Monday, September 1, 2008

SKYPE!!

SKYPE!! http://about.skype.com/

“The Internet is the most important single development in the history of human communication since the invention of call waiting.” Dave Barry - American Writer and Humorist

I highly recommend signing up for a Skype account because it offers text chat, voice chat, video chat and conference calling at a very affordable price - $$ FREE!!

I just spent about a half an hour speaking with my Toastmaster friends from South Africa - Craig and Lois Strachan. Lois is currently serving as the District 74 District Governor, and Craig is serving as the Lt. Governor of Education and Training. http://www.toastmasters74.org/
http://www.notesfromthecape.com/ http://www.cttoastmasters.org.za/
http://www.cdssolutions.com/

Becoming a Toastmaster is certainly helping me expand my network of connections that stretch beyond my local District 31 - Massachusetts and Rhode Island. I now have friends around the United States and even crossing boarders to many other countries. These online tools are perfect ways to assist me in keeping in touch with others around the GLOBE.

What resources are you using to stay connected to people?

Use this link to download Skype http://www.skype.com/download/skype/windows/downloading/

Skype Account number sherri.raftery

www.findyourplatform.com
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Facts

Skype
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skype

Skype (IPA: [skaɪp]) is software that allows users to make telephone calls over the Internet. Calls to other users of the service and to free-of-charge numbers are free, while calls to other landlines and mobile phones can be made for a fee. Additional features include instant messaging, file transfer and video conferencing.

It was created by entrepreneurs Niklas Zennström, Janus Friis, and a team of software developers based in Tallinn, Estonia.[1]

The Skype Group has its headquarters in Luxembourg, with offices in London, Tallinn, Tartu, Stockholm, Prague,[2] and San Jose.

Skype has experienced rapid growth in popular usage since the launch of its services. It was acquired by eBay in September 2005 for $2.6 billion.[3]
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Online Chat

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_chat

Online chat can refer to any kind of communication over the Internet, but is primarily meant to refer to direct one-on-one chat or text-based group chat (formally also known as synchronous conferencing), using tools such as instant messengers, Internet Relay Chat, talkers and possibly MUDs, MUCKs, MUSHes and MOOes. The expression online chat comes from the word chat which means "informal conversation".[1]

3 comments:

Abel said...

One better - I use MSN Messenger and had my sister running a live video chat with the rest of the family in the waiting room while Annalise was being born. I tended to Stephanie and my sister made sure the laptop was not pointed anywhere, um, personal... :-)

And of course, her pics are at http://annaliselorain.blogspot.com.

Dr. Sherri Raftery said...

Abel - what a great resource - and you got the birth on video?

The photos are lovely. You look like a proud papa. Amazing - it seems like just yesterday Sabrina (who is turning 11 on Nov 14th) was in her onez;z!

Anonymous said...

Teaching Presentation Skills to Kids
http://www.toastmasters.org/ToastmastersMagazine/ToastmasterArchive/2007/May/Articles/Teaching.aspx

Aloha. (just emailed toastmasters on this same question - to follow)

I'm looking for a toastmaster group which conducts TM meetings online. I'am especially interested in youth programs.
Beyond this I'am looking for ways to connect my family and educating my children in connecting to others from around the world.

We really are One, global village.

I use Skype and Gizmo daily and (like yourself) internationally. (I have found apple's iChat still is best for video quality. Skype and Gizmo for all purpose)


I would be interesting in hearing thoughts on this.