give attendees a break from looking at their video screens. Having an all video Spring conference is a first for our District and we hope it will be our last. This also could be a first for other Districts too.
The Toastmasters International Website has a new section devoted to how to set up Zoom Conferences since all Districts in the World are affected by the COVID-19 disruption.
Wine & Dine Toastmasters Club!
We have an advanced club in our District called Wine and Dine. Once a month on a Saturday evening we meet in a restaurant and actually wine and dine! while conducting a Toastmasters meeting. Hence, the Wine and Dine name.
I am a member of this club and it is no fun conducting meetings via video. I suppose we could each bring a plate of food and a glass of wine to the computer, right
Just not the same as going to a restaurant and being served by waiters.
Why Not Join A Club Yourself?
Talking about Toastmasters, you can check out a club near you through the main website: Toastmasters.org. and visit the club to see if this is something that could work to help you improve your speaking and communication skills.
You can find the cub officers contact information through this website and ask to attend for free.
Toastmasters operates in most countries in the world. It is the largest non-profit organization of its kind.
I have a YouTube Channel called netzoomer. This site has 13.9K subs and 8.125 million views. In this world of Zoom I hope somebody approaches me to purchase it. I'm reasonable if I get an offer!
Now that would be a welcome outcome for me from all this Zoom culture.
Cheers.
Edwin
Recent Comments
81
Interesting post, Edwin. As I am behind in my emails, did you enter the speaking contest and what was the outcome? Curious that your post was about the use of Zoom as I have that on my phone and was wanting to know more about it's uses. Thanks for answering all my questions about Zoom.
Take care
Charlotte
Hi Charlotte, I didn't. The District Conference on Zoom went off very well. There were two contests. Humorous and International.
There were over 100 on the Zoom video event.
It took quite a bit of time to do the official stuff on Zoom using the waiting rooms. And getting the people there.
Fortunately a lot of padding was added to the schedule. The event began on time and ended on time.
Thanks for your interest.
Edwin
Very happy about that, we also use the Zoom Facility for the meeting. But, I like to join your Toastmasters meeting and club too. That is a good idea for us. I really appreciate your post and your support to know about that.
Thanks Edwin
Stay safe and well
SAM
Hi SAM,
Which part of the world do you live in? Wherever it is, go to the Toastmasters International website and find what clubs exist near you. Contact them and ask to attend as a guest. It costs nothing to do that.
In that way you can see first hand how the program works. Right now, all meetings are held online so you can attend any club in the world who conducts their meetings online and accepts guests to sign in.
Thanks for commenting and glad that you are interested in the Toastmasters PRogram.
All the best to you.
Edwin
I have taken part in a Zoom meeting, just once. It was a family get-together last month, and it went well.
For the past 7 Sundays, I have met with a group of approximately 12 people, on Jitsi Meet. This also works well, particularly if logging on from a mobile phone rather than a computer. However, I doubt that Jitsi Meet would be satisfactory for a large gathering.
I enjoyed reading about your Toastmasters group.
I belonged to a Toastmasters group about ten years ago. It was a great experience but I did not reach the level of participating in competitions. Maybe, if I had, I would have sat at a table beautifully set as the one in your post.
At the monthly meetings, the seating was basic.
Thanks, Edwin for another interesting post.
Valerie
Hi Valerie,
I'm glad you have the experience of meeting online via video. Zoom is great for any platform.
How cool that you were in Toastmasters one time. The new program is done exclusively online through a new system called Pathways.
It is now possible to choose among a basket of goals you want to achieve and pick your own path to get there. This will include a combination of speaking and leadership topics.
All the training and evaluation sheets can be downloaded online. Instead of using ones manuals to keep track of your progress this can all be recorded online.
Once the shock of this new system was overcome, membes are finding out that this is a more convenient way to do the Toastmasters Program.
You can get what you want out of Toastmasters without having to compete.
It was great to hear your experience.
Edwin
What an incredible difference this new method of Toastmasters is.
I can well imagine how shocked some members would be by the new Toastmaters system.
How quickly the world is changing. I do sometimes wonder just how far changes can reach. No doubt, others have had similar thoughts.
Thanks, Edwin for the update about Toastmasters.
Valerie
I have 6 hours of zoom meetings every Thursday and every other day I average about 3. I gotta say I'm all zoomed out. But at this point in time it sure does beat risking our health and that of others to be out and about and in workplaces and face to face meetings.
I hope someone approaches you to buy your channel :)
Cheers
Melissa
Great phrase, All Zoomed Out! That is a lot of virtual meetings.
Thanks for your good wishes regarding my site. I am not going to hold my breath lol. It is a nice thought.
All the best to you Mia
Edwin
See more comments
Hi Edwin,
I have discovered ZOOM & attended meetings.
It would not have been possible during the COVID19 for me, without this great technology.
I am a Rotarian, & belong to the Rotary Club of Patong Beach - Phuket Thailand. I am a past president of the club & live in Bangkok.
As an Australian my former club is in Sydney. I have produced & distributed throughout the world over 600 editions of a newsletter. I was able to recently join three clubs on ZOOM. Patong Beach + one in Sydney & another in Perth Western Australia.
Out club has a fundraiser for disadvantaged & now unemployed construction workers called FEED PHUKET.
I was asked to speak at the Australian clubs on ZOOM & have received donations from the club & members.
Without ZOOM this would not have been possible.
I am enjoying the ZOOM culture.
Best regards
Denis
Wonderful to hear your Toastmaster activities on Zoom. I've often thought about asking to be a guest on a club meeting across the world. We have our club meeting this evening.
Keep up the great work Denis.
Edwin
Thank you Edwin.
A correction if I may.
My involvement is with ROTARY - not Toastmasters.
I did join Toastmasters many years ago but later moved to Rotary.
Our meeting of the Rotary Club of Patong Beach on ZOOM is tonight.
Have a great day.
Denis
My apologize. I hope you have a productive meeting tonight.
Edwin