Board meetings should be enjoyable — after all, everyone on your board has a common interest, right? As long as the person conducting the meeting is prepared, collaborates with other members to create an agenda, keeps things moving and evaluates the effectiveness of the meeting, everything should go smoothly.

BEFORE the meeting:

• Set agenda with others
  • Purpose
  • Outcome
  • Plan
• Remind members ahead of time to attend
   

DURING the meeting:

• Start and finish on time
• Follow the agenda
• Approve minutes
• Limit/control discussion
• Elicit participation
• Clarify action to be taken
• Summarize results
• Take Minutes
• End on a Positive Note

AFTER the meeting:

• Restore room
• Evaluate effectiveness
• Discuss issues problems with Executive committee
• Distribute meeting minutes
• Place unfinished business on next agenda

EXTRA TIPS

Deal with personal concerns in private

If two people are having conversations, ask them to discuss after the meeting

Encourage committee work prior to meeting 

If tension, take a 10 minute break

Keep a consistent day and time 

TYPICAL MEETING AGENDA:

1. Roll Call
2. Reading of the Minutes and Approval
3. Officer Reports
4. Committee Reports
5. Old Business/Unfinished Business
6. New Business
7. Announcements
8. Good and Welfare
9. Adjournment