Whilst the TalkBoard forum is a good place to start I do not think it is visited by many members.

During the Mission to the World debate I reached out to hundreds of members who had an interest in the debate - informing, listening and updaing them on the issue, where it was going and urging them to make their voices heard.

It strikes me that direct contact with members like this is the way to hear the real voice of members.

I don't think "debate with the membership" is worded well.

I do think the current TalkBoard is, at times, too adversarial for my tastes. As a general member, it's OK for me to be obnoxious, adversarial, etc. especially when I'm trying to make a point. And I have been there and done that the past few years, mainly out of frustration towards the TB and the Mods at the feeling that "we're running this place and if you don't like it, too bad."

But as a TalkBoard member, I don't think that funny acronyms and smileys do anything but foster a poor relationship between the TalkBoard (and yes, when a TalkBoard member speaks he or she is not only speaking as a FT member, but as a member of TB, as well) and the people they are supposed to represent.

I would like to see communication be open. Whether it's TB Topics or whether it involves me as a TB member straying out into forums I don't currently visit trying to get a feel for the users' FT experience, I think it's worthwhile. I think the first thing that we need to do is be proactive when we see a user that is unhappy with the FT experience -- send out a PM and ask "Is there anything I can do?"

I see TalkBoard as so much more than a group that advises Randy. And even if it does just do that, TB members cannot sit back and wait for people to ask questions or complain. TB members have to get out within the community and look for opportunities to make a difference. And I will do me very best to do that, if I am elected.

Good Question
 

Most FTers rarely -if ever- read the TalkBoard forums. I barely looked at them myself until I went looking for a constructive way to serve the community.

As a member of TalkBoard, I will do more than read the comments of FTers who have taken the time to post to the TB Forum. I will actively seek out some of the key participants in the other fora (e.g., lucky9876coins over in the UA forum) to make sure that it's not just the squeaky wheels that receive lubrication.

Speaking of lubricants, one of the great ways to find out what FTers think is over a beer/wine/absinthe at an FT DO. I've attended (or co-hosted) DOs in ANC, DCA, EZE and other random places across the planet and find them excellent places to poll the membership.

Lastly, I should hope that FTers would feel comfortable PMing me on issues of concern to themselves and to others.

B747: This is a very good observation and I agree with it. If TalkBoard members rely on the TalkBoard Forum as its exclusive (or primary) source of feedback, the Board is getting a very limited perspective from a vocal minority. I think TalkBoard members can weave some questions/discussions into the other forums in the context of the on-going discussions there...when and as they see an opportunity that's consistent with a given thread.

I also think FT could and should use internet surveys, possibly with the inducement of sponsor prizes, to take the pulse of members on major issues on a regular basis (annual?).

Then, there's always the old fashioned way: meet 'n greet 'em. I think TB members should make it a point to attend more community get togethers, and even try to host some.

I agree with the idea expressed by a number of people that the TalkBoard forum is not as often read as, for example, OMNI. :) I like the idea of polling the membership, though I think it should be non-binding -- polling is a useful tool for assessing the feelings of the membership, but I'd hate to see it become the equivalent of the proposition process in California.

I too believe that the TalkBoard forum is underused/under-read.

Perhaps the most effective way of collecting more feedback would be to publicize TB in other fora, so that the general membership (and lurkers) can become aware of the issues under consideration, and be able to give feedback.

There have been a couple of issues in the last few months that I believe were not discussed enough before votes were cast. More discussion might have changed the results.

One simple way to garner more feedback would be to use stickies/announcements more freely. (No, we don't want a crowded top of the page that's ugly - but one or two lines concerning issues of great importance to the entire community might generate the sort of discussion we look for).

Two points of thought on this....

First, to me, part of the role of being on TalkBoard, is to constantly absorb information, some when you least expect it. I feel we're elected to do more than just vote on things that are presented to us. Part of being on TalkBoard is to have an extra set of eyes and part of our brain when we peruse through FT. Then, when we vote, using all that information we've collected, we're obligated to make an informed decision based being a member of TalkBoard, someone dedicated to serving FlyerTalk full-time.


Second, Let me make this clear -- we SHOULD solicit input from FlyerTalkers. However, some of what is being described so far makes it sound like TalkBoard would merely be rubber-stampers to the polling, and as said in the first point, being a TalkBoard member has far more responsibility than just having a title below your screen name and voting once in awhile.

Again, TalkBoard members should be taking input from all FlyerTalkers. General polling doesn't allow you to ask follow-up questions to FlyerTalkers -- that is a HUGE shortfall in a broad-based poll. Look at the presidential polling out right now -- some of the people interpreting the numbers have a bunch of "yeah, buts" put in there....meaning it might not be empirical data and polls sometimes generate more questions than answers.

Personally, I would feel much better knowing the reasoning and thinking on where a FlyerTalker is coming from when he/she asks a question. People like their opinion to be heard, and acknowledging and/or inquiring further only makes the FlyerTalker feel much more involved in the process. Much, much more than having people check a box and hit 'send vote,' but to ask follow-up questions to the FlyerTalk member, and to learn the reasoning and thinking is a more powerful tool.

In the long run, it's a much more effective way, combined the with aforementioned heightened sensitivity and duty of each TalkBaord member, is good for both TalkBoard and FlyerTalk overall.

Question 1: Effective Feedback

Naturally the most effective way to have feedback is to sit at a bar and chat about it over a cold one.
However this isn’t that practical unless we fit webcams in our locals and personally I wouldn’t people to see my after too many......
I think that each forum should have a sticky and or poll thread where feedback is collected. Talkboard is read by only a few.

I think that to read the forum is but one way to get feedback. I am very much of the “more data, more data, more data” school of thought. This means to me that I should not only actively read the TB forum, but also that I should avail myself of all possible comments I have time to read (and making time is key to be being successful here) in the forums that are related or specifically involved in the discussion in question.

Take for example comments on a Fitness forum. To get real feedback from those involved in the debate and those likely to be effected by the decision taken, I needed to take time to go to the exercise blog in Omni, the UK travel forum, the Hilton and Starwood fora among other to get a sense for how others view the topic and not rely solely on my own perspective. What came about was a reasoned and clearly explained decision and position. This is what everybody needs to be confident they will enjoy.

I would, and did seek the opinions of those passionate about the discussion, or the above example, the opinions of those that were tasked with making the final decision. The solicitation of those opinions in an open forum allowed not only me but all who looked to see what opinions were held by whom. If TB members are to be the eyes and ears of the FT public, the TB members must passively read, actively research, periodically engage in discussion directly, but above all participate in doing the representing they are volunteering to do.