Taking Minutes - Additional Information & Question

["Carol Anne T. Wall" <mmpc0014 -at- pclink -dot- com>]

I appreciate all your comments so far.  It's been very interesting reading 
the discussion.

A couple folks asked for additional information about the situation, plus 
clear up a few misconceptions and ask another question.

 - Minutes, if they were written at all, were done by the project 
coordinator or the representative from the product line for the 
project.  Everyone avoids taking minutes, no one likes the task.  As my 
two-year-old would say, "It's ucky."
- The writers in our group are always included in meetings, so it's not as 
if we'll get invited to more meetings.
-  We weren't told why we were the "ideal" group to do this.  There's been 
a sudden upsurge in requests for the writers to take minutes.
-  We weren't given this task because we're being recognized for our 
excellent writing skills.  The only people who really care about the 
documentation we currently produce are the programmers and testers.  If 
anything, we're underutilized (not from a lack of trying on our part).  At 
least 3 of us could be considered senior level technical writers (based on 
the discussion I've seen on the list), if not all of us.
-  We were told later yesterday that this is a firm decision and will not 
be changed.
-  This isn't IS driven.  We have GREAT access to our programmers, and they 
respect our skills and abilities.  This is coming from the project leads 
and management.  I wish everyone gave me the respect the programmers do.  I 
respect them as well.  I am lucky to work along side such a great group of 
talented people.
-  We're captives, not contractors.

So, here's my follow-up question for those of you who see taking minutes as 
a source of personal/professional power -- how do you make it 
empowering?  It has to be something beyond our personal attitude because 
the people who currently take minutes don't feel empowered and can't wait 
to get rid of the task.  I don't think the writers are being "empowered" by 
management.

Thanks again for your input.

Carol Anne
Carol Anne Wall, FLMI, CL
Technical Writer, Minnesota Life Ins. Co. - Individual Business Technology
St. Paul, MN  USA
mmpc0014 -at- pclink -dot- com


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