Subject: Meeting Guidelines for Chapter Chairs Discussion
Date: Tue, 13 Mar 2001 11:34:16 -0500
From: Paul Lussier
To: gnhlug-org@codemeta.com
Hi all,
I'd like to start a formal discussion of pertaining to some
guidelines I think we as chapter leaders should follow. After the
brief discussion yesterday on the main list, and after discussing it
at length with others yesterday, I'd like to propose the following:
- Never cancel a meeting except for:
- Incredibly inclement weather (In the case of inclement
weather, I'm referring to extreme New England weather where
there's possibly a State Emergency declared, or, in the
judgment of the Chapter Chairperson, they feel that it's
just too dangerous for themselves and others to be driving.)
- Loss of meeting place
Should a speaker cancel, hold a meeting anyway. Get the
group who showed up together and go to the normally
designated meeting place and hold a meeting. This can be
either a formally planned "Backup" talk, or can be something
as simple a Q&A session. Another good idea, for those who
have been to USENIX conferences is the BoF? (Birds of a
Featherr) session where 1 or 2 people lead the discussion
on a specific topic with "audience" participation. For
example, I could start the BoF? off on the topic of Mail
Clients.
As I expound upon my favorite client, people could jump in
with questions or comments about what I'm saying, others in
the group could then jump in and answer or comment on those
questions/comments.
It is important for the meeting to take place in it's
normally held place, since that's where late-comers are
going to come looking for the meeting, not in the restaurant
downstairs or across the street, etc.
If the main Chapter Chairperson is unable to make it, either
a secondary should be designated, or, someone should take the initiative to lead the meeting.
- Food and Drink should probably not be brought into the meeting.
- It's distracting to the speaker and to the attendees.
- If it is brought into the meeting, it should be
distributed before the speaker begins. People getting
up to get food/drink during the meeting is also distracting
to everyone, and IMO rude to the speaker.
- Alcohol should probably not be brought into the meeting.
A lot of our membership may be underage. Having alcohol
around during the meeting may:
- be illegal
- make them uncomfortable
- discourage some of them from attending
- discourage their parents from allowing them to attend
- If alcohol is brought into the meeting, accomodations
for non-drinkers should also be made out of courtesy for
them. Also, drinks should be acquired before the
speaker begins for the previously mentioned reasons.
That's basically it. I'm not trying to get too formal, I'm just
looking out for the best interests of the group as a whole. We
want to be able to continue:
- having good meetings
- attracting quality speakers
- attracting new members of all ages
- retaining old members of all ages
I think following the above guidelines, especially 1,2, and 3, will
help us as a group to achieve these goals.
This is just my opinion, and every Chapter Chairperson is obviously
free to do what they wish. I'm by no means trying to shackle the
group with a lot of beauracratic rules.
Any input on this? Opinions, discussion, disagreement, resentment?
Anything?
If anything about the meeting has changed (speaker, topic, parking,
...), then a courtesy message to the group would be good too. --
BruceDawson - 13 Mar 2001
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