[Nfbmt] Conference Call Meeting Protocol Gentle Reminder

[Sheila Leigland]

thaks for the reminders.

On 5/16/2015 7:23 AM, Bruce&Joy Breslauer via Nfbmt wrote:
> Hi.
>
>   
>
> El Presidente here.  Let's try to keep these suggestions in mind on every
> conference call.
>
>   
>
> We all know the President or the moderator runs the meeting and controls the
> pace of the meeting, and tries to keep a balance between that control and
> letting ideas flow more smoothly and freely.  Sometimes that works better
> than at other times.  The risk is that conversation may become monopolized
> by one person, other people may not get a chance to comment, the
> conversation may drift off topic, or there may be cross talk, making it
> harder for others to hear what is being said.  Sometimes things like this
> take up valuable time during the meeting, and it goes longer than people
> have time or interest for.  So there should be a maximum time for the
> meeting to take place, and usually an hour max is plenty of time, especially
> if the meeting stays focused and on topic.  I know I have chaired meetings
> that have gone over an hour as well, so I'm not using my pointy finger about
> that, but in my never-to-be-humble opinion that is probably a good goal to
> strive for.
>
>   
>
> So, I have a suggestion.
>
> When someone else is talking, please listen and don't say anything.
>
> If you want to say something, say your name and wait for the President or
> the moderator to acknowledge that he or she has heard you by saying your
> name, and that is the signal that you now have the floor and can speak.
>
> If several people want the floor at the same time, the President or the
> moderator will choose who will speak first and then next, etc.  The
> President or moderator will try to be fair and give the floor to the first
> person who asks for it, but honestly on a conference call it may be given to
> the first person that the President or moderator hears, so sometimes the
> quality of your phone connection might influence how well you are heard.  If
> you want the floor and have not been acknowledged yet, please don't be
> afraid to speak up and get the President or moderator's attention.  If you
> have not been acknowledged and you want to speak, please say your name again
> after the previous person has finished speaking and wait for the President
> or moderator to acknowledge you by saying your name before you speak.
>
>   
>
> Another thing to keep in mind is that cordless phones and cell phones may
> not always come through well on a conference call, and speaker phones may be
> especially difficult to hear.  In a larger group, it may help to put your
> phone on mute so that other people don't have to hear you breathing or
> coughing or yelling at your kids or dogs while they're trying to listen to
> the meeting.  Then if you have something to say, you can unmute.
>
>   
>
> Just some thoughts for us all to consider, me included.
>
>   
>
> Joy Breslauer, President
>
> National Federation of the Blind of Montana
>
> www.nfbofmt.org
>
>   
>
> Live the life you want
>
>   
>
> The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
> characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
> expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
> between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want;
> blindness is not what holds you back
>
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