Meeting arrangements:

Skype is handy for chats that take more than 140 characters (tweet experts from our Expert Directory to set up conversations any time), but if we want to see and hear each other, we've found our best bet is Google Hangouts--at least for 10 or fewer people. 

Proposal

• Weekly summer meetings with a different focus each week, volunteer/designated "line leaders" lead the sessions.
• Add your name next to topics for which you would be willing to lead discussion (more than one person can be line leader for a topic, and topics can be repeated).
• Line leaders then determine a week they will be available, suggesting possible dates and times.
• Interested parties indicate preferred days/times in the "Interested" column by adding your name and preferred time.

What does a line leader do?

Basically, we need someone to start the call each week (it helps if you're familiar with group calls on Skype). That means they get to decide when the call happens, or at least narrow down the possibilities. Preferably the line leader would be someone who feels comfortable discussing the topic so they can answer questions and keep the conversation flowing.

The contact information should be available to all on the Google Form response spreadsheet, but a Skype contact list can be made available by email.

It would also be helpful if line leaders sent out reminders by Tweet and/or email the day before the scheduled call.

Topics

Feel free to add to the list as you think of topics you would like to discuss in real time. Until a line leader has been designated, you may rearrange topics or dates according to what works with your schedule, too.