2011-12 MNAEG Gatherings

[RHunter]

 At the MNAEG gathering in May those in attendance discussed direction for the group this upcoming fall.

 

The conversation was mostly around how to structure meetings and how often to have them.

 

Suggestions ranged from every month to ad hoc, with consensus being to try to do something similar to what occurred this past year (so try for 6 -8 gatherings).

 

A few other consensus thoughts:

·        Have different individuals come up with ideas for and organize each gathering.

·        Get gathering topics set further in advance.

·        Allow the gathering organizer to determine the format, but emphasize opportunity for discussion more than “lecture.”

·        Continue to use St. Thomas as venue but consider other venues if the organizer wishes to do so.

 

Any other ideas/comments from anyone?

 

A few suggested ground rules:

·        If no topic has been suggested at least 3 weeks in advance we’ll not have a gathering.

·        Once a topic is suggested we will query the group to see if what the interest level is – if several members express interest & availability we’ll confirm and proceed.

 

Our first available date is Thursday, Sept. 22.  So if anyone has topic they’d like to run with for then put it out to the group and see what interest you can garner.

 

Other tentative dates for the remainder of 2011 are Oct. 27 & Nov. 29.  

[RHunter]

Okay - no suggestions for a September gathering have been submitted so we'll cancel that one.  Next opportunity will be Oct. 27.

[Liz Weatherhead]

I would like to volunteer to speak at the October meeting.

Allow me to introduce myself…I am Liz Weatherhead, a senior trainer
and curriculum design specialist with 3Back. 3Back is a Scrum
management consulting and training company based out of Chicago.

If you watch the discussions from several Agile groups and listen to
what the market says....there is a desire to modify or even eliminate
Product Demos, Retrospectives, etc.. The answer is not to eliminate
the meetings, but to change the format to engage the attendees and pop
the feedback. Let's bring solutions to the October meeting...

Here is a descriptor paragraph...

Explore the driving questions to push your Scrum meetings to be
learning machines. When you ask the right questions, feedback flows
appropriately and easily. This propels better product development
with focused and engaged teams.

Thank you,
Liz Weatherhead

[David Allen]

I've seen product demos and retrospectives go from useful to useless. I would welcome conversation around this topic.  In my mind the goal is engagement adn feedback. However we can achieve this is valuable info.

--

David Kreth Allen

612-374-1119

http://codecontracts.info

 

[Rod Hunter]

Time to decide if we’re going to go ahead with an October gathering.

 

Any more interest in this topic?   The idea was we’d try to see if there was interest a little in advance from several individuals before we’d confirm the gathering.  Also I may be out of town on Oct. 27, so someone else may have to coordinate.  

 

Rod

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[Benjamin Kitt]

I'm interested and would love to see this happen!

Benjamin
--

Benjamin Kitt | Project Manager | Interactive Architect 

b...@thepuddle.com | @benjaminkitt | 

Skype: benjaminkitt | GTalk: benjaminkitt | 

Cell: +1 (612) 388-3143

[David Allen]

I remain interested and will attend if it's any day after Oct 9 and not Oct 15.

On Mon, Sep 26, 2011 at 8:31 PM, Rod Hunter <rodh...@usfamily.net> wrote:

[John Moberg]

Interested in attending…

Thanks, John

> Okay - no suggestions for a September gathering have been submitted sowe'll

> cancel that one.  Next opportunity will be Oct. 27.

[Ann Baumann Johnson]

Planning to attend.  

Thanks

Ann

Sent from my iPhone

[Kuderka, Chris]

I'd like to attend - depends on the date - Tuesday's generally don't work for me.

Thanks,

Chris Kuderka

651-481-4583

Internal:  524583

 

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From: mn-agile-e...@googlegroups.com [mailto:mn-agile-e...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Rod Hunter
Sent: Monday, September 26, 2011 8:32 PM
To: mn-agile-e...@googlegroups.com
Subject: RE: 2011-12 MNAEG Gatherings - October Gathering

[Tim Eiler]

Definitely interested.  I don’t currently have any limitations for the meeting date.

 

Tim Eiler

 

From: mn-agile-e...@googlegroups.com [mailto:mn-agile-e...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Rod Hunter

Sent: Monday, September 26, 2011 8:32 PM
To: mn-agile-e...@googlegroups.com

[Lonnie Weaver-Johnson]

Hi Rod & Friends,

I'd like to come but at this point I do not know my travel schedule.  I have been Rod's back up a couple of times before and it is fairly simple but I can't commit this time.   I don't believe the date is flexible (Oct 27th is a Thursday) because Rod secures the room at St. Thomas well in advance (I believe the whole year is planned out).

 

I appreciate people like Liz who step up with a topic.  Her topic sounds interesting and I know that Kevin Burns had a topic last spring which he said he could bring in the fall, too.  I think getting topics planned out in advance would help keep the meeting attendance at a healthy number. 

 

I love coming to these meetings. The sharing is very valuable to me.  

 

Regards,

 

Lonnie

 

On Mon, Sep 26, 2011 at 8:31 PM, Rod Hunter <rodh...@usfamily.net> wrote:

[Richard Weyrauch]

I would be interested and able to attend this meeting.

 

Rick

 

From: mn-agile-e...@googlegroups.com [mailto:mn-agile-e...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Rod Hunter

Sent: Monday, September 26, 2011 8:32 PM
To: mn-agile-e...@googlegroups.com

[Tim Wysocki]

I am interested too, but not sure if I can make 10/27 at this point.

Tim Wysocki

On Sep 28, 9:25 am, Richard Weyrauch <Richa...@magenic.com> wrote:
> I would be interested and able to attend this meeting.
>
> Rick
>
> From: mn-agile-e...@googlegroups.com [mailto:mn-agile-e...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Rod Hunter
> Sent: Monday, September 26, 2011 8:32 PM
> To: mn-agile-e...@googlegroups.com
> Subject: RE: 2011-12 MNAEG Gatherings - October Gathering
>
> Time to decide if we're going to go ahead with an October gathering.
>
> Any more interest in this topic?   The idea was we'd try to see if there was interest a little in advance from several individuals before we'd confirm the gathering.  Also I may be out of town on Oct. 27, so someone else may have to coordinate.
>
> Rod
> ________________________________
> From: mn-agile-e...@googlegroups.com [mailto:mn-agile-e...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of David Allen
> Sent: Friday, September 16, 2011 7:23 AM
> To: mn-agile-e...@googlegroups.com
> Subject: Re: 2011-12 MNAEG Gatherings - October Gathering
>
> I've seen product demos and retrospectives go from useful to useless. I would welcome conversation around this topic.  In my mind the goal is engagement adn feedback. However we can achieve this is valuable info.

> On Tue, Sep 13, 2011 at 12:54 PM, Liz Weatherhead <liz.weatherh...@3back.com<mailto:liz.weatherh...@3back.com>> wrote:
> I would like to volunteer to speak at the October meeting.
>

> Allow me to introduce myself...I am Liz Weatherhead, a senior trainer

> and curriculum design specialist with 3Back.  3Back is a Scrum
> management consulting and training company based out of Chicago.
>
> If you watch the discussions from several Agile groups and listen to
> what the market says....there is a desire to modify or even eliminate
> Product Demos, Retrospectives, etc..  The answer is not to eliminate
> the meetings, but to change the format to engage the attendees and pop
> the feedback. Let's bring solutions to the October meeting...
>
> Here is a descriptor paragraph...
>
> Explore the driving questions to push your Scrum meetings to be
> learning machines.  When you ask the right questions, feedback flows
> appropriately and easily.  This propels better product development
> with focused and engaged teams.
>
> Thank you,
> Liz Weatherhead
>

> On Aug 31, 4:22 pm, RHunter <rodhun...@usfamily.net<mailto:rodhun...@usfamily.net>> wrote:
>
> > Okay - no suggestions for a September gathering have been submitted so we'll
> > cancel that one.  Next opportunity will be Oct. 27.
>
> --
> David Kreth Allen

> 612-374-1119http://codecontracts.info

>
> ________________________________
>
> No virus found in this message.

> Checked by AVG -www.avg.com<http://www.avg.com>

[Erik Hanson]

I would like to attend an Oct. meeting.  Is there a date yet?

Thanks.

-Erik

On Mon, Sep 26, 2011 at 8:31 PM, Rod Hunter <rodh...@usfamily.net> wrote:

[Rod Hunter]

We are confirmed for the next Gathering on Thursday, October 27.  I’ll post more detail soon.

 

Rod

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Version: 2012.0.1809 / Virus Database: 2085/4534 - Release Date: 10/02/11

[Benjamin Kitt]

Brilliant!  I'm looking forward to it :)

--

Benjamin Kitt | Project Manager | Interactive Architect 

b...@thepuddle.com | @benjaminkitt | 

Skype: benjaminkitt | GTalk: benjaminkitt | 

Cell: +1 (612) 388-3143

[Richard Weyrauch]

I have it on my calendar!

 

From: mn-agile-e...@googlegroups.com [mailto:mn-agile-e...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Rod Hunter

Sent: Monday, October 03, 2011 9:54 PM
To: mn-agile-e...@googlegroups.com

[RHunter]

The next gathering of MNAEG will take place Oct. 27 at 6:00 PM.  

 

Topic: Asking the right questions?

 

Agenda:

6 – 6:30 PM – “Pre-gathering” - open space, networking, pizza!

6:30-8 PM - main topic - Asking the right questions?

If you watch the discussions from several Agile groups and listen to what the market says....there is a desire to modify or even eliminate product Demos, Retrospectives, etc.. The answer is not to eliminate the meetings, but to change the format to engage the attendees and pop the feedback.

When you ask the right questions, feedback flows appropriately and easily - this propels better product development with focused and engaged teams.

Let's bring solutions to the gathering...

8-8:30 – Discuss future gathering plans 

Our sponsor this month is 3Back