1. An invitation to the meeting with a link to zoom will be sent to participants: To maintain security, please do not forward the link for the zoom meeting to others. Do not post the link for the zoom meeting on other social media, like Facebook or instagram. Do not click on any links from unknown users within the zoom meeting. 
2. To maintain confidentiality, please ensure that you are alone on this Zoom call, in a place where the conversation cannot be overheard by anyone else.  Please do not share your screen with a relative or friend, even if you are grieving the same loss. If you have a special situation that you think should be an exception to this guideline, please contact us in advance (admin@growingthrugrief.com) .
3. Prior to joining any meeting, please turn off all notifications on your devices for texts, emails, etc. We want to minimize distractions.
4. Also to minimize distractions, please silence all devices that beep or ring, e.g. phones (mobile and landline); pagers; etc. and minimize any extraneous ambient sounds around you.
5. Make sure your video is on when you join in. The controls for video are accessed by clicking the arrow to the right of the camera icon at the bottom of your screen. Having each of us visible brings a sense of deeper connection with one another.
6. Remember that the host of the meeting will have everyone "muted" upon joining, and you will remain muted until it appears everyone has gathered and until after the presentation is over, so you can talk in small groups but not in the large group.
7. Once unmuted and after you have spoken, please mute your own microphone again, as this will decrease ambient noise that will interfere with the clarity of the audio. Raising your hand will indicate to the facilitator that you wish to speak.
8. The “Chat” feature will be disabled so we can really focus on each other rather than typing and reading words on the screen.
9. At the beginning of the small group discussions participants will be invited to introduce themselves. Regular GTG guidelines and pertinent portions of these zoom guidelines may be reviewed by the small group facilitators at the beginning of the discussion.
10. We recognize that your emotions may be heightened during the group. Even if you feel like exiting the conversation, we encourage you to remain with us as a way of receiving the group’s support.

We are grateful for the opportunity to gather in this way during these uncertain and challenging times. Our hope is that all of us experience the support of our ongoing connection with one another, and that it helps sustain each of us.