How many meetings per month?
[1] One
MikeOrr -- pro: burnout is less likely. (0 vote)
WilhelmFitzpatrick -- I've got enough other SIGs I don't have room for more!
HowardHansen -- easily-plannable = better.
[2] Two, on different days
MikeOrr -- pro: people that can't do one can do the other. (0 vote)
SteveHowell -- see my comment below
GabeNewcomb: yeppers
[1] One, with an occasional "extra event" on a different day
MikeOrr -- pro: the best of both worlds. (1 vote)
JeffSandys -- extra event, take it to the people
Discussion:
I think people really strengthen their commitment to a group if they have face-to-face contact with people once a month. I'd like two meetings a month, so that we can get everyone coming to a meeting pretty regularly at least once a month. The more fanatical among us will happily come to both. If we do go with the two-days approach, though, we will need to address the burnout factor that Mike mentions. I think the best way to keep meetings worthwhile is to make them interactive, and make the meetings solve real problems for people. I'd prefer an ask-and-solve format to a show-and-tell format. -- SteveHowell
I second the above! We could have one "normal" meeting (whatever that turns out to be) plus one problem solving/project oriented one? -- BrianDorsey
My idea is to have a topic presentation (15 minutes) every other meeting. The other meeting would be just an informal talk session. This can be problem solving or project, or simply talking about what each other is doing in Python, asking questions about unknown modules, catching people up on previous meetings or previous presentations or the Portland group (PorPiggies), etc. -- MikeOrr
Once a month is almost to much for me. But if there was a special interest group (like CP4E) I would devote more time to that. Also we should consider participating in public events like Engineering week in February and the UW computer fair (still in March?). These events are hard to do, commitment wise, but very rewarding because you get to meet many people, get new members, and create a lot of interest. -- JeffSandys
The more meetings, the better. I can't say I'll be able to attend them all. x2/month is good. --LionKimbro