Incorporating Oral Presentation Lessons Tailored to your Students’ Interests

For educators, the balmy, relaxing days of summer are often spent teaching summer courses, conducting research, writing, or planning for the following school year. You may be thinking about adding some new features to an existing course, or you may be creating a new one from scratch!

As you plan, consider the importance of communication skills for your students’ success, as all future professionals and leaders need to be taught to present their ideas clearly. Whether you are teaching future scientists, engineers, computer programmers, artists, mathematicians, linguists, or musicians, all will benefit from the ability to speak in front of others and present ideas effectively.

Consider incorporating oral presentation lessons tailored to your students’ interests. Cross-curricular lessons help students understand how specialized knowledge can make an impact on the world. Perhaps a presentation – based on reality or a future fantasy – about their latest scientific breakthrough, masterpiece, or creative writing will get them excited about expressing themselves as only they can. Students may want to deliver their Nobel Prize or Kennedy Center Honors speech, including details about why they won their award.

Make sure to have a portable or permanent lectern in your classroom, or consider a portable voice amplifier for public speaking practice. Help your students understand that whatever their interests are, telling others about them is important to future success. Practicing in small groups, in front of the classroom, or at a school assembly will help students become comfortable discussing their unique skills in front of others.

Pinnacle Tabletop Lectern

EZ Speak Folding Lectern

Travel-Lite Folding Tabletop Lectern

Small, portable tabletop lecterns, such as the Travel-Lite Folding Tabletop Lectern and the EZ Speak Folding Lectern are excellent choices for classrooms as they both fold and store in compact areas. AmpliVox carries a wide variety of full height lecterns and portable sound systems as well.

Custom Logo for Lecterns

As an added bonus, lecterns may be customized with school, club, or team logos! Our friendly customer service team members are always happy to discuss your goals and objectives, and make recommendations for your particular class and room size.

Learning is rewarding, and the ability to share knowledge with others is a skill your students will benefit from for the rest of their lives. Who knows, in the future your student may thank you in a Grammy, Clio, or Pulitzer Prize Speech!

By Vita Schweighart

Half Mile Hailer Making a Difference in Africa

Every once in a while, we hear from a customer whose experience with their AmpliVox product really made a difference in their life. We recently heard from one such customer, Barry Webb, who purchased two of our Half Mile Hailer sound systems before traveling to Africa on a mission trip. He checked in to let us know how well the devices have worked for him, and we thought we would share it with you. Read below!

Greetings from Malawi, Africa! I just wanted to drop you a line and let you know that the two Wireless Half Mile Hailer sound systems we purchased from you have been such a big help!  

We are running a month of day camps on the weekdays and combined church rallies on Sundays. Every day, we travel one to three hours to a different village. On average, we minister between 200 and 700 people each day. We set up a portable puppet stage at the main meeting area and one of the Half Mile Hailer systems at each place. The Half Mile Hailer system works well for us because of our need for audio inputs and the wireless capability. When we arrive at the meeting site and set up the equipment, I hook up my MP3 player and play music over the system to let the surrounding area know where we are and that something special is going on.   

We have a wired mic on a stand for announcements and for the program director and song leader to use. We then switch to the on-board wireless with one of the headset mics. The translator for the puppets uses the second add-on wireless kit. When the puppets and singing are over, we dismiss the children to their meeting place, and use the on-board wireless system with the lavalier mic to teach the children, while their translator uses the other secondary wireless add-on kit. At the main meeting with the teens and adults, I switch to the lavalier mic to preach with.   

The Wireless Half Mile Hailer systems have performed flawlessly. I am using good Ansmann 2850 rechargeable batteries for the wireless packs. We purchased the battery packs for the two Hailer systems as well. There is no electrical power in our villages, so we needed the rechargeable systems. We have run our programs from 8:30 AM through 4:00 PM and neither system has had any power loss problems. We also bought the compact stands and the cases for them as well as the cases for the Hailer systems and it has been very helpful, since we need things to be highly compact and portable.   

We recently drove an hour to a tributary of the Shire River in lower Malawi. We were going to a meeting of several churches on an island in the middle of the river. We had to board dugout canoes to get over to the island. Having a light portable sound system and a smaller stand allowed us to carry all of that to our meeting destination and back. Each night when we return to the guesthouse where we are staying, I plug in the systems and pop the rechargeable batteries into a charger to get everything charged up for the next day.   

We are very thankful for these systems and I would be happy to recommend them to others who want a portable, rechargeable, economical, sound system for use with large or small crowds anywhere in the world.   

--Evangelist Barry Webb
Board Member, EurAsian and EuroAfrican Baptist Missions

We appreciate Barry’s kind words, and are glad the Half Mile Hailer is serving as a perfect audio solution for his needs.

With a 50 watt amplifier that projects sound up to a half mile, and at only ten pounds, the Half Mile Hailer embodies both sound power and portability. What’s more, the simple, straightforward controls and auxiliary port that syncs to your multimedia devices ensures the versatility necessary to thrive in both indoor and outdoor environments. Offered in three models, the S610A comes with a dynamic corded microphone, the SW610A is equipped with a wireless lapel and headset mic, and the SW615A includes a handheld wireless mic.

As Barry’s story proves, the Half Mile Hailer will ensure your outdoor sound needs are covered, whether your event is here in the States, or all the way in Africa.

Tanaka Farms uses the Audio Portable Buddy as their Tour Guide PA System

Tanaka Farms is a family owned and operated farm situated in the heart of Irvine California.

The 30-acre farm produces organic fruits and vegetables that supplies their produce stand and drives their CSA program (Community Supported Agriculture), providing farm fresh produce and fruit delivered to local businesses, company sites, schools and churches.

The real treat at Tanaka Farms is all the Guided Tours on the farm offers throughout the seasons, allowing for kids and adults alike to get a closer glimpse into the workings of a real farm.

The Tanaka family wanted to educate children where fruits and vegetables come from, where and how they grow. So back in 1998 they began to offer their Strawberry Tours, a guided wagon ride taking groups around their farm teaching them how different fruits and vegetables grow, sample various fruits and vegetables that are in season and also give tour groups a chance to pick and eat their very own strawberries.

Tanaka Farms uses the AmpliVox Audio Portable Buddy as their tour guide PA system to amplify their voice to the crowd. The Audio Portable Buddy gave them a moderate improvement in their sound coverage and voice clarity while comfortably being heard throughout the tour group and all along their wagon ride across the farm.

The Audio Portable Buddy is a battery powered public address system that goes anywhere you go and runs for up to 200 hours on 10 D-Cell batteries, or up to 10 hours of talk time with the optional S1465 rechargeable NiCad Battery Pack.

Its durable case stands up to rugged use, with its 50 watt stereo amplifier that can reach and audience size of up to 1000 people.

The headset microphones used by the tour guides at Tanaka Farms allowed for their hands to be free during their presentation, permitting the tour guide to simply point out areas of the farm and pick up different plants and fruits to show to the group while discussing them on the tour.

The Audio Portable Buddy can easily be heard over the tractor pulled wagon, allowing the for the tour guide to continue their presentation as the wagon is in motion and on its way to its next destination.

Seasonal tours extend into the summer with Watermelon Tours during the months of July/August, Pumpkin Tours during October and ongoing Cookout Tours from March throughout August where guests get a chance to pick their own vegetables, get them prepped and grilled for a lunch outing.

For more information on AmpliVox Tour Guide PA Systems or the Audio Portable Buddy please visit:
http://www.ampli.com/personal-pa-system/

Product Spec Sheet: Audio Portable Buddy

A Moment to Celebrate

On behalf of everyone at AmpliVox Sounds Systems, we would like to take a moment to congratulate Carolyn Roth and Pedro de Oliveira Fiuza on their upcoming wedding this Saturday, June 15 at the University Club in Chicago. Carolyn is the daughter of Don Roth, AmpliVox’s founder and CEO.

Pedro and Carolyn met in the fall of 2009 in Rio de Janeiro while Carolyn was in Brazil on a business trip. The two stayed in touch, and even though Carolyn lived in San Francisco at the time, they overcame the six-hour time difference using Skype, email, and talking on the phone. Pedro and Carolyn soon knew their relationship was special, and they made an effort to see each other once a month. In 2012, Pedro surprised Carolyn with a proposal during a trip to visit his family in Rio de Janeiro. 

Today, Carolyn is the Director of Investor Relations and Marketing in New York City for Stone Lion Capital Partners. Pedro is a partner at Gávea Investimentos (majority owned by J.P. Morgan Asset Management) and is also based in New York City. The couple currently lives in the Upper West Side in Manhattan. 

Carolyn and Pedro have traveled the world with each other, from San Francisco to Brazil, Chicago to France, New York to Italy.  They look forward to many more adventures to come in their married life together (beginning with their honeymoon to Greece!).

Congratulations Carolyn and Pedro! We wish you all the best! 

10 Summer Attractions to See In Chicago

Good news! After months of feeling like it would never it end, it appears that winter, in fact, is over. As the weather warms for good and we enter the summer season, everyone is excited to get outside and do something fun. At AmpliVox, we call Chicago home, and know our way around the city’s marquee attractions and activities, so we thought we would put together a list of 10 of the city’s must-do attractions to complete over the summer, whether you are a resident or tourist. Click the read more button below to see the list.

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Portable Audio Solutions To Make Life Easier On The Soccer Field

If you or members of your family participated in soccer leagues growing up, you know the scene: hundreds of kids of varying skill-sets and levels playing soccer across a half dozen fields. It's a sport that has risen in popularity among children in the United States over the last two decades, which has prompted parents, park districts, and others to organize and run seasonal soccer leagues.

Most of the time, the day’s worth of soccer games happens without a hitch. But there is a challenge for those in charge of managing these leagues. How do you communicate with so many people spread across such a great distance at a moment's notice? Click the "read more" button below for the answer.

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Preparation Saves Lives - How to Plan for Emergencies

The best investment you may ever make for your school, company, or organization is an emergency preparedness kit.

Emergency situations require reliable communication channels between safety marshals and groups of moving – and sometimes panicky – people.

When emergency situations arise, rest assured that you have the equipment to provide students and personnel with clear instructions regarding safety procedures, exits, and timely updates. Safety of all individuals involved in a dangerous situation hinges on clear communication.

Megaphones

Be sure your facility has equipment such as megaphones, with reliable and rechargeable batteries, that are easily accessible.

Megaphones are available in many sizes – some small enough to fold and store in compact locations, like desk drawers or file cabinets.

The Mini-Meg (S600) is AmpliVox’s smallest and most compact megaphone and is perfect for indoor communication up to 100 yards. One Mini-Meg per building hallway gives personnel quick access and the ability to make important announcements in the event of a crisis situation – especially when evacuation procedures are required.

When large groups of people congregate, sometimes a more powerful communication method is necessary for safety and organization. The “Hailer Family” includes portable amplifiers and radios that project sound from ½ mile to 1 mile.

Half-Mile Hailer

The Half-Mile Hailer features an amplifier with a built-in wireless 16 channel UHF receiver and a piercing siren, effective for groups of up to 5,000 people. Durable and portable, this Hailer allows freedom of movement – essential in an emergency situation.

Since crisis situations do not wait for good weather, all hailer horns are weather resistant. The “All-Weather Hailer PA System” adds additional protection with a weather-resistant case that contains the amplifier for excessively wet, snowy, and otherwise extreme conditions. For communication up to one mile, the “Radio Hailer” combines an amplifier with built-in 16 channel UHF receiver, 2 Murs radios, and a powerful siren feature. Kits that bundle the Hailers and radios with tripods and carrying cases introduce additional convenience and versatility to the Hailer system.


As a school administrator, event coordinator, building or marina manager, club organizer, or golf course, construction site, or parking manager, safety is your responsibility when a crisis situation occurs in your area.

Budget for and insist upon funds to create a safe and organized environment when emergencies arise. Your community will benefit from your preparedness.

The safety experts at AmpliVox are available to work with you to determine your needs and custom-tailor an emergency system within your budget that will provide peace of mind for you and those that depend upon you.

By Vita Schweighart

AmpliVox Attends Ingram Micro Consumer Electronics Spring 2013 Vendor Expo and Golf Outing

AmpliVox Sound Systems was one of over 100 manufacturers and B2B resellers to attend the Ingram Micro Consumer Electronics Vendor Expo (IMCE) last week in Scottsdale, Arizona.

The annual vendor expo and charity golf outing brought together consumer electronics and technology manufacturers from across the country for a series of breakout sessions and seminars on topics related to the consumer electronics industry, as well as opportunities to network with other attendees and learn ways to introduce new products into current markets.

The three-day event also included the chance for Ingram Micro representatives and their customers to tour the expo’s show floor, meeting with vendors and learning about new products featured in their exhibit booths. The Amplivox booth was headed by our Director of sales, Bill Gamber, who showcased several of our newest and most popular portable audio devices including:

SW915 - Digital Audio
Travel Partner

The 250 watt system will clearly project your voice or music over an audience of up to 7500 people in a room size of up to 25,000 sq. ft.

SW800 - Titan Wireless
Portable PA

Equipped with a 100 watt amplifier, 8" speaker, built-in accessory storage and microphone battery recharger.

SW720 - iPad, iPhone, iPod Wireless PA System

Made for today’s music and video, now includes the S1732 Cable and Adapter to be fully compatible with iDevices from Apple.

S/SS/SW 1234 - Line Array Passive Speaker

Lightweight, compact line array design can be mounted either horizontally or vertically. Wireless, wired or passive speaker available.

S/SS/SW 1230 - Mity Box Passive Speaker

Full range performance in a small compact design, easily mounts to a wall or computer cart. Wireless, wired or passive speaker available.

S/SW 610A, SW615A - Half-Mile Hailer

Its simple straightforward controls, and lightweight design make it the most practical and portable outdoor speaker sound system.

S/SW 222, SW223 Audio Portable Buddy

Take your pa system with you, battery powered sound system goes anywhere you go and runs for up to 200 hours.

S600 - Mini-Meg 10-Watt Megaphone

Our high quality sound in a smaller size, the Mini-Meg can cover up to 100 yards and groups of up to 50 people.

S604 - Safety Strobe Megaphone

10 watt megaphone with record & play feature and emergency flashing strobe light. Flash light illuminates from bell.

S601 - Mity-Meg 15-Watt Megaphone

Lightweight and powerful with new Piezo dynamic technology. Comfortable pistol grip and 3 modes: Talk, Siren, and Whistle.

S602 - Mity-Meg 25-Watt Megaphone

Weatherproof high impact plastic and steel. Battery indicator light shows power status (low, med, hi) on the outer housing.

S602M - Mity-Meg Plus Megaphone

Lightweight and powerful with optional S1405 Rechargeable Lithium Pack saves you money on batteries.

S207 - BeltBlaster Pro

This personal sound system is perfect for anyone who needs a moderate improvement in their sound coverage and voice clarity.

S206 - BeltBlaster

Personal sound system provides moderate boost to voice or music, leaves your hands free and saves your voice from fatigue.

According to Gamber, “The opportunity to meet face to face with Ingram Sales reps and their customers affords us the opportunity to demo all the different designs and features of our portable sound systems .”

Headquartered in Scottsdale, Ingram Micro is the world’s largest wholesale technology distributor and has helped bring AmpliVox products to dealers, resellers and retailers across the country.

Be sure to visit ampli.com to learn more about how AmpliVox Sound Systems can serve your portable audio needs.

Portable Podium - Educational uses for Lecterns

As an educator, you can provide students of all ages with a realistic public speaking experience in any classroom. You don’t need a dedicated area to give your students the practice they need. A portable, tabletop lectern gives all educators the flexibility to customize a presentation area for K-12 students as they refine their communicating skills. Tabletop lecterns allow flexibility to create a comfortable speaking height for students of any age.

Public speaking skills prepare students of all ages for future leadership opportunities. Training and practice develops confidence, focus, and poise as students learn to become better communicators. Speaking skills can be learned in many places, from traditional schoolrooms to organizations such as Toastmasters. Portable podiums provide individuals, road warriors, or groups “on the move” with clear sound and iPod functionality for an affordable price.

Debate teams, speech teams, educators, and road warriors will all find the perfect lectern from AmpliVox Sound Systems. Whether you need a portable and easy-to-carry tabletop lectern, or a full height lectern for meets, AmpliVox has a wide selection of hardwoods, laminates, acrylics, and eco-friendly recycled products for every budget.

Travel-Lite Folding Tabletop Lectern

Product Spec Sheet: W242 Travel-Lite Folding Tabletop Lectern

For the ultimate in convenience, consider the Travel-Lite Folding Tabletop Lectern. Carried easily from room to room, or to speech tournaments, it sets up in moments to provide a realistic public speaking experience anywhere and anytime!

Incredibly lightweight and portable, this lectern saves space when not in use and can fit into a large tote bag. A built-in handle also allows for easy carrying.

EZ Speak Folding Lectern

Product Spec Sheet: W/S/SW 272 EZ Speak Folding Lectern

The EZ Speak Folding Lectern is also an excellent portable lectern with the added benefit of sound. This lectern contains an amplifier with a built-in wireless 16 channel UHF receiver, and can be connected to any iPad, iPod, or iPhone. For clear sound in rooms up to 10,000 square feet, this portable lectern – with attached handle – folds into the size of a briefcase and facilitates public speaking with a built-in microphone. Additional wireless mics are available as well.

Whether you choose a portable or full height lectern, AmpliVox has models for every speaking need. You may choose lecterns that clearly project sound on their own, or through your in-house sound system. Most lecterns are also available in non-sound models. Our friendly customer service representatives are always happy to answer any questions you may have about lecterns, sound systems, and how they can satisfy your particular needs. With sound – or without – all lecterns are customizable with your logo or school colors for a modest additional fee.

For more information visit our Portable Podiums or call AmpliVox customer service at 1-800-267-5486.

Product Spec Sheet: W242 Travel-Lite Folding Tabletop Lectern
Product Spec Sheet: W/S/SW 272 EZ Speak Folding Lectern
Product Spec Sheet: S1732 iPod Cable and Adapter

By Vita Schweighart

UHF Wireless Microphone: 16 Channel Lapel, Headset or Handheld

AmpliVox wireless microphones broadcast over 16 UHF channels, expanding the capability and range of earlier two-channel models by allowing multiple mic users in the same venue to select separate channels. A dramatic improvement for sound clarity and system versatility, the additional channels also enable users to avoid interference with competing wireless frequencies, assuring crystal-clear sound amplification in any venue.

S1601 - UHF Wireless Lapel & Headset Microphone Kit

• Bodypack Transmitter (S1690T)
• Bodypack Receiver (S1690R)
• Lapel and headset Microphone
• Frequency: 584 MHz - 608 MHz

Lapel mics come with small clips that attaches to collars, ties, jackets, or hidden under clothing, with a cord from the lavalier mic that runs down and connects to a bodypack transmitter placed in a pocket or clipped to a belt around your waist.

Lapel microphones are popularly used for television, theatre, and public speaking where a small microphone is required or the microphone needs to be hidden.

The headset microphone attaches to the bodypack transmitter in the same fashion as a lav mic, and may be more practical to use in a performance where the subject is moving around quickly such as an aerobics instructor, singer or dancer.

The headset is worn as a headband behind the head and around the ear as the mic hovers near your mouth. The sound level of a headset microphone is much more consistent than a lavalier since the mic is often positioned just an inch or so from the sound source while a lavalier might be positioned four or five inches away.

S1623 - UHF Wireless Handheld Microphone Kit

• Interchangeable Microphone Head
• LCD Screen
• Power / Mute Control Switch
• Select Button
• Microphone Input Sensitivity Adjustment

Handheld mics are easy to pick up and use, however, they keep you from using both hands and they are subject to some handling noise.

People trained in microphone dynamics can be very effective with handhelds since the gain can be controlled and even the tonal quality of the sound varied by using the microphone in different ways.

"The availability of additional channels raises the standard for wireless mic technology," commented AmpliVox CEO Don Roth. "We're proud to bring our customers the most reliable, advanced, and versatile sound equipment in the industry."

For more information on the S1601 Lapel & Headset Microphone Kit or S1623 Handheld Microphone Kit, please visit:
http://www.ampli.com/wireless-microphone/