Re: Mexico and NEC

[Erik Olson <erik@thekrib.com>]

On Fri, 21 Jan 2000, Karen Randall wrote:

> I'm sure there will be time for that too.  While I think it's great to
> have an short _informal_ business meeting, I'm a believer in having
> things like this be FUN times to keep people interested and coming
> back.  People are much more likely to volunteer to do some work if
> they perceive that it is a fun, vibrant organization than if people
> sit around looking glum and complaining about how over worked they
> are.

Well put.  Having only 48 hours (and my wife with me this time), I would
very much like to avoid the sort of multiple-hour downbeat AGA meetingS
held at the NJAS show last fall.  Those cost me my one chance to see the
fishroom (as well as a few hours of needed sleep)!  Having an agenda will
help, but making the discussion time-limited will help even more.

> Maybe those of us who are MC members who will be attending can come up
> with a concise list of topics that we want to touch on with the
> general membership in a positive way, then open discussion for a short
> period of time for questions, comments, ideas, etc.  If we do it
> right, I think we should be able to get business out of the way in 1/2
> hour, leaving us a 1/2 hour for show and tell during our "main"
> meeting time. 

Hmm... I wonder. 1/2 seems awfully tight for all business if it's not just
"announcements".  I would assume we want to touch on subjects like

[The Present]
  * Introducing Mary, your new editor (Mary tells what's new with TAG<
asks for articles, what people would like to see, etc).

  * Bookstore - reason for, what's on the catalog.  what should be
on the catalog?

  * Website (me) - what do people get out of it, future plans, requests?

[The Future]
  * Incorporation (VERY briefly)
  * Unusual plant service? (if the subject is alive)
  * Plant Contest (depending on outcome of proposal)
  etc

> Also keep in mind that depending on how many "plant people" want to
> stick around and come up to the Boston on Monday, we might be able to
> arrange things that day as well.  George has declined our invitiation,
> but I think I've talked Erik and Kathy into coming up and having one
> of them as our BAS speaker that night. 

I am so bummed.  Just as Kathy got psyched up to the idea of creating and
presenting an Apisto talk, she found out yesterday that she's on a retreat
Monday and Tuesday, so we will have to quietly sneak out during Sunday's
auction. :(

  - Erik

-- 
Erik Olson
erik at thekrib dot com