Dan Foster Posted April 6, 2020 Share Posted April 6, 2020 (edited) Please join me from the comfort of your own comfy chair or survival bunker for an hour of virtual socializing and storytelling with your fellow NSPN paddlers-in-exile. Two options to video chat this week: Wednesday, April 8, 8-9PM: "Tales around the virtual NSPN campfire" - pour yourself a dram of something smokey, and join us for a discussion of all things kayak camping. What's your go-to camping meal? What's the worst night you've spent under the stars? Which island has the worst mosquitoes? The worst landing? Share your favorite NSPN camping photo. (See instructions below) Saturday, April 11, 9:00-10:30AM: "A virtual NSPN Easter Bunny Plunge": don those bunny ears, strap a marshmallow peep under your deck lines, and join us for a virtual take on our traditional Easter-weekend paddle. Sometime this week, take a photo that makes you happy, or that proves that spring truly is here, and share it with the group on Saturday. (See instructions below) For either session: At the anointed hour, click the following link to join: [removed after the event] You'll need a laptop computer, phone, or tablet with a front-facing video camera and a microphone, and you'll be prompted to run some free video conferencing software from Zoom when you join the meeting. If you haven't used Zoom or other video chat/conferencing software before, you might want to click the link below a few minutes ahead of time, to give yourself time to test your video and audio settings. Sharing photos: Zoom has several ways to share photos. If you'd like to do a slideshow or give a presentation to the group, the easiest way to do that is to share your screen from a laptop or desktop computer. In reality, this usually ends up causing a two-minute interruption while people try to figure out why it's not working. For simple sharing of a single photo, try the following: Option 1: Make it a virtual background: click the options arrow next to the Video icon in Zoom, and click Choose Virtual Background. Select the photo you want to share with the group, which will then appear behind your disembodied head using a "green screen" effect. You can duck your head completely out of frame if needed, or point to stuff behind you like you're a TV weather caster. Option 2: Make it your Zoom profile photo, and it will show up when you click Stop Video. To do this, click the options arrow next to the Video icon in Zoom, click Video Settings, and then click the Profile tab. Click the picture icon above your name to change your profile picture. If you turn off your video camera during the call, we'll see your profile picture instead. Virtual meeting etiquette for large groups: Mute your microphone if you're doing something else in the background or need to move around. Laptop users can stay muted and then hold Spacebar to unmute whenever they want to jump in with a comment. Speaking of jumping in, it takes us a second or two to realize who has started speaking, so it can get confusing if people throw in a quick one word reply or question. Keep talking, or use hand signals (thumbs up, wave, etc) instead of "yes", "hi", "bye". For the best video quality, try to pick a spot in your house with plenty of light and make sure the brightest light is in front of you, and not behind you! (sit facing a window or lamp, with a wall with no windows behind you). Virtual backgrounds (when not sharing a photo with the group) and snap filters (puppy dog ears, and the like) can be extremely distracting. Sit close enough to the camera that we can see your face. It's more fun when we we can see you and your facial expressions! These are meant to be light and airy social occasions and to offer an escape from the news cycle, politics, and negativity. If you get booted or muted, that's why. If there's something you'd like to share with or ask of the group, feel free to mention it in a reply below so people can prepare in advance, or simply bring it up in the video chat. Edited April 17, 2020 by Dan Foster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prudenceb Posted April 6, 2020 Share Posted April 6, 2020 Can't make Wednesday evening but I'm definitely looking forward to the virtual Easter Bunny plunge! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joyce Carpenter Posted April 11, 2020 Share Posted April 11, 2020 Gourmet Makes Peeps: https://youtu.be/QTc0gPyfpCg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts