Come Zoom With Us (old)

Note: This post has been updated

To replace Indivisible East Bay in-person meetings and gatherings for the foreseeable future, we’re going to start using a conference call app called Zoom. This will let us share video and audio of our presenters with you; you’ll be able to participate through a voice call and a live chat, and you’ll also have the option of watching by video.

If you’ve never used Zoom, below are detailed instructions to join and participate in a Zoom call. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us anytime at info@indivisibleeb.org. We’ll also have team members online and available to help a half hour before each event to hand-hold you through it or troubleshoot. You can join the Zoom call early if you need help, or you can post questions on the Indivisible East Bay Slack in the #general-help channel a half hour before each event to hand-hold you through it or troubleshoot. (Not on Slack with IEB yet? This is the perfect time to join – get an invite by emailing info@indivisibleeb.org) 

Joining the Call

When you get a notice or invitation for a meeting or event, RSVP in the manner indicated. We’ll email you a link and a phone number for the Zoom call, and you’ll have three options for how to participate in the call:

• Option 1: Join the call on a computer (desktop or laptop) or mobile device (smart phone or tablet with wifi), using your device’s audio for the call.
• Option 2: Join the call on a computer or mobile device for the video/slides ONLY and call in with a phone for audio
• Option 3: Call in with a landline phone (or any phone without wifi). Note: with this option, you’ll be able to hear and speak on the call, but you won’t be able to see any video or slides presented.

We recommend using Option 1, which lets you participate most actively, and gives you the most control over your experience. But we welcome your participation by any of the three options. Below are instructions for joining via each of the three methods, or you can watch instructional videos and get help customized to your devices on Zoom’s website.

Option 1: Join the call on a computer or mobile device, using your device’s audio for the call

1. • Click on the Zoom link we send you, or copy and paste it into your browser
   • If you don’t have it already, you’ll be prompted to download the Zoom application
     • On a computer: The Zoom application should automatically download. If nothing happens, you can click “Download & Run Zoom” on your screen.
     • On a mobile device: You’ll be prompted to download and install the app from your app store. 
   • Once Zoom is downloaded, you’ll be able to join the meeting. If it doesn’t automatically direct you to join the meeting, you can return to the email and click the link again – it should work this time, now that you downloaded the application. 
     • On a computer: You should see the popup below. Make sure you’re on the “Join by Computer” tab and click “Join Audio Conference by Computer” 

• • • On a mobile device: Depending whether you have an Apple or Android phone, you’ll see one of the following lists of options. If you see the screen on the left, tap “Join Audio” and then tap “Call via Device Audio.” If you see the screen on the right, tap “Call using Internet Audio.” You should then join the call.

Option 2: Join the call on a laptop or mobile device for the video/slides ONLY and call in with a phone for audio

1. • Click on the Zoom link we send you, or copy and paste it into your browser
   • If you don’t have it already, you’ll be prompted to download the Zoom application
     • On a computer: The Zoom application should automatically download. If nothing happens, you can click “Download & Run Zoom” on your screen.
     • On a mobile device (smart phone or tablet): You’ll be prompted to download and install the app from your app store. 
   • Once it’s downloaded, you’ll be able to join the meeting. If it doesn’t automatically direct you to join the meeting, you can return to the email and click the link again – it should work this time now that you’ve downloaded the application. 
     • On a computer: You should see the popup below. Make sure you’re on the “Phone Call” tab for dialing in by phone. Call one of the numbers listed. When prompted, enter the meeting ID followed by #, then enter your participant ID followed by #. 

• • • On a mobile device: In the bottom left of your screen, you’ll see the following options (if you don’t see the options, tap “Join Audio”). Tap “Dial In” and then select one of the numbers and your phone should initiate the call. On an iPhone, you can select “Call My Phone” to have Zoom call you instead. 

Option 3: Call in with a phone only 

1. • Dial one of the numbers in the Zoom invitation
   • When prompted, enter the Meeting ID (usually a 9-digit number), followed by the pound key #
   • When prompted to enter your participant ID, just press # (this is only for participants who are also joining by computer)
   • That’s it! Remember that with this option, you won’t be able to see any visuals used during the meeting. 

Participating in the Call

Video or no video of you?

Some calls will have a video option. If you’re on a computer or device with a camera, you can choose to turn on video so we can all see you. This is completely optional, and if your camera is off you can still participate in the call with full functionality. You can also put a post-it over the camera.

You can find the video control in the bottom left of your screen. If it looks like a video camera with a red slash through it, like this:  then your camera is off. Click on the camera icon to start video.

If it looks like this: , then your camera is on (and we can see you – and your cat!). If you want to turn it off, just click on the camera. 

Muting and unmuting

Zoom is an interactive teleconferencing program. This means we’ll all be able to talk to each other during the meeting! But it also means that if you don’t take proper steps to mute and unmute yourself, everyone else may hear your background noise during the call, and anything you say or any noise on your end can even interrupt whoever is speaking. 

Generally, once you join the call, your microphone will be on by default (meaning everyone can hear you). During the first few minutes of the call, we welcome you to keep your mic on and say hello and chat with other participants. Once we start the meeting, the facilitator will remind you to mute yourself. Here is how to do that, based on how you joined the call:

• On a computer or mobile device, if you joined through the Zoom app and not a call: Click the microphone in the bottom left to turn your microphone on and off.
  • This icon:   means your mic is on and we can hear you
  • and this icon: means your mic is off and we can’t hear you

• If you joined by calling in from a smartphone, you’ll probably have an option to mute yourself from the call screen, generally with a microphone icon like the one in the Zoom app above. 
• If you joined by calling in from a landline, or a smartphone without a mute option, you can mute yourself by dialing *6

The meeting host may manually mute you if they notice background noise. If you want to talk, check to see if you are muted first or ask if we can hear you. In some meetings the host mutes all participants.

Chat with Hosts and Participants

The Zoom app includes a chat option. To view and participate in the chat, move your mouse to the bottom of the screen – you should see some icons appear, including a speech bubble. Click the speech bubble icon to open the chat option. On a computer, this will take you directly to the chat. On a mobile device, it will take you to the list of participants. Scroll to the bottom and click on “Chat” to join the chat. 

In the chat, you’ll have the option to choose who you’re chatting with. Above, or before, your message, you should see a box saying “TO:” – it might say “Everyone” or it might have one participant’s name, or a pull down option to look through all participants. Be sure it says “Everyone” if you want all participants to see. Or, if you want to send a comment to just one person, click the down arrow to the right of the box and choose a participant.

We look forward to seeing you on Zoom!