Observation Tower

DISCLAIMER:  I just finished a 7-page research paper, so this blog will probably sound very academic as it takes a while to get out of that mindset.

Due to my inability to be at my target-student org's meeting, I chose to observe a monday evening meeting of a group I am already a part of.

The first thing I noticed was the lack of members present.  It always surprises me how few members attend meetings, even though it happens week after week.  I believe there were less than half of the total members at the meeting, which does not lend itself well to communication.  The meeting also started 10 minutes late, which is fairly typical of us.  Even so, some members yelled to the president to get the show on the road, which showed that they valued their time and did not appreciate the late start.  In the minutes leading up to the meeting, there was a sense of restlessness and excitement, as is usually the case at these meetings.  Some members have not seen each other in a week or two, so they chum it up with friends.

To start the meeting, the president banged the gavel multiple times as a cue to get quiet, and it was fairly effective.  A few side conversations lingered, but on the whole the group was attentive.  The seven officers sit in the middle of the room in a square, 2 officers per table (president by himself).  They each give a report updating the group on the goings-on of their committee.  Interruption, jokes, and side comments are frequent, and keep the meeting long but entertaining.  Most of the group seems to have no problems with these interruptions...they are a part of the culture of the group, which otherwise could be viewed as rude.

After officer reports and new/old business, the president opens the floor for announcements.  This is the first official time that the rest of the group may speak, though they do so throughout the meeting.  Many members had announcements, which, after about 10 minutes, elicited some groans from the general body.  We had been in meeting for about one hour, which is a little less than normal, but people nonetheless wanted to get on with their evening.  Some announcements were pertinent to the group and some were simply funny, which aided in the light mood.

The overall mood of the meeting led me to believe the group was happy and had a definite sense of pride in their organization.  There weren't any awkward moments of turmoil, and things ran smoothly.  The president had the power, and controlled the flow of the meeting well.  He runs meetings differently than previous leaders, who set a more serious tone (for better or worse).  I think the members like the current president's approach to having a more relaxed atmosphere, and their behavoir reflects it.

All in all, it was an insightful evening observing from the watchtower.