Definitely "formal and directed" and so stated at the top of the net. In our city and county we take turns so that new operators have experience being net control. The opening script is as follows:
"Good evening! This is __________, my call is __________, and I am located in the __________ sector.
Welcome to the Monday Night Information Net.
Is there any emergency or priority traffic for the net tonight? (Pause)
This net meets to exchange information, to check the functioning of our radios, and to keep members in practice with current net procedures. Should we experience a failure of the repeater system during the net, we will attempt to continue operating in simplex mode on the output frequency.
Please remember that this is a FORMAL and DIRECTED net.
First, are there any Echolink or IRLP Internet Connections wanting to check in now? (Pause for 10 seconds.)
Next, we will take member station check-ins. Then, we will do Announcements. And finally, we will take visitor check-ins.
When you check in, please key-up, wait two seconds, and then give me:
Your call sign, spelled out using the ITU Phonetic Alphabet
Your first name
Your current sector location; if you are unsure, then what neighborhood are you in or near
Whether you have any announcements, and if so, whether voice or digital
I will confirm each station checking into the net. If you don’t hear me acknowledge that you checked in, call me again before I move on to the next group.
Once again, this is __________, my call is __________, and I am located in the __________ sector.
First are member check-ins. Visitors should not check in until later."
Instead of doing a roll call, stations check in by groups. Sometimes there are pileups, but that is good practice. We make certain that the net is over in half an hour to accommodate another scheduled net.