Can We Lead With A New Meeting Standard?

Over the years we've grown accustomed to ALS meetings that feature expert speakers, a very short question-and-answer period at the end of each presentation, verbal questions from the live audience, and never enough time to address all of the questions adequately.  That is followed by the small mob that surrounds the speaker at the break where lots more questions are asked, and we assume, answered.

We can do better.

• Every question deserves to be asked and heard by all stakeholders.
• Every question deserves to be answered and heard by all stakeholders
• Every speaker deserves adequate time and resources to answer those questions.

For a disease where there are lots of questions, accessibility and speech are problems, and time is of the essence, we can certainly be a little more creative about insuring that every question is asked, answered well, and heard by all would would benefit from the information.  And surely we can archive those questions and answers to be a valuable resource for all of those involuntarily recruited by ALS before the next meeting.

When agendas are published, questions can be solicited in advance.  After a presentation, questions can also be accepted with a promise that they will be answered in a public space.  Speakers can understand that this is an important part of their engagements.

Every person with a stake in the fight against ALS has the right to ask good Qs.

Every Q deserves a good A.

Everyone will benefit.