We ask our speakers to help create a smooth event by supplying the following information in advance:
1. Presentation title
- What’s the compelling focus? Short and sweet so we can put in our calendar and meeting announcements.
2. Presenter name(s) and organization
3. Presenter bio(s) (1 paragraph) and headshot(s)
- Feel free to include applicable credentials and share how you came to become expert on this topic.
4. Presentation description (1-2 paragraphs)
- What is the key message?
- What will attendees learn?
5. Is there anything you’d like us to send out to members BEFORE the meeting?
- Pre-reading which can prepare for a great presentation, but some won’t review it in advance.
6. Are you bringing handouts, worksheets, pamphlets and/or business cards?
- We have a resource table you can put things on.
- If you have worksheets that people will be using during your presentation, we can put them out on the tables.
7. Is there anything you’d like us to send out to members AFTER the meeting?
- We can put additional information on our website and encourage people to go there if they want to follow up from your presentation.
- Normally we do this as PDFs so they’re a bit more secure and readable on any device.
- This can include slides, handouts, pointers to websites, peoples’ contact details.
- Mail information to carl.dierschow@gmail.com.
8. Do you need audio/visual equipment? (laptop, screen, microphone, other)
- See more below on what our typical setup is, so we can provide attendees with a seamless experience.
9. If using technology, would you prefer to use your own laptop or would you prefer to bring a thumb drive and use our laptop?
- See more below on what our typical setup is, so we can provide attendees with a seamless experience.
10. Is it OK if we post PDF slides from your presentation on the website? If yes, please provide file to Robynne before or after your presentation, or to Carl at the time of the presentation.
- If you give us PowerPoint we’ll save that as a PDF.
11. Could you recommend a small, under $10 “Door Prize” item that the PSGLC Leadership Team may purchase in advance that would be related to your presentation?
- We enjoy giving a Door Prize out at each meeting, and if it is possible for the Door Prize to connect to the presentation of the month, even better!
- If you have something relevant to give away, let us know.
PSGLC IT setup as of January 2024
We are currently doing our monthly meetings as hybrid, which means we have people attending both in the room at the Senior Center and on Zoom. This gives us the opportunity to bring in remote speakers, as well as being inclusive of our members who are unable to travel that day.
If you’re presenting at the Senior Center
We have a fairly extensive setup:
- Windows 11 PC which is connected to everything else
- Speakers in the ceiling so everybody in the room can hear (some attendees are hard of hearing)
- Two handheld wireless microphones (typically the presenter has one, and we run the other one around the room to people who have questions)
- A projector and screen so people in the room can see slides, videos, and online participants
- A camera so the people on Zoom can see you
- A handheld “clicker” so you can advance your slides.
We have a moveable podium if you’d like to use that for your notes and to hold the microphone.
All of this is closely managed during the meeting to adjust sound levels, deal with PowerPoint issues, and so on. We can handle slides in PowerPoint or PDF, and can access websites or play videos if you need. We prefer that you send us slides a couple of days in advance so we can ensure everything will run smoothly. Mail slides to carl.dierschow@gmail.com. If you strongly prefer to use your own computer, we can adjust to that, but make sure you show up 15 minutes in advance so we can iron out any glitches.
As a presenter, you need to be constantly aware that there’s no such thing as “I can speak loudly enough so that everyone can hear me.” No matter how loud you are, the people on Zoom can’t hear you. You need to use the microphone. We also have attendees who are hard of hearing.
During questions and answers, you’ll need to wait for us to run a microphone over to the person with the question. That’s the only way everyone can hear the question AND your great answer.
We do not record meetings.
We only train the camera on the front of the room – we don’t show the audience to protect confidentiality of the attendees. You’ll have a fair bit of space to walk around at the front of the room (like 8′ by 20′) but you won’t be on camera if you walk into the audience.
We typically have 40-50 attendees in person, and 5-10 on Zoom. They’re seated at tables fairly far apart so we have easy access for people with walkers and wheelchairs.
If you are presenting on Zoom
You will connect in via the same Zoom information that everyone else has.
You can show slides from your own computer if you like, and we assume you are experienced with how to share slides in Zoom. Whatever you share will appear on our screen in the room, and your voice will be heard clearly. When you’re not showing slides, your face will be full-screen in the room.
If you plan to share an audio or video clip, make sure you know how to select “share audio” and “optimize for video” in the Zoom sharing panel.
It’s best to connect to Zoom at 10:15 Mountain Time so we can run through all these settings and make sure everything is working properly.
If you would like us to show slides from OUR computer in the room, we’re glad to do that too. Connect with carl.dierschow@gmail.com in advance.
You won’t be able to see the people who are asking questions, as we don’t show attendees on video to protect confidentiality. But you’ll be able to hear them as soon as someone runs the microphone to them.
We do not record meetings.
Typical timeline for the meeting
| 10:30 | Welcome and announcements |
| 10:45 | Introduce speaker, begin presentation, Q&A |
| 11:30 | Music and movement break; Zoom audience leaves us |
| 11:45 | Break into groups: People With Parkinson’s, and Care Partners |
| 12:30 | End of meeting |
Thank you!
We appreciate you sharing your knowledge and resources with the Parkinson’s community in Fort Collins.