3 things re the HU ONLINE MEET & GREET/SOCIAL; Sunday, September 20, 6 PM Greenwich Mean Time.

[MBAnderson]

1) PLEASE - ALL REPLIES & COMMENTS on THIS THREAD ONLY

Even though I need to re-post (start threads) Re the online meet/social/support group/whatever announcement a few more times, PLEASE, henceforth, let’s post all replies, ideas, comments, and suggestions on this thread ONLY, so we/I don’t have to keep repeating the same content in several different places/threads.

2)SIZE OF GROUP;

Many with Zoom experience have pointed out that smaller groups work better because they provide more participants more thorough discussions. It’s not clear how to limit the size of this 1st meeting or even how we get to smaller groups. As 40 + people have expressed interest, limiting the group size to 10 by a ‘first-come first-serve’ format excludes too many people and doesn’t feel right to me.

One way would be to define groups by geographic location or gender or time of day or issue/subject matter.

We have the flexibility to start off with small groups if people step forward and volunteer to moderate a specific group based on whatever specific criteria they choose.

If you have suggestions on how we get to small group sizes, please chime in on this thread or you can weigh in during the 1st meeting.

3)TIME;

I chose 6 PM Greenwich Mean Time because that would be 10 AM in California and 8 PM would cover most of Western Europe which leaves out Australia and New Zealand. Any other time requires some people to participate before 10 AM or after 8 PM (and Californians don't get up before 10 AM, do they?)

Any bette ideas?

marc

[Pa-zzi69]

What's required on the part of the moderator [to moderate a group] ?

[MBAnderson in reply to Pa-zzi69]

I wish I knew. Give as many people the chance to talk as possible. Elicit feedback on the important format questions such as size of the group, time of day, etc. Prevent misbehavior, rants, politics, and conspiracy theories.

[park_bear in reply to MBAnderson]

A couple of things:

If the group is so large people wanting to speak end up colliding, the moderator can select next one to speak from amongst raised hands.

Also, Zoom allows division of the room into smaller breakout groups.

[MBAnderson in reply to park_bear]

I am furiously studying zoom features. I don't know if I'll be competent in time.

[park_bear in reply to MBAnderson]

I'm confident that you will be!

The Zoom website has very many options, but the Zoom application in actual operation only has a few.

[Cleo16 in reply to MBAnderson]

Please don't worry Marc all will be fine. If it's not it's a great way of having a laugh together while working it all out together! I really appreciate you getting this going and am sorry I'm away that weekend because I'd like to join you all and also support you.

[reedboat2]

As Park Bear said, BREAK OUT ROOMS can be a useful tool for managing large groups. I’ll research that functionality and report back - JG

[rebtar]

Thanks, Marc, for being a model of thoughtfulness in putting this together. I look forward to seeing faces and hearing voices!

[Cleo16]

Thanks so much Marc. I would love to take part but am away that weekend. I'm sending positive vibes for a great get together 😊

[Rosenmu]

Thank you for going forward with this, I hope to be able to participate at some point, haven't tried Zoom yet but I'm sure I'll manage. Back in the days of AOL chat rooms I was in a couple that had 40 or more, it did get hectic but it was some awesome fun, I loved it. I think that out of 40 people if it is like in person functions, you can expect 1/3 to not be able to make it. I'm a night owl, so I'm also interested in later chats with folks from UK, etc.

[AnArtist]

It’s getting a good initial structure going. Later on it would be easier to get smaller theme led sessions going.

I’ll ask my more zoom literate friends- mine are rather informal

Free zoom sessions are limited to 40 minutes then you have to reconnect

[Enidah]

We get up before 10:00 a.m. if there's a fire coming.

[WinnieThePoo]

I quite like the idea of a casual social event like my lockdown virtual pubs. I'm not keen on a sort of webinar/conference. If it's a social pub drink, invite the ones you most want to chat with. Limit invitation/acceptances to a dozen or so. In my experience, and this was my real friends, about half won't show for one reason or another, but much more than half a dozen gets noisy

Invite a different group of friends the next time if you want to.

Other people are free to do the same. Accept the invitations you want to.

Keep it casual. Don't make it a conference

[MBAnderson]

Apparently, invitations have to be done via email (I have to email you the link,) so if you want to join the group, send me your email address by private message.

Also, please keep all comments and suggestions on this thread.

It makes it a whole lot easier for me. Thank you.