I am certainly sensitive to the points that Pam makes. It should
be a goal of Vision2020 to avoid entrapment by the limitations of the
Internet medium.
On the other hand, in spite of my 15 years of service on the
Moscow P&Z Commission, I am a prime example of what someone earlier
labeled as "meeting impaired". Prior to my appointment, I think I had
attended one council meeting (to criticize provisions in a LID to pave my
street) and one P&Z meeting (to see what I was in for if the Mayor carried
through on his proposal to appoint me). In the intervening years I have
attended several joint city/county P&Z meetings, no county commission
meetings, 2 or 3 city council meetings, and 2 or 3 Whitman County P&Z
meetings. Realistically, the number of P&Z meetings I would attend, if I
were not a member, would be very few.
I am, however, very comfortable with the internet medium, and
would be very comfortable participating in list discussions in spite of
my meeting phobias. To the extent that the mail-list brings in others
who are meeting impaired like myself, it expands the base of participants
in the decision process. While we need to be on guard that the
technology doesn't introduce biases, I can't see that we have any choice
but to embrace it.
Joel Hamilton