Speakers Task Force End of Year Report Year Ending: December 31, 1996 Submitted By: Louisa Lambregts dk388 Position: Speakers Task Force Coordinator ******* Start Date: September 1, 1996 ******** (Took over from Mimi Richards, br184) Role: **** To coordinate a) regular Help Desk Live public demonstrations sessions, which take place the first Tuesday and Thursday of every month, at the Ottawa Public Library and the Nepean Public Library, respectively. b)Public demonstration/presentation sessions in various places throughout the greater Ottawa area, upon request. Tasks: ***** -Recruit speakers and helpers for the regular Help Desk Live sessions -advertise the sessions -liaison with public libraries re: logistics (room bookings, advertising) -book necessary equipment; arrange for pick-up/delivery -create/provide necessary documentation (Survival Guides, presentation outlines) -update volunteers of task force monthly on events -arrange for training (i.e. how to set up the LCD panel and laptop) -maintain menues Summary of Requested and Delivered Events: ************************************ Date Place Event Delivered? **** **** ***** ******** January, 1996 OPL Introduction to Freenet y January, 1996 AIDS Committee of Ottawa -no further contact January, 1996 EGACE - no further contact February, 1996 OPL Beyond the Basics y February, 1996 Community Access Program Introduction to Freenet y February, 1996 Credit Union Introduction to Freenet y March, 1996 OPL Meet the candidates y March, 1996 University of Ottawa Introduction to Freenet y March, 1996 Manotick Public Library Introduction to Freenet y March, 1996 One Parent Families n Association April, 1996 OPL WWW y May, 1996 OPL Introduction to Freenet y May, 1996 Ottawa South Community Introduction to Freenet y Center June, 1996 OPL Introduction to Freenet y June, 1996 NPL Introduction to Freenet y July, 1996 NPL Tricks and Tips y August, 1996 NPL How to build your own y webpage September, 1996 OPL Beyond the Basics y September, 1996 NPL Freenet Basics y October, 1996 OPL Question and Answer y October, 1996 NPL Introduction to Freenet y October, 1996 Sir Robert Borden Getting Started on Freenet y High School October, 1996 Home Business Introduction to Freenet y November, 1996 OPL Introduction to Freenet y November, 1996 OPL Introduction to Freenet y November, 1996 Canadian Red Cross exhibit of Freenet y Association December, 1996 OPL Introduction to Freenet y December, 1996 NPL Beyond the Basics y Goals for 1997 ************ 1) Recruitment ********** Recruit more _active_ members to the task force. I had recurrent difficulty finding available speakers for the regular help desk live sessions. Also, involve new speakers more in the planning of speakers task force activities. 2) Organize Training ************** Organize training for new members, especially in assembling the LCD panel and laptop. Provide documentation of presentation outlines as well as more presentation slides (in case of equipment failure). 3) Documentation of Equipment Assembly ******************************** To have some clearly written documentation about how to assemble the LCD and laptop. 4) Work with Outreach Team ********************* Assist in organizing more public speaking engagements related to the Freenet. Try to seek out new advertising approaches. ** **(However, only wish to highly publicize events in which there is less chance for logistical problems, i.e. Nepean Library: have own equipment, which they set up for NCF presenters) Support Needed ************* 1) Equipment ********* Equipment has been a logistical headache!!! The number of informative, live demo presentations that we can provide is severely restricted by NCFs lack of an LCD panel. Under current loan agreements the NCF presently has with Carleton Universitys Media Centre, we must pick-up the lap top and return it the next day by 8:30 am. Many volunteers cannot make make these pick-up and returns. It has been the case where the LCD panel didnt work at the Ottawa Public Library, so we had to huddle the small group around the laptop. On another occasion, we had to do without an LCD panel at Ottawa Public Library Help Desk Session since the LCD panel was being repaired. I suggest that we try to look for an equipment solution which would make the volunteer speakers role easier and, therefore more enjoyable. Perhaps it is feasible to a) purchase an inexpensive LCD panel. Money invested in this piece of equipment would pay off as the number of public presentations about the Freenet increases. B) change the locations the Ottawa Public Librarys Help Desk Live to one which has an LCD panel to use. (Not ideal, since people have made a habit out of coming downtown to the OPL for this event). C) Encourage "in-kind sponsorship in terms of loan of an LCD panel. 2) Volunteer Recruitment and Training ***************************** Assistance in organizing training sessions, especially about how to use the equipment. Documentation needs to be created which clearly outlines the steps to hooking up the LCD panel and laptop and getting the software on the laptop running when at a speaking engagement. I was told by a speaker that some documentation exists, a folded piece of paper in the laptop. However, this individual still had difficulty assembling the equipment.