DIstrict 112 update – APRIL 26, 2020

Online Meetings

Even if your club is not meeting online, that is no reason for YOU to miss out!

For those that are not familiar with online meetings there is helpful material here.

Lots of information from Toastmasters International: https://www.toastmasters.org/resources/news%20and%20announcements/online%20meetings

Have a look at these videos from Lauren Parsons, from the PN Advanced club. Lauren has used Zoom for many years both personally and professionally.

Install and set up Zoom: https://youtu.be/1KheKWak6hQ

Getting started with online meetings: https://youtu.be/pOY8I_kgsLY

You may also find the tips in the next section on Club Meetings useful; they cover both setting up Zoom, and things to think about for setting up yourself. Did you know that, for practice, you don’t need to meet with anyone? Just install Zoom, start a meeting, and play with the set-up until you’re ready to meet with others. If you’re doing this, also watch a couple of the Zoom tutorials (link below) for an idea of good practice in working with Zoom.

Want to try a small online meeting experience?  One-hour Table Topics sessions are being held every day at 12:00 pm (previously at 1.00pm) and at 6:00 pm, to give members a taste of an online experience.  The Zoom meeting ID for this is 4210599897 (these are being well attended and have been appreciated).

More questions? You’re not alone! Maungakiekie Toastmasters is hosting two-hour Q & A sessions on Zoom and Pathways; the next one is on Wednesday, April 29 at 7.30pm. The link and provisional agenda is on the D112 calendar at  https://d112tm.org.nz/district-calendar/

Club Meetings

District 112, since the New Zealand government has announced a COVID-19 Alert Level of Level-3 and an intended move to Level-4, asks that all clubs look at having an option for members to experience their club online and moving to holding meetings which are online only, for the foreseeable future.

The safety of members is paramount. Please keep up to date with the  Ministry of Health guidelines and Government announcements.

Clubs need to consider that they may have members who are self-isolating or reducing their social contact.  We recommend that clubs cancel their premises bookings where possible and use the saving to purchase an online Zoom account.  There are other online tools such as Skype (allows 50 people to join), Google hangout (allows 25 people to join), Goto Meeting, etc.

The District is working to assist clubs with Zoom account access where the club has insufficient funds to procure an account.  Area Directors will be managing this so if your club needs assistance in this area please talk to your Area Director.

Clubs have a unique opportunity to step-up, show leadership, and keep their clubs operational for the good of their members and also provide an opportunity for guests who may be self-isolating and lacking social contact.

Some guests may find it easier to join and become a member of Toastmasters through online meetings to build their confidence before, sometime in the future, walking into a meeting.   Adding online experience and options to your club meetings will also allow people outside your area to be able to join your meeting.  Please take this opportunity to look at how your club can expand itself to attract more members by providing an online option for them to attend.

Many people who are self-isolating will see this as a social opportunity and a chance to learn as well.  Clubs need to be ready for the challenge.

Part of the preparation will be clubs updating their online media, including Facebook, Meetup, websites, Toastmasters International Page, to indicate that they are meeting online and invite guests to join them.  Discuss the benefits that being a member of a Toastmasters club will bring.

For those that are not familiar with online meetings there is helpful material here.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1cmMORDUhnMmzYbRGbSVI2IHh2h3gsN12  covers installing Zoom and using its home menu, while

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-wKdvrlR-aKNYbe1CFvHmtT3naiPCP0-/view contains information on setting up Zoom – and yourself – for your first session.

Zoom itself has introduced new introductory tutorials at

https://zoom.us/docs/en-us/covid19.html

Try the on-demand training sessions, and scroll down the above page for tips on working from home and setting up online meetings.

Want to try an online meeting experience?  One-hour Table Topics sessions are being held every day at 12:00 pm and at 6:00 pm, to give members a taste of an online experience.  The Zoom meeting ID for this is 4210599897 (these are being well attended and have been appreciated).

 

Contests

Division Directors have decided their timing for postponed contests events, and these will be scheduled on the District Calendar here.

https://d112tm.org.nz/district-calendar/

Note that there is no provision being made for these contests to be held at a possible future date, in person.

District 112 Conference (1 to 3 May 2020) which was going to be held in Napier is now replaced by online contests, Executive and council metings, and keynotes.  Everyone due a refund for the FOCUS 2020 District Conference should have received it; if not, please contact d112admin@toastmasters.org.nz. Refunds are paid to the account from which the original payment was made.

Our thoughts are with everyone at this time, we wish you all personal health and wellness. We will endeavour to keep you updated as things change.   Decisions around Division event dates will be posted on the District Calendar. Some Division Directors have provided contest updates on their Division Facebook page as well as the District calendar.

 

Best regards

Neil

Neil Stichbury​ DTM
District Director – District 112
Toastmasters International
Where Leaders are Made
Text/Mobile:   +64 2 7527 4913
Email: D112director@toastmasters.org.nz