TOPIC:

I come across quite a few clubs who don't use the FTH agenda because they want to include extra information on the printed agenda.

Almost always, they are wanting to use the stock TI template with the left-hand panel containing fairly static information. Some use it just for officers names, while others include a summary of DCP progress.

I would like to see an option for this layout in the printed agenda. I envisage a second global area, rather like the present header but appearing on the left side, which would be freely editable. It would be included when the agenda is printed, if the option to do so is selected.

I think we would have to leave it to the clubs to figure out how much information they can reasonably include. My personal opinion is that such agendas can look rather cluttered, but that's not a decision for me to make.

I've been thinking about this for a while. Our Toastmaster of the day is responsible for printing the agenda. Some know about the TI template – we have a customized copy in our Downloads Folder. They often have difficulty with it. Formatting, keeping it to one page, different spacing on Pages for Macintosh, etc. Some don't like the "manual labor" of copying everything from the FTH agenda.

A while back I removed the template and told folks to use the FTH print button. Some don't like that, and I feel for them. Two pages. "not as pretty as the TI". limited formatting options. Too much info. Not enough info. Always something. I eventually put the template back and just ride the Wave Of Feedback.

I have a prototype of an Infinitely Customizable Printed Agenda. It doesn't feel like the right solution, but it has inspired some good questions. I'll describe the system without much of my own opinion to see your thoughts. I know my implementation is hacky – so maybe focus more on the goals:

• Printed agenda, formatted exactly how a club likes it (perhaps choose from list of templates?)
• As easy as possible for whoever is printing the agenda

Here's how it currently works:

• Visit the Infinite Agenda web site.
• Automatically collect role assignments from the FTH agenda (by pretending to be user logged into FTH since I don't know of an API to get that info).
• Merge the assignments with a custom template containing placeholders for role titles and member names.
• Display (or download) completed agenda, ready to print

The template can use any language/platform. I have an HTML template (that could be generated by any HTML-producing app) and a plain text template (good for the Toastmaster to work from: just roles & names.) How about PDF templates? Markdown? LaTeX? Any format that can survive the assignment/placeholder merge would work. I really like this feature – since each club could leverage whatever expertise they have to create the template – but the Agenda Printer doesn't have to know any tech. (And the tireless FTH staff can say "Go forth and customize!")

Can you tell I like to overengineer?

I like the ideas that were mentioned to make another agenda available for clubs to print in the online agenda. Maybe even making a template that people can create their own... Such as the one attached



Linda

Bump

I would also like to see this.