An Idea for a Possible New Support Mechanism

I agree with Carolyn. Knowing how much goes into preparing webinars and hosted chats, this sounds like a lot more work for you to heap onto your plate. Although you're asking for volunteer moderators and leaders, in my experience it usually falls to the originator of the idea to keep it alive. I've found every answer I've looked for in the FTH forum or by exploring the Admin Console on my own. You all do a great job of providing this resource for us to use, and I really don't see the need for an online meeting on top of that.

Steve,
I am definitely in favor of your monthly Zoom meeting idea. My experience with using the FTH platform has been that it is an entity that is constantly growing and improving. With that, the (experienced) users have a lot of institutional knowledge that is valuable and should be passed on to the membership. BKM's are part of the core that keeps FTH alive and thriving. I have used FTH for the better part of that past 8 years as our club's website administrator, and have used Zoom (pro version at work) and the "home" version as well. Perhaps I could help as one of your planners/collaborators? Thanks.

All kinds of wonderful ideas.. I'm in but not necessarily to be a main presenter.. I know my way around FTH and am even though I am no longer one of the ambassadors (due to just not being quick enough on the draw to answer questions before others get there), my district often calls on me to troubleshoot and help with FTH problems.

My input is that a open broadcasting system (obs) could be used in conjunction with youtube and zoom simultaneously, to facilitate both chat and screen sharing.. Two facilitators could be contributing visually at the same time and more in-depth examples could help attendees out with answering real-time questions and youtube allows a "re-play" so that those who couldn't attend in real-time could watch after the fact and still see the chat and the presenters.

Darlene M
Club 154 and District 9 FTH website admin
I also am a youtube creator.

Sound like a GREAT IDEA, especially for newer FTH Admins and VPEs.

I was part of another training program series last year regarding using Social Media to publicize clubs; it was led by a lady who "lectured" then opened for questions; her sessions lasted about 30-60 minutes and were then saved on a website which I never reviewed. (I don't recall which system she used - I don't think it was Zoom - and I believe it was FREE to use. It allowed me to watch her movement and screen images on my PC screen while I listened on my telephone through an toll-free number.)

The main point I want to make was: I don't recall Steve mentioning if each Zoom session can be catalogued into a library for later access by others such as future Admins or VPEs or anyone who missed the session . (Being able to catalog sessions would negate the need to repeat the same sessions annually (unless changed) - unless as a refresher. All attendees could have a chance to review the catalogued sessions, taken notes and come up with questions, before joining a new session.)

I am reading these... just letting the thread run a bit.

Keep in mind that the goal would be to have the vast majority of webinar content and webinars led by experienced users that have been vetted somehow with the intention of them getting TM project credit. Thus, it would be a "crowd-sourced" approach sanctioned by us (FTH Admins) with some sort of "quality control" and "technical accuracy" strategy baked in. Other than that, I think we would want to keep it simple. Beyond the initial setup, I think my role would be more in the background providing some technical guidance and maybe occasionally leading a session if my time permits.

I think it's great that you want to offer this, but I agree with those that think this may not meet the goal. A Zoom conference can become maddening when attended by users with varied levels of knowledge. I prefer watching Youtube videos to learn things. I taught myself how to drive a 32' RV by using Youtube! What I like about that format is that I can speed up or slow down the speed (2x to .25), or stop, go back and watch it again without "slowing down the class."

I propose that a better use of your expertise and time might be to review the 20+ FTH videos already on YouTube OR simple establish an OFFICIAL FTH YouTube channel, which is free and it you get enough followers, could even be monetized. I just took a peek at the FTH YT vids currently out there and some are from 2012! There are some great topics out there, but I'm not certain how current or accurate they are.

I'm pretty good with creating new agendas and creating templates for contests, holiday parties, and open houses to be reused the next year.

We could use the Zoom platform to use the screen-sharing/recording aspect to record sessions on specific topics. Perhaps use SurveyMonkey to determine the most needed topics and then upload to YouTube. Here's how:https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/202291078-Sharing-a-Local-Recording
It's important to make a local recording.

Perhaps various FTH experts could record tutorials using your Dummy FTH site and you could review for accuracy before it's posted to YT.

Just tossing these Ideas out for consideration