IAMSE Webcast Audio Seminar Netiquette*

* Net: a common English abbreviation referring to the Internet

* Etiquette:  behavior that brings order to social or official life

IAMSE Webcast Audio Seminars are an excellent way to exchange information concerning many topics of interest and relevance to basic science educators. However, doing so over the telephone with multiple participants imposes some necessary limitations which are not present when all are gathered physically within the same meeting room. We ask that you review and adhere to the following guidelines for interaction using this mode of communication.

CANCELLATIONS

* IAMSE Webcast Audio Seminars have proven to be extremely popular, with thirty (30) registrations per session being "sold out" literally within hours following formal announcement to the professional community. In some cases, we have been forced to turn away an equal number of individuals who try to register. In such cases, we will do everything possible to schedule a second offering of that seminar within the following three months time.

However, if you have successfully registered, but then find you cannot "attend", please let Julie Hewett, Secretariat of IAMSE (see contact information below) know as soon as possible. She will immediately contact the "31st person" who attempted to register and offer the position. We ask your cooperation in this as a courtesy to all.

SPEAKER PHONES

* If you are calling in from a conference room or otherwise require the use of a speaker phone, we request that you use the telephone's mute feature to block out any distracting background noise.

TELEPHONE HEADSETS

* Mentioned previously, but worth repeating. Most have microphones of inferior quality making you sound very distant. Please do not use a headset unless you know the quality is comparable.

TWO-LINE PHONES

* If you have a two-line phone, please turn the ringer off of the second line. This prevents disruption of the seminar if your second line rings during the conference call.

CONTRIBUTING

* Session leaders will periodically ask for comments and opinions from the participants, but you will understand this can be a bit unwieldy since there are no visual cues to guide either the leader or the person contributiing. All must be guided solely by voice. When you speak, please first ask to be recognized by the session leader -- something like the dialogue below:

"Dr. ______ (session leader's name), this is John Smith from Boston University School of Medicine." 

Dr. _______ (session leader) will say "Yes John, go ahead."

John Smith will then speak.

During the open discussion sections, please remember to clearly state your name and institution each time you speak. This is a courtesy to all.. 

ACCESSING CALLS

* Out of respect for people's time, all IAMSE Webcast Audio Seminars adhere to a strict schedule. Session leaders will be online 3 minutes prior to each call to welcome participants and be prepared to start promptly at the designated time. You are asked to "arrive" (phone in) between 2 to 3 minutes before the hour. If you arrive later your "ring" will be heard so that the session leader knows someone has joined the call. He or she may pause to welcome you, but more likely will not wish to interrupt the "flow" of the meeting to greet late comers. If you arrive during an active dialogue, remain silent until you grasp what's being discussed before offering your contribution.

AUDIO RECORDING

* All IAMSE Webcast Audio Seminars are recorded and made available to participants following the presentation. Your active participation in the session indicates your permission to be recorded.

For answers to your questions, please contact Julie Hewett as below.

Ms. Julie K. Hewett
Association Manager  
One Crested Butte Drive 
Huntington, WV 25705 U.S.A. 
TEL: +1-304-733-1270 
FAX: +1-304-733-6203 
E-MAIL: julie@iamse.org