I manage a team with fifteen people in one time zone...and a sixteenth who lives thirteen hours away from the rest of the team. Flying the one person in to connect with us is not practical.

I am looking for interesting and innovative ways to interact / build a sense of team that help keep that remote worker engaged.

Tools I can use:

- Telephone

- Microsoft LiveMeeting with webcam

- Some limited video conferencing in dedicated rooms in his location and ours.

We have plenty of online / asynchronous collaboration, but I am looking for ways to make the most of rare "live" times over one or more of the channels above, besides the typical (yawn) team meeting of talking heads.

Ideas, any(every)one?

Thanks!