MR. RAMIREZ： Come in， Arnold. Have a seat.

ARNOLD： Good morning.

MR. RAMIREZ： Would you like something to drink？

ARNOLD： No， thank you. I just had two cups of coffee at my desk.

MR. RAMIREZ： So， you're a serious coffee drinker.

ARNOLD： Yes， it keeps me going. Sometimes I think I'm addicted.

MR. RAMIREZ： Well， coffee isn't such a bad thing.

Everyone has to have something.

For me， it's cigars. Are you a cigar smoker？

ARNOLD： No， I've tried them. But I’m not really a smoker.

MR. RAMIREZ： Well， what would you like to talk to me about？

ARNOLD： I wanted to set up this meeting with you to discuss a little proposal.

MR. RAMIREZ： I'm glad when people have new ideas around here. Tell me about it.

ARNOLD： It is about the staff meetings.

You know how we have a staff meeting every Tuesday.

MR. RAMIREZ： Yes.

ARNOLD： Well， I have been thinking about it.

And I believe we could do things more efficiently here.

MR. RAMIREZ： What do you suggest？

ARNOLD： The way it is now， the staff from all four branches get together once a week.

We meet for one hour. But I think a lot of time is wasted in transportation.

MR. RAMIREZ： You mean because people have to go across town to get here.

ARNOLD： Yes. Some people spend half of the morning on the road.

MR. RAMIREZ： That's true. But our staff meetings are very important， Arnold.

I don't know how we can function without them.

ARNOLD： I think they are important too.

That's why I want people to have a better attitude about them.

MR. RAMIREZ： I know a lot of people think the meetings aren't too useful.

I'm aware of that.

ARNOLD： Here's what I propose.

I think we should meet once every two weeks， but meet for ninety minutes or more.

MR. RAMIREZ： Well.

ARNOLD： I also think the meetings should be more focused.

And I would be willing to take responsibility for that.

MR. RAMIREZ： You mean you want to run the meetings？

ARNOLD： No， not really run them. But I could help organize them.

I could discuss meeting topics with you， and then prepare a schedule for each meeting.

I could then send an e-mail to all the staff to explain the coming meeting.

This way the meetings would become more focused， and people would prepare better.

MR. RAMIREZ： Hmm. But we would meet every two weeks.

ARNOLD： I really think it would work.

The meetings could be longer， and better organized.

MR. RAMIREZ： I am not against the idea， Arnold.

It may really be more efficient， as you say. I'll tell you what we can do.

Why don't we try your proposal for a month， and see how it works.

ARNOLD： Excellent. I would be happy to get started on it.

MR. RAMIREZ： I will call the managers.

Then tomorrow I'll tell you when we can schedule our first meeting in this “new style.”