Tech Forum

A couple of months ago, the STS of my stake sent out a document with screenshots and instructions for options he found useful to secure a non-interactive Zoom meeting (such as a sacrament meeting). With his permission, his ideas are attached. (For all I'm aware, the password in one of the screenshots is not valid for any existing meeting.)

Why are you trying to use an interactive solution ? Zoom offers a $40/month add on to the Pro license that is called Webinar. Webinar has much more stringent controls that allow it to not be interactive at all and is essentially a one-way broadcast out to the members attending at home.

garyoranzabriskie wrote:Why are you trying to use an interactive solution ?

Fair question. It appears that interactive meetings for youth and others are coming soon. It might make sense to keep the members on "one solution".

I think there's some benefit for members to see other members even if they're not participating. I think it helps with a sense of "belonging". But it does take someone to monitor the webcast.

garyoranzabriskie wrote:Why are you trying to use an interactive solution ? Zoom offers a $40/month add on to the Pro license that is called Webinar. Webinar has much more stringent controls that allow it to not be interactive at all and is essentially a one-way broadcast out to the members attending at home.

garyoranzabriskie, if your question is relative to my Sept. 20 post, it's not me but my stake's STS who authored the document. One reason is the $40/month cost. From what I saw in the document, it appeared he has covered most, perhaps all, of the relevant issues. Are there any specific advantages the additional $40/month would buy?

rmrichesjr wrote:

garyoranzabriskie wrote:Why are you trying to use an interactive solution ? Zoom offers a $40/month add on to the Pro license that is called Webinar. Webinar has much more stringent controls that allow it to not be interactive at all and is essentially a one-way broadcast out to the members attending at home.

garyoranzabriskie, if your question is relative to my Sept. 20 post, it's not me but my stake's STS who authored the document. One reason is the $40/month cost. From what I saw in the document, it appeared he has covered most, perhaps all, of the relevant issues. Are there any specific advantages the additional $40/month would buy?

My branch used the Webinar add-on today for the first time. Benefits are: no chance of participants unmuting themselves or kids being distracting on camera. Biggest benefit, for us, is the option for a Translation stream. Meetings are conducted in Mandarin, and some of us are spouses or kids that do not yet speak Mandarin fluently. Not an issue for most units, but incredibly useful for one like ours!

Max1126 wrote:My branch used the Webinar add-on today for the first time. Benefits are: no chance of participants unmuting themselves or kids being distracting on camera. Biggest benefit, for us, is the option for a Translation stream. Meetings are conducted in Mandarin, and some of us are spouses or kids that do not yet speak Mandarin fluently. Not an issue for most units, but incredibly useful for one like ours!

We also use Zoom Webinar. it has proven to be an excellent and reliable solution with no possibility of disruption from members un-muting, distracting video, etc. We used it prior to in-person meetings, when everyone was participating from homes. Those who are participating in the meeting get a unique link to let them share their video and audio. Others get a generic link and can only watch and listen. Those who don't have technology at home can call in to the phone number and listen to the meeting via telephone. The interpretation feature was another plus for us, since we have a Spanish ward and can have a simultaneous English channel. We also used it for testimony meetings with everyone at home. We enabled the "Raise Hand" button so those who wanted to share their testimony could indicate. The meeting host could then let them unmute their microphone one-at-a time to speak.
We have 6 wards, but only need 2 licenses and run 2 wards simultaneously. We have meeting hosts (stake techs) who manage the meetings from their home, similar to a broadcast control room. Bishoprics get a report after each meeting to see who attended via Zoom. We are continuing to use it for our limited in-person meetings, with the only participant being the webcam we mounted at the pulpit. We'll also use it for a virtual stake conference.

swigginton wrote:Those who are participating in the meeting get a unique link to let them share their video and audio. Others get a generic link and can only watch and listen.

Is this all within the Zoom Webinar itself, i.e., two different links to the same webinar depending on whether or not they are participating?

lajackson wrote:Is this all within the Zoom Webinar itself, i.e., two different links to the same webinar depending on whether or not they are participating?

Yes. you can actually have multiple links to the same webinar. In the webinar configuration, you add "panelists". These are the folks who will appear on screen. Each panelist gets a unique link to the webinar. By joining using this link, they enter a separate meeting area and can turn on their camera and unmute. They can also use the chat function to communicate between each other. Panelists are also able to join a "practice session" which is a meeting before the actual webinar takes place. You can have practice sessions any time. We use it to have panelists join 20 minutes early so we can be sure their camera and microphone are working properly, lighting is good, etc. That's how we're doing it now, with everyone participating from home. When we are able to again meeting in the chapel, the only panelist will be bishopric member's laptop connected to the chapel webcam.
Everyone else gets an "attendee" link that lets them watch the meeting of panelists and are unable to turn on their camera or unmute (unless the host allows them to - such as during testimony meeting).
So, for our sacrament meetings, we have the bishopric and stake presidency entered as panelists, so they can be on camera whenever they choose. Those who are speaking, offering prayers, etc., are added/removed from the webinar each week and receive an email a few days prior with their instructions and personal link to the meeting.

Zoom Webinar is the way to go. That is what we have been using and it works great

Just an update. The church has made two Zoom accounts available per unit (branch, ward, other), and it does offer the webinar option enabled.

Currently my branch is holding in-person meetings, with webinar for those not willing/able to attend in person. I sit in the back and set up the meeting, and am the host. My branch president sets up his tablet on the stand, and I add him as a panelist. I am now able to mute him during sacrament, and share a screenshot (actually a picture of the last supper with text on it indicating we will be back following the administration of the sacrament), and switch back to the pulpit without distracting motions or actions from the dais. If in-person restrictions are re-enacted I can control everything from home, and promote people to panelist as needed, just let me know who is going to speak, and I'll promote them just before the current person is done or is finishing up. Being a small enough branch I recognize who it is by how they sign into the Zoom webinar (they do give their phone or computer good names).