Video Chat & Conferencing Guide

What is Video Chat in SpiritDAO?

SpiritDAO includes real-time video communication directly within the app, no external tools required. There are two modes:

• Video Chat: Direct video calls between members, accessible through pods
• Conferencing: Larger multi-participant video sessions for pod meetings, governance calls, community events, and retreats

Both are integrated with pod membership, so access is automatically governed by your roles and permissions.

Video Chat

What is Video Chat For?

Video chat is designed for direct, real-time communication between pod members:

• One-on-one or small group conversations
• Quick coordination calls
• Pod leader check-ins with members
• Informal community connection

Accessing Video Chat

1. Go to the Chat section from the home screen or bottom navigation
2. Select a pod or contact you want to video chat with
3. Click the video camera icon to initiate a call
4. Your camera and microphone permissions will be requested
5. The other participant receives a notification to join

During a Video Call

• Mute/Unmute: Toggle your microphone on or off
• Camera On/Off: Toggle your video feed
• End Call: Leave the call at any time
• Call quality adjusts automatically to your connection

Permissions

• Video chat access is governed by pod membership
• You can only initiate video calls with members of pods you belong to
• Pod leaders can manage video chat permissions in pod settings

Conferencing

What is Conferencing For?

Conferencing supports larger group sessions:

• Weekly DAO operations calls
• Pod governance meetings
• Community workshops and training
• In-person retreat coordination (hybrid events)
• Onboarding sessions for new members

Accessing a Conference

1. Go to the Conference feature from within a pod or from the home screen
2. Find a scheduled conference or create a new one (if you have permission)
3. Click "Join Conference" to enter the room
4. Your camera and microphone will be requested

Creating a Conference

Required: Pod leader role or appropriate pod permission

1. Navigate to your pod's Conference section
2. Click "Create Conference"
3. Set a title and optional description
4. Choose whether it's open to all pod members or invite-only
5. Start immediately or schedule for later
6. Share the join link with participants

Conference Controls

• Mute/Unmute all: Host can mute participants (useful for large calls)
• Screen sharing: Share your screen for presentations or demos
• Chat: Text chat runs alongside video for questions and links
• Participants list: See who is in the call
• Record: Hosts may record the session (participants are notified)

Conference Best Practices

As a Host:

• Test your audio and video before starting
• Mute participants on entry for large calls
• Use the text chat for links, questions, and notes
• Designate a co-host for large sessions

As a Participant:

• Mute yourself when not speaking
• Use a stable internet connection
• Have your camera on when possible, since presence builds community
• Use the raise-hand feature or text chat to ask questions

Weekly Governance Calls

SpiritDAO holds regular community governance calls as part of its practice. These are typically:

• Held weekly for DAO members
• Open to all members regardless of pod
• Where proposals are discussed, coordinated, and reviewed
• Recorded for members who cannot attend live

To find the next governance call:

1. Check the Events calendar
2. Look for "DAO Operations Call" or similar recurring event
3. Register and add it to your calendar
4. Join via the conference link at the scheduled time

Troubleshooting

"Camera/Microphone Not Working"

• Check browser permissions: allow camera and microphone for this site
• Try a different browser (Chrome or Firefox recommended)
• Ensure no other app is using your camera
• Refresh the page and rejoin

"Can't Join Conference"

• Verify you have the correct pod membership
• Check that the conference is still active
• Ensure your browser is up to date
• Try clearing your cache and rejoining

"Poor Video Quality"

• Check your internet connection speed
• Close other bandwidth-heavy applications
• Try disabling your video if audio-only is sufficient
• Move closer to your WiFi router

"Can't See Other Participants"

• Refresh the conference page
• Ask others to check their camera settings
• Ensure all participants have joined the same conference room

Real presence builds real community. Show up, on video when you can. 📹