Ohio's state PLSO meetings take place in Columbus, Ohio.
I'm guessing that a total of 3,500+ miles are driven by chapter delegates to attend meetings and some delegates begin to Columbus at about 2pm, only to return home at 1 am.
To me, this sounds like too much energy and time disposed of for what usually amounts to housecleaning items.
To be fair, in the past there are often meetings that really need to be attended . . . in person.
I'm interested in know if other state surveyors associations(or any association for that matter), have considered or even implemented a usable teleconferencing system and how they did it.
In 2013, I cannot believe there's not a better way of doing things.
Yes. Especially in this day and age. Many State organizations have very little money to work on. It is extremely simple to get a conference-in call number and hold a conference call. Local surveyors can come in to the primary meeting place and surveyors from 500 miles away can call. Try comparing their per diem vs. the conference-call costs. its nothing. (Even if your organization doesn't pay the per diem....it's costing someone something.)
Another issue, is that it avails the member that lives 500 miles from the largest city to be able to be a board member and not have to miss a lot of meetings. This helps prevent a bunch of good-ole-boys from one major city from running the whole show.
Do a little research, find out the costs, and make a motion at a meeting. Often times nothing gets done for the simple reason that no one does it.
The Professional Land Surveyors of Oregon has had a couple of video conference call meetings. It worked pretty well although it was only 2 way. The officers in one chapter were at the local community college and the rest of us were at another community college. It saved them about a 6 hour drive. I don't know where you might find a facility with the proper equipment or the cost.
I suppose Skype might work too, if it can handle multiple connections.