2008/12/14 AndrewRT raturvey@yahoo.co.uk:
There are advantages in having in person meetings as well, though - it gives us an opportunity to discuss things more informally and get to know each other more that you can with an online meeting.
For an AGM, a meeting in person may be appropriate, for all the social reasons you describe.
For getting stuff done, IRC meetings are very nicely practical things IME. The chair needs to ride herd on them firmly and everyone needs to keep to the agenda, but they work quite well enough. And of course you have the log to hand.
- d.