June Meeting: Dismas House

In early June, RCC Nashville members held their first in person gathering since the COVID outbreak with a tour of Dismas House, which has the mission to “foster community awareness and understanding of the challenges and obstacles formerly incarcerated men face upon reentry by providing a system for personal transformation and growth as they transition back into society,” according to its website. Dismas House operates under the slogan “Dismas is Family,” and welcomes each person into their space as a new member of the Dismas Family, helping all who are under their care so they can make a return to society after incarceration.

The brand-new facility was absolutely beautiful and each aspect of the building was created intentionally, from the color scheme to the custom staircase which was directly inspired by the original home where Dismas was started. 

Virtual May 2020 Meeting: Presentation Skills for Leaders

In early May, RCC Nashville held its second virtual zoom meeting on the topic of “Presentation Skills for Leaders,” with a seasoned professional who has more than twenty years of communications experience in the fields of journalism and public relations. The Zoom session focused on presentation skills in the age of COVID-19 and helped religious communications professionals gain insight into ways to enhance their speaking skills through the virtual platform.

As we adapt to working remotely, our ability to communicate effectively in virtual meetings and seminars is a critical skill. Attention spans are shorter in virtual meetings. We want to be concise when we speak and intentional in how we facilitate a discussion. Everything from lighting to camera angles and dress are factors in how we’re perceived by others.

Led by Mimi Bliss of Bliss Communications, RCC members took part in a one-hour interactive workshop via Zoom to prepare leaders to communicate effectively in virtual meetings, including how to:

- Speak with confidence. Adjust your camera angle, background, lighting and wardrobe for a professional look. Use gestures and voice to maintain the attention of your audience.
- Sharpen Your Message. Connect with your audience; replace minimizing words such as “I’ll talk a little bit about” with flag phrases like “Our goal is;” and focus on your main points and concrete examples.
- Engage Your Audience. Set clear expectations, “chunk” your information, and use intentional questions to engage your audience.
- Tools for Success. Use PowerPoint, White Board, Breakout Rooms and other tools to engage your audience.

Mimi Bliss founded Bliss Communications in 1997 with a focus on the core leadership skill of public speaking. She works in a range of industries, including healthcare, automotive, government, economic development, utilities, retail, financial services, and nonprofit. Mimi speaks frequently at industry conferences on the topics of presentation skills and working with the news media.

Mimi has more than twenty years of communications experience in the fields of journalism and public relations. She was an on-camera reporter for ABC and NBC television affiliates and a freelance producer for the Today Show and NBC Nightly News. She also served as a corporate spokesperson for a major restaurant company and managed media relations for a hospital system.

Virtual April Meeting 2020: How do we as faith leaders keep our communities accurately informed about COVID-19?

Rolling with the times, RCC Nashville held its first virtual zoom meeting this month on the topic of “keeping people informed during global pandemics,” and had almost a dozen religious communicators join in the conversation. Together, the shared challenges they have faced and overcome and the many resources they’ve found that are invaluable during these unprecedented times.