Hi Rebecca 👋🏼 Grateful to find you through Dianne Jacob and excited to join my first meeting! Just clicked on the Zoom link to sign up and it took me to the meeting. I am not sure if you this, but I find it helpful to create and event for people to sign up and add to their calendars especially, with different time zones.
Hi Rebecca — thank you again for organizing such thoughtful and energizing discussions--we appreciate you! 🥰
I really like the idea of breakout rooms. I wanted to offer a couple of thoughts that might help make them more effective:
🔸Perhaps provide a shorter menu of topics up front that we choose from, so it’s easier to see where the strongest energy is. If it feels workable, you might even share that list a day ahead — then people could let you know if they plan to attend and which topics interest them most.
🔸You could also invite us to vote for our top three topics, and then rotate through them during the call.
🔸Or — another possibility — let each breakout room self-organize around a theme, and then share back to the larger group in a quick round-up. That way, there’s space for both structure and spontaneity (this idea may be harder to manage though)
Whichever way it ends up, I know it will be great as always!
Thank you so much for these idea Elizabeth. My initial thought was that everyone should come with a specific thing they want to talk about in regards to their substack and then when it's their turn in the group, they bring their thing up and ask for feedback/ suggestions. Do you think it would be better for everyone to discuss the same topic or topics? I've never done breakout rooms like this on a zoom call, so I'm so grateful for your suggestions!
I haven't run a breakout room session but from previous participant experience, hopefully these comments help!
One logistical note: Zoom only records the main room by default — not the breakouts — unless you set up co-hosts to record in each one. So each breakout room could have a predetermined facilitator/co-host responsible for recording and capturing the highlights.
With that in place, one approach that could work well is a hybrid: decide on a few broad topics in advance (maybe through a quick poll — things like Videos/Lives, Going Paid, Communicating Your Substack, Handling Multiple Platforms), and then each breakout starts with one of those themes. The facilitator can open the discussion, and from there people can bring in their own related questions or challenges. That way there’s structure, but also room for individual experiences to surface.
Depending on what feels easiest, participants could either be randomly assigned to rooms, or they could choose the room/topic that interests them most. Both work — it just depends if you want a little more spontaneity or a bit more self-selection.
I like these! And please begin with a quick lightning intro round so new (and existing/lurkerbfolks) can feel included & encouraged to participate in this supportive goodness <3
Finally! I think I can make this one because I'm on holiday. Unless it's a gorgeous mountain hiking day I'll be there. Like the idea of focusing topics for breakouts beforehand. Maybe with a poll? Let me know if I can help with anything! xx
Sadly I won’t be able to attend at 6am. Would it be possible to record it and only share it in the chat maybe? It might be too complicated with the rooms… not sure how that would work. Do you ever do it later than that? 6am will never work for me on a week day.
Hi Giovana! I always record the meetings... but this is the first time we've done breakout rooms so I honestly hadn't thought about how that will work. It's possible I'll only be able to record the beginning and end of the meeting. I'll look into that! By the way, all the recordings are available here. If you scroll through past posts you'll see titles like "Recording and notes from the July meeting", which is where you'll find the recording link.
Thank you for creating this space, Rebecca! I just stumbled upon your Substack and am looking forward to attending my first of your Food Writers Meetings!
Hi Rebecca 👋🏼 Grateful to find you through Dianne Jacob and excited to join my first meeting! Just clicked on the Zoom link to sign up and it took me to the meeting. I am not sure if you this, but I find it helpful to create and event for people to sign up and add to their calendars especially, with different time zones.
I will be there! Thanks Rebecca for keeping us organized! 💞
Hi Rebecca — thank you again for organizing such thoughtful and energizing discussions--we appreciate you! 🥰
I really like the idea of breakout rooms. I wanted to offer a couple of thoughts that might help make them more effective:
🔸Perhaps provide a shorter menu of topics up front that we choose from, so it’s easier to see where the strongest energy is. If it feels workable, you might even share that list a day ahead — then people could let you know if they plan to attend and which topics interest them most.
🔸You could also invite us to vote for our top three topics, and then rotate through them during the call.
🔸Or — another possibility — let each breakout room self-organize around a theme, and then share back to the larger group in a quick round-up. That way, there’s space for both structure and spontaneity (this idea may be harder to manage though)
Whichever way it ends up, I know it will be great as always!
Thank you so much for these idea Elizabeth. My initial thought was that everyone should come with a specific thing they want to talk about in regards to their substack and then when it's their turn in the group, they bring their thing up and ask for feedback/ suggestions. Do you think it would be better for everyone to discuss the same topic or topics? I've never done breakout rooms like this on a zoom call, so I'm so grateful for your suggestions!
I haven't run a breakout room session but from previous participant experience, hopefully these comments help!
One logistical note: Zoom only records the main room by default — not the breakouts — unless you set up co-hosts to record in each one. So each breakout room could have a predetermined facilitator/co-host responsible for recording and capturing the highlights.
With that in place, one approach that could work well is a hybrid: decide on a few broad topics in advance (maybe through a quick poll — things like Videos/Lives, Going Paid, Communicating Your Substack, Handling Multiple Platforms), and then each breakout starts with one of those themes. The facilitator can open the discussion, and from there people can bring in their own related questions or challenges. That way there’s structure, but also room for individual experiences to surface.
Depending on what feels easiest, participants could either be randomly assigned to rooms, or they could choose the room/topic that interests them most. Both work — it just depends if you want a little more spontaneity or a bit more self-selection.
Great ideas! I was thinking about suggesting the first one too. I like the idea of voting
I like these! And please begin with a quick lightning intro round so new (and existing/lurkerbfolks) can feel included & encouraged to participate in this supportive goodness <3
lurker*
Finally! I think I can make this one because I'm on holiday. Unless it's a gorgeous mountain hiking day I'll be there. Like the idea of focusing topics for breakouts beforehand. Maybe with a poll? Let me know if I can help with anything! xx
on the calendar!
Sadly I won’t be able to attend at 6am. Would it be possible to record it and only share it in the chat maybe? It might be too complicated with the rooms… not sure how that would work. Do you ever do it later than that? 6am will never work for me on a week day.
Hi Giovana! I always record the meetings... but this is the first time we've done breakout rooms so I honestly hadn't thought about how that will work. It's possible I'll only be able to record the beginning and end of the meeting. I'll look into that! By the way, all the recordings are available here. If you scroll through past posts you'll see titles like "Recording and notes from the July meeting", which is where you'll find the recording link.
Oh,thanks. I’ll look again. I saw the notes (very helpful!) but couldn’t find the recording last time I checked.
Excited to attend my first one (next week since it's rescheduled)! Feel better soon!
Hooray! Thank you!
Thank you for creating this space, Rebecca! I just stumbled upon your Substack and am looking forward to attending my first of your Food Writers Meetings!
Welcome Emily! I am looking forward to meeting you!
I'll be there! This sounds amazing!
I’d love to join in, but I can’t see the date. Can anyone help.
8/27, it’s in the paper graphic inside the typewriter.
I’ll be there! What a great idea. Thank you Rebecca!
I’m excited about joining my first one !