Nominations and stuff

[[deleted user]]

Greg made a comment some weeks ago and got me thinking. We've been doing the nominations and stuff right before we start reading a given book. Is it better if we plan further ahead and maybe select the September books now and October books next month so we know what's coming up and can plan around it?

Or, is that just being too organized?

[Valerie]

Let me ask this way: how much time do you give members to read a book? Just overnight, or would it be decent to have one of two or three weekends to pick from? ;-)

[[deleted user]]

That's partially where I'm thinking ... we read a book every 2 weeks and discuss it for a month. Myself, I usually read the selection a couple days after each vote so I'm pretty much reading one book and immediately moving on to the next since then it's time to start the voting and nominations for the next one.

I thought about maybe adding a second mod and each of us doing one ... like I'll do the themes and they'll do the other or whatever ...

But, its not so much about being busy or overworked or anything like that. I really just want to do a reality check to ensure it's flowing well for everyone.

[Charles]

Personally, I'd probably be happier with one book per month, with a bit more forewarning as to what it will be. This would be both for scheduling and budgeting.

I also might like to see a more structured mechanism for the discussions. Perhaps we need a discussion-leader for each book, and come up with some guidelines for the sorts of questions to ask. (There are many out there from all the various book groups around the web and the "real" world.) Right now it's more of a "read the book, post a short review" sort of thing, and I'd like to see it become more of a true discussion group.

[Alexis]

I like the idea of selecting ahead- don't always read what the book of the month is but I have been trying to some, but I like to read other books too- so it would give me a chance to plan ahead.

[Jean]

I'd prefer planning ahead. And having at least two weeks to read it before discussion begins that month.

[[deleted user]]

I do like having discussion leaders - I have felt a little bad that I haven't been asking proper questions about the books ....

To plan ahead though, we'll end up doing a lot of nominating and voting in a short time to get ourselves there.

[Donna]

I like the idea of having a little more lead time. I've also thought that maybe two books a month is sometimes too much. I've been gone a bit this summer but I also find myself thinking Well, maybe I'll just join in on one book this month. I like the idea of a discussion leader but I have absolutely no idea how to be one.

[[deleted user]]

Well, I sent out an email with nominations for this month and polls for next month ... we'll get ahead one way or another ... and advance notice is good.

Regarding discussion leaders, I did one in the SciFi and Fantasy Book Club a few months ago for A Canticle for Leibowitz and didn't know how to do it ... so I just asked questions I found interesting about the book.

I think for the Beginning of the Month book, maybe the person nominating the books for that month should be the discussion leader ... for the theme book, I dunno ...

[[deleted user]]

Charles wrote: "Personally, I'd probably be happier with one book per month...."

I'd be happier with only one too.

[Charles]

Geoffrey wrote: "...I think for the Beginning of the Month book, maybe the person nominating the books for that month should be the discussion leader ... for the theme book..."

That's pretty much what I was thinking.

[[deleted user]]

My how time flies and what a change a single month can make. We are now more than twice our previous size with many active members instead of our small group doing our thing. So, I'm thinking it's time to re-examine how we do things.

Specifically, I'm thinking we need a clearer definition when to have a run off and whether it's time to add seconding to the themed book nominations.

I think runoffs should happen when the winning book has less than x percent more votes than #2. Is 10% sufficient? 15%? More? Anyways, what are your thoughts on this?

[Charles]

I think a 10% gap between the top vote-getter and the closest competition should be enough to obviate the need for a run-off vote, at least in the usual situation of selecting between 5 or 6 items.

[Donna]

I was also thinking 10% sounded good.