Wiki invote key: 3 lowercase initials of the Association

So, as I commented in the comments on http://aaron.thelibrarian.org/blog/2008/08/12/ala-tfoemp-question-1-open-meetings/

Discussion points:

http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/Press/information/topic.aspx?topic=open_meetings (especially the email and open meetings essay)

From another alacoun message:

•  what you believe the benefits of open meetings to be

* more people observing and thinking about the issues being discussed

* more ideas from multiple viewpoints

* more participation (synchronous or asynchronous, doesn't matter too much)

* potential for smaller echo chamber effect

•  what we should hope to achieve by having open meetings

* foster a closer sense of belonging / community among our widely-dispersed membership

* more welcoming atmosphere

* less "last century" image (allowing face to face participation only is soo last century) :)

* potential for succession planning - interested "new blood" to inject new enthusiasm into "old" topics

•  what the nature of "open" means in an online environment

* in the online environment, "open" means many things

** access to discussions, deliberations

** potential for sharing feedback with people making points whith which one agrees/disagrees

** ability to remix and reuse discussions to foster online community discussions

** ability for engaged observers and participants to expand the informational base of a discussion by linking to pertinent information and articles elsewhere online

•  what kinds of access to what kinds of information would be sufficient to satisfy our desire for openness in Association governance.

* with a few tightly defined exceptions, any deliberations should be completely available for members to peruse (though this sounds a bit like a paywall)

* discussion summaries, to supplement the existing minutes

* real-time broadcast (voice or audio, doesn't matter for governance stuff) seems to be easiest, legally -- but a recording of that broadcast should also be kept and should be made easily available to members

Thought directing questions:

•  Does "open" essentially mean "transparent"?  or does "openness" require real time observation?

* "Transparent" implies asynchronicity to me -- "Open" implies synchronicity... in an ideal world, we would have both real-time optons for remote participation and recordings or succinct discussion summaries supplementing the meeting minutes.  In the real world, we should do what we can to provide membership access to the "inner discussions" the various governance units in the association.

•  If, as the TF believes, it is impossible or unfeasible for every committee's meetings to be made electronically accessible to any Association member in real time, would committee "openness" or "transparency" be satisfied by easily accessible timely posting of such things as: meeting announcements; meeting agendas; meeting reports; podcasts; something else?

* As has been stted elsewhere, we are mostly a volunteer organization -- however, *timely* (<2 weeks post-meeting) posting of discussion summaries and minutes would definitely help

* Another way to open up discussions is to make the meeting agendas available several weeks/months *before* meetings, so people who might be interested in some discussion topics but not others could more intellegently decide which meetings to physically attend and which to watch for some sort of online dialogue

•  What would YOU say about why openness is desirable, or what the benefits of openness are to the Association and its members?

* Openness is desireable because many members want it and many potential members are [kept away / feel not welcome] by the big black hole that is ALA governance to the un-initiated

Here's a place to collaboratively develop a more modern interpretation of the "Open Meetings Policy" (ALA Policy Manual: Policy 7.4.4 on page 10 of 28) which reads:

7.4.4 Open Meetings

All meetings of the American Library Association and its units are open to all members and to members of the press. Registration requirements apply. Closed meetings may be held only for the discussion of matters affecting the privacy of individualsorinstitutions. (See also ‘‘Current Reference File’’: Interpretive Statement on Open Meetings Policy.)

(1978?) Interpretation

*See the TFoEMP page Comments for more backgrounder on the interpretation*

Draft interpretation of ALA Policy 7.4.4 (feel free to edit)

The "Open Meetings Policy" (ALA Policy 7.4.4) encourages all ALA units to broadcast their activities to the membership at large via any appropriate/available means.  Additionally, 7.4.4 should be seen as a driving force to make available multiple modes of participation in any ALA unit activities.