PCMA Global Meetings Community@LinkedIn: Skyping in Presenters Amanda Joslin, director of conferences at the International Lactation Consultant Association, asked members of PCMA’s Global Meetings Community LinkedIn group if they had experience with using Skype for speakers unable to present in- person at their conference. Here are some of the responses Joslin
received:
The Internet connection on both sides is the most important [thing]. Next would be a good microphone and proper light- ing. Having your speaker go to a studio with the right gear and a good connec- tion would work. If there are slides that also support this presenter, you may need more of a MediaSite type solution so that you can show both the video and slides together.
Jeff Chupich, Director of Sales, TRAVIS Inc.
I just ran into this issue on Tuesday when a speaker couldn’t make it to the program. We tested with him on Monday evening and had him present during his scheduled time on Tuesday. There were a few times when the audio was somewhat distorted, but overall it was okay. We used a version of Skype that allowed him to present PowerPoint slides, so we heard him while seeing his slides. The question-and-answer period with him went well — just be sure to have everyone use mics in order for [your speaker] to hear them.
Johnnie White, CMP, Executive Director, Cardiovascular Research Foundation
I’ve used that technology to present to many groups around the world. The audience gets lively interaction, and I now bring in others from around the world to create a “TV news” type of environment (Group Video Call- ing feature of Skype). Recently, I presented to a convention in London,
From Convene’s blog For more on the meetings industry, visit our blog at pcmaconvene .blogspot.com.
BERLIN-BOUND In May, Senior Editor Barbara Palmer traveled to Berlin, Germany, on a pre-IMEX educational trip with planners from the United States, Brazil, and China. Once she arrived in the city, she sought out a store where she could replace a computer cord she’d left behind — and came across “Checkpoint Charlie,” the most famous former border crossing into East Berlin: “There was a won- derful photographic timeline on the spot, telling the story of the Berlin Wall, which stood between East and West Germany from 1961 until 1989. Tourists waited nearby at a rebuilt guard station to get their photos taken with actors playing American guards. I felt lucky that my errand gave me the opportunity to stand at that iconic spot — the likelihood of pleasure mixed with business is part of what makes for a great meeting destination.” (See Barbara’s write-up of her experience in Berlin on p.20.)
THE CURE FOR CONTROVERSY Assistant Editor Sarah Beauchamp recently participated in a Susan G. Komen for the Cure race in Philadelphia with her mother and
England, from my base in Orlando. Lots of fun, humor, and learning for everyone. This is the way presenta- tions are moving for many meetings. Skype has a feature that allows
you to share the screen with the other person(s) on the call. Once you have invoked that mode, you can activate your PowerPoint/Keynote/whatever presentation and they will see what is
on your screen. I use this regularly to go through Keynote slides during pre- sentations. If your bandwidth is strong enough, you can even show video — which is quite impressive. And the best part of this is that it is all free! Very nice.
Terry Brock, MBA, CSP, CPAE, professional speaker
Pink power at Komen in Philadelphia.
sister, and found that the contro- versy over Komen’s decision (later reversed) to cut funding to Planned Parenthood did nothing to dimin- ish people’s enthusiasm for the cause: “[T]here were more than 40,000 participants and 100,000 spectators, and the event raised more than $900,000 dollars for breast-cancer research and treat- ment. It was reassuring to see that despite an organization’s trip-ups or difficult financial times, you can still count on people to rally around a cause they’re passionate about. After my first month with Convene magazine, I’ve realized that that is the lifeline of the convention and meeting planning industry — the attendees who continue to show up, to join a group of like-minded people, to represent a subset of the community that they feel con- nected to, and to learn and grow as a result of these events.”