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Although it might not be the ideal answer for the more distantly-based individuals like Val., I quite favour John's idea of a number of people getting together at a regional centre to video-conference. It would avoid excessive travel, but still allow for group discussion, where appropriate. It would also ensure that you've got someone to adjourn to the pub with, after the meeting. In England, the option of all gathering in the EH regional office for the meeting would be the most sensible option. A convenient LA would be another option. I've asked what is available at Sheffield City Council. I'll let you know. Jim +~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+ Jim McNeil, South Yorkshire Archaeology Service Planning, Transport and Highways Howden House, 1 Union Street, Sheffield, S1 2SH Tel.: 0114 273 6428 Fax.: 0114 273 5002 Email: [log in to unmask] +~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+ -----Original Message----- From: John Wood [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: 15 December 2003 13:23 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Various Issues - videoconferencing I have some experience of videoconferencing, as have my colleagues in the W.Isles, Orkney and Shetland, mainly through the University of the Highlands and Islands project which does a lot of this. It seems to work OK. Like any meeting the dynamics depend really on how big a group there is overall. Obviously there are also limits to the numbers that can be accommodated by the technology too. One possible way of doing it would be to have several centres with several people in each (where possible) rather than everyone just coming in from wherever they happen to be at the time. So for example 2 or 3 from the English Midlands might join up and link in from a central point in Birmingham. They just sit round a table and can see the others on the monitor. Of course you can do other types of remote meetings (eg telephone conferences, as we used to do in ARIA) but the advantage of videoconferencing is that you can see and interact with people almost as if you are in the room. Well, I did say 'almost'... It's not perfect but worth a try I think. John Wood The information in this email is confidential. The contents may not be disclosed or used by anyone other than the addressee. If you are not the addressee, please tell us by using the reply facility in your email software as soon as possible. Sheffield City Council cannot accept any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of this message as it has been transmitted over a public network. If you suspect that the message may have been intercepted or amended please tell us as soon as possible.