We hold a daily staff meeting with the team I manage to make sure everyone is on the same page, that any outstanding problems are resolved, and that everyone is knowledgeable with the events and happenings in the company.
These daily meetings are sometimes very short in nature (15-20 minutes), with some lasting close to an hour. They are open communication sessions - there is no definitive schedule or agenda, other than to let them know of my schedule and happenings and to gather problems or information from them.
You can use this same format to increase communication on your teams and increase participation in your group. Make the meetings quick informal get togethers. Always start at the same time to create a tradition. Make sure everyone is aware of the meeting.
