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  • 1.  Failed Virtual Meeting

    Posted 29 Jul, 2021 19:29
    I just had a very disappointing and embarrassing experience. I had arranged a virtual program with an invited speaker from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) on the topic of waste food-based biofuels for aviation applications. The program was promoted as a public event on Engage (visible to all AIAA members) with email notice going out to our entire Section membership, promoted the event on our Facebook page, and also promoted to the local ASME Section on their LinkedIn and Facebook pages. What I did NOT do was require advance registration, because there was no admission cost and I wanted access to be simple.

    I connected online with the speaker at 15 minutes before the start time for an audio and video check and to chat a bit. We continued to chat as the meeting start time approached and I began to get concerned when there was no one joining. I began checking for email or text messages in case there was a problem joining the Zoom meeting, but I knew this was unlikely because the speaker had entered with the same link that had been shared will everyone. We continued to chat until 15 minutes past the hour and I had to admit defeat. In 45 years of participation in technical society programs I have NEVER had this happen.

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    John Blanton
    Owner and Chief Engineer
    Classic Engineering, LLC
    Simpsonville SC
    (864) 382-0626
    blanton.aiaa@gmail.com
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