Bill, Providing for your participants and opportunity to discuss issues outside of the official meeting is used as ad hoc committee. It is best to put opposing parties on the same ad hoc group. It is important that the committee understands their expectations. When they return to the official meeting a spokes person will report to the full meeting group. Most of the time for ad hoc committees you would give them some time to meet and come back to the next scheduled full meeting to report. This gives them more time to come up with the solution that is well thought out. Dr. Gary Carlson