Comments on: History in the making at the September meeting! http://netmasters.toastmasterswa.net/history-in-the-making-at-the-september-meeting/ Your site tagline Mon, 05 Apr 2010 16:12:26 +0000 hourly 1 By: Alan http://netmasters.toastmasterswa.net/history-in-the-making-at-the-september-meeting/#comment-20 Alan Fri, 04 Sep 2009 05:31:25 +0000 http://netmasters.toastmasterswa.net/history-in-the-making-at-the-september-meeting/#comment-20 Congratulations to Mark, our cyber Toastmaster pioneer. On 3 September Mark gave his speech, “Mashantucket USA”, from his home. Mark used Skype video over internet from a laptop with webcam. Mark addressed the other Netmasters members who viewed and interacted with Mark in front of David’s iMac. Mark spoke of his long flight to Boston and the many security checks on the way. Meeting with other Toastmasters from around the world was a highlight. The Convention and decisions at Council meetings gave Mark and fellow District 73 leaders a first hand look at the future directions of Toastmasters, and particularly with “District WA”. The Skype video call worked very well, but with some minor technical hiccups. We found that Toastmasters may have to learn a new skill when using a built-in web cam: how to sit down while delivering a speech and how to use less expansive gestures! The lack of focussed eye contact was found to be disturbing by some. Netmasters will conduct further tests with Skype video calls. A general view was that meetings with members at a remote location will have a place, but speeches would be better with the presenter standing in front of a live audience. Congratulations to Mark, our cyber Toastmaster pioneer. On 3 September Mark gave his speech, “Mashantucket USA”, from his home. Mark used Skype video over internet from a laptop with webcam. Mark addressed the other Netmasters members who viewed and interacted with Mark in front of David’s iMac.

Mark spoke of his long flight to Boston and the many security checks on the way. Meeting with other Toastmasters from around the world was a highlight. The Convention and decisions at Council meetings gave Mark and fellow District 73 leaders a first hand look at the future directions of Toastmasters, and particularly with “District WA”.

The Skype video call worked very well, but with some minor technical hiccups. We found that Toastmasters may have to learn a new skill when using a built-in web cam: how to sit down while delivering a speech and how to use less expansive gestures! The lack of focussed eye contact was found to be disturbing by some.

Netmasters will conduct further tests with Skype video calls. A general view was that meetings with members at a remote location will have a place, but speeches would be better with the presenter standing in front of a live audience.

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