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This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- public:vag [2020/05/09 10:44] – uppermill
+++ public:vag [2020/05/09 11:58] – [Meeting Topics] uppermill
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-| [[:public:areagroups|Return to Area Groups News]] | [[:public:start|Index to other public pages]] | [[https://www.merg.org.uk/index.php|MERG Home page]] |
-|**<color red>There are <COUNTDOWN:09:00 2020-05-12|the next Virtual Area Group Meeting (10:00 BST on 12th May 2020)></color>** |
-===== MERG Virtual Area Group =====
 ~~NOCACHE~~
+====== MERG Virtual Area Group ======
-==== Email ====
+The Virtual Area Group uses a Zoom video call to meet every Tuesday for an hour or more.
-To send us an email, [[https://www.merg.org.uk/areagroup.php?area=28|use the MERG Area Group contact form]]\\
+===== Meeting Schudule =====
-For <color darkblue>**MERG**</color> members, you might also like to look at our [[https://www.merg.org.uk/forum/viewforum.php?f=245|area group forum.]]
-==== Area Group Coordinator ====
+<ORG34>ALL|80|28</ORG34>
-Allan Geekie M5173 - email address: [[vag@merg.org.uk]]
+The times vary to try and make the calls work for different time zones. We regularly welcome members from: -
-==== How It Works ====
-This group now uses Zoom to conduct a group meeting from member's homes or workplaces. It was formed in October 2018 to assess the usefulness of video conferencing technology.
-The calls last one hour and to participate, members need a mobile phone, tablet or a PC / Mac with a camera and microphone. Recently we have started to enable members to join by telephone if they have limited broadband facilities.
-In order to join the group you need to register at [[https://merg.org.uk/membership/|this link]]. In the Area Groups section, select MERG Virtual Area Group from the drop down list and press the green button with the plus sign.
-Calls are scheduled in advance and are held on each Tuesday of each month at 10:00, 12:30 or 18:30 GMT or BST. Topics are agreed in advance.
-When it is time to start a call, a voice and video conference is opened up which has thumbnails of each video participant and any shared presentations or desktops. The call leader facilitates the call and the discussions and tries to get through the agenda in the agreed time. Zoom has two views available. The first is the speaker view which selects the video stream from the person speaking. The second is Gallery view which shows streams from all participants.
-[[help:making_video_calls|This page]] provides guidance for members on what needs be done to prepare for and join video calls.
-Members are participating from:-
   * Australia\\
@@ Line 38: / Line 17: @@
   * USA.\\
-Members can access the presentation material [[helpsystem:presentations#merg_virtual_area_group_s|here]].
+Calls are recorded and made available to all members through MERG TV; presentation materials are also available.
+===== Area Group Coordinator =====
-Calls are recorded and stored on MERG TV; the current list of recordings are available, to members,  [[areagroups:vag:vag_on_merg_tv|here]].
+Allan Geekie - you can contact Allan using the [[https://www.merg.org.uk/areagroup.php?area=28|MERG Area Group contact form]]\\
-If you would like to try out Zoom, then there is a test meeting service where you are the only participant and you can experiment with the various options available.
- [[http://zoom.us/test]]
-This link is available to anybody, not just members of the virtual area group.
-==== Next Meeting ====
-|**<color red>There are <COUNTDOWN:09:00 2020-05-12|the next Virtual Area Group Meeting (10:00 BST on 12th May 2020)></color>** |
-==== Meeting Schudule ====
-<ORG34>ALL|80|28</ORG34>
-==== Past Meeetings ====
-<ORG34>ALL|-5|28</ORG34>
+===== Meeting Topics =====
 In April 2020 we carried out a poll of VAG members and the following topics were identified as the most popular: -
@@ Line 79: / Line 46: @@
   * CBUS Beginners Kit.
+Members can suggest topics at any time using the member email system.
-Members can view the eralier VAG schedules at the [[areagroups:vag:old_vag_page|Old VAG Page]]
+----
-A [[public:vag2|new page]] is under construction.
+Members can access more information [[areagroups:vag:vag_page_internal|here]].