From Agenda to ZanyFast Effective Business

Meetings

A Agenda

• Advance• detailed• background

information• reports

B Bylaws

• Current?• Minimum

Standards• Duties of Officers• Required

Meetings

C Consent Agenda

• Allows routine to be handled quickly

• To be effective should be sent in advance

• doesn’t permit discussion

D Duty of Care, Duty of Loyalty

• Loyalty means the board owns the decisions it makes

• the officers must act in interest of the organization

• they are expected to avoid and declare conflicts of interest

E Everyone Participates

• Don’t let people not have their say

• Seek out other opinions

• votes all count the same

F Financials

• The board, not just the Treasurer is responsible

• learn to read your financial reports

• publish as required

G Generations

• How does your board reflect your membership?

• Realize that time commitment /expectations may be different

H Homework

• DO IT..– When you come

on the board– before each

meeting

• Join e-lists with other group officers

• Talk to your RVC

I Interesting

• Introduce new topics

• Feel a sense of accomplishment

J Jokes & Fun

• Board meetings shouldn’t be BORED meetings

• Get to know your fellow board members early on

• have fun but remember why you are there

K Kitchen

• FOOD helps all meetings go smoothly

• It is hard to argue with a mouth full of M & Ms

L Location

• Try to have meeting in a location that is convenient to all

• Make sure facility is conducive to meeting

M Minutes and motions

• Minutes are formal legal documents of actions taken

• Other information is optional

• Motions clarify issue under consideration– I move that…..– Second allows for

discussion

N Neutral

• The Ombudsman can help keep local group problems to a minimum

• The chair should refrain from taking a side on an issue

O Officer Reports

• Submit in advance

• Put in writing• Summarize action

to be taken by the board

• Board accepts not approves reports

P Planning

• Board should strive for an annual planning meeting

• Come together to determine goals

• Make assignments

Q Quorum

• Take roll • note who attends

in the minutes

R Roberts Rules of Order

• Guidelines for effective meetings

• can be very helpful• Can be overused

and make things more complicated

• Give members a cheat sheet for mtgs.

S Schedule

• Once you schedule board meetings avoid changing the dates

• set regular date/time

• put in the newsletter

T Time

• Start on time• avoid going over

time • if it happens

regularly you may need a change in format

• Limit discussion if necessary

U Unanimous

• Doesn’t have to be the goal

• Offers the chance to get others to help own the decision

V Votes

• Elections need to happen via mail ballot.

• Recording in minutes

• LocSec/President voting

W Working Board

• Understanding that the board role vs the committee role

• Try to have separate meetings if possible

X extensive discussion

• Have a special forum for contentious issues

• limit time for each person before debate starts

• don’t allow person attacks

Y Yield to others

• Mensans have Opinions

• alternate sides• come to

compromise• majority rules

Z Zany

• Themes• Toys• prizes & games