FreeLists / bristol-birds / [Bristol-Birds] Bristol Bird Club Meeting time proposal

["Wallace Coffey" <jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Open e-mail to all Bristol Bird Club members and others:

A suggestion about a time frame for BBC meetings. 

Let's try this for the August meeting (Aug 17) and see if we can keep it going 
this year:

    (1)  Start the meeting at 7:30 on the dot without delay of even one minute.

    (2)  Use the first 15 minutes for ANNOUNCEMENTS AND WELCOME ONLY.

    (3)  Introduce the speaker at 7:45 p.m. on the dot.

    (4)  Conduct whatever business we need starting no later than 8:45 p.m. and 
adjourn at 9 p.m. every night on the minute.

    (5)  Call executive board meeting of officers whenever needed (open to 
anyone else who wants to attend) on another night at a local eatery to conduct 
more involved business (just as we have done for semi-annual planning 
meetings).   We can share the brief business details in either important 
announcements before the 7:45 p.m. talk but almost always in the final 15 
minute of businees before 9 p.m. 

Tell speakers before we begin that we will introduce the speaker at 7:45 p.m. 
and stick stricktly to that.  Tell them they will have one hour and you will 
let them know when they have about 10 minutes remaining so they can help time 
themselves. Close out all speakers by 8:45 p.m. at the latest (every night).  
Tell speakers at 8:35 p.m. that we have about 10 minutes left for the program 
if they are still deep into it. 

Try to have all business, votes and such following the talk starting no later 
than 8:45 and running no later than 9 p.m.  This will provide everyone much 
more time to socialize and talk about their trips, etc. at the end of the 
meeting or after we adjourn at 9 p.m.  This gives those attending a chance to 
meet new birders and enjoy a chat with others who attend.

This lets people who have no interest whatsoever in the business to go home at 
8:45 p.m. if they wish. IF THEY CHOOSE TO LEAVE AT 8:45 P.M. THEY SHOULD  GO TO 
THE HALLWAY OR PARKING LOT FOR FURTHE CHATS OR VISITING SO THE MEETING MAY 
CONTINUE.  They get home more than an hour earlier and are not so tired. This 
will let everyone who has long drives get home earlier.  

This will provide another half hour for those of use who talk all night in the 
parking lot and allow us to go home a little earlier.  This will let the 
secuirty guard get out a little earlier.

It creates a meeting with more appeal to new members who are visiting for the 
first time.
It cuts out the jitters for those who are constantly worried about how long 
things take and what time we quit.  It discourages people from coming to 
meetings at 8 p.m. or 8:15 p.m. because we don't put our speakers on until 8:30 
  

It lets young people who have school get home at a more reasonable hour and not 
10 p.m. or later.  

This means we are looking at at 90 minute meeting at the longest.  This reduces 
our time there by 30 minutes.   It will gain at least 45 minutes for those who 
lave after the speaker.  It helps us when weather conditions are not so good 
and people have to drive long distances.  

Coupled with 60 to 90 minutes of dinner for those who come to the Mad Greek, 
this will be a nice, long evening of social time, bird program, announcements 
and business and we still go home at 9 p.m.. -- a total of 3 hours (plenty ;-) 
!  Maybe a side effect will be a few more people coming for dinner at 6 p.m.

Feel free to share feedback.  All of the above is depending on whatever 
decision process President Bill Grigsby wishes and a final announcement of what 
we will do, 
Aug 17.

Let's go birding.....

Wallace Coffey
Bristol