2009/3/18 Thomas Dalton thomas.dalton@gmail.com:
2009/3/18 joseph seddon life_is_bitter_sweet@hotmail.co.uk:
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.
We need to be careful with voting, but I think we can just make it up as we go along with discussion. If some people are hogging the floor, particularly non-members, then the chair can intervene and start directing who can speak when, but if everything is going fine with free-form discussion we might as well let non-members join in.
I'd suggest getting the meeting bit over with expeditiously (as long as needed but not a moment longer), with someone saying "Non-members are welcome to observe, but please don't interrupt. Could members come over here please ..."
- d.