I hope you are looking forward to participating in 2025 NAUA Summit- this year hosted on the new Zoom Events portal. This post is meant to help you navigate through this environment – using a Bee analogy.

I used to keep a few colonies of bees and have just finished a delightful book “Bees” by Laline Paull. Thus, in Bee mode, I hope to help you navigate the Summit Events platform.

Clicking on the “register and access sessions button” directs you to the landing pad. Here you can scrutinize the sessions, schedule, speakers and get a sense of what awaits you in the hive. Like all hives, this hive is protected and only allows entrance to those who  have been invited.  Unlike Bees, it is not a familiar smell that is the key to entry – humans use a credit card for entry the first time and thereafter their zoom login and password. 

Past the Landing Pad you enter the Lobby. Here forager bees dance a map to successful food sources. Here, they catch up on the latest hive smells, while worker bees unload their supplies of pollen and nectar.  Like bees, humans in the lobby can meet and chat with friends. They can also see upcoming sessions, and even watch sessions they have missed.

Bees use pheromones to identify each other and the roles they perform. For humans, the Events platform provides a profile in which you can list your location, favourite activities, super powers and other data that helps you find and connect with like souls. You can also toggle on or off your interest in being social and chatting with others in the lobby.

Beyond the Lobby in a bee colony are the food stores, nurseries and sleeping quarters. Beyond the Summit Lobby are the session rooms where humans gather to listen and participate, vote on resolutions and otherwise work and learn together.

Terry Anderson, Edmonton,  Alberta Canada