An electronic meeting center including at least one persistent, server-based meeting is described. The meeting has a unique identifying name and topic, at least one authorized participant and a coordinator authorized to add and remove participants. At least one persistent, server-based virtual meeting space is associated with the meeting that may be accessed by participants and the coordinator from remote locations. The center directs and controls messages having information relevant to the meeting. A dialogue buffer is associated with the meeting space and is capable of storing messages for review by the participants. The meeting space includes an agenda that includes associated goals and action items and is available to participants for viewing. Participants are informed of other participants accessing the meeting space. The center includes a library and a theatre that contains documents, addresses, references, bookmarks and multimedia displays relevant to the meeting. An administration facility provides the meeting coordinator with the ability to configure the rooms of the meeting center and associated references and documents to suit the needs of the meeting topic and the participants. The administration facility also permits the coordinator to create new meetings, agendas, goals, action items, and to control participants. Either the confirmation of the completion of an action item or the updating of an action item by the coordinator will forward at least one message to the administration facility, the participants, the meeting space, the library, the theatre or other facilities. The center automatically generates messages for meeting participants regarding relevant updates.