Knotting Podcasts

[Phil_The_Rope]

Hello All!

I totally agree that publishing "audio only" would be boring, especially of the AGM itself. Mind you, a video of the AGM wouldn't exactly be thrilling viewing either! There are the two "Portraits of knot tyers" that may be interesting though.

Some short video clips of the social side of the event might bring back a few happy memories, and help show the IGKT as the fabulous, friendly group it is!

I regret not taking loads of photos of the displays (although I think the wife may have a few on her 35mm camera which haven't been developed yet) - it might be nice to string some photos together (with a little background music - I have lots of royalty free stuff) to effectively make a video file for advertising purposes?

I have some expertise in video/multimedia production, even though I accept there are plenty out there who know more than I do.

However, if I can post/publish something of interest then I'm really happy to do that - anything that promotes the Guild is worthwhile. All I ask is this ... if I publish something that is technically not perfect, by all means make constructive comments but don't criticise for the sake of it (I'm sure IGKT members wouldn't do that, but there are others who would!)

Awaiting further instructions ...

Regards,

Phil

[DerekSmith]

Hi Phil,

Thanks for the great offer re the 'fun' side of the AGM.

However, there will be folks like myself who for a number of reasons (and geography will feature heavily) will not have been able to attend the AGM and would very much like to have heard the Guild decisions that were made.  Unfortunately, the AGM never seems to be minuted, so a video of the event would be most interesting to those who would love to have attended but couldn't.

As we are an International Guild, I think it is essential that we develop ways that allow greater distribution of meeting coverage without it incurring cost or additional work for the Secretary.  Using the internet in this way helps shrink the world for us.

Derek

[Phil_The_Rope]

Hi Derek,

Point taken!

The AGM itself lasted about an hour (including the "Profiles of Knotters"). I think that is too long for putting on YouTube. However, I have to support your view that those who couldn't make the meeting ought to know what happened!

Not quite sure what the best answer is - obviously, I could send out DVDs to those who requested copies, but the cost could prove prohibitive. Let me have a look at producing some "highlights" of the AGM - perhaps I could publish them on YouTube? Trouble with highlights is that it would be a subjective view of yours truly.

There's food for thought though, and I'll have a think about what might be both possible and practical.

Regards,

Phil

[DerekSmith]

Hi Phil,

I watched a YouTube video by Clay Shirkey recently http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_0FgRKsqqU  -  it was 42 minutes long !

In the context of the IGKT using this media to extend the range of participation in its international meetings I watched it again and two things jumped out.

First is that the quality of the video is not particularly high (you couldn't use it to teach someone how to tie a knot for example)
Second - the most important part of the video was in fact the audio.

Do you think that it is likely that this would apply nicely to Guild business meetings such as the AGM or Branch meetings?

Of course, getting good audio from a speaker - audience situation is not easy but no matter how 'non ideal' our first attempts are, it would still be a beginning.  If you compare the first KM with the publications of today we have come a long way, but it all started with that very first news letter.

Would it be possible to break the AGM video into say two 30 min sessions in a resolution suitable for YouTube?  Even if they leave a lot to be desired, they might just point out the value of their existence and indicate the steps the Guild would need to take in the future to improve on the very first offering.

Derek

[SS369]

Have not checked to deep into this and I know the youtube video/audio quality is the pits, but a possible avenue to investigate for much improved quality is to locate some things on myspace (Much, much better quality) till youtube ups it's server capacities. Google "myspace videos".
Must earn the daily bread now.
Scott

[Mrs Glenys Chew]

Hi everyone,

I've no idea about the technical side of this discussion, but I can answer the general question over 'how do we get in touch with the officers?"  I have taken the liberty of forwarding the discussion to Dave Walker, and asking him to pass it round the Council, with a view to it being discussed at the next meeting, in mid-August.

I'll be reporting to that meeting via Skype, so if it is possible, please can someone condense the discussion into a format of pro's, con's, and layman's technical?  Doing so by 12th August should then give me enough time to read it and be able to pass it on intelligibly, by email even, for consideration.

I don't know how feasible it will be to put on a previous AGM, as many of the people there are not contactable (that is, there isn't a register as such of who was there) and I don't know whether anyone might have an objection.  It would be better to wait, announce the intention to film and put the film into the public domain at the next AGM or half-yearly, and then ask if anyone has any objections to being included in a trial run of the project.  But in any case, I'll let you know what the Council want to do with the suggestion.

Regards
Glenys

[DerekSmith]

Question for Phil,

When you made the video of the AGM, was everyone aware that you were making the recording (or was it covert), did you have permission to make the recording and was it obvious to all that it would be your intention to 'show' or otherwise distribute the video?

I went to a local council meeting recently, it was being video recorded.  No one asked my permission to record me as being at the meeting and my natural assumption was that as the meeting was being recorded, it almost certainly would be published, and in fact it finished up on the council web site.

Do you think this would have been the understanding for the AGM ?

Derek

[Phil_The_Rope]

Hi Derek and Glenys,

Good question!!

Derek - is it possible for you to check whether there are documented conditions stating that anyone attending your council meetings automatically agrees to filming? Not an issue as far as the IGKT AGM is concerned, I just wondered.

The IGKT AGM - in fact, I used a large tripod and a large(ish) video camera, and it was pretty obvious I was filming. I spoke to Dave Walker beforehand, and I decided to film - it certainly wasn't covert, although I did NOT seek permission from everyone in the room.

Here is a VERY grey area!

Filming in Schools for example (which I've done) generally requires permission from all parents/guardians - if they don't deny permission when given reasonable opportunity to do so, then permission is assumed (at least it is if the school makes that clear when children join the school). Also, some schools/associations require anyone filming or taking photographs to be CRB checked (i.e. Criminal Records Bureau checked) too, but that is down to the individual school/authority/whatever...

My understanding is that it is NOT illegal to film or photograph in public (which the AGM wasn't of course - it was a private event), but one needs to be careful - for example, have you ever noticed that television footage of "obese" people NEVER shows faces?

I think the ONLY way to be totally comfortable that filming or photography is ok is to have it written into the constitution of, in this case, the IGKT.

I used to film regularly at a bi-annual dance weekend my wife and I attended - the event organisers made sure that teachers and students all agreed to filming (stills or video) by making it part of the agreement or contract entered into by all attending the event (not that many people actually read the small print).

On a very sad note (I may have mentioned this elsewhere - if so, my apologies) ...

The daughter of a good friend of mine was a British gymnastic champion as a schoolgirl, but neither he nor she has any video evidence of her award winning performances. The British Gymnastic Association (or whatever it's called) would not allow filming unless permission was specifically granted by ALL parents/guardians (i.e. a non-return of an acceptance form assumed to default to NOT giving permission).

I digress ... this probably means I need to have a letter in Knotting Matters asking permission to use the film of the AGM, or perhaps Glenys can get an opinion from Council? In hindsight, it would have been a good idea to address the meeting and ask up front if there were any objections? I WAS THERE, SO I DON'T ACTUALLY CARE if the film is published or not! If there is the slightest objection, then obviously I won't do it. What seemed a good idea at the time may actually cause friction, which I do not wish to do - I thank Derek in particular for raising the issue of permission.

Regards,

Phil

[Mrs Glenys Chew]

Hi

I will definitely be mentioning it to the Council to get an opinion, and I certainly don't see why it shouldn't be a topic of debate followed by instant action (whatever the decision is) at the AGM.  I can't get to most meetings, and would love to be able to see them.  There is certianly nothing about it in the Constitution.

As long as everyone is aware that filming is being done, and that the results will be accessible to the general membership - if not also to the general public - then agreement need be simply a case of staying in the room.  The sticking point will be on whether it is for the membership only, or for the general public too.  Once I have some guidance on that I will let you know.

I may not be in much now, as we're having a 2-week holiday on Friday.  I'll catch up when I get back.

Regards
Glenys