Using Microsoft Teams for GAA Meetings

The COVID-19 pandemic is obviously having a major impact on the way different GAA units work and communicate. So, the GAA’s Officer Development Committee is eager to make common jobs easier by providing a series of educational webinars in the coming weeks. These will complement online meetings that are already happening between certain departments and county officer groups.
Yesterday evening (22nd April), a live broadcast was held on using Microsoft Teams for online meetings and seminars. It was delivered by the highly experienced Noel Tierney and Gerard Bradley from the GAA’s IT Committee.

The following topics were discussed

The benefits of using Teams
How to access Teams
Logging in for the first time
Scheduling online meetings
How to join a meeting
How to share a screen and documents
Other useful tips and tricks

Please find attached the slides and user guide for Microsoft Teams.

Teams Presentation

User Guide – MS Teams

Click here to watch the webinar again.

Click here if you wish to give feedback on this webinar.

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A summary of answers to questions that arose is below:

Q. Can I host a meeting via the Teams App on my mobile phone?

A. You can set-up a meeting and host it, but you typically won’t have all the features available through the desktop on your PC.

Q. Can Clubs use Teams to organise meetings with their Club Officers?

A. Yes.  Club Chairpersons, Secretaries, Treasurers and PROs are all entitled to an official GAA e-mail account.  The Microsoft Teams package is available as part of the GAA’s arrangement with Microsoft for Clubs.

Q. I am an Officer, but don’t have an official GAA e-mail account.  How can I get one?

Ask one of the other Officers on your Executive to contact the same service using their official GAA e-mail account.

Contact details are:

E: mail.support@gaa.ie

T: +353 1 8843258

Q. What is the maximum number of attendees on a Teams call?

250

Q. Can Teams be used for voting?

It isn’t recommended.  At the recent Special Congress, delegates voted after the meeting using Microsoft Forms.  It is more confidential.  Click here to access the user guide on using Forms.

Q. Is audio conferencing available as part of the GAA’s arrangement with Microsoft?

A. No, not be default.  The audio-conferencing add-on can be purchased for an additional cost, which is approximately €1.61 per “Organiser”, e.g. a County Secretary.

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If you have further questions, you are encouraged to direct these to your County IT Officer itofficer.cork@gaa.ie .  These officers part of an IT Officer Forum which relays queries and feedback to Tomás Meehan (GAA Chief Information Officer) and the IT Committee for consideration.  They will have much more technical knowledge on your queries.

Westlife Concerts

WESTLIFE CONFIRM RESCHEDULED DATES FOR PÁIRC UÍ CHAOIMH CORK CONCERTS

ALL TICKETS VALID FOR RESCHEDULED DATES

22nd April 2020

Following the Irish Government’s announcement to extend restrictions until 31st August 2020 for mass gatherings, Westlife have confirmed rescheduled dates for their two summer shows at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork.

Their concert on Friday 28th August 2020 is now rescheduled to Friday 27th August 2021 and their date on Saturday 29th August 2020 is now rescheduled to Saturday 28th August 2021.

No ticket exchange required. All tickets are valid for these new dates, subject to licence.

“Those who have been on the Westlife journey with us know how important performing is to us, but also know that safety must come first and foremost in delivering a successful tour. This is the course we need to take to ensure the protection of our fans, our crew and everyone around us but also to ease pressure on those working tirelessly to fight this virus” stated Westlife.

 

For more details please see www.westlife.com & www.mcd.ie

Cork Senior Hurling team supports Marymount

Cork Senior Hurler, Robbie O’ Flynn, has come up with a novel way of raising funds for Marymount Hospice.

He is gathering team members and GAA managers to undertake a solo run challenge over 48 hours on 25th and 26th April for Marymount hospice, which depends heavily on public donations.

Up to 50 Cork players and managers are expected to do a solo relay run in their gardens to raise funds over 48 hours next weekend. The solo runs will be videoed and streamed live via an Instagram page which Robbie set up for the event @Corkhurling.Marymount

He has also made a Facebook Page to support the initiative.

Robbie O’ Flynn said: “With a lot of Marymount’s fundraising events cancelled due to Covid-19, I thought it would be great if we could do something collectively to support them.

“Initially, I was thinking of donating or raffling jerseys but then thought that a solo run would be something that we could all get involved in to support this worthy cause. It would also be within social distancing guidelines in that we will all do the run in our own gardens or within a 2km radius of where we live. I asked some of the lads and they thought it was a great idea. Management have been really supportive too.”

The event aims to raise €50K for Marymount Hospice. Anyone who donates to the fund will be entered into a prize raffle for Cork team jerseys.

The 22-year-old player from Glounthaune in Cork, who has recently completed a Masters in Management and Marketing at UCC, said “ the run will begin at 6am on Saturday the 25th of April, followed on the hour and around the clock by each participant. “

The fundraising campaign has been launched via a Go Fund Me page and donations are already coming through.

“It’s good to be able to play a part in supporting such a worthy cause”, said Robbie.

“Covid-19 restrictions are affecting Marymount’s scheduled fundraising activities so this is a great opportunity to use our time, energy and skills to make a difference to people’s lives.”

Patrick Horgan, captain of the Cork senior hurling team, said: “We are all so delighted to be involved in such an event to support Marymount Hospice and the great work they do. Everybody in Cork has a close connection to Marymount in one way or another and show great strength and generosity any time an event like this one is run.

“The way Cork people especially come together to support something like Marymount, makes us all proud to be from Cork.”

Speaking about the event Cork Senior Hurling Manager Kieran Kingston said “Marymount Hospice is so important to the people of Cork, and the we are delighted to be able to be involved in a fundraiser like this, for such a great cause like Marymount Hospice”

Donations can be made via https://www.gofundme.com/f/corkhurlersformarymount/donate or by contacting Marymount Hospice’s fundraising team at 021 4501201 or email fundraising@marymount.ie

 

Cork GAA online Easter camps hailed as a major success

Some creative thinking from our games development personnel has seen over 6,000 children engage in fun interactive GAA activities this week from the comfort of their own homes. GDA’s performed live  movement and skill sessions which children followed over 4 days as a novel way of replacing the Easter camps they would have attended in their clubs.
Games Manager, Kevin O Callaghan noted, “GDA Colm Crowley floated the idea at a recent meeting and other GDA’s rowed in with some excellent content to bring the project to fruition. Numbers have been beyond our expectations with 11,000 views of the content through the week and we are exploring further similar projects in the near future reaching out to teenage players also.”
There were 2 live sessions each day. Session 1 was aimed at 4-8 year olds, ran by Colm Crowley and Pat Spratt. Session 2 was run by James McCarthy and Paudie O Brien for 9-12 year olds. Feedback from parents has been really positive with this novel initiative allowing parents and children to get active together and engage in physical activity to boost fitness and mental health in a fun way.
The sessions are a great resource for boys and girls to continue practicing their skills in the coming weeks so please log on to the link below and engage with the activities presented.
The Easter camps are just one element of the games development staff’s resourceful strategies in over coming the covid 19 impass. Cork GAA are also running weekly “Wednesday night Webinars” with a different guest speaker each night aimed at coaches of club players. Next Wednesday sees Pat Spratt talking about club structures and the benchmarking programme and coaches can log in by registering in advance with GDA Colm Crowley*.
There will also be a series of On Line foundation courses rolled out over the next 8 weeks catering for over 300 coaches throughout the county. Those wishing to register for foundation courses can register with Shane Supple*
*colm.crowley.gda.cork@gaa.ie
*shane.supple.gda.cork@gaa.ie and log on to www.rebelogcoaching.com  for further details of all initiatives.

Coivd-19 Supports and Resources

We hope that you all had a lovely Easter. Please find a number of additional supports and resources below that may be of interest to yourselves and your networks;

Getting through COVID-19 Together

The Department of Health, The HSE and Healthy Ireland have launched a new site offering advice and tips on how you can look after your mental wellbeing and cope with your new daily routine: https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/together/. Here you will find supports and information across a number of areas of wellbeing.
They have also provided a link to some online counselling and support services for anyone struggling with their mental health, older adults or anyone requiring additional support during this time; https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/4/mental-health-services/connecting-for-life/news/supports-and-services-during-covid-19.html

ExWell@Home programme

The ExWewll@Home programme offers a derailed and supportive home exercise programme for people with any long term medical problems. The programme operates on medical referral and has medical oversight. All details can be found at www.exwell.ie There will also be a short video tuition session on the RTE website every Monday Wednesday and Friday on the Lifestyle page; https://www.rte.ie/lifestyle/living/2020/0406/1128814-watch-aerobic-workout-using-a-chair

GAA

Ulster GAA have launched a Covid-19 site which will provide updated guidance and support to their members https://ulster.gaa.ie/covid-19/
The GAA have added a number of different activities to their website that can help keep children entertained at home. They are available here; https://www.gaa.ie/my-gaa/getting-involved/kids-activities