What you need to do to prepare for your call:

Several days prior to a call..

The day of the call...

What you need to do to set up for the event:

Logging in and Launching the Event

NOTE: The online interface will be available for you do dial in 15 minutes prior to your scheduled start time. If there is a red box with your last call time in the General Information box, that mains the website interface has not been initiated yet.

Step 1: Using Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome, go to https://itownhall.iconstituent.com.
Step 2: Log in with your username and password.
Step 3: Hover your mouse over the Access Live™ button and right-click on Client Info.
Step 4: Select Open Link in New Tab. (This tab will display the dial in information for your call, please note the number that you’ll be using to dial in.
Step 5: Click on the original browser tab. (It should still be set to the home page.)
Step 6: Hover your mouse over the Access Live™ button once again.
Step 7: Click on Go To Access Live™.
Step 8: The system will ask you for your chat name. Enter your first name or an alias, and click submit. (If the system does not ask you for your chat name, it remembers you from last time you logged in.)

Moderator Only Steps

Step 9: Using your telephone, dial in on the Host number: 877-229-8523 PIN#: Refer to your confirmation email. (This information is also available on the other browser tab.)
Step 10: After a message indicating you are being transferred into Access Live™ as a Host, you will see your telephone number show up in the website interface under the “Hosts” section as “Dial-in-Host.”
Step 11: Click on “Dial-in Host” and rename your line to your own name.
Step 12: Repeat these steps for any others who will dial in as a host.
Step 13: Click on the Host View tab.
Step 14: Click on the “Show Screened Only:” ON button to filter out unscreened callers.
Step 15: Once everyone is settled, let the event specialist know you’re ready to start dialing via chat. (It can take between 3-5 minutes to get people connected.)
Step 16: After people begin to get connected, the event specialist will walk you through the process of removing the music hold and beginning the call.

Screener Only Steps

NOTE: To be done one at a time by each screener.

Step 9: Using your telephone, dial in on the Host number: 877-212-6960 PIN#: Refer to your confirmation email. (This information is also available on the other browser tab.)
Step 10: After a message indicating you are being transferred into Access Live™ as a screener, you will see your telephone number show up in the website interface under the “Hosts” section as “Dial-in Screener.”
Step 11: Click on “Dial-in Screener” and rename your line to your name.
Step 12: Click on the “I” icon to the left of your name between the speaker and “S” icons.
Step 13: Your icon will then turn into a checkmark, and you will be taken into “Screener View.”
Step 14: Click on the “Show Unscreened Only:” ON button to filter out already screened callers.
Step 15: Begin screening callers as soon as they show up in the queue.

When Music Hold is turned OFF, a voice will prompt the Host and Moderators that the Music Hold has been turned OFF. This is your cue to begin the call.

Sample Scripts for Moderators and Screeners for the Event

Sample Moderator Script

“Good evening and welcome to XXXXX’s live Access Live™ Event. My name is XXXXX, and I am the JOB TITLE for XXXXX. I will be your host for tonight’s event. Thank you for joing us. We hope you find this call informative and useful.

In a moment, XXXXX will join us with some opening remarks. First, take down the number in case you’re disconnected from the call. It’s 877-XXX-XXXX, and the PIN number is XXXXX. Next, I want to explain the format for tonight’s call. If you would like to ask a question this evening, it’s very easy. Just press STAR 3 on your phone, and one of our staff will assist you.

Access Live™ provides XXXXX with another means to efficiently communicate with voters when scheduling conflicts or other concerns prevent XXXXX from hosting regular Town Hall Meetings in your community. This is not a replacement for actual town hall meetings, but rather another way to better serve you. We hope you enjoy the program tonight, and if you do, please let us know.

This is a live question and answer session with XXXXX, and in a few minutes you will have the opportunity to speak to him/her directly. Remember, if you would like to ask a question, please press STAR 3 on your telephone keypad. You will then be transferred to one of our staff members who will take your name and your question. You can also press STAR 3 if you would like to simply leave a comment or if you an issue that you need help with. Our office staff will assist you. If you are participating via webstreaming, you are also able to submit questions. Simply type your name and email address to get started, then you can type and submit your question.

We’d like to get through as many of your questions as possible. To help us accomplish this goal, we must limit all callers to only one question. If your question is chosen, your name will be called, and you will be asked to repeat your question for XXXXX.”

Sample Screener Script

NOTE: Each screened call should last no longer than 60-90 seconds. Be polite but expeditious so that the Moderator has a large set of caller questions to choose from.

1. “Good evening and welcome to XXXXX’s Access Live™ Event. Can I have your name and where you’re from please?”

2. “And what is the question you would like to ask?”

If the question is good…

3. “Thank you for participating. I will now be returning you to the event. If we are able to get to your call, you will hear your name called, and you will be able to repeat your question for XXXXX.”

4. Then click the Save and return to queue button.

If the question is NOT good…

3. “Thank you for participating. We have a lot of callers tonight, so if we are unable to get to your question, you will be able to leave a message for XXXXX at the end of the call tonight.”

4. Then click the Save and remove from queue button.

If the person on the line is not responding to you, select Cancel and return to queue to return the participant to the question and answer queue for another screener to pick up.

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Articles in this section

Access Live™ Guide - Part 4: The Day of the Call