*Online meetings* - sometimes there is stuff that really benefits from having a good old chat about it. Sometimes, it is just good to see each others’ faces and hear the corresponding voices. For that sort of stuff we organise video conference calls via the internet. We currently use zoom.us specifically for that purpose. However, if you just want to chat to someone else on the team you could use, for example, Slack or Google hangouts.
Our take on online meetings: Besides messaging, online meetings are the foundation of what we do. As with messaging, it enables conversation - the threads out of which every collaboration is strung. For us online meetings start way before the actual online meetup. There is a lead-up including the identification of a need for the online meeting, the scheduling, asking for agenda items, etc. Online meetings are facilitated, have a structure, note-keepers, timekeepers, etc. As we are practicing sociocracy we use the structure given in our log-books to guide us.
The general guide to how to get going using Zoom can be found here. There are many different ways and devices you can use to join a Zoom call how to set any of them up to establish a connection is explained there (for desktop PCs, joining via Phone and/or mobile. The first time you join it is best to give yourself 15 minutes for the joining as you might want to/have to install an app or some browser extension, etc. Also, please test your audio functionality (and video if using) by following their instructions (also described in the relevant video above). Some key pieces of information are:
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