However, we often run more than one session at a given time when the the number of presenters exceeds the number of time slots. Over the years, we've added more interactive features to the program. One of the most popular is the open forum. These are email lists devoted to specific topics or issues related to the conference theme. These forums are hosted by volunteers from among the registered participants.
Participants have the option to join as many forums as they wish.
Associations formed in these groups often extend beyond the final day. In fact, participants often continue their discussion for many days after the close of the conference. In these cases, we keep the list active as long as needed. Like the open forums, these were designed to give participants a chance to exchange views, in real-time, on hot issues and trends. To accommodate folks in various time zones, roundtables on specific subjects were scheduled at different times of the day.