Looking at alternative options for my clubs April meeting, possibly going virtual or cancelling. I was planning on doing a Google Hangouts meeting, but it looks like you need a Gmail address. It looks like Skype might be an option, anyone have any ideas or experience with this kind of thing?
Zoom? But I think free accounts have a time limit that is annoying requiring the zoom session to be restarted after 45 minutes IIRC.
Virtual club sounds interesting. Boundaries will be irrelevant. I’m in Oregon.
My club did a Zoom meeting earlier this month. It ranked as a distant second place to seeing each other in person but the feedback I got was very favorable - it gave us a chance to check in regarding our brewing activities and more importantly to just connect for a short while as a group and generally vent regarding our current/recent isolation and inability to commune together in person given the COVID restrictions. The bulk of our members participated. I’ll be facilitating another Zoom club meeting next week. Yes, you’re time limited (the 40 or 45 minutes) but it’s at least a chance for folks to grab a beer simultaneously and touch base and see each others’ faces. Worthwhile right now, I think. Signing up for the Zoom is free, up to 100 participants per encounter. If someone has a paid Zoom account then there is no time limit.
Shawn C. - President, Worthogs Homebrew Club of New Mexico