[Nfb-web] Webinars and Shortened Conventions

Wed Oct 29 19:28:41 UTC 2008

Very good Peter. Discussions like this are really informative. I hope that
we're making some sort of impact.

Arnold

On Wed, Oct 29, 2008 at 2:42 PM, Peter Donahue <pdonahue1 at sbcglobal.net>wrote:

> Hello Arnold and listers,
>
>    It has yet to be proven that streaming state and national events hurts
> attendance. It's this myth that has caused some affiliates to shy away from
> streaming their state convention and other important events. This year was
> the first time our national convention was streamed in its entirety. Audio
> and video archives are available on the NFB Web site at:
> http://www.nfb.org/nfb/National_Convention_Highlights.asp?SnID=765106432
>
>
>    Audio from the convention was included in the August/September Braille
> Monitor. One of the items this year was a panel which discussed the 25-year
> history of the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children, (NOPBC.)
> The audio of that presentation can be heard by following the link above,
> but
> sadly was not included in the October Braille Monitor. A large part of that
> issue was devoted to this convention item. All presentations were narrated.
> For those whose only access to The Braille Monitor is via cassette all I
> can
> say is, "What a shame!"  This item was significant enough that it warranted
> rolling tape in that monitor issue rather than narrating the presentations;
> particularly when a recording of the presentation is on the NFB Web
> Site.There wasn't even any mention in the Braille Monitor that the actual
> presentation was available from our Web Site either. It's this kind of
> stuff
> that prompted some of us to form the Living History Group.
>
>    You're right. If we're going to go through the time and expense to
> record our national and state events they should be made available to the
> membership in some way via the Web, podcasts, Webinars, or for purchass.
>
> Peter Donahue
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Arnold Bailey" <arnoldbail at gmail.com>
> To: "NFB Webmaster's List" <nfb-web at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, October 29, 2008 5:48 AM
> Subject: Re: [Nfb-web] Webinars and Shortened Conventions
>
>
> BTW, what percentage of the membership actually can attend the conventions?
> Also, why is the NFB recording sessions if not to get the information out
> to
> the membership? Conventions are important and valuable (no doubt here);
> but,
> is there a worry that using tools like webinars will hurt attendance at the
> conventions? I believe that using these tools will help to increase the
> membership.
>
> Arnold
>
> Arnold
>
> On Tue, Oct 28, 2008 at 9:11 PM, Michael Hansen <mhansen4 at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > Very wise statement Pete
> > ---
> > Mike Hansen
> >
> >
> >
> > On Tue, Oct 28, 2008 at 2:25 PM, Arnold Bailey <arnoldbail at gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> > > Peter,
> > >
> > > I agree totally.
> > >
> > > Arnold
> > >
> > > On Tue, Oct 28, 2008 at 12:52 PM, Peter Donahue <
> pdonahue1 at sbcglobal.net
> > >wrote:
> > >
> > >> Hello Arnold and listers,
> > >>
> > >>    If further attempts are made to shorten the national convention
> > >> other
> > >> ways and means for activities once conducted during the national
> > convention
> > >> will need to be explored and utilized.Affiliate and Division Webinars
> > are
> > >> one way to conduct business and activities that once took place during
> > the
> > >> national convention.  I'm all for streamlining the way national and
> > state
> > >> conventions are run, but not at the expense of further isolating our
> > >> members
> > >> from each other. Webinars should be a way we can supplement
> > communications
> > >> between affiliates, but not at the expense of eliminating the total
> > >> immersion experience one has when they attend a state or national
> > >> convention. I believe our leadership should give careful consideration
> > to
> > >> further shortening of the national convention in favor of using the
> > >> Internet
> > >> to conduct federation business. We need to use Webinars wisely to
> avoid
> > >> entering the, :"Danger zone."
> > >>
> > >> Peter Donahue
> > >>
> > >> ----- Original Message -----
> > >> From: "Arnold Bailey" <arnoldbail at gmail.com>
> > >> To: "NFB Webmaster's List" <nfb-web at nfbnet.org>
> > >> Sent: Tuesday, October 28, 2008 9:12 AM
> > >> Subject: Re: [Nfb-web] Webinar Investigation
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> Hi Mike,
> > >>
> > >> The strongpoint of webinar software is the tools that are provided to
> > the
> > >> presenter/instructor and the audience. Seminars and course instruction
> > are
> > >> the main applications.
> > >>
> > >> Skype is excellent(and free) for telephony. It provides the vehicle;
> > but,
> > >> not the tools. Our chapter does use telephone conferencing fairly
> > >> often.
> > >>
> > >> There is an underlying issue though that Peter noted. The lack of PC
> > >> access/knowledge by the general membership. That is what I was
> > addressing
> > >> with our chapter technology mailing list. The chapter president
> predict
> > 1-2
> > >> persons would join. We are now up to 10 (in a couple weeks). I believe
> > each
> > >> chapter should actively promote and encourage each member to learn and
> > get
> > >> access to a PC and Internet. As part of that strategy we should, at
> the
> > >> affiliate and national level, provide programs that will demonstrate
> > >> the
> > >> importance the Internet is to employability and quality of life for
> > >> it's
> > >> membership.
> > >>
> > >> As an example, I did a google search and found this entry:
> > >>
> > >> "AFB is pleased to offer several new training options for NIMAS
> > >> capacity
> > >> building. One will be a new webinar, "Implement NIMAS in the
> > Individualized
> > >> Education Program (IEP) and Build New State Strategies," on October
> 21,
> > >> 2008. We will be joined by Vicki Hershman, PATINS State Project
> > >> Director
> > >> (Indiana), and Joy Zabala, Project Manager, AIM Consortium at CAST. To
> > >> download the link to the webinar, visit www.afb.org/nimas.asp. Here
> you
> > >> can
> > >> also view the June 2008 webinar, "Leverage your NIMAS Resources.""
> > >>
> > >> Arnold
> > >>
> > >> On Mon, Oct 27, 2008 at 12:34 PM, Peter Donahue
> > >> <pdonahue1 at sbcglobal.net>wrote:
> > >>
> > >> > Hello Michael and listers,
> > >> >
> > >> >    Anything that allows one to conference via the Web and/or
> > >> > telephone
> > >> > would be an excellent choice. I was talking to the president of our
> > South
> > >> > Dakota Affiliate about implementing a conference feature on their
> Web
> > >> > Site.
> > >> > He liked the idea, but not too many folks there use computers. I
> need
> > to
> > >> > update my Skype and will check out the Skype Conferencing tool.
> > >> >
> > >> > Peter Donahue
> > >> >
> > >> > ----- Original Message -----
> > >> > From: "Michael Hansen" <mhansen4 at gmail.com>
> > >> > To: "NFB Webmaster's List" <nfb-web at nfbnet.org>
> > >> > Sent: Monday, October 27, 2008 12:23 AM
> > >> > Subject: Re: [Nfb-web] Webinar Investigation
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> > Arnold and others,
> > >> >
> > >> > How about some of the free online audo conferencing services that
> are
> > >> > available out there like Skype. Reading through skype's webpage it
> > >> > looks like it would let you use it software to participate totally
> > >> > free in a 25 person conference call and other not able to use skype
> > >> > could call in witha a cell phone or land line for the cost of the
> > >> > long
> > >> > distance call.
> > >> >
> > >> > Mike
> > >> >
> > >> > On 10/23/08, Arnold Bailey <arnoldbail at gmail.com> wrote:
> > >> > > Hi all,
> > >> > >
> > >> > > There is a little chicken-egg situation here. I agree you need to
> > have
> > >> a
> > >> > > need; but, if you don't know this tool is available and it's
> > >> > capabilities,
> > >> > > you'll never consider it. The latter is where I'm at now.
> > >> > >
> > >> > > Some points:
> > >> > >
> > >> > >   1. The streaming audio and the recordings of NFB and affiliate
> > events
> > >> > is
> > >> > >   very effective and valuable.
> > >> > >   2. We need to work first on getting each chapter member
> connected
> > and
> > >> > >   using the internet. In our chapter we have a technology mailing
> > list
> > >> > > whose
> > >> > >   sole purpose is to get the the members connected, aware and
> > >> > > comfortable
> > >> > > with
> > >> > >   technology. We have half our chapter on the list.
> > >> > >   3. I can envision NFB divisions particularly being a prime
> > candidate
> > >> > for
> > >> > >   instructional events. This is due to their geographically
> > widespread
> > >> > >   audience and the specificity of their subject.
> > >> > >   4. I see affiliates who have a particular expertise and
> > >> > > experience
> > in
> > >> > an
> > >> > >   area holding a webinar.
> > >> > >   5. I believe that the webinar software and service should be
> > provided
> > >> > by
> > >> > >   the NFB.
> > >> > >   6. I have 3 powerpoint presentations that I believe would be
> > >> > > excellent
> > >> > >   webinar topics. In  fact, they are what got me interested in the
> > >> > >   investigation.
> > >> > >
> > >> > > I hope others will input their thoughts on this topic.
> > >> > >
> > >> > > Arnold
> > >> > >
> > >> > > On Tue, Oct 21, 2008 at 3:50 PM, Peter Donahue
> > >> > > <pdonahue1 at sbcglobal.net>wrote:
> > >> > >
> > >> > > > Hello Michael H. and listers,
> > >> > > >
> > >> > > >    I know what he's talking about. It's software, modules, or
> > >> > components
> > >> > > > which allow one to stream audio, video, and present diagrams to
> > >> > > > an
> > >> > > > online
> > >> > > > audience.Webinar components also allow presenters and the
> > >> > > > audience
> > to
> > >> > > > interact with each other via voice, email, or by sharing files
> > >> > > > and
> > >> > > > presentations of their own.
> > >> > > >
> > >> > > >    Webinar software has eliminated many videoconferences that
> > >> > > > were
> > >> > > > once
> > >> > > > held at videoconferencing centers as they make it possible to
> > >> > > > hold
> > >> > > > videoconferences from anywhere any time. The PIBE,
> (Professionals
> > In
> > >> > > > Blindness Education Division is also interested in this software
> > as
> > >> > > > one
> > >> > > > of
> > >> > > > their plans is to offer Webinars of interest to educators and
> > other
> > >> > > > professionals in the field of educating blind children via a
> > >> > > > videoconferencing component on their Web Site. For this reason
> > >> > > > I'm
> > >> > > > copying
> > >> > > > her on this message.
> > >> > > >
> > >> > > >    I agree with you that the entity first needs to define the
> > >> > > > need
> > >> for
> > >> > > > this
> > >> > > > solution particularly if implementing it entails a large
> expense.
> > >> That
> > >> > > > said
> > >> > > > it can be of benefit to our affiliates depending on how it's
> > >> > > > used.
> > >> > > > I'll
> > >> > > > want
> > >> > > > to follow this discussion as well as I'm always looking for new
> > >> > features
> > >> > > > for
> > >> > > > the web sites I create for our affiliates and others. Talk to
> you
> > >> > later.
> > >> > > >
> > >> > > > Peter Donahue
> > >> > > >
> > >> > > >
> > >> > > >
> > >> > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > >> > > > From: "Michael Hansen" <mhansen4 at gmail.com>
> > >> > > > To: "NFB Webmaster's List" <nfb-web at nfbnet.org>
> > >> > > > Sent: Monday, October 20, 2008 9:28 AM
> > >> > > > Subject: Re: [Nfb-web] Webinar Investigation
> > >> > > >
> > >> > > >
> > >> > > > What are you looking to do, and out of curiostiy how are you
> > >> > > > going
> > to
> > >> > > > use this for your chapter or affiliate?
> > >> > > >
> > >> > > > Mike
> > >> > > > ---
> > >> > > > Mike Hansen
> > >> > > >
> > >> > > >
> > >> > > >
> > >> > > > On Fri, Oct 17, 2008 at 8:36 AM, Arnold Bailey <
> > arnoldbail at gmail.com
> > >> >
> > >> > > > wrote:
> > >> > > > > Hi list,
> > >> > > > >
> > >> > > > > Has anyone installed or investigated installing webinar
> > >> > > > > software
> > on
> > >> > > > > their
> > >> > > > > server?
> > >> > > > >
> > >> > > > > Arnold
> > >> > > > > _______________________________________________
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> > >> > > > >
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> > >> > > > >
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> > >> > > >
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> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> > --
> > >> > ---
> > >> > Mike Hansen
> > >> >
> > >> > _______________________________________________
> > >> > Nfb-web mailing list
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> > >> >
> > >> >
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