How NOT to organize a small group meeting of CSI Seniors and Think Tank

 

There is a group called the CSI Seniors and Think Tank (CSI S & TT) on WhatsApp. This is a group of senior members of the Computer Society of India. The group is spread across India, and there is strong nostalgia among the members about the good old networking days. Most of them would love to meet in person with other members. I suggested we try meeting in small groups, wherever it is possible to gather five or more members, say, once a month. It would give the members great satisfaction and strengthen the computer society by creating a grassroots cadre group.

Little did I imagine the difficulties of implementing this idea. This brief note is a confession: it explains what I did and did not do that led to problems. Everyone is willing to talk about their successes, and it is equally important to talk about their failures. This note will help members across India organise these small-group meetings. At least, it will help them to avoid the mistakes I made!

I mentioned the proposed meetings in a note in the WhatsApp group and hoped to get a few people to join us. My first mistake was that I invited only the members living in Jayanagar or JP Nagar, Bengaluru. There are not many members in this corner of the world. I should have invited all members of (CSI S & TT) in Bengaluru and chosen a more central location for the meeting.

My second mistake was not considering the current executive committee of the local chapter. I should have collaborated with them, instead of going alone.

Two outstation members emailed me to say they would like to join the meeting online. I rightly hesitated to accept this suggestion because I was afraid it would distract me from my primary responsibility of hosting the in-person event. I did not realise I could have found a partner to manage the online activities while I focused on the in-person meeting.

I had to postpone the in-person meeting I had called prematurely, but nothing was lost. Two CSI stalwarts, Dr Subimal Kundu from Kolkata and Mr HR Mohan from Chennai, have planned an online meeting.

I will seek advice from the local Chapter on organizing an in-person meeting in Bengaluru.

It is better to have tried and failed than not to have tried at all!

Srinivasan Ramani