Presenters Guide

2013 Annual Conference Session Presenter's Guide


Hello 2013 Annual Conference presenters! You have a wonderful opportunity to share more about your ministry during the 2013 Annual Conference Session.

We want you to get the most out of your presentation time and have a smooth and seamless Conference, so we require all visuals to be submitted in advance. Below you'll find guidelines and tips and rules for presenters:

Know Exactly How Much Time You Have

Each time-block of the Annual Conference Session is painstakingly timed right down to the minute. The Conference Secretary, Donn Ann Weber, will contact you with your exact presentaiton time. Keep your report at or under that time limit.

Attend the Bishop's Presenter Breakfast

All presenters are invited to attend the Bishop’s Presenter Breakfast the morning you'll present your report. During breakfast, you will find out what time you should report to the stage and receive any specific directions or requests the bishop or the conference secretary may share that morning.

Be Clear About Your Message

Make sure that everything in your presentation is both consistent with, and supportive of, your key message. In fact, before you begin to work on your presentation, write down what you want your key message to be. It should be concise and brief. After you have a key message, build your report around that idea.

Remember Your Audience

During the 2013 Annual Conference Session, you will be speaking to 2,800 clergy and lay members of the North Georgia Conference. For some it will be their first time at Annual Conference and for others it will be their twenty-first time. Lay members are commited United Methodists who are leaders and have volunteered their time to serve at this conference.

Adhere to the Production Team’s Deadlines

In order to test all graphics and videos, PowerPoints or Keynotes are due no later than Thursday, May 30, 2013. This is a firm deadline.  Please include a script along with the name and contact information of the person making the presentation.

Send presentations to Sybil Davidson via:

  • email: sybil@ngumc.org
  • thumb drive or CD: mail or hand deliver to North Georgia Conference Communications Office, Attn: Sybil Davidson, 4511 Jones Bridge Cir., Norcross, GA 30092.  


Great detail goes into planning the technical details for our annual conference session. Please understand that last minute changes will not be made to your report while at conference. Please also note that last minute audio visual materials will not be accepted while at conference. This is a security and virus issue.

Follow These Power Point Tips and Guidelines

If you are using PowerPoint or Keynote to enhance your presentation at Annual Conference, we have a few tips, suggestions and some mandatory guidelines.

  • A script must accompany your presentation. If you make corrections to your script, please make sure the communications office receives an updated copy.
  • If you would feel more comfortable having someone from your ministry to advance your slides, we would welcome that. Let us know.
  • NEVER apply a timer your slides.
  • NEVER apply sound to your slides. Laptops used at conference aren't attached to the sound system.
  • It is best that there aren't transitions (such as fly ins) or builds to your slides.
  • Keep the design simple.
  • Use a common font (Arial, Tahoma or Veranda work well).
  • Use as few words per slide as possible and don't go below 28 point type. Remember, PowerPoint or Keynote should complement what you say, rather than being the main source of information.


Follow These Video Tips and Guidelines

We have a few rules for using video at Annual Conference. Video and audio must be at a professional broadcast quality. (Flip camera video and video captured with a smart phone will not be acceptable for this venue.) We prefer videos in MP4 or Quicktime(.mov) files.  Video files should come as separate files (not embedded in your presentation).  

Here is your video "to do" list:

  • Your video must include a 5 second count down to help the tech team appropriately cue your video.
  • You must supply two copies of your video to the communications office.
  • Your video must have adequate audio to fill the Grand Hall. If you are using interviews in your video it is IMPARITIVE that you mic your interviewee. A camera microphone DOES NOT allow appropriate sound to fill the arena in which you video is playing.


Please note your video must be approved prior to the conference session. The 2013 Annual Conference Technical Team reserves the right to decline use your video due to inappropriate content or a lack of professional production values.

Important Note

Always have a backup plan! While we are confident that video and audio will run smoothly throughout Annual Conference, it is always important to have a backup plan incase you have to make your presentation without any supporting visuals.
 

2013 Annual Conference Session