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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Last night's Barony meeting focused on
brainstorming about how to make Barony meetings better and increase
attendance. Here are some main ideas that most people seemed to agree
upon. We'd like to hear comments from everyone in the Barony (so please
forward this to anyone you know who is not on the above lists).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>1) Keep the formal "business" part shorter with
very brief announcements by officers (most of that information now comes out in
a more timely manner on websites, the BMDL list, or more specific lists,
etc.). Last night we got through all the "business" part in just over 15
minutes.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>2) Keep the main purpose of the meeting
socializing, including having more time to talk to newcomers </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>3) Have Barony meeting every other month to
increase the importance and give it a "mini-event" feel (have the Officers
meeting in some form every month since there is business to address every
month)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>4) Move away from weeknights to Sunday afternoons
(probably associated with fighter/fencing practice). </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>5) Have potluck food (bringing food not required
but nice if you can). Our Exchequer mentioned this can be subsidized by
Barony funds if needed.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>6) Have Barony meetings located centrally most of
the time. Try to get large rooms at CMU or Pitt or use Washington Blvd
site in warmer weather. Distribute detailed parking information for people
who don't know the Oakland area well.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>7) Try to have some particular Guild or
Barony group present after the business part of the meeting is over to allow all
comers to see the people in that group and more information on what they do
(less intimidating and easier to access than showing up for the first time at a
certain practice on one's own). This would not be "mandatory" but
available as part of the Barony meeting.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>8) More advertising of the Barony meeting,
both with posted flyers (e.g. at Inner Vagabond, around campuses) and
online. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>9) Updates to the Cour d'Or and Barony
webpage (Clemente and Arianna have started some of this already) to have a more
attractive web-based presence.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>10) Since the meetings would be less frequent, use
the BMDL mailing lists for dissemination of recent information</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Please let the Barony know if these changes would
increase your attendance at Barony meetings or not and why. Any further
suggestions are more than welcome!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>In Service, </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Byron and Ariella</FONT></DIV>
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