Comments on: Qworky Book Review: Taking Minutes of Meetings http://www.qworky.com/blog/2010/04/qworky-review-taking-minutes-of-meetings/ Better Software / Better World Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:09:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Joe Rosenfeld http://www.qworky.com/blog/2010/04/qworky-review-taking-minutes-of-meetings/comment-page-1/#comment-2527 Joe Rosenfeld Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:30:43 +0000 http://www.qworky.com/?p=335#comment-2527 As incoming secretary of a Jewish congregation, I am seeking a format for Board minutes. Do you have examples of such formats? Thanks, Joe Rosenfeld As incoming secretary of a Jewish congregation, I am seeking a format for Board minutes. Do you have examples of such formats?
Thanks,
Joe Rosenfeld

]]> By: Harry Waisbren http://www.qworky.com/blog/2010/04/qworky-review-taking-minutes-of-meetings/comment-page-1/#comment-411 Harry Waisbren Wed, 05 May 2010 19:06:37 +0000 http://www.qworky.com/?p=335#comment-411 @David you hit the nail on the head with your focus on the importance of room for creativity in the meeting, and in fact, our software is designed to help provide "the perfect brainstorm" through "incorporating positive cues proven to increase collaborative participation." The key is providing a forum and format where people of all kinds (particularly those who may not otherwise speak up) feel comfortable with providing their input. It is proven that more diversified participation leads to an increase in innovation, and we aim to harness this powerful precept! As to your practical question, there is not a presumption that everyone would necessarily need an input device, but in order for a meeting to "bring Qworky to the table" as we say, there would need to be some manner of connectivity amongst the group. It's certainly an important question, especially when assessing how we can impact meetings including a traditionally less tech-savvy co-hort, but I firmly believe that concrete value could be realized even if there is but one member taking part. This would mitigate the collaborative note-taking aspect, but would still facilitate tracking action items amidst a dynamic written record designed to bridge passive discussions to tangible actions. Moreover, it would further foster the enduring meetings that promote progress, by way of rifling past the issues that cause far too many series of meetings to stagnate. Thanks so much for the comment, and I hope I adequately answered the question. Would absolutely love to continue this conversation in any format, as feedback from inquiring clergy such as yourself (as well as members such as @Laura too) is extremely valuable to us! @David you hit the nail on the head with your focus on the importance of room for creativity in the meeting, and in fact, our software is designed to help provide “the perfect brainstorm” through “incorporating positive cues proven to increase collaborative participation.”

The key is providing a forum and format where people of all kinds (particularly those who may not otherwise speak up) feel comfortable with providing their input. It is proven that more diversified participation leads to an increase in innovation, and we aim to harness this powerful precept!

As to your practical question, there is not a presumption that everyone would necessarily need an input device, but in order for a meeting to “bring Qworky to the table” as we say, there would need to be some manner of connectivity amongst the group. It’s certainly an important question, especially when assessing how we can impact meetings including a traditionally less tech-savvy co-hort, but I firmly believe that concrete value could be realized even if there is but one member taking part. This would mitigate the collaborative note-taking aspect, but would still facilitate tracking action items amidst a dynamic written record designed to bridge passive discussions to tangible actions. Moreover, it would further foster the enduring meetings that promote progress, by way of rifling past the issues that cause far too many series of meetings to stagnate.

Thanks so much for the comment, and I hope I adequately answered the question. Would absolutely love to continue this conversation in any format, as feedback from inquiring clergy such as yourself (as well as members such as @Laura too) is extremely valuable to us!

]]> By: David Cohen http://www.qworky.com/blog/2010/04/qworky-review-taking-minutes-of-meetings/comment-page-1/#comment-401 David Cohen Tue, 04 May 2010 18:08:35 +0000 http://www.qworky.com/?p=335#comment-401 As a former Silicon Valley resident now living in the upper Midwest, I read your review with great interest. There's no debating the need for functional meeting notes to summarize discussion and actions taken, and importantly, to provide a means to track follow through and completion of those actions. I'll be intrigued to see how Qworky software balances, on one hand, the need for meetings to be planned and outcomes anticipated, with, on the other hand, the need to preserve room for creativity and divergence. One practical question: will the Qworky platform, in its quest for collaborative note taking, presume that everyone has some kind of input device? Inquiring clergy want to know! As a former Silicon Valley resident now living in the upper Midwest, I read your review with great interest. There’s no debating the need for functional meeting notes to summarize discussion and actions taken, and importantly, to provide a means to track follow through and completion of those actions. I’ll be intrigued to see how Qworky software balances, on one hand, the need for meetings to be planned and outcomes anticipated, with, on the other hand, the need to preserve room for creativity and divergence.

One practical question: will the Qworky platform, in its quest for collaborative note taking, presume that everyone has some kind of input device? Inquiring clergy want to know!

]]> By: Harry Waisbren http://www.qworky.com/blog/2010/04/qworky-review-taking-minutes-of-meetings/comment-page-1/#comment-353 Harry Waisbren Tue, 27 Apr 2010 19:30:47 +0000 http://www.qworky.com/?p=335#comment-353 Thank you for providing details on your synagogue experience with minutes---I think the dearth of efficiency in making sure actions discussed in a meeting are acted upon can become that much more costly for non-profit organizations, especially those heavy with volunteer participation. Certainly agree that there is room for improvement broadly, and I think that non-profits such as religious organizations could particularly benefit from making sure they aren't repeatedly discussing the same things in different meetings with no traction. On the flipside, if this can be mitigated, the environment will become that much more conducive to inspiring volunteer participation...something that could particularly be a premium for faith-based non-profits! Thank you for providing details on your synagogue experience with minutes—I think the dearth of efficiency in making sure actions discussed in a meeting are acted upon can become that much more costly for non-profit organizations, especially those heavy with volunteer participation.

Certainly agree that there is room for improvement broadly, and I think that non-profits such as religious organizations could particularly benefit from making sure they aren’t repeatedly discussing the same things in different meetings with no traction.

On the flipside, if this can be mitigated, the environment will become that much more conducive to inspiring volunteer participation…something that could particularly be a premium for faith-based non-profits!

]]> By: laura waisbren http://www.qworky.com/blog/2010/04/qworky-review-taking-minutes-of-meetings/comment-page-1/#comment-345 laura waisbren Tue, 27 Apr 2010 00:40:44 +0000 http://www.qworky.com/?p=335#comment-345 There is always a "secretary" at our synagogue board meeting. This man/woman is on the executive board and is responsible to take the minutes of our meetings including any motions that were made or ammendments to existing motions. The minutes are always sent out to the entire board prior to the next meeting. Many of us fail to read them and therefore neglect to study any action items. I think there is roomn for improvement! There is always a “secretary” at our synagogue board meeting. This man/woman is on the executive board and is responsible to take the minutes of our meetings including any motions that were made or ammendments to existing motions. The minutes are always sent out to the entire board prior to the next meeting. Many of us fail to read them and therefore neglect to study any action items.
I think there is roomn for improvement!

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