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.   

February Meeting: Podcasting for Your Brand

The February RCC meeting took place at United Methodist Communications with special guest Jamie Dunham who co-hosts The Lipstick Economy Podcast.

 During the meeting, Jamie went over the reasons that there are now 800,000 podcasts:  

• 51% of adults have listened to a podcast• 32% of adults have listened to one in the past month• Mobile podcast listenership has grown 157% in past 4 years• Less crowded content channel• More engaged. More time spent than blog readers!!!!• Listeners can multi-task while they listen• Spotify, Apple and Pandora are vying for podcast audiences• Alexa knows and loves podcasts• Growth in time spent with podcasts and the majority of new podcast listeners - women• One out of 5 listeners has attended a live podcast event

The Lipstick Economy Podcast that Jamie co-hosts is about marketing to women through the stories of leaders - leaders who are making a difference through their insight, strategy, diversity and creative thinking. The Lipstick Economy is composed of the 100 million women in the US who make 85% of all consumer purchases.

Jamie wrapped up the meeting by discussing what has worked for their podcast since its launch in the Fall 2019.

• It takes commitment and consistency• Booking guests takes a lot of time• The production is best left to professionals• Leverage your guest's audience as part of your marketing plan• With re-sharing, episodes can continue to grow in listenership• iTunes is where it's happening now & reviews are important• Social postings are important for our audience• Guest on other podcasts 

January Meeting: DayBreak Discussion

The January RCC meeting was the launch of a new series called DayBreak Discussions. Members gathered over coffee at the Cookery on 12th Avenue to discuss everything from politics and religion to personal matters and life events. Going forward, these discussions will typically happen once every quarter and will take place over breakfast to help energize your day.    

December Meeting: Year in Review 2019

The final meeting of our year was a nice get together at the Cookery on 12th Avenue South to review each of the year's meetings and determine a course going forward.

It was found that tours were a very popular type of meeting, followed by professional development. It was also suggested that a more conversational type of meeting be included in a rotating schedule for 2020. So the various meeting types in 2020 will be
~ Daybreak Discussions: Morning meetings over coffee with interesting conversation about hot topics
~ Professional Development: lunch meetings with a speaker going over a specific communications skill
~ Faith Crossings: visits to places that are inspired by faith in their work, be it educational, non-profit, or even small business

We've enjoyed spending 2019 with all of RCC Nashville and are looking forward to an even greater 2020!

Happy New Year!

November Meeting: Glencliff United Methodist Church

The November meeting of RCC took place at Glencliff United Methodist Church, where RCC members and guests heard from Rev. Ingrid McIntyre about the micro home village that was built on the church's property to help serve the homeless population. The specific population they plan to serve with the 22 homes are those coming out of the hospital with absolutely nowhere else to go to recover. This is to help ensure homeless people aren't returning to the streets after such health crises. 

Rev. Ingrid had a candid and personal conversation with RCC members and was able to share the struggles as well as the triumphs to create this micro home community and bring this vision to life. Thank you so much to Rev. Ingrid and all at the Glencliff UMC for having us for a tour and to see the micro home community as it is developing. It was truly inspiring to see so much hard work and faith put into action. 

October Meeting: Tour of the Sri Ganesha Temple

The October meeting of RCC took place at the Sri Ganesha Temple, which was built to provide a place for cultural, educational, and spiritual activities related to Hinduism, to promote inter religious, social, and cultural understanding, and to support humanitarian causes. It was a beautifully ornate facility, even with construction under way to create more authentic Indian decorations built into the temple.

There were 9 attendees, and RCC members began the tour in a community hall hearing from Professor Sankaran Mahadevan, a lay leader within the Hindu community who is also a Civil Engineering professor at Vanderbilt University. Mahadevan cleared up misconceptions about Hinduism with true data such as that Hindus are truly monotheistic, believing in one God who is infinite. They symbolize the characteristics of the infinite God so that people can understand these qualities through the various deities like Ganesha or Vishnu. This also helps them as they focus in on prayer on a specific trait or quality.

RCC members were then able to see the sanctuary and observe Hindu worship services. 

They ended the tour with a group photo outside of the Temple. 

Thanks so much to Mahadevan and all the rest at Sri Ganesha Temple for taking the time out to have RCC for a tour!