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I can see why you took what you did from my message, but I intended a different idea. My gist was that people don't find enough value in the meetings to make the extra effort worth while. Change that, and the excuses would evaporate.
Leonard C. Porrello
________________________________________
From: Suzette Leeming [mailto:suzette -dot- leeming -at- gmail -dot- com]
Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2008 11:13 AM
To: Leonard C. Porrello
Subject: Re: STC is broken?
Sure.
On Tue, Apr 29, 2008 at 2:16 PM, Leonard C. Porrello <Leonard -dot- Porrello -at- soleratec -dot- com> wrote:
Is it OK with you if I cc the list in my reply?
Leonard C. Porrello
________________________________________
From: Suzette Leeming [mailto:suzette -dot- leeming -at- gmail -dot- com]
Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2008 11:08 AM
To: Leonard C. Porrello
Subject: Re: STC is broken?
I was under the impression that you were implying that when someone's excuse for not attending meetings was "Commute time to get to meeting from work or from meeting to home" that it's really just an excuse because if they were going to a dinner and/or a show in the city, they would make time. I was trying to explain that it is not merely an excuse, and would feel the same way about ANY event (free or not) in the city.
If meetings were held during business hours, I may be more likely to make the trip but I would then be restricted to current working deadlines/meetings, etc. on occasion.
Suzette
No, I did not mean to reply only to you - I quickly clicked Reply instead of Reply to all.
On Tue, Apr 29, 2008 at 2:03 PM, Leonard C. Porrello <Leonard -dot- Porrello -at- soleratec -dot- com> wrote:
I share your feelings. I don't attend meetings because doing so would entail two hours on the road, thus making my 10 hour work day into a 14 hour work day. I liked someone's earlier suggestion that meetings be during normal business hours.
BTW, did you intentionally write only to me?
Leonard C. Porrello
________________________________________
From: Suzette Leeming [mailto:suzette -dot- leeming -at- gmail -dot- com]
Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2008 10:54 AM
To: Leonard C. Porrello
Subject: Re: STC is broken?
If the location was more convenient, I definitely would attend more meetings and be less stringent about subject matter, and for the networking benefit.
Suzette
On Tue, Apr 29, 2008 at 1:52 PM, Leonard C. Porrello <Leonard -dot- Porrello -at- soleratec -dot- com> wrote:
So if STC meetings were at a more convenient location, would you attend all of them or just those you think will benefit you? How do you define "benefit"; are you talking about subject matter, networking, or both? What's the sweet-spot for convenience?
Leonard C. Porrello
________________________________________
From: Suzette Leeming [mailto:suzette -dot- leeming -at- gmail -dot- com]
Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2008 10:24 AM
To: Leonard C. Porrello
Cc: John Posada; Rick Stone; techwr-l List
Subject: Re: STC is broken?
Your statement, "I bet the same people would be able to find a way to get into the city for a free dinner in a fine restaurant and Broadway show once a month." was what I was responding to. I just wanted to state that wasn't the case in my situation. I can't even think of a substitution for a "free dinner in a fine restaurant and a Broadway show" that would make it even more likely for me to make that commute.
Suzette
On Tue, Apr 29, 2008 at 1:20 PM, Leonard C. Porrello <Leonard -dot- Porrello -at- soleratec -dot- com> wrote:
I'm confused. I don't see the contradiction between what I wrote and what you wrote. To the contrary, the caveats to every statement you made support what I said or implied. I don't know what you thought I said or why you felt "compelled" to write.
You seem to have gotten lost in the free dinner AND show. Let me clarify. The free fine dinner and Broadway show-every month-were only examples. They are things I find attractive, but you can substitute whatever else you'd prefer or think "absolutely necessary". The point is, you don't find STC meetings "absolutely necessary" or even otherwise compelling enough to warrant a trip.
I never said that $25 was too costly in general. I suggested that people are unwilling to spend even $25 if they think that $25 can bring a better ROI elsewhere.
You said you would go to meetings-ONLY "IF" you find one will benefit you. How does this contradict the idea that people don't attend meeting because they don't offer a good enough ROI?
Leonard C. PoRRello
________________________________________
From: Suzette Leeming [mailto:suzette -dot- leeming -at- gmail -dot- com]
Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2008 8:44 AM
To: Leonard C. Porrello
Cc: John Posada; Rick Stone; techwr-l List
Subject: Re: STC is broken?
I thought I'd said all I need to say on this issue, but I feel compelled to respond to some of Mr. Porello's comments regarding the commute time/cost to meetings, since this is frequently my situation. I don't live in the city, but I would be more likely to commute to an STC meeting than I would be to attend a "free" dinner or a show in the city. I only go into the city when absolutely necessary. In my area, there are many excellent restaurants and theatres outside of the city and closer to home.
The $25 amount is neither here nor there. If I perceived more value, I would willingly spend it.
I am keeping an eye on the various topics offered at my chapter's meetings, and if I find one that I think will benefit me, then I will make the effort to get to the meetings.
As someone else (sorry I forget who) previously stated, the publications provided by my membership is my prime reason for joining/belonging.
Suzette Leeming
Ontario, Canada
On Tue, Apr 29, 2008 at 10:59 AM, Leonard C. Porrello <Leonard -dot- Porrello -at- soleratec -dot- com> wrote:
Possible interpretations of John's comments:
"Conflict with work" = "There isn't enough value to convince my employer
to give me the time away from the office." If an employee could argue
cogently that going to the meetings will result in significantly
improved tech docs, I doubt many employers would object.
"Commute time to get to meeting from work or from meeting to home" =
"There isn't enough value to warrant the commute from my home." In other
words, the cost is greater than the value. I bet the same people would
have little or no problem with the commute time to a free dinner in a
fine restaurant and Broadway show once a month.
"Cannot get a mass transit connection" = "There isn't enough value to
make the trouble of getting there worth while." I bet the same people
would be able to find a way to get into the city for a free dinner in a
fine restaurant and Broadway show once a month.
"Takes away from family time" = "Because this is of little or no
professional benefit, it will in no way enable me to compensate my
family for the time it will take away from them."
"Subject doesn't interest me" = stet.
Regarding the financial side of things, it's arguable that people never
say "money" because they never think, "this is too expensive." Instead,
they think, "Hmmm, do I really want to spend $25 on an STC dinner? Maybe
I'll go to a movie with my spouse instead or take my kids for ice
cream."
Leonard C. Porrello
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