Meeting on the Phone

Imbolc            Waxing Wild Moon

The environmental groups with whom I have begun to work more and more do something I really like.  A lot of the committee meetings happen over the phone.

At first I thought, how impersonal.  I need body language, facial expressions.  Won’t work.

Then, I thought.  Wait a minute.  I don’t have to drive into the city for a one-hour meeting, at least a 2.5 to 3 hour overall time commitment.  Both groups with whom I’m working closely meet once a week since the legislature is in session.  That means I save 3-4 hours a week in both drive time and fuel expenditure.

There is still, though, the personal factor.  I think of Alvin Toffler, high tech-high touch.  At some point I’m going to want to see the people I’m meeting with over the phone, if for nothing else than to  match face to voice.

Now if we could just get those video conference deals set up I might never have to leave home.   What this does free me up to do is to spend an afternoon or so at the capitol, covering hearings live.  Much more direct benefit to my work than the meetings themselves.