Dear Colleagues: <p>

I want to explain how the workshop works. Before that I have to
explain my observations of meetings. In the distant past, one went
to a meeting to learn new material, renew acquaintances and plan
for collaboration over a social dinner or so.  One listened to the
talks and soaked them in. Of course, some people suffered from jet
lag etc but there were few distractions. Travel was expensive and
meetings were not common. <p>

Now we come to the present. At most meetings, almost everyone is
logged in and busy emailing or texting. This in fact even happens
in group meetings. Furthermore, thanks to YouTube you can actually
watch a colloquium either in real time or after the fact. So, the
primary reason to go to meeting -- learning new material has
essentially disappeared. Having analyzed this issue, I started a new
approach to workshops -- arrange small workshops and have the talk
and report available well ahead of the meeting (this is not new;
IEEE). Next, in order to get value out of meeting it is important
to prepare for the meeting.  <p>

Most of you are my peers and so I can use only logical arguments!

<ol type="I">
<li> Please respond by the indicated "reply by" date. It is essential
(and profession, IMHO).
<li> Please participate in the preparation to the meeting seriously.
<li> The workshop format will be a leader who introduces the topic
(for 15 minutes) followed by an equal amount of discussion. It is
essential and professional that talks finish within the allocated
time. This requires discipline and careful choice of slides.
</ol>

Discussion is extremely important. It is encouraged, particularly from
young people. Also, we should adopt the Bohr approach: in the morning
take say position A and in the afternoon position A-bar (complement). 
This way you can examine a proposal without ego.<p>

Shri Kulkarni