Open Invitation Epicurean Zoom - Every Wednesday 8:30pm ET, beginning May 11th

No doubt there is going to be a "shakedown" period where we figure out what works best, but Kalosyni and Scott and Joshua and Martin have been very good about all sorts of suggestions and I think we have a good core to launch this as a new initiative. I hope those who have not attended in the past will consider attending and adding it to their routine. No preparation necessary, no video necessary, no recording -- no pressure of any kind - just an opportunity to "socialize."

Sounds interesting, but I think I'm going to just stick with the 20th's when I can. That said, I sincerely applaud what you're trying to do in creating a more "regular" online Garden gathering. I'll look forward to hearing how it goes! I would say "Good luck!" but Βραχέα σοφῷ τύχη παρεμπίπτει "Only a little does Chance creep into the sage's life."

I hope to attend, dependant on work commitments considering the time difference between US ET and Sydney time

thank you isychos - hope to see you

Posted at Facebook:

Kalosyni thank you for posting that update and especially the link to Nate's list of alternate translations. Have those in front of us when we discuss each one is a very good idea.

I hope to make it depending on how early the kids go to bed!

I may be a few minutes late in joining, please let me know if this will disruptive or not, thank you

Not disruptive at all please join when you can!

Feedback on session one? I thought it was VERY successful - a great start!

By my count we had eight people - meaning three visitors in addition to our regulars. We spent most of the first half hour just introducing outselves (which should not take so long in the future) and then we spent the rest of the hour discussing principle doctrine one from Nate's compilation.

We need to set up threads for each meeting to be sure we cover any topics that people want to ask about. What else do we need to do to enhance the experience?

It was very enjoyable! I need to get set up for video at some point.

Having too many people is a good problem to have - much better than the reverse.

We ought to consider various ways to be sure that everyone gets to participate while at the same time making sure that the time spent is "quality" and we don't get sidetracked or have only a few have time to speak.

I think we found out last night that by having everyone introduce themselves, then say something in closing, and then try to involve everyone in the brief discussion of the principal doctrine, we consumed a full hour just with the eight people who were there.

Maybe one option is to balance Wednesday with the purpose of the Sunday session - (1) make the Sunday session weighted a little more toward "the regulars" discussing the chapter before we open the floor to discussion and (2) weight the Wednesday session more explicitly for question/answer and discussion, with maybe some of all of the topics pre-set so people will know what to expect.

A lot depends on how many people attend, and we probably need to be willing to adjust the format on the spot each night to account for the number of attendees.

According to the Mcgilivray article the texts indicate that inviting people to the 20th was a major way of introducing newer people. IMHO we don't have the luxury or situation to do that only once a month - there is too much lost ground to make up, too many challenges to getting started with regular activities, and at the same time the technology available to us makes the whole thing much easier.

I hope people will throw out any and every idea that comes to them. A key part of the picture is that everyone doesn't need to do everything - I am beginning to get stretched a little thin myself. People can set up new projects with new project leaders at any time. A large part of the purpose of this forum is to make that kind of coordination and assistance easier.

We need ideas for formatting and conducting the meeting (such as agendas, telling people to use the "raise hand" to speak, asking them to type in the chat window, etc......) that will make them more productive.

It's already obvious that we have a time zone issue, and that it would be logical and desirable for there to be geographic groups by continent and over time more local to have the most convenient time for everyone. Today we've got maybe ten people in the world who are available to participate in something like this, but over time the goal (for someone) ought to be meetings like this by time zone, eventually state, region, etc. There doesn't need to be - and shouldn't be eventually - any kind of central planning.

Just a thought: With all the new meetings, I'd suggest trying to make the 20th "special" and not just *another* online meeting. That date is literally the connection to the Ancient Epicurean community. I don't have any ideas currently on making it special, just raising the point for discussion.