View source for VH Town Hall Meeting

__FORCETOC__

The '''VH Townhall''' is a public meeting that will be lead by a staff member on Sunday, May 25th at 5 p.m Pacific / 8 p.m. Eastern Time in [[Room Guide#The Fourth Wall|the Fourth Wall]]. This week's meeting will be a catch-up and show-off-heavy meetup! We'll be introducing the new private feedback system, introducing and starting the logo contest, although our primary interest is in hearing from YOU - the community - and getting your thoughts on how things are going!

We hope you can join us once again! We will do our best to make sure every topic listed here gets ample discussion time, but once more cannot guarantee unlisted topics their fair place. Brings drinks, grab snacks or food beforehand, and be ready to read and think and write! Also, feel free to put your name on the list of folks guaranteed a spot to talk, below!

==Rules==
To keep discussion civil and organized, the following rules will be in place:
<!--* '''One person, selected by the current moderator, speaks at a time, unless otherwise stated.''' Everyone will have a chance to express their ideas and feelings, but to ensure these ideas and feelings are seen by everyone else, the one overseeing the meeting will be selecting one person at a time to speak. '''Please be especially cautious about this rule.''' Opinions are worthwhile, and should be heard, but speaking out, out of place, leads to a mess of conversations very fast.-->
* '''Please fall silent when the bailiff asks for silence.''' Conversation is the name of the game, but there will be intermittent calls for silence between discussion-periods, both to allow folks to gather their thoughts, catch a breath, grab a drink, or simply move on to the next topic. Nobody wants to be the one with a five-line paragraph they're rushing out a minute after silence is called! If you really need to respond to someone, though, do it privately if possible.
* '''Stay on topic.''' We want to cover as many issues as possible in this meeting, and the best way to do this is to stay focused and not get sidetracked on other topics. 
* '''Treat others with respect.''' It is okay to have a disagreement with someone, but please remain civil if it happens. There is no need for hostility.
* '''Be patient.''' Although we will try to keep things moving as briskly as possible, this is likely to be a long, drawn-out and thought-provoking meeting. Although we hope it will be a positive experience for everyone, it is still a serious event, and we will be taking everything raised, seriously - which means giving even folks who don't type or talk at 100+ words-per-minute the chance to voice their concerns. There will be ample time to step away and grab a drink or take a walk while others are presenting, or at declared breaks, so don't be afraid you'll miss something by stepping away for a minute.
* '''Follow the moderator's instructions.''' There will be 'open discussion' periods, during which the floor will be opened up for free-flowing conversation, and anyone who wishes to can pitch in a comment, but when the topic's been discussed a bit, or if the conversation begins to get too heated, order will be called and participants are expected to calm and quiet down and either re-approach the topic after a short break, or move on to the next one, depending. 

In general, we'll be trying to keep things orderly while still giving everyone who wants to, the chance to contribute. It may not work perfectly, but we'll do the best we can.

Past meeting notes have either been commented out or removed - we may develop a methodology for preserving them in the future, but at the moment they are likely to simply confuse.

==Discussion Topics==

If you would like to submit a topic, click the top-right button marked Edit, there will be a quick wiki-editing guide on how to format it if you don't know how. Alternatively, you can send your topic to Kaoru or any other staffer, and they will edit this page to add your topic to the list. As a note - due to time constraints, we are afraid that we can only guarantee time for up to 6 topics, at this meeting. We are aiming for around 3 hours max, 2 preferred, although may overshoot this slightly. Extra time at the end of the meeting will be given to users with a topic not on this list, to discuss them. Generally, time constraints mean we can't hit more than 4-5 different topics in any one Townhall.

'''Topics not on the wiki page will not be discussed at the next meeting unless there is spare time.'''

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| To add your name to the list, format it as such:                                        |
| # '''Name''' - Short blurb on topic                                                     |
| Please do not reshuffle order of topics. This list is meant to be added to, not edited. |
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# '''Mods''' - Any announcements, notes, or presentations, where applicable! Continuation of when the last Town Hall was cut short.
# '''Jit''' - Mod rotations
# '''Jit''' - Various small requests/questions about artwork/wiki
# '''Name''' - Your name and topic here!
# '''Name''' - Your name and topic here!
# '''Name''' - Your name and topic here!
# '''Open Forum''' - After any other topics have wrapped up, if there is time left in the Townhall, topics not on this page may be submitted to the Showrunner and time may be budgeted to freely discuss them.
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# '''Mods''' - Notes on rule changes and updates.
# '''Mods''' - Notes on upcoming events, active Mentors, games discussions, upcoming games.
# '''Forum''' - Open forum discussion / user-suggested topics.
# '''Name''' - Your name and topic here!
# Basic Townhall setup (outdated)
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# '''Mods''' - Presentation of the 'new user registration policy' worked out by site leadership in the last two weeks! <br>
# '''Mods''' - Presentation of the prospective mod candidates, a short description of why they were nominated, and why they're suitable for the position. Users should use this time to offer feedback.
## '''Mods''' - There will be additional time bracketed after the end of the previous issue, specifically to allow users to offer their own mod suggestions. '''This will be names-only.''' It is not an election, nor a popularity contest, and it is not a debate. ''Respectful'' disagreement about someone's suitability for modship is welcome, but no decisions will be made in the meeting itself. We have already gone through a great many candidates on our own, but anyone accidentally overlooked and not previously considered by the mods will be considered for the open positions.
# '''Kaoru''' - What do ''you'' want out of this community?
# Topics to be discussed! Feel free to add to these!
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# '''Kaoru''' - How can we serve you better? How can we bring the community together? <br>
# '''Kaoru''' - What should be the explicitness/censorship standards for each room? Should we have them? Should we specifically ''not'' have them?
# '''Kaoru''' - What does, and does not, constitute 'harrassment' under the new rules?
# '''Kaoru''' - What are the rules of the Firepit/Casino/Holorarium (Games Room[s])?
# '''Edward'''- Possibility of adding a clock to the chat (with a defined time zone), and/or having a time zone field in user profiles.
# '''Kaoru''' - Should the new VulpIM server Lesh just instituted use characters or accounts as its login criterion?
# '''Cantara''' - Should there be a standardized structure for new user admissions?
# '''Cantara''' - Should the Message of the Day have a submission system for user-run events?
# '''Edward'''- "RP Vision" feature suggestion. "Nickname" feature suggestion.
# '''Cantara''' - Could we create a compiled a list of character profile templates?
# Topics to be discussed! Feel free to add to these!
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==Schedule==
For ease of reference and so everyone stays on the same page, the tentative schedule-of-events for the meeting currently stands as such.

#'''Introduction''' - Simply enough, this is a time during which people are likely going to be filtering in. The meeting's schedule and the topics to be discussed later will be listed off here.
#'''Welcome''' - More or less the 'commencement' phase of the meeting. As the showrunner moves into this phase, folks should get settled, and the central vision for the chatroom will be laid out in brief. 
#'''What Is This Meeting''' - A quick word on why everyone is sitting around bouncing words off the Fourth Wall like a pack of mouthy hyenas! Mhhhh, hyenas. 
#'''What You've Told Us''' - A recap of the sorts of things that have been brought to the attention of the site's leadership team, so you know what we've heard - and potentially, what we haven't!
#'''What We're Doing About It''' - Our current plan for addressing the issues discussed in the previous phase. Hopefully it doesn't come as a big surprise, and sounds good to people!
#'''Open Forum''' - At this point, people will be invited to speak up - starting with the topics that have been properly entered on this page, and then opening it up to anyone who wishes to say a word or two, or raise a topic of consideration! 
#'''Dispersal''' - The meeting is drawn to a close, and everyone gets ice cream! Okay, maybe not really. There will be snacks provided, at the least!

Most of these will likely not take very long - besides clarifying a goodly number of issues and explaining just what's happening 'behind the scenes', the prime focus of this meeting is the forum, so we can all put our heads together, think, talk, and freely discuss what's been on our minds as we continue to build our community! 
==Forum Topics==

As mentioned, the open forum that will take place after the site leadership has said our piece of things is one of the prime focuses of this event - and to help organize it, we're allowing people to sign up in advance to speak. It is hoped that seeing what other people are thinking about and considering means that we will all come into the meeting with our thoughts in order, and see who else might be concerned about the same things we are! 

The following issues, all of which have been told to the staff by various members of the community, will be discussed first before the floor opens for anything else:

# '''Retna's Vision''' - Some folks are confused over, or unsure as to the nature of, the vision Retna has for the chat. The head hyena himself will be clarifying this earlier in the meeting, most likely, but would like suggestions from users as to how to make such a thing more visible for users new and old! 
# '''Community Growth''' - Recently, the chat underwent the second or third 'surge' of new faces, and suddenly VH became a very hopping place! There have been concerns voiced about how to keep the spirit of the community intact as we continue to grow, and how to handle the increased volume of traffic and activity that we've got congregating in the main room! The Head Hyena will open the floor for thoughts on this from both those folks coming in, and what their experience of joining the chat has been like, as well as more established members, and what their feelings on the matter are. Since this is one of those topics we'll likely touch on earlier in the meeting, you'll have heard some of what we're already doing in hopes of easing these 'growing pains', but other proposals will be brought forward for commentary as well at this point!
# '''Policies For Moving Heavy Discussion/Roleplay''' - Recently, there's been a lot of confusion and concern over new policies put in place by Retna that allow moderators to move heavy or disruptive discussions and scenes from the main room to more appropriate rooms. Retna will clarify the intent behind the policy, and then he will open the floor for opinions and suggestions.

Once these issues have gotten a good bit of jawing and discussion, we'll start with the people below. Please feel free to add your own name to this list, using the format provided, along with a word-to-a-sentence summation of what you'd like to talk about, if you wish!

'''PLEASE NOTE:''' This list is meant to be added to, but NOT modified - which is to say, do ''not'' change the ordering of the names or issues, do not edit other people's names, numbers, or issues, merely append your name to the current 'end of the list' using the format provided. '''Anyone''' caught changing the ordering of the names, removing names, or otherwise defacing this list - which we're mostly doing on the 'honor system' - will have their name removed from the list and not be permitted to speak at the meeting. Further disciplinary action may be taken against repeat offenders. The 'edit history' of this page is being watched - just be aware!

# '''Name''' - Short blurb on topic
# '''Kaoru''' - How to format lists (example!)
# '''Timber''' - Puppy business (2nd example!)

If members have issues that they would like seen added to the list, but aren't feeling confident enough to add these issues themselves, whisper a moderator. After the above issues have been discussed, the moderator will open the floor for issues not listed above.

When you are done presenting whatever it is you want to voice, or talk about, you are free to either take comments and questions on it, and the viewpoints of others, or simply 'sit down' and let what conversation may occur, occur. We don't want to force you to put yourself on the line just to say something that's important to you!
==Secondary Meeting==
Some members have stated that they will not be able to attend the meeting if it is scheduled on Saturday, May 25th. For this reason, Retna will lead a shorter meeting in the near future. Members that cannot attend the meeting are encouraged to whisper Retna dates that they are available.

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==Alternate Times/Dates==
We are always looking to better serve the community, and we understand the times and dates of these meetings may not fit together with everyone's schedule. We will do our best to accommodate you, both by providing minutes in the [[Townhall_Archive|Townhall Archive]] and by announcing meeting dates and times well in advance, but if you feel you will never be able to make the meetings at the times they have been commonly scheduled, please, contact a moderator or leave comments in the [[Talk:VH_Town_Hall_Meeting|Talk Page]] about dates and times that might work better for you - if enough people are asking that a meeting be held on a given day or time, we'll try to have one then, either in lieu of or in addition to any other scheduled meeting for that 'period' of time.