I have recently had the joy of attending a number of forums, meetings, discussions, and roundtables regarding policy in Georgia. I recognize a lot of folks may not enjoy these, but I definitely do. I like to build consensus, I like having multiple voices heard, new ideas vetted, and innovative solutions considered. I attend these sort of events to learn, sometimes to share, and most importantly to connect in an area of interest I have, both for the benefit of my clients and (my aspiration) for the benefit of my state.
Unfortunately, I also attend meetings that could have been handled in an email, attend forums that are a waste of time, and discussions that are more echo chambers than actual conversation. As a result, I thought it might be helpful for me to identify for others what makes a compelling, interesting, and well organized meeting or forum. Consider this your free #protip.
