2020 Virtual ‘Vous

Treeps proved to be adaptable and resilient despite all the challenges the Covid-19 pandemic presented. For 2020, the yearly Tree Climbers Rendezvous was held on “The Cloud” with a host of global activities shared via Zoom.

This first-time Virtual ‘Vous was a success because of its 563 participants Zooming in from around the globe (in order of highest attendance): USA, Republic of Korea, United Kingdom, Madagascar, Chile, Denmark, Costa Rica, Germany, Canada, Sweden, Bolivia, Argentina, and Taiwan.

The Rendezvous expanded its traditional seminar format to include a unique variety of presentations (all available under the Video Blog tab) and group Zooming sessions. Small social-distanced climbs and viewing events were held around the world and shared with fellow climbers. Also included were fundraising activities and the annual GOTC meeting.

The schedule of events plus video conference tips can be seen below. We hope 2020 starts a new trend and that live streaming the seminars (and recording for posterity) will be adopted in future Rendezvous. Though there is no replacement for gathering and climbing trees as a group, 2020 showed us the positive impact of sharing the seminars with tree enthusiasts around the world!

By Nadia Lombardero


2020 Virtual ‘Vous Online Conferences and Webinars

Saturday September 5, Sunday September 6, and Monday September 7.

Please Review
World Time Buddy: https://www.worldtimebuddy.com/
How to look professional on Zoom: https://youtu.be/m5AxcjUHBEE
5 ways to make presentations pop: https://enterprisersproject.com/article/2020/8/zoom-tips-online-presentations

PresenterTitle / Video
Normer AdamsRescuing Cats in Trees for Fun and Profit
Eric FolmerTree Risk Assessment for Climbers
Nick Araya
Advanced Friction Hitches
James ReedClimbing with Orangutans
Eric FolmerSharing meeting for all
Brian FisherExploring the Canopy in Madagascar
SeesawFantastic Trees of Korea
Joyce KimSharing meeting for all
Roxi NicoaraSharing Meeting for all
Lawrence SchultzAdvanced Climbing Technique
Dan HouseClimbing with Special Needs Clients
Gina KentTree Climbing for Swallow-tailed Kites and other Raptor Research
Eric FolmerRedwood Natural History
Jon Colburn (Arborist) & Gainesville Circus CenterSingle Point Tree Branch Connections

Sometimes the audio or video in Zoom becomes choppy or distorted. We suggest you:

Use the best Internet connection you can.

  • Wired connections are better than wireless (WiFi or cellular) connections.
  • WiFi connections are better than cellular (3G/4G/LTE) connections.

Plan ahead for Zoom meetings, and as often as possible, join Zoom meetings from a location where you can use a fast, reliable, wired Internet connection.

Mute your microphone when you’re not speaking.

When your microphone is on, Zoom will devote part of your Internet connection to an audio stream for you, even if you are not speaking. Mute your microphone when you do not need it, and you will allow Zoom use your Internet connection more effectively.

Stop your webcam video when you don’t need it.

If your instructor or moderator is okay with you doing so, start your video only when you need to show yourself on webcam, and stop your video when it isn’t needed.

Disable HD webcam video.

Sending high definition (HD) webcam video requires more bandwidth than sending non-HD. Disabling HD video will free up more of your Internet connection for other parts of your Zoom meeting.
See: Disabling HD video in Zoom

Close other, unneeded applications on your computer.

Zoom meetings can demand significant memory and processing power from your computer. Closing other applications, ones you do not need during the session, will help Zoom run better.

Avoid other activities that will steal bandwidth.

Don’t start other bandwidth-intensive activities just before, or during, a Zoom meeting. On your Zoom device—and as much as possible, on other computers and devices that share your Internet connection—avoid:

  • large downloads
  • large uploads
  • streaming video (e.g. Netflix, Hulu, YouTube)
  • cloud backups (e.g. Carbonite, CrashPlan)
  • cloud file synchronizations (e.g. OneDrive, Dropbox)
  • other high-bandwidth activities

Communicate with the instructor or host of your Zoom meeting.

If the best Internet connection you have for Zoom is a slow one, such as a weak cellular data connection, let the person or people running your session know ahead of time.