[GLIMS] GLIMS Update: Virtual workshop capability?

[Jeffrey Kargel]

Dear all,
GLIMS colleagues: Currently we have planned a GLIMS miniworkshop at Fall AGU, and a GLIMS workshop in association with an IGS meeting in Fairbanks, Alaska, next June (with optional self-funded field trips).  Presumably we can have a presence at spring's EGU. 
We should add a real-time teleconference and recorded capability to these meetings, so that we can move into a more aggressive post-GLIMS Book period and keep far-flung people involved and moving.  For each virtual meeting, there would be a host institution and a physical meeting place for those who wished to meet that way.  I do not think that movement toward pure virtual meetings would be a good substitute for physical meetings.  However, most of us are experiencing increasing funding constraints.  A teleconference capability would also help to show our funding agencies and an increasingly skeptical and tight-fisted Congress and Parliaments that we are doing our best to keep costs down and still allow more limited funds to provide critical science. Furthermore, it could enable some people who may have an interest and a need to keep abreast of GLIMS, but can't dedicate a week and couple thousand dollars to go to a workshop, to tune in at their convenience.
I also think we should start making video data records and powerpoint records (for those willing to contribute their talks, or versions of them in case there is something proprietary they don't want to let loose into the Universe) of our meetings and make them available via the GLIMS website. I am just anticipating that GLIMS will start getting heckled by certain oversee-ers in Congress, and we could have something very specific to point anybody to if they should inquire.  Parts of the public also might want to check it out.  
The downloadable records of meetings would be hosted at the University of Arizona (or NSIDC if they prefer) and linked through the usual GLIMS website.
Comments? Experiences with this type of thing? 
--Jeff 		 	   		  
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