7.1) WEG Group Meetings

Group meetings provide an opportunity for us to better understand and appreciate the research being conducted within the group. Dr. Webber uses time in the meeting to discuss opportunities and activities for the group as well as review administrative objectives.

Generally, meetings are absolutely mandatory. Classwork and tests are not viable excuses for missing meetings. If you do need to miss a meeting because you are sick or have a family emergency, let Dr. Webber know ahead of time.
During the long semesters, group meetings are nominally weekly (on Tuesday evenings, and dinner is included); during the summer semester, they are ad hoc (but scheduled in advance) and occur during the day.
Group meetings are usually comprised of two sections:

administrative announcements by Dr. Webber, followed by
a research presentation by a group member.

Be courteous and attentive to speakers. Contribute constructive, but polite, feedback when appropriate.
It is important to ask tough—but fair—questions, as a way to help prepare each other for conference presentations.
The presenter and audience should not be argumentative.
While presentations in group meetings can be less formal than at scientiﬁc conferences, they are still serious.
Generally, it’s more useful to present research that is underway or in the planning stages, rather than already complete, so that group members can oﬀer comments about the methodology.
Do not be on your cell phone or laptop.
A sign-up sheet is distributed at the beginning of each semester to assign one speaker and one food provider for every meeting.

The food provider is responsible for ordering and delivering food for all group members. Submit receipts for reimbursement. Complete a tax exemption form (obtain from Sarah or check the "forms" section of this wiki. Sarah will have to sign the form) and present it to the vendor at the point of sale so that no tax is charged. Purchasing procedures are discussed in Section 12.2.