I think having two areas is a good idea plus voting cards to avoid confusion. 
Discussion amoungst members should be as free flowing as possible but directed
by the chair. If non-members wish to add to the discussion, they must be recognised
by the chair to be able to make a comment.
 
> Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2009 20:19:23 +0000
> From: thomas.dalton@gmail.com
> To: wikimediauk-l@lists.wikimedia.org
> Subject: Re: [Wikimediauk-l] Jimbo at the AGM
>
> 2009/3/18 Tom Holden <thomas.holden@gmail.com>:
> > To clarify (if it needed it), this was discussed at the board meeting this
> > week and we decided non-members are perfectly welcome to attend.
>
> Ok, a general invitation is fine (I've found the discussion in the IRC
> log, but I can't see it in the minutes - all decisions need to be
> minuted), but you'll need to give some thought to how you are going to
> conduct the meeting. I can see two options - separate seating areas
> for members and non-members, or voting cards. (If we have a very small
> turnout we can just rely on the chair knowing who is and isn't a
> member, but hopefully we'll get more people than that!)
>
> I know some people think I am being overly formal and strict about
> this kind of stuff, but the AGM of a limited company, particularly a
> charitable one, is a serious event and needs to be handled properly.
> This isn't just a bunch of people from the internet getting together
> for a pint and a chat about what we're going to do, it's an official
> meeting of the membership if a charitable company.
>
> _______________________________________________
> Wikimedia UK mailing list
> wikimediauk-l@wikimedia.org
> http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l
> WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org

---

Windows Live Messenger just got better. Find out more!