--------
1) The meetings do produce value in giving a place to raise issues that may have already been asked on the list, but either missed or not addressed.
2) The meetings are logged and summarized into status updates.
3) Brings people who might be busy with minutia back to a "general focus".
4) Keeps the local and global teams in sync, and helps prevents people from feeling left out of the planning process.
5) Gives people the a place to keep tabs on and report back on action items
Cons:
--------
1) Take time
2) Aren't always as productive as people would like
3) Not enough people attending
My sense is that we do need meetings, however, muchof what needs to be covered (but not all) could be addressed by a local team meeting as well.
-Brian