How to Zoom Your Thanksgiving Party

by Carolyne Volpe Curley / Carolyne@WestEssexNOW.com
Published 1:35pm

While millions of Americans are staying home this holiday season, there's no reason that families need to remain distanced from one another. Zoom has become a popular video calling service which can be accessed at no cost on most phones and devices, and this Thanksgiving, the company is offering free unlimited Zoom time. 

Normally, a Zoom account allows a person to host a free remote gathering which is cut off after 40-minutes. However, this past week the company announced that in their hopes that families across the country will safely gather with their loved ones virtually, there will be no shut-off time limit on Thanksgiving Day.

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ZOOM THANKSGIVING

Zoom Thanksgiving Day Guidelines

• Uninterrupted gathering time using free basic host account
• Begins Thursday morning, Nov. 26, at 12am EST
• Ends Friday morning, Nov. 27, at 6am EST
• Up to 100 guests can participate
• 49 guests can be seen on a single screen
• Guests from anywhere in the world are welcome

Zoom
Nov. 10, 2020

As a thank you to our customers, we will be lifting the 40-minute limit for all meetings globally from midnight ET on Nov. 26 through 6 a.m. ET on Nov. 27 so your family gatherings don't get cut short. 

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HOW TO HOST A ZOOM MEETING

Create a Zoom Account

• Signup for an account online here

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Download the Zoom App

• Zoom Client for Meetings: Download here​

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Schedule a Zoom Party

• Choose your date and time online here
• Choose options, including using a password, and Save
• On second page select: Copy Meeting Invitation

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Invite Your Guests

• Create an email and Paste the Meeting Invitation
• Your guests will only need to respond to the meeting invitation, they do not have to create accounts themselves

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Create a Virtual Background

• Find Zoom Virtual Backgrounds online here

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HOST A ZOOM THANKSGIVING

Remember Those Who are Suffering
While making your guest lists, consider reaching out to individuals for whom this year will mark the first holiday without their departed loved one.  

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Virtual Party Ideas

• Cook together
• Share a toast together
• Bless the meal together
• Light a candle together
• Eat together
• Watch a movie, parade or sporting event together
• Play a game together
• Go out for a walk together
• Create a group photo
• Take photos to share later

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Create Group Photo

• Once everyone is prepared and smiling or waving, take a screenshot on your device

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Create Breakout Rooms

• Anyone wanting to talk together can connect in smaller groups

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Watch a Movie Together through Screen Sharing

• Stream/play video on your own device
• Share your screen with others on your zoom call
• click "Share computer sound"
• See and talk with each other at the same time you all view

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Select a Spotlight Speaker

• Host right-clicks on the video of the speaker who will be selected
• Hosts selects "Spotlight Video"
• Host clicks on upper-left corner of selected speaker and clicks "Cancel the Spotlight Video" to cancel

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Play a Virtual Group Game
Each game can be played individually or on teams.
Breakout rooms can be used for team discussions. 
​Spotlight Speaker can be used for the person drawing or acting.

• Scavenger Hunt: 
  Host prepares a list of items found around the house. Players compete to see who can find the most items in the shortest amount of time
  
  
• Trivia
  ​Hosts can use the Random Trivia Generator to ask guests questions; players compete to see who can answer the most questions correctly
  
  
• Pictionary
  Host can use the Pictionary Word Generator to select a word that one person will draw and players attempt to guess in one minute
  
  
• Charades
  Host can use the Charades Idea Generator to select from movie, book, and music titles. One player will act out that title while the others have one minute to guess the phrase

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Go Easy On Yourself

Family relationships are complicated and there is no easy recipe for stress-free holidays on any given year. 

This year, hosts should plan ahead for hours of family and friends remote enjoyment, but they should also be prepared that their guests will each respond differently to the virtual event. 

• Some guests may stay on the virtual event the entire time and enjoy every minute of it
  
  
• Some guests may have their fill after the first hour and express their regrets while departing 

• Some guests may do their best to gather remotely on other virtual events at the same time

The best idea for all involved will be to enjoy the moments as they present themselves and not to expect that anything will go smoothly. The less professional the gathering becomes, the more fun and memorable it will be for everyone.

One thing is for certain, the 2020 holiday season will not soon be forgotten. Remember to laugh a lot and un-mute your speaker. ​A joyful family gathering is, after all, the best that all of us can hope for.