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LDS Web Conferencing and Audio Conferencing Discount--

Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2010 7:42 pm
by pete_arnett-p40
[font=&quot]We're trying to purchase Citrix Web Conferencing licenses (audio and web) that will help us better communicate across Stake and leadership line, improve communication and efficiency, and reduce the amount of time leaders and members have to spend in cars and meetings.

In order for our Stake (Pompano Beach) and other Stakes to take advantage of the discount pricing offered, we need a total of five (5) Stakes to agree to an annual Citrix agreement so that we can get a discounted price.

We feel this is a great communication and planning tool that can be used for various Stake meetings and for planning purposes from church, home or work. [/font]

[font=&quot]Pricing for Citrix GoToWebinar:[/font][font=&quot]
The pricing is below so you can see the amount of discount we're looking for should we successfully get five (5) Stakes to participate:
Retail: $1,188 annual pricing is valid through the end of the quarter 31Mar2010
Discounted: $ 936 annual pricing that allows for up to 100 interactive participants, billed quarterly to your Stake's account for GoToWebinar Access[/font]
[font=&quot]
Just agree to a one (1) year contract at $78 per month with a $78 set up fee, billed quarterly. There needs to be one designated meeting organizer for the stake which could be based on a shared email address.

If at least twenty (20) Stakes decided to participate then our annual price would be $540 or a monthly price of $45 billed quarterly to your Stake's account for GoToWebinar Access[/font]
[font=&quot]
Services:
[/font]
[font=&quot]Web conferencing is a service that allows many people from different locations to share documents and make presentations using a computer with a Web browser over an Internet connection. The Church currently uses this technology to have webinars (web conferencing) to reach multiple locations quickly and easily, allowing people to participate without having them leave their homes or chapels. [/font]
[font=&quot]It also allows participants to use voice (using a telephone) or over the Internet Protocol (VoIP) through the computer to talk or listen to a meeting[/font]
[font=&quot]
Some of the Functionality this allows:[/font]
[font=&quot]
o Create and host your unit’s meetings (High Council, RS, HP, EQ, Public Affairs, Day of Service, YM/YW, etc.) with no experience required
o Reach hundreds of people at once – right from your PC or Mac in a low-cost manner
o Save money with free VoIP and integrated phone conferencing--if your PC or MAC has a built-in microphone, speakers, and you have an internet connection, there's no need to dial a phone number--simply click on the link to go the internet site, and you can fully participate as if you were present in a live meeting!
o Reduce travel time and costs
o you can make announcements to all leadership at the same time no matter where they are[/font]
[font=&quot]
What Is a Web conference?
[/font]
[font=&quot]o A web conference is a conference, meeting, or presentation conducted on the Internet
o A webinar is a very large web conference, usually with many participants on the telephone or audio, but only one or two people sharing presentations. It includes options for having people sign up so you can plan on attendance in advance[/font]
[font=&quot]
Why Use a Web conference?[/font]
[font=&quot]
o Participation can be almost anywhere (home, work, etc.)
o Few or many participants
o Hold training and meetings without requiring travel.[/font]
[font=&quot]
Web conference functions and features:[/font]
[font=&quot]
o Training
o Meetings
o Presentations
o Present PowerPoint slides or spreadsheets and charts
o Screen / desktop / application sharing
o File transfer
o Track attendance [/font]
[font=&quot]
If you need additional information, please contact the Church at email address: wcsupport@ldschurch.org[/font]
[font=&quot]
For GoToWebinar (web conferencing details) see websites:
https://tech.lds.org/wiki/index.php/LDS ... ocal_Units
and http://www.gotomeeting.com/fec/?Action=rgoto&_sf=1

[/font]

Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2010 3:53 am
by marianomarini
Interesting. I hope Church HQ will think about and provide such a feature soon.
I don't know exactly how many stake and local unit has an Internet connection, but I suppose it's quite esy to calculate if it's better pay a third party or have it by his own.
In the Church could do it, it will be, probably, m ore secure and confidential.

Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2010 8:04 am
by JamesAnderson
I've been working with some FHD people on the Wiki user group meeting which is done via conferfence call facilitated by conferencing software and it is apparent from that they are still trying to find their way with these tools.

We first used Adobe Connect, now we're using Meeting Place (unsure who the vendor is), and both are good but have limitations like everything else I've seen. However, I do understand their goal is to be able to do two-way leadership meetings initially with the general authority in Salt Lake and the local leadership where they are, and conference two way over the Internet. I would think they would want to eventually develop their own tools internally both to save certain types of recurring costs and to be sure the meeting held over those things were secure due to the confidential nature of some matters that might be discussed therein.

Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 5:44 pm
by pete_arnett-p40
We need your Stake to participate

This is a service that is offered by the church and we are just tiring to get more stakes involved to get a better discount

If at least twenty (20) Stakes decided to participate then our annual price would be $540 or a monthly price of $45, billed quarterly to your Stake's account for GoToWebinar Access

For GoToWebinar (web conferencing details) see websites:
https://tech.lds.org/wiki/index.php/LDS ... ocal_Units
and http://www.gotomeeting.com/fec/?Action=3Drgoto&_sf=3D1

This is not Meetinghouse Webcast
https://tech.lds.org/wiki/index.php/Mee ... se_Webcast

Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 3:51 pm
by pete_arnett-p40
For your Stake's Presidencies:

Yes - there is a free trial time period of thirty (30) days to work out any
training issues

Use of the audio and web conferencing service is controlled by having access to the Stakes account to setup meetings

Stake's would control access of wards usage of audio and web conferencing

Cost justification estimate - if the average cost to drive to a meeting is $5
and 16 people attend that meeting, the $78/month fee is spent by the members in gas for one (1) meeting. All the other meetings replaced by audio and web conference are free to the members of the Stake

Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 8:44 am
by sammythesm
You might want to look into WebEx. It's cheaper (I think) and (in my opinion) a much better/easier user experience.

Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 9:23 am
by danpass
pete_arnett wrote:[font=&quot][/font][font=&quot]
Just agree to a one (1) year contract at $78 per month with a $78 set up fee, billed quarterly. [/font]
What happens upon completion of the contract term? In order to continue, will another 1 year commitment be required?

Posted: Sat Mar 13, 2010 2:44 pm
by pete_arnett-p40
danpass wrote:What happens upon completion of the contract term? In order to continue, will another 1 year commitment be required?

Good question - let's assume the answer is yes at this time