[PRL] hosting talks

[Matthias Felleisen]

Since we are gearing up to host people for talks, I thought I'd send out a check list again to remind everyone how to go about this: 

1. Invite people with polite, person-specific emails. Nothing generic. 

2. Discuss options for a talk. Then request title and abstract. 

3. Arrange schedule:
	-- ask appropriate PRL faculty colleagues first for time slots; they are more constrained than everyone else 
	-- next approach most likely points of interest in the lab or outside (e.g., an FM-related PL talk) 
	-- send out url to person's page/title/abstract to the PRL list together with current schedule, 	
		ask people to sign up
        -- arrange meals; some people are more eager/available to go out for breakfast | lunch | dinner 

4. If someone comes from out of town, make sure to arrange hotel (with staff downstairs). Ask whether s/he wants to share breakfast. 

5. Figure out how to introduce the speaker. Visit the web page. Go for wikipedia. Don't read off a list of items. Pick something good. 

6. Stand up 
	-- thank the speaker, 
	-- guide the post-talk discussion, 
	-- have a couple of questions ready in case the rest of the lab is asleep, 
	-- shut down in time. 

7. When speaker departs, make sure everything is okay, especially trip to airport. (Arrange in time.) 

8. Send off a thank-you note via email within 12 hours of departure. If the speaker is from out of town, remind him/her how to send it receipts. 

Thanks -- Matthias