Minutes of Staff Meeting 31st March 2008

Minutes of Staff Meeting 31st March 2008

PRESENT: Dragon Schichiroji; Jane Atkey; Baji Bourjade; Sivat Arianto; StarRose Merlin; FireStaar Frye; Hermes Kondor; AlienShaman Constellation; GreyWolf Frye; Arawn Spitteler; Regnum Obviate; Hokon Cazalet; Manon Clary; Zenny Carpathia; Marcel23 Dreamscape; Arianna Eriksen; Azziel Foxley; Astaus Graves; Lilitup Aya.

Dragon opened the meeting by congratulating Zenny on the wonderful new library setup.

AGENDA ITEMS:

1) Newsletter

The latest newsletter is available as a download in .pdf format from: http://www.mysticacademy.org Methods of alternative distribution were discussed. Dragon suggested distribution by email which would need the Academy to collect email addresses from the members with the guarantee that these would not be used for spam mail. It is planned that the newsletter should be two monthly. Regnum recommended a display in every freebie store and suggested that it should be in book format. Dragon and Dansz to create a newsletter book. A freebie box needs to be constructed which will contain free items from Mystic Bazaar as well as the newsletter book. Dragon asked Arianna to initiate this. Jane suggested that such a thing can be submitted to I World. ACTION: Dragon; Dansz; Arianna; Regnum.

2) Regnum is experienced in website development particularly in search engine optimisation. He has offered his services to MA and will liaise with Dragon. He suggested that the MA website could have video and podcast content.ACTION: Dragon; Regnum

3) Radio

Regnum suggested that MA should have its own radio station. He suggested a stream 24hrs daily but because of ppl’s RL commitments this might not be possible. The stream would not need to be live all the time. It could be a mixture of live broadcasts and recorded material. The format being music interspersed with interviews, classes, meditations, news and so on. Dragon suggests a 2-3 hour slot twice a week and would like to run a pilot on Monday 7th maybe between 4 and 6pm SLT. Volunteers called for who are interested. Baji and Jane to contribute meditations – either live or pre-recorded. Regnum to investigate the radio streaming systems of other groups. There is a poll running on the new website for the Radio Station name – go to: www.mysticacademy.org/ma/poll. Regnum also suggested the radio could carry contests with winners notified by email. ACTION: Regnum; Dragon; All Guides.

4) Research Projects

StarRose has written on article on virtual mystics. Dragon advised all to read it and thought that it might form the basis of a research project.

Dragon is developing a feedback form for ppl to fill in following classes. This form would be on the website and students would be asked by guides to go to the link and fill in the form. This would be useful for guides to monitor their classes, to gather a list of testamonials and may form the basis of future research. A prototype form can be viewed at http://www.mysticacademy.org/ma/contact - Dragon to complete the form. ACTION: Dragon

Rockcliffe University visit:

A Professor and 10-20 students from the university student council are coming to look around MA. They will be visiting at 7pm SLT on Monday 7th April. (This unfortunately makes the visit very late for UK members (3am) although Dragon will try to be present).

The purpose of the visit is to see some of the builds here, and to see an "alternative" school. Baji is taking the lead and introducing them to MA followed by a meditation then Baji and Arianna will take them on a tour of the key areas.

Arianna and Dragon need to liaise with Filete re the provision of live music for the visit. ACTION: Baji; Arianna; Dragon

5) Matara

Dragon reported that the sister sim Matara is open and land is available for rent. It is planned for Matara to be available for members of the other spiritual groups. (Notefrom minute writer: Elborath has already advertised Matara through the Spiritual Leaders Group and the Spiritual Events Group and will continue to remind these groups about Matara)

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Beach Classroom:

The components of the beach classroom were accidentally returned to Zena by a new guide. The matter has been resolved and the guide apologised to Zena. However in future guides to check with the owners or with a staff member before returning objects.

Gaia.com:

StarRose reported that Gaia.com have invited her to help them induct ppl into SL and she will bring them to MA as part of that process.

Free Tibet:

Arianna is interested in running some kind of Free Tibet event but needs to find out more information about the political ramifications for MA. Dragon will liaise with Arianna on this. ACTION: Dragon; Arianna

Blog:

Dragon intends to start an MA blog on the website – a kind of diary of the events and daily happenings at MA. He will start it and invites everyone to add items to it.

DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING

Monday 7th April 2008 at 2.30pm SLT