Ideally we suggest participants find a quiet space in their home that remains private to ensure the anonymity of the meeting.  We realize this isn’t always possible and that mobile users may Zoom in from public spaces. In any case, we ask that you remain mindful of protecting the anonymity of others, which is the foundation of all our Traditions.

In order to foster a focused meeting environment, we suggest participants refrain from distractions in their video such as movement, texting, distracting lights, etc. If you need to move, please turn off your camera before doing so. Also, there is no smoking or vaping allowed on camera as this might be triggering to some participants.

Properly lighting your scene will not only make you look better on camera but it will be easier for other participants to see you. The most ideal lighting setup is positioning a light source behind the camera. A lamp behind you provides little illumination where it matters the most: your face. Be aware that ceiling lights are often in the middle of a room and so, if you are facing a wall with your back to the ceiling light, that light is going to cause glare. Your webcam will also meter it’s exposure for that light which will darken your face and make it harder for others to see you. Bottom-line: always face your lighting source.

We ask all participants to remain muted while others are speaking or sharing in order to prevent accidental interruptions. 

We suggest participants refrain from using sexually explicit words or capital Ts in their profile names as these might be triggering to some users. We suggest simply using your first name and last initial. Also, due to the influx of Zoom Bombers, having a clear profile photo will help our Zoom Techs quickly identify you and admit you to the meeting. 

Typically Bluetooth headsets and earbuds, including Apple AirPods, transmit microphone audio at a much lower quality than a wired microphone. This makes it harder for other participants to clearly hear you. We recommend not using Bluetooth microphones. In the Zoom application, navigate to Settings > Audio to choose another microphone, such as a built-in mic on your laptop or an external USB mic. You may still use your Bluetooth headset as a Speaker even if you change the microphone.

Zoom provides all of our participants the ability to join from whatever device they are comfortable with, whether that’s a laptop, iPad or mobile phone.  However, to have the best experience on Zoom we suggest using a computer rather than a mobile device. If you have the choice, a computer (desktop or laptop) is preferred.