A few quick clarifying questions:
(1) What determines quorum? Is it different at different times of year? Could it be?
(2) I am one of those who had their mug shot taken by Spott at the party. What is the process for requesting the photo and uploading it? From whom is it requested at what email address? To where is it uploaded, in what format and size?
(3) What types of policies is Dawn researching? Is help requested for this research?
Then a comment:
I just want to notice that the meeting appears to have lasted a total of 20 minutes.
For those of us who drive (or otherwise commute) multiple hours to arrive at meetings, the vast appeal of being able to instead participate from a distance (e.g., Skyping from home or from a satellite meeting), is obvious, especially in the winter, especially for those whose departments have distance meetings between general meetings.
I did have a *great* time at the party and *loved* meeting in person new members of my department. But financially and ecologically, commuting 4 to 6 hours for a 20-meeting, wow, that puts things in perspective. I look forward to formal proposals being brought and evaluated to see what we can do to consider distance participation.