Round Table

Welcome to the round table!

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Round Tables Rules

The round table is currently expected to be a political conversation of either 45, 60, 85 or 90 minutes in length. We will invite people of influence and movement leaders to the round table, but you may not be on the show with the same guests every week, and you may not recognize a participant.

Get on the speakers list!

• Skype helps us save time on recording and editing by giving us a text-chat option to communicate with one another simultaneously as we record.
• While one host moderates the round table recording during a topic, the other manages the text-chat and keeps the speakers list.
• If you want to jump in on a topic, give a rebuttal, add to a response or even ask a question of the speaker, let us know in chat and we will add you to the speakers list. Don't jump in until we've said your names — our listeners want to know who's speaking!
• Mute your microphone when you're not speaking BUT DON'T FORGET TO UNMUTE IT WHEN YOU'RE UP! We may think we've lost you and pass you up if we call on you and you don't say anything! (How to sound amazing)
• Watch the speakers list and make sure you're ready to go when you're up!
• With a few exceptions, we allow conversations on a specific topic to go on pretty much as long as they need to, until everyone has had a chance to weigh in.
• If a topic creates a lively discussion with back-and-forth that begins to bleed over the five minute mark, we may start limiting the speakers list.
• If we have to cut off a conversation before you've had a chance to give your final word, don't worry — type up your last word, email it to Joe and I at [e-mail] right after the show, and we'll add that as a quote from you in the show notes blog postings.

Rapid fire round table rules

• Make sure there is nothing else making noise in your room but you.
• Leave your mic unmuted so that you can respond fast!
• Minimize chat and no typing unless absolutely necessary; your mic will pick it up!
• Wait for us to call on you, we may not call on you for every question.
• If we call on you for a question, you're on the hook for a short 15-20 second answer, so be ready!
• Don't say "pass!" If you have any opinion at all, give us a quick summary. If you agree with the person who just spoke, say "I agree with so-and-so." If you disagree, then tell us why!
• We may cut you off if you're speaking for too long! Please don't take it personal!

DON'T FORGET TO PREP FOR THE ROUND TABLE TOPICS!
Check out the trouble shooting tips.

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Round Table Regulars

Round table participants' expectations from moderators:

+ Prior to hosting SameSexSunday, moderators agree to:

• Collect biographical information, a photograph, preferred topics of discussion and best recording availability from participant
• Promote participant's inclusion on the round table through all means available and link to/promote website associated with participant
• Discuss and secure agreement of terms of appearance, and clarify any uncertainties about expectations.

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+ While hosting SameSexSunday, moderators agree to:

• Respectfully ask provocative, challenging questions, and allow insightful and intelligent discussion among participants
• Herald the relevant achievements of each of the panel participants
• Never badger or disrespectfully provoke a panel participant
• Attempt to treat panelists equally in all ways, and asks challenging questions that play to the panelists' strengths
• Promote by name participant's project, campaign or employer while introducing participant
• Promote any recent writing available online authored by participant
• Maintain an efficient and regular rhythm throughout the discussion
• Enforcing time-limits and speaking quotas from all participants in an attempt to be fair
• Extending time-limits when needed in order to give subject appropriate coverage
• Consistently enforce same rules for each participant
• Model and enforce a friendly and open atmosphere on the round table

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+ After hosting SameSexSunday, moderators agree to:

• Post the recorded episode at the stated time on Sunday morning
• Contact you when the post is live and available for download and playback
• Attend to any concerns you have about the experience, the recording, or any future appearances
• Discuss any possible future appearances, and record any feedback given by participants
• Seriously consider implemented any suggested changes to the show format
• Promote the participants' identities with the episode andif appropriateany affiliations and links to work
• Keep participants in the loop, and inform them of any changes in these terms or show format

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Round table moderators' expectations from participants:

+ Prior to appearing on SameSexSunday, round table participants agree to:

• Send a short 150 word bio, photograph, recording availability and preferred topics of expertise to the moderators
• Promote awareness of your scheduled appearance on the show through your social networks, blog and website
• Download, install and set up an account on Skype and share your username with the moderators at moc.ocirelib|yadnusxesemas#moc.ocirelib|yadnusxesemas
• Record your committed recording time in your personal calendar to assure that you are prompt and clear on your terms of appearance
• Communicate any conflicts in time with the moderators of the round table well in advance of recording
• If you commit to appear, but become otherwise committed to something more pressing, please consider recommending a round table proxy who would be available for that time who could fill your role on that panel
• If you commit to appear but are unable to at the last minute, consider scheduling a follow-up visit to the show to maintain your currency on the program.

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+ While appearing on SameSexSunday, round table participants agree to:

See more at Moderation rules

• Sign in to Skype early and accept the call invitation, recording in a quiet, noise free, phone free and device free room—make sure all cell phones are off, not just on vibrate
• Answer questions in complete sentences with brief but full explanations of any positions taken
• Attempt to keep all question responses or rebuttals to 30 seconds or less
• Attempt to keep all rebuttals to panel participants to 1-15 seconds
• Never interrupt another member of the panel
• Avoid asking another panel participant a question in a rebuttal, and especially not in a spirit of combativeness
• Allow the moderator to interrupt you for the sake of time or balance of speakers, and be a good sport if the moderator is unable to allow you to finish a statement in the manner you would like
• Use the Skype chat to communicate with the moderators, especially if you have a burning rebuttal that you'd like to give to another participant before the moderator changes subjects
• Be a good sport if the moderator does not allow you all of the rebuttals you would like to have
• Maintain a friendly attitude while on the panel, and treat other panelists as equals

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+ After appearing on SameSexSunday, round table participants agree to:

• Refrain from sharing any specifics about the round table conversation other than topics discussed until after the recording is public
• Maintain a level of confidentiality about any statements made by any of the round table participants until the recording is made public
• Promote through your blog, facebook, linkd-in, twitter, myspace, and webpage your appearance on the roundtable between committing to the recording and the release of the recording
• Promote awareness of the recording after its release through those same channels

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+ Between appearances on SameSexSunday, round table participants agree to:

• Let the moderators know by email about any new news story that you'd be eager to discuss on a SameSexSunday panel
• Keep the moderators abreast of any contact information changes, especially phone number and email
• Keep the moderators abreast of any outdated information in your bio

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Regular round table participants and moderators should reassess their relationships every three months. Either moderators or regulars can initiate an assessment. Moderators will also welcome constant feedback from participants at all times in the relationship and will encourage open lines of communication.

Any participant that does not give notice they they will not be appearing on an episode being promoted as featuring their participation, jeopardizes their relationship with the program and its partners. The round table is small, and an absence is noticeable. Consider finding a proxy to fill in for you if a last minute cancellation becomes inevitable. Keep in mind your proxy must connect to the conversation via Skype.

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