Meeting #7 - update

Allan is under the weather and will not be able to make it tonight, so we will not be screening the player.

We will just get some drinks at the wine bar at 7pm and just chill out and have some good conversation, no particular topic.

meeting #7 - topic/details

Our next meeting will be Tuesday, February 27th at 7:00pm at the Euro Cafe. We will be screening the movie "The Player", Directed by Robert Altman. Our own Allan Nicholls was the Assistant Director and will give us a "directors cut" walk through and discussion after. Please be on time because we need to start the movie.

We've also had a change in structure that I will write about this weekend, but in the meantime, here are the next six meeting times and topics:
2/28 - Screen "The Player"
3/13 - Beer tasting and home brew session
3/27 - Peaceoneday.org
4/10 - Idealization of social democracies
4/24 - idea/topic session

meeting #6 - details/topic

Meeting #6 will be on Tuesday, 2/13 at 7:30pm at the Euro Cafe at 61 Main St.

Topic: living sustainably/dealing with the post-oil world/global warming/etc.

Why? check this out:

http://stepitup07.org/

Bill McKibben started this. Groups around the country will join him on April 14 to participate in the largest global-warming rally in history. It's a call to action. Maybe this is something some GIS members would want to spearhead here in Burlington (though I bet there are already groups making plans for this). Plus, the IPCC just released its report on climate change...and the news ain't good.

Meeting #5 - recap

The topic of "the last book you read" was a lot of fun. Allan did a good job recaping below. At this point we would like everyone to make a comment to this post with the last book they read.

From Allan...

Without the participation of Jeffrey Adam things weren't quite the same...you were missed. The discussion of all the books covering Clinton's life, the Bosnian uprising, the memoir of Jennifer Walls, the Chef's book, Nick Hornby's suicide stories and my South African cop story showed some pretty interesting diversity....not to forget Ross' house buying guide ( and his other book which I cannot recall) and my "reading to my child" books which are always offering up something of a treat to me.I am looking forward to the change of venue suggested and also the topic to be dealt with at our next get together, which may or may not include the evasive Phil Tucker. oh yes...I forgot to mention the most interesting book of them all Lovell's "comments from a spy"or something, that apparently poorly written but well received because of family ties...I can relate to that. All in all it was low key and stimulating conversation...there were no "fart jokes" thank you very much!

meeting #5 - details/topic

Meeting #5 will be on Tuesday, 1/30 at 7:30pm at the Wine Bar.

Topic: Come ready to discuss the last book you read.

Location?

Do we want to continue at the wine bar?
We could move to the Euro cafe (on Main st) and have the place to ourselves as long as we spend $100 on beer, wine, food, etc.
Or is there another location that you're interested in.
Speak your mind, have a good idea or at least an opinion.

Meeting 4 Re(cap)solutions

Here are some bullet points right from the source - wine works napkins (best note paper ever). We hope to hear resolutions at the next meeting from those who couldn't attend this week's meeting. Next meeting will be January 23rd and get some ideas in the bank.

meeting #4: TOPIC/DETAILS

Meeting #4 will be on Tuesday, 1/9 at 7:30pm at the Wine Bar.

Topic: Goals and predictions for 2007.

> what will this year bring? to the good idea society, burlington, vermont, the world.
> democrats taking over the congress - will anything really change?
> iraq? where will we be at the beginning of '08?
> what does our changing environment mean to vermont? will we feel the impact in '07?
> what are your personal goals for '07?
> are there any goals that the good idea society can help you achieve?
> everyone come up with one personal goal that helps other people.

Here are some predictions about various topics for '07 from news outlets:
Politics from the Washington Post:
Entertainment from the LA times:
Environment from Grist:
Some random fact about 1 in 4 Americans thinking that Jesus will come again in '07 from our very own WCAX (Ch.3):

From there it’s only a matter of time before Cap’n Crunch shows up in a hemp jacket, raising money to save the manatees.

Check out this article on in the NY Times. Be It Ever So Homespun, There's Nothing Like Spin

A Laughing Matter: Modern Comedy

GIS – Meeting notes December 12, 2006

The meeting was opened with a few glasses of wine and a welcome from Jay. Ben and Neil introduced the topic for the night – Modern Comedy. You Tube was the first topic point then leading into: Will Ferrell’s trilogy of comedic characters, Jackie Gleason, SNL, Bill Murray, Adam Sandler, and trends within SNL.

Mr. Nicholls explained the TV queue and how lawyers, scoundrels, and accountants run the show (no pun intended). The TV queue made even more sense when someone tossed around an example of David Spade’s success.

Anthony brought up his intentions of shooting/producing a comedy which led the discussion toward how the Good Idea Society should be a supportive crutch for members taking action in interests.

From something with substance we changed toward a lighter subject, farts. Flatulants, crop dusting, breaking wind, passing wind, butt coughs, southerly wind, morning thunder, cutting the cheese, stepping on a toad, cutting loose, air bubble, gassers, stinkers, air biscuits, low-flying ducks, barking spiders, rotten eggs, wet ones, poots, pump, trump, parp and biff, etc.

Full House and the formulaic properties of hit sitcoms.
The Daily Show with John Stewart, Colbert Report, etc.

We closed on the topic and informally discussed ideas for meetings and how the secretary should post meeting notes more promptly in the future!!

Next Meeting 01.09.07 Happy New Year!
Your favorite secretary <3 Jeff