Senate Bill 563 has made several changes to the way Associations will operate in future years, but one of the changes that I would like to discuss is regarding video conferencing. A teleconference meeting is a meeting where members are the board are in different locations and are connected through electronic ways, such as audio and/or video. In teleconference meetings, meetings still must be carried out with all of the same measures of a typical open board meeting. SB 563 requires that the meeting identify a physical location so that members may attend, and that at least one member of the board of directors is present at that location.
Recently, Google has opened up their new video conferencing features free to the public. While the timing was convenient, chances are that they weren’t related. The video conferencing features available through Google+ will assist in keeping members and board members connected and provides a platform for teleconferencing by video. Let’s walk through some of the features, then discuss how to make sure that you’re connected and ready to use this service in the future.
Google+ utilizes a feature called Hangouts, where you can connect through video chat. Before you Hangout for the first time, here are a few recommendations to make sure that your system is ready. Also, be sure to download and install the latest version of the plugin. With Google+ Hangouts, your Manager will be able to bring a video ready device to the meeting, which will enable video collaboration through this service. This is a feature that many members can utilize, and allow the membership to participate at a greater level.
The benefits are clear, but let’s make sure that you are set up. Click here to download and install the latest version of the plugin – just click on Install Video Chat Plug-In. Once installed, let’s take you to the Pacific Legacy Property Management Google+ page - https://plus.google.com/114110768231577478698
Once you are on Pacific Legacy’s Google+ Page, there are two options. If you are already a Google+ member click “Add to Circles” near the top right. If you are not yet a Google+ member, you will see a red JOIN GOOGLE+ button in order to connect with Pacific Legacy Property Management through Google+.
After you have done this once, you will not need to repeat these steps in the future. The details to this point have only been to get things set up for the first time. After you are set up, the next series of steps are easy!
After a board meeting announcement has been distributed, look for a Video Chat message within the announcement. This means that we are already planning to make the video chat available. If you don’t see it, just ask. We can make it available if we know that there are interested individuals. From the Pacific Legacy Google+ Page, we will be able to start a Hangout, and will send you an invite to join. You will see a notification in the upper bar of your Google+ page, or you will see a Join Hangout button on the Pacific Legacy Google+ Page. However, please make sure that your system is ready and that you followed the above steps first, as once the meeting is started, we won’t be able to provide much technical support.
The intention of this system is to provide a seamless opportunity to collaborate with the board and the membership. Once things are up and moving with this type of video conference, it will be as simple as sending the invite to the entire membership just before the board meeting, and then allowing collaboration with those present at the meeting, as well as those present electronically.
And by the way, Hangouts also work for Android powered mobile phones (2.3+)!
