FUSsa-talk Mailing List: Re: Online event scheduling suggestions

[Carol Koepp (carolkoepp]

I think we need a good conversation with Fred, in late summer or early fall, 
about the communication possibilities for SAC and other members of the 
congregation who want to have a conversation w/ other UUs about an issue - 
so everything doesn't go to everybody.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Fred H Olson" <fholson [at] cohousing.org>
To: "Carol Koepp" <carolkoepp [at] comcast.net>
Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2008 4:48 AM
Subject: [sa-talk] Online event scheduling suggestions


> Here are some suggestions I just wrote up about online event scheduling.
> Note that Doodle (see below) can be used for other kindgs of polling too.
>
> Fred
>
>
>
> --- Fred's canned message: online event scheduling suggestions 6/08 ----
>
> In general email is not a very good media for scheduling events - it is
> not interactive enough (too much time between responses / feedback) and
> there is no built-in mechanism for tallying preferences (and to share
> the partial tally); responses get mixed in with other mail making it
> difficult to tally (unless a dedicated tally person keeps up).
> Instant message works better but few groups have most members using
> IM and setting up an IM is often an event to be scheduled!
>
> One technique I've used to schedule things that dont require a "good" 
> turnout,
> i.e. where any level of participation is acceptable (like an informal bike 
> ride)
> is to schedule the event for 2 or a small number of people who agree on a 
> time
> which also seems like it might work for more people.  Then invite other
> people to join.  This is good for things that can work with just the 
> original
> few folks but work well with more. It saves a lot of negotiations tho of
> course it is less likely to get a good turnout.  Theoretically one can
> schedule more events if they are easier to do...
>
> -- Web based scheduling --
>
> "Doodle.ch" is a web based facilty of polling for dates to schedule an 
> event.
> Doodle looks like it might be easy enough to use to be practical.  (As of
> 6/24/08 I have not actually used it yet so I am not endorsing it yet.)
>
> Here's how it works:
> 1. Point person creates a poll listing a number of alternative event dates 
> etc.
> 2. Forward the link to the poll to the participants.
> 3. Follow online what the participants vote for (with optional email 
> notices to
>   point person of new responses
> 4. If consensus emerges, announce it.
>
> Site has an example that one can vote on that gives a better idea of how
> it might work.         See http://doodle.ch
>
>
> Note that variants of these techniques can be used together.
>
> Doodle could be used to schedule an event for a few people (poll
> participants who find a time that works for them) and others are invite.
>
> A few people can discuss possible dates (on the phone say) and use these
> to poll a larger group for a final date.
>
>
> --
> Fred H. Olson  Minneapolis,MN 55411  USA        (near north Mpls)
> Communications for Justice -- Free, superior listserv's w/o ads:
> http://justcomm.org      My Link Pg: http://fholson.cohousing.org
> 612-588-9532 (7am-10pm CST/CDT)   Email: fholson at cohousing.org
>
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