AGENDA USER GROUP.....

[wini]

David,
How is the agenda for UG meetings arrived at?

I am assuming the meetings have a time limit.

Does each topic have a time limit or does discussion continue until a resolution is arrived at?

Just wondered how many items TS can put up for discussion

wini

[sporran]

Hello wini,


although you addressed the post to David, a few hours have passed without an answer, so please allow me to reply. Andy (Keogh) is also a frequent poster as well as being on the User Group.

The next meeting is on 22nd May and the draft agenda will be sent to us soon, with the matters arising and SP contributed items. Our contributions are added and the final agenda is circulated a few days before the meeting. There is no limit to the number of items on the agenda.

Meetings generally last 2-3 hours, and there is no time limit on each item or the overall meeting. However, some people have other commitments, so state at the start their wish for brisk proceedings or leave before the end. Because of different time zones, it is an early start or a late finish for overseas participants (noon start in the UK) so we try not to prolong matters.

Duncan Macniven, Registrar General for Scotland, has invited the User Group to discuss the future direction of SP, and he intends to be present for at least some of the meeting. We have prepared a draft document and the final one will be circulated to SP before the meeting. I expect that this will be the main topic discussed in the meeting, since it encompasses many areas of contention.

Topics for discussion are gathered from personal contacts, postings on discussion boards, the "Contact the User Group" link on SP, and our own thoughts.


Regards,

John

[DavidWW]

Hi Wini

John has answered the question for you.

An essential point is that the total time allocated to the meeting tends to be self-limiting on the part of all those taking part, not least GROS staff, as well members of the User Group. If the meeting is timed around midday/early afternoon to suit UK members this means that the members in Oz and particularly NZ are at a disadvantage, - Jan didn't get to bed until after 3 am last meeting.

If we time the meeting late afternoon/early evening in the UK this creates problems for Sue in Melbourne ...................

Anything much more than 2 and a half hours tends to create a problem, so that the length of the agenda needs to be considered in that context.

David

[wini]

Thanks John & David,

I, of course didn't think about the implications of overseas members.

Thank you for the information. I am just naturally nosey and like to know
everything.

wini