[EricH]

First, make sure to keep them in the loop. If they don't even have a general idea, it should be their own fault.

Second, when they are there, spend 5-10 minutes to bring them up to speed on what happened since the last time they were there before you get them working.

Then give them something fairly quick to do--T-shirt design, button design, we need some minor X to do Y (say, a fan bracket), or something else of that nature. Shop cleaning does not count unless that's what they want to do or it really really needs doing, in which case it's clean X portion and then we'll see what else there is to do.

Or, the other strategy--have them work remotely, if possible. CAD and programming are best for this, but Chairman's (and other essays) and PR can be done offsite as well. Just make sure that they get their work in on time and interfaced with everyone else's, say via a CVS server or similar substitute.