Kiva Community Conference Call with Premal Shah, Jan 14th 2009 - Discussion

[Guest]

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[Tatiana]

I'd love to join the call, but I have to say that even 2 pm  (11pm here) is past my bedtime. But I can try...

[RichardF]

Fiona, will you please foreshadow the one or two topics you plan to present to help lenders decide how they might prepare and/or notify others who might be particularly interested?

[Fiona Ramsey]

This is really going to be up to Premal.  I will suggest that if there is an issue that people would love to discuss, pls just come to the meeting with your question in mind.  We really want this to be an ongoing thing, so this is not going to be the last time you'll have an opportunity to present us with your questions/issues on a conf. call.  For that reason we're keeping it really open so it can be driven by the user community.  We only have one topic in mind that we'll start off with, which I'm not going to detail here because we haven't formally announced it yet and there are reasons for sticking to the timeline that we've decided on.  However, it will be touched upon in the January newsletter which is going to begin to be sent out on Friday (which means, as we all know, that you'll get it probably in the three days following Friday - depending on how much Sam throttles the email distribution.)

[QueenOfHearts]

Speaking from the US west coast (PST) I cannot make it at 2pm (at work)...but neither could I make the 5pm (commuting). For me personally the weekend would be better....6-8am. But I don't think this should revolve around my schedule. As long as I can get a transcript I'm fine. I assume if there was a burning question I needed answered I would PM someone who was attending and have them ask in my place.

Because Kiva has participants from around the world (and its timezones) it is important that this is equally inconvenient for all of us. Maybe open a poll with different times and let people vote?  This world meeting planner may be helpful in locating a time that would work for most people.

- Joan

PS: Fiona, are you taking requests for the agenda? (topics rather than any specific question)

I agree with Joan W....for my two cents worth....no time is going to be good for everyone so I think moving the time around with each call to give all time zones an opportunity to participate is the way to go.  I know that there several KF who will take notes and post the questions and answers for anyone not being able to be in on this call in particular.  We just have to take turns.

Queen

[RichardF]

Thanks, Fiona.

Let the Premal topic/January newsletter/Race to the 14th/Kiva Friends Speculation Pool begin!!! 

My entry is...

"Update on MIFEX and Other Field Partner Issues."

Hey, you got something better?! 

[Natasha]

For me personally, this call will be during my work hours (the next day to the USA due to time difference) so it won't make much difference whether it is at 9am or 12pm, as long as I have adequate notice to schedule it into my diary. In this instance, I will probably be able to make the call this time (won't usually be the case).

I think it is important that we give the opportunity to all Lenders, the ability to participate in the call, and if 2pm PST is preferable to Europe, then I vote for that time (I also prefer it at the earlier part of my day).

As much notice as possible though, would be greatly appreciated, thankyou.

[AccountAbility]

This is really going to be up to Premal.  I will suggest that if there is an issue that people would love to discuss, pls just come to the meeting with your question in mind....However, it will be touched upon in the January newsletter which is going to begin to be sent out on Friday (which means, as we all know, that you'll get it probably in the three days following Friday - depending on how much Sam throttles the email distribution.)

Since based on past experience many of us will not have received the newsletter by the time of the call, could you at least post the relevant section of the newsletter here so we all will have the same info.

Actually I agree with Richard that a couple of topics should be announced ahead of time, even if these are meant to be ongoing.  There are clearly more topics than could ever be covered in one conversation.  Some are of more interest than others-- depending on who you are.

Dan

[Fiona Ramsey]

We've decided to go back to a 2pm (pacific) call time, so that there is at least an opportunity for lenders in other countries to join, even if it is at an inconvenient time.  It seems as though this is the most convenient - or equally inconvenient - time across the board.

Regarding topics, like I said we're really not running calls so that we can dictate what the topics of discussion will be.  This is an opportunity for the community to bring topics to us.  There certainly are more topics than can be covered in one conversation, which is why we'll be receiving questions through me via PM or the chat room so that I can try to make sure we cover the topics that there seem to be the most interest in.  That seems to be the easiest way to make sure the conversation is relevant to as many people as possible, for as much of the call as possible.

I won't be posting on KivaFriends the information I have referred to in the newsletter as we have a timeline which we are sticking to, for business reasons.  I'm sure you all understand that I need to keep to the timeline that we've agreed to internally.  The email will begin to be sent out Friday afternoon, and I'm sure someone will post it to KivaFriends as soon as someone has it. 

I'm going to stop monitoring this thread at this point as a decision has been made on the time for the call.  Feel free to discuss issues/topics etc. for the call here, and don't forget I'll only be taking the questions etc. on the day of the call (I'll never get any work done if I monitor all issue/topic suggestions leading up to the call!)

Talk to you all soon!

[Natasha]

Thankyou Fiona for confirming the time.

[Canadian Here]

I agree with Dan on this issue. 

I have never, to date, received my newsletter prior to any scheduled conference call.

Lorna