Zoom app skyrockets in popularity for all ages

helping HANDS Zoom Has Gone BOOM!

Popular video and conferencing app takes off during pandemic

When the world seemed to stop on a dime in March with various states ordering “shelter-in-place” pandemic orders, we all faced a new normal as we scrambled to figure out how to keep our daily activities and businesses flowing in new and innovative ways. Schools had to quickly configure how to have interactive classes. Business owners and employees had to collaborate without going into offices. Zoom takes off

Zoom, a web-based video conferencing tool developed by a young engineer Eric Yuan, went online in January 2013 with approximately one million users. When the pandemic hit, the Zoom app literally took off like a rocket as word spread of how effective it was in bringing people together for all sorts of purposes. Recently, more than 3,423,000 people worldwide downloaded the app in one single day. Users now number in the millions. The many uses of Zoom

My first experience with Zoom was a morning class I was taking on US Trade Policy. I am not the most technical person, so I was leery of my ability to understand the process of logging on. The app requires a “host” for each meeting and our host made it a simple, “one, two three…” step process by simply sending a link to the meeting and a Meeting ID and password. In a matter of minutes, the faces of my fellow classmates appeared in squares (a little like the BY » Jean Spangler

“Brady Bunch” intro if you’re old enough to remember). Some people selected their own virtual backgrounds. One person chose to be superimposed against a photo of planet Earth and appeared to be floating in space. Others chose vacation pictures from the Grand Canyon or the Caribbean as their backgrounds. I decided not to test my technical skills so my background was a rather bland shot of my living room where I set up my computer. One classmate also just sat in her easy chair with her small dog resting comfortably around her shoulders. Others I’ve heard have used every imaginable background—scenes from a horror movie, cartoon characters, or pictures of their favorite movie star. Your background can be as creative as you want it to be.

I also belong to a group composed of single women over 50 that has monthly gatherings. Because we are single and the organization was started as a way for women living alone to not feel so isolated, we used Zoom for a virtual “happy hour.” Once again, we had a host who set up the time and emailed the simple instructions. At the designated time our group came alive on screen one by one—each of us hoisting a glass of wine or beverage of choice. It was just like our normal gatherings with everyone sharing the highs and lows each of us is experiencing during this unprecedented time in history, as well as happy news about new grandchildren and the never-ending quest for toilet paper.

Zoom has also become a lifeline for famous artists who are performing for free on the

app. Now, you can find art, music and even Broadway plays on Zoom. Even my 2-year-old granddaughter who loves her preschool has benefited from Zoom, as my son sent me a video of her shaking African maracas in a Zoom-music class led by her preschool teacher. Keeping people connected

Churches, normally accustomed to gatherings seven days a week, have found Zoom to continue to connect to their congregations. According to Rev. Dr. John Ryan, Associate Pastor at Davidson College Presbyterian Church, he has hosted up to four Zoom meetings going on at the same time.

“I’m very proud of how quickly we were able to keep church connections and our numerous Faith Formation groups going using Zoom,” he says. “It is pretty easy to use and our church members in their 80s are able to virtually connect to their friends and faith formation groups during this time of social isolation. This app has been a great tool to allow members to continue their relationships and feel less isolated. Even if someone does not have a video camera, they can still connect to Zoom meetings via a phone call.”

Zoom is being used so people can watch and ask questions at Town Hall meetings or on the pandemic. For instance, the Davidson Town Board is using Zoom for their meetings as are other municipalities. Realtors and lawyers are trying to continue their businesses by using Zoom to complete deals and transactions.

Nonprofits are becoming even more dependent upon Zoom. I sit on the Davidson Housing Coalition Board and we have used Zoom to continue our meetings that are crucial in times when people are facing job loss and trying to pay rents.

Now, if there is a downside to Zoom it’s that there is no excuse for not attending a meeting. After all, what are you doing to say, “The dog ate my computer?” There’s no saying “I’ll be out of town, or I’m on vacation.” You must also pay attention to how you position yourself on screen. Although you are only seen from the waist up, it’s my understanding that there have been some embarrassing moments when someone has forgotten this, only to show fellow Zoomers their underwear. Understanding where the mute button is also important when you’re not speaking as it’s been noted that kids can come into the room and say something like, “I’ve got to go potty.”

In these days where we often feel isolated, Zoom can bring any group together. It just takes one person to “host” and set up the Meeting ID and password. As I understand it, Zoom is free with a Basic Plan that comes with unlimited meetings that include three or more people and sessions that don’t last more than 40 minutes. Other plans range from $14.99 month.

Editor’s Note: Zoom had issues with security in early March. The app developer recently announced that steps had been taken to further ensure security and privacy, but to learn more, go to Zoom.com.

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Supporting BY » By Jean Spangler

Existing Nonprofits

Davidson Community Foundation Launched By Citizen-Driven Initiative

Launched on April 10, Davidson Community Foundation (DCF) is set to become a major influence in supporting the community’s emergency needs and long-term transformative projects impacting key issues of racial and socioeconomic diversity, inclusion, affordable housing, and neighborhood preservation.

Founded by Davidson residents Ellen Donaldson and Dave Cable, both longtime community non-profit leaders, the pair developed the idea for DCF from their work on the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Group, part of the Town of Davidson’s comprehensive planning process.

“DCF is not new non-profit,” says Donaldson, “but an initiative that will support efforts and funding for existing non-profits, houses of worship and other organizations. The Foundation greatly expands Davidson’s philanthropic capacity and the ability to mobilize quickly in times of crisis, like the one we are experiencing with COVID-19.”

DCF is powered by Foundation For The Carolinas and established as a field of interest fund. This structure enables DCF to efficiently catalyze and leverage energy and commitment of residents, non-profit agencies, houses of worship, the Town of Davidson and Davidson College for the betterment of Davidson.

“DCF is solidly built on guiding principles of transparency, accountability, bias toward action, diversity, inclusion and social justice,” says Cable. “Because DCF’s overhead expenses are minimal, 99 cents of every dollar raised will go directly to the community through grants to local non-profits,” he adds. “DCF is now fundraising to address the urgent needs of those suffering from the impact of COVID-19 crisis. The funding will assist organizations responding to members in dire need of assistance.”

Donaldson and Cable were expected to award the first round of grants in late April.

“The citizens of Davidson always step up to the plate when there is need, and there is no greater need than what we are facing now,” says Donaldson. “Longer-term, our commitment is to harness visionary leadership and engage citizens to raise awareness of community needs and the transformative projects to address them.”

To learn more about Davidson Community Foundation, contact Ellen Donaldson at ellengdonaldson@gmail.com or Dave Cable at dcable@ springsidepartners.com.

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To donate online visit www.fftc.org/Davidson. Make checks payable to Foundation of the Carolinas: ATTN: Davidson Community Foundation, 220 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28202.