You've received an invite to attend a meeting. You're not exactly anti-meeting. In fact, you can recollect attending one or two meetings in your lifetime in which something was actually accomplished. "I wonder if this meeting will be like that," you murmur wistfully. You're a realist. You know
odds are against it.
The meeting's stated purpose is to, "Foster focused cohesion within Doodad industry."
Huh? What's that mean? Why is focused cohesion necessary? Or even better, what is "focused cohesion" in first place?
At least you know what Doodad industry is.
And, you note, you're expected to RSVP prior to receiving meeting's agenda. The agenda, it is promised, will be distributed later. Anyone having items to add should submit them as quickly as possible. Items deemed appropriate will be added to Agenda.
Right. Wearily, you send off your acceptance to attend meeting. Industry politics being way they are, you're safer attending than not.
The agenda arrives. After a cursory perusal, you are no further ahead. As written, none of items make sense to you.
In time you receive a Revised Agenda containing new items. Then later, a second Revised Agenda. None of Revisions are any clearer than original.
The Big Day comes. Grudgingly, you pack your brief case with survival items including what turns out to be wrong version of Agenda, and head out. What hey! You're only three weeks behind in your regular work right now with two major deadlines fast approaching. Nothing like wasting, er… spending … a half day at a meeting.
It starts 15 minutes late while host runs around locating chairs for attendees. Apparently, need for one chair per rear end had not occurred to organizers until just this minute. "Situation normal," you reflect.
The meeting is called to order and guy to right lights a cigarette.
"Oh my, " says Madam Chairperson. "Are we going to smoke at this meeting?"
To smoke or not to smoke is debated hotly. You can hear at least some of conversion over voices of three people who are talking into their cell phones and guy who's set up his laptop and is clacking away at that well-loved Windows feature, Solitaire.
