Reading Ⅱ Meetings via Distance Conferencing远程会议
In the businessworld，it is hard to getmanagers，supervisors，or top executives together formeetings.All of these businesspeople lead very busy lives and often have to attend to some urgent matters.Because of this，these upper management individualsmay not always be able to attend importantmeetings.Audio conferencing is the solution to this problem.Audio conferencing allows business people to conduct meetings in a convenientway.
Instead of traveling across cities，states，and countries to conduct important company meetings，business people can communicate through audio conferencing from their own environments.All participants can schedule a time to meet and conduct a virtualmeeting via the Internet or other audio equipment.In fact，people can hold virtualmeetings on the Internet withoutmaking any reservations for audio conferencing.Others can join in at any time.Audio conferencing is fit for anyone，anywhere，at anytime.
Audio conferencing is convenient and cost-effective.Instead of changing their schedules to attend an out-of-town meeting，business people can use audio conferencing and keep their work schedules.Audio conferencing also requires no travel costs.There are no plane tickets，hotel reservations，cab rides，etc.People in various parts of the world can discuss business matters with one another.They can contribute ideas，offer suggestions，and make decisions as if they were in the same boardroom.In addition，some audio conferencing systems allow users to archive the conversations.They are stored for future playback and reference.This is a great feature，because it allows everyone a chance to replay and recall exactly what was discussed at themeeting.
Audio conferencing makes it easier to conduct meetings across the globe.It allows for greater productivity，because people can save time and money by reducing travel.It accommodatesmeeting participants nomatter where they are.
executive［ɪg'zek jʊtɪv］ n.行政人员
solution［sə'luːʃən］ n.解决办法
communicate［kə'm juːnɪkeɪt］ v.交流
virtual［'vзːtjʊəl,-tʃʊəl］ adj.虚拟的
contribute［kən'trɪb juːt］ v.提出
boardroom［'bɔːd,rum］ n.（圆桌）议室
archive［'ɑːkaɪv］ v.把……存档
playback［'p leɪbæk］ n.重放
feature［'fiːtʃə］ n.特点
productivity［,p rɒdʌk'tɪvɪtɪ］ n.生产力；生产率
recall［rɪ'kɔːl］ v.记起；召回，叫回
distance conferencing 远程会议（方式）
top executive 高层行政人员
uppermanagement individual 高层管理人员
conductmeetings 开会
virtualmeeting via the Internet 通过网络举办的虚拟会议，网络会议
Quickies
1）Why do people attend meetings via distance conferencing？
2）What are the advantages of audio conferencing？
a.convenient b.lowering cost
c.stored for future reference d.all of the above
Notes
①Booking a Meeting会议预订
会议服务内容主要包括：会议策划、根据会议性质推荐会议场所、会议日程安排、住宿、餐饮、交通、旅游安排等。如果是会议全程服务，则包括会议通知发送、报到接待、场地设备安排、住宿餐饮交通协调、场地设备安排与布置等。有时还提供会议总结、资料印刷发送、礼品、媒体广告宣传等纵深服务。
②What do you wish to have for themorning break？早会休息时间用什么茶点呢？
以往会议中心的餐饮项目有限，只有“点心”，现在越来越多的会议中心以签约方式引进全套餐饮服务，目的是要和饭店竞争，为开会团体提供周到的服务。
③Booking a Banquet宴会预订预订时，宴会预订员或宴会经理必须与客户考虑以下细节：
1）预计多少人？
2）选择什么颜色的桌布（table covers）与餐巾（napkin）（选择一种或多种颜色）？
3）主桌（head table）和其他桌要如何摆饰（setup）？
4）多少人坐在主桌？主桌需要放在舞台（dancing floor）上吗？
5）主桌是否需要讲台（podium）和麦克风（mike）？
6）讲台位置在哪里？需要哪种麦克风？
7）主桌是否也要供餐，还是那些名流（celebrity）在餐后才来？
8）如果采用自助餐（buffet），主桌人也自行取用，还是请服务人员先给他们盘子？
9）是否另外需要一个房间让贵宾们（VIPs）在晚餐前休息？
10）节食（on a diet）、素食（vegetarian）等特别安排（special requirements），如果有最好事先告知。
11）是否要挂条幅标语（banner）？
12）是否需要衣帽间（cloakroom）？
13）是否要安置视听设备（A/V equipment）？
14）是否需要背景音乐（background music）或跳舞音乐？是否需要演奏者坐在舞台上？
15）是否有表演节目（performance），舞台大小是否足够？如果有表演，舞台尺寸（size）和高度（height）是多少？
16）舞台四周是否要裙边（draping）？上面要不要地毯（carpet）？是否需要预演（rehearsal）？何时？
17）每一程序的时间安排、前奏音乐或表演、用餐时间、正式节目和演讲、跳舞等。