Screen2Screen gatherings will be longer than our usual conference calls.  We are looking at using Adobe Connect to provide an additional level of interaction and collaboration.  Adobe Connect provides a browser based collaboration space including a Notes panel for live meeting minutes, a shared whiteboard, desktop sharing and shared presentations.  There is a chat room for capturing questions and/or sidebar discussions.  We plan on using Adobe Connect in conjunction with the phone bridge.

The vision for the Screen2Screen gatherings is that the time would be divided roughly in half.  The first portion would be a presentation or panel presentation on a topic.  The second half would be a working session to see where ITANA should take the topic and to work on next steps.  The plan is that the shared presentation, shared white board would be used to present on a topic and build an agenda for the discussion.  The notes panel would be used to capture the discussion and as live minutes.  The chat panel would be used to capture parking lot questions and questions from those not on the phone bridge.  We will use the phone bridge for the audio instead of the web based audio in Adobe Connect.

I encourage you to also think about hosting a local ITANA Meet-Up.  You can think of these of regional meetings or ad hoc gatherings.  The topics are open to those who gather.  We would like the content of the local ITANA Meet-Ups to flow back into the larger group.  You should pick a scribe for the meeting to capture the discussion. 

I also encourage you to look for opportunities to gather at other meetings that you attend.  You can post an email to the listserv asking other attendees to meet for lunch or for a round-table discussion.  This is opportunity to meet with your peers and to look for topics to bring to the group at large.

The group has also expressed interest in looking for other ways to gather virtually.  Second Life provides a virtual world were members could meet, have discussions and share objects.  We could link ITANA Meet-Ups via video conferencing for longer sessions.  All the ITANA Meet-Ups would meet together (via video conferencing) to open the day.  Each local Meet-Up could take a portion of a topic to work on as a sub-team for a portion of the time.  The ITANA Meet-Ups would then rejoin to report out and form next steps.

I hope that by leveraging these other gatherings; the Screen2Screen sessions, ITANA Meet-Ups and ad-hoc gatherings at other meetings, and other opportunities; we can still fill the collaboration and communication gap that has opened up in these tight economic times.

Jim Phelps
Chair, ITANA

The ITANA Spring 2009 Face2Face has been canceled, because we did not meet our minimum registration mark. I have heard from many members that they are under travel restrictions or complete travel bans and know that this is a financially difficult time for our institutions. I also know that these restrictions have impacted registration for many other national meetings as well.

If you registered for the meeting, you will receive an email with information about refunds.

I’m working with Internet2 and EDUCAUSE to find a way to still bring these discussions to the constituency. There is great interest in the program we developed for this meeting and in finding ways to gather and collaborate on the topics. To this end, a series of joint web-based presentations with conference call sessions are in the works. There are also local meet-ups being planned. Stay tuned.

I hope that the economic situation turns around soon so that large group meetings become viable once again. Until then, I hope you will join with me in finding creative ways to continue our work together.

Best Regards,

Jim Phelps
Chair

Registration is now open. Cut-off date is March 20th. We need 30 people registered by the 16th or we will cancel the meeting.

Come to the ITANA Spring Face2Face in Arlington, Virginia Wednesday, April 29th and Thursday the 30th. The ITANA Spring Face2Face is a chance to meet-up with your peers, learn about what is happening in other institutions and work together on topics of interest. Sign-up to get feedback from your peers during a 5/10 Feedback session (5 minutes to present, 10 minutes to get feedback).

Logistics:

• Dates: April 29 -30
• Location: Arlington, Vigrinia
• Venue: Crystal Gateway Marriot. See the Internet2 Hotel Site for more information about the room block and registration details.
• Registration Site: http://events.internet2.edu/2009/spring-mm/registrationintro.html

Registration is now open. There is aa registration fee ($235) for this meeting. See the registration site for details.

Agenda: Note: session details will be published early in March, 2009.

Wednesday, April 29th

• Social Gathering – 5:30 to 7:30 PM

Thursday, April 30th

The full agenda is here: https://spaces.internet2.edu/display/itana/Face2Face+Meetings

Presentations:

• Enterprise Authorization
• Kuali on Campus
• SOA and Interoperability
• 5/10 Feedback Sessions

Working Group Report Outs