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Make monthly meetings more engaging and value-added:
This year TAC experimented with new meeting formats, using the first half of the meeting for updates (Program, TAC, sub-teams) and the second half for guest speakers, structured activities, group discussions on specific topics, and working time for sub-teams.
Areas of focus in these sessions included: professional service, community outreach, the perspectives of ArchivesSpace developers, and best practices for JIRA tickets.
This year we did not ask sub-teams to give additional presentations in monthly TAC meetings, as has been a tradition in years past. The thinking behind this change was a desire to not overburden Council members – who are already doing volunteer professional service – with additional work. At the June TAC meeting, during which members participated in a retrospective activity, returning members did not express a strong desire to reinstate these presentations.
Many members indicated satisfaction with TAC meetings this year, in particular hearing more from the ArchivesSpace developers.
Strengthen community of current and former Advisory Council members:
This idea goal was not realized, but shared was communicated with the ArchivesSpace program team as a potential effort for strengthening the ArchivesSpace community.
Potential ideas might include a panel on professional service (either specific to ArchivesSpace or including groups outside of ArchivesSpace), inviting former Advisory Council members to share their experiences, or organizing an in-person event at regional or national conferences.
Identify pathways to leveling up:
This year focused less on providing training opportunities for Council members, and instead highlighting or recognizing the skills members gained through the normal course of their Council work, ranging from improved comfort and familiarity with specific tools and systems to stronger communication skills, management of interpersonal relationships, and the ability to delegate tasks to others.
The January TAC meeting focused on strategies for identifying and communicating the ways in which Council service can support career growth. This activity has been converted into a new resource in the Council Handbook: Tips for Talking About Your Council Service
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