[DDI-SRG] Response to the idea of a second DDI meeting

[Mary Vardigan]

Just thought I would pass on Kate McNeill-Harmon's response:
 
I think the idea of a second meeting sound helpful and it's an
interesting idea to have it be a learning rather than working meeting.
However, you did mention the issue of getting travel approval/funding,
and I wonder if that might be more of a challenge for that sort of
meeting.  Those of us in the Alliance who don't use DDI daily (while
we're probably in the minority) probably have a less compelling
rationale for coming simply to learn about the specification (as opposed
to our presence being needed by the group) (i.e. I don't think I could
make a compelling case to my employer that I need to travel in order to
learn about DDI).  And how would these trainings differ from those done
at IASSIST.  I'm the first to say that I could benefit from learning
more about the DDI, and that doing so would help me make a deeper
contribution to the group, but I'm of mixed feelings about the right
forum for that and if that's the best use of the rare times we get to
see each other in person.  But then again, if a second meeting isn't
seen as necessary for conducting business, and the trainings are an
optional supplement, that might be a fine idea.  Either way, as much
piggybacking on other conferences as possible, the better (as one can
probably attend another event more easily if it requires making the case
for extra hotel nights as opposed to a plane ticket).

Have a good weekend, everyone...
 
Mary
 
Mary Vardigan
Assistant Director, Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social
Research (ICPSR)
Phone: 734-615-7908
Fax: 734-647-8200
 
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/pipermail/ddi-srg/attachments/20070914/b09c2820/attachment.html