[Nfbmt] Conference Call Meeting Protocol Gentle Reminder

[Dan Burke]

Excellent reminders, Madame President.

On 5/17/15, Sheila Leigland via Nfbmt <nfbmt at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 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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>
>
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-- 
Dan Burke
My Cell:  406.546.8546
Twitter:  @DallDonal