How SpeakerNet News Teleseminars Work

• Seminars typically last 1 hour and begin at 7 pm Eastern time.
• The cost is typically $25, payable in advance by check or credit card. There will also be a charge on your phone bill for the hour of long-distance calling.
• When you are registered for a seminar, we will send you complete instructions on what to do to call in, and guidelines for getting the most from the seminar.
• If you are unable to participate in the live seminar but it's a subject you want to learn about, you will be able to purchase a recording (on CD or MP3) of the seminar.
• If you are registered and have to cancel, you will not be charged if you cancel at least 72 hours ahead of time. If you cancel within this time, we can arrange for someone from the waiting list to take your place. After that, we can't, and that isn't fair to the guest expert.
• This teleseminar will be recorded. By your registering for this teleseminar, you are giving us permission to record your comments, without any remuneration to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a teleseminar?

Teleseminars happen over the telephone. They are essentially a large conference call. The host will ask questions of the guest expert based upon what they think will be of highest interest and value to the majority of the participants.

How does this all work?

SpeakerNet News rents what's called a "bridge line" which is basically a teleconference line, allowing many people to call in simultaneously, without an operator assisting. You'll call a designated number (which you'll receive a few days before the teleseminar).

Is this just lecture, or can I ask questions?

Every 10-15 minutes the host will ask for questions about what was just covered. Most sessions will allow 5-10 minutes at the end for general questions. Please work to have your question be as relevant to others as possible, not just about your burning issue. If it is too specific to just you, we may ask you to email the question to the expert later.

How do I know I've called the right number?

You'll call in a few minutes before the session is set to begin. The host will ask you your name when you call in. (Others in the room will hear a short beep to let them know someone has arrived.) If you are the first one in the room, you'll just wait a minute or two until someone else arrives.

What if I'll be a little late for the call?

If you dial in late, we may not ask you to introduce yourself, as it would interrupt the expert. If you're really late, call in anyway. You can always purchase a recording afterwards (at a discount) to see what you missed. Or you can dial in and listen to a recording made by the bridge line company.

Do I have to be computer literate?

No. Teleseminars are not conducted via the Internet or computer.

Will I be given a toll-free number to call?

No, you will be given a number to call in Oregon. (We will be using different numbers for different teleseminars.) You are responsible for paying for the call, which will appear on your long distance phone bill as a regular long distance call. No other charges are tacked on to the call, just whatever your long distance company charges you for a call to Oregon. We don't make any money whatsoever off the long distance call.

Can I talk to other participants during the call?

This learning medium is designed to be instructor-focused, so you should plan on interacting with the host and/or guest expert, not with other participants. If other people you know are on the call, please refrain from exchanges like "Hi Jane! I haven't talked to you in a while. How's the weather in San Francisco?" This just bogs down the call.

The bridge line we are using allows us to mute everyone except the interviewer and the guest expert, which we do except during the Q & A period. We also encourage everyone to mute their own phone unless they are asking a question. The less interfering sound on the line, the better everyone can hear.

I have call waiting. What if I get a call during the teleseminar?

If you have call waiting, please disable it before calling in. Check your phone book or contact your telephone company to get the Disable Call Waiting code for your area. Depending on your phone service, it will likely be one of the following three codes: *70, 70# or 1170.

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