1. Thank you for turning cell phones to off/silent

2. > 2005 TMG Leadership Conference > Joseph L. Donaldson
Meetings of Success
> 2005 TMG Leadership Conference
> Joseph L. Donaldson

3. Picture perfect meetings only exist in pictures…Strive for success, not perfection

4. Success Every member has their say Purposes of organization furthered
Majority rules
Rights of minority opinion and absent members protected

5. Meetings I Dislike One person does all the talking
Don’t know the purpose
Nothing accomplished
Sitting for more than one hour
A buttercup becomes a briar

6. Business Meetings Part of democracy
Consider what meetings have accomplished
Celebrate not dread

7. Opportunities Varied experience: church, business, etc.
Varied viewpoints: social, business, etc.
Transfer meeting skills to other groups

8. The TP
Cook, M.J. (1998)
Tidy & Punctual
“A place for everything and everything in its place”
Details
Have only socks in their sock drawers

9. The CL Cluttered & Late Tolerance for chaos Ability to accept failure
Cook, M.J. (1998)
Cluttered & Late
Tolerance for chaos
Ability to accept failure
High energy, flair for innovation

10. Our Agenda Understand the business of a business meeting
Discover uses and misuses of Robert’s Rules
Manage meetings of success

11. Understand the business of a business meeting

12. Effective Meetings Have
An agenda
A purpose
A start and end time
A presiding officer
Involved members

13. Agenda Call to Order Roll call Minutes
Reports of officers and committees
Special orders
Unfinished business
New business
Announcements
Adjourn

14. Form Agenda Presiding officer and secretary
Unfinished business from last meeting
Let the members suggest agenda items

15. The Presiding Officer Stay Neutral Facilitate
Gain participation of all members
“What is the pleasure of the group?”
“Are you asking the group to take action?”

16. Discover use and misuse of Robert’s Rules

17. Robert’s Rules Take up business one item at a time
Have courtesy, fairness, impartiality and equality
Majority rules, but rights of individual, minority and absent members protected
From Robert McConnell Productions (2001). Robert’s Rules of Order: Simplified and Amplified, 2nd Ed., Indianapolis: Wiley.

18. Misuse of Robert’s Rules
Using rules to intimidate or dominate
Majoring in the minors

19. Managing Big Talkers Everyone speaks once on an issue
Seat them to the immediate left or right of presiding officer
“Thank you. Now that I know how you feel, I would like to hear from _________.”
“Everybody talks once before anybody talks twice.”

20. Managing Chit-Chatters
Ask them to stop
“Cross-talk makes it difficult for the secretary to keep accurate minutes…”

21. Meeting Quiz

22. Question 1
What should the president do if he/she wants to give an opinion of a topic?

23. Don’t Do It! But, there’s another possibility –
Ask another officer to preside, so you can give opinions and vote

24. Question 2
What is an example of a special order?

25. Special Orders are: Stuff that’s done on an annual basis
Election or a nominating committee report
Business designated for the meeting as a special order

26. Question 3
A motion was discussed and approved by the membership. Yet, the motion never received a second.
Is the motion void?

27. No
If the issue was voted on and discussed, then the second has no bearing

28. What does “second” mean?
Another member wants the issue discussed
Members may call out “second” or “I second the motion”

29. How does it work
If no one seconds, the President may ask: “Is there a second?”
“Without a second, the motion will not be considered. Next item.”
It is moved and seconded that…Is there any discussion?”

30. Question 4
Is it a good idea to memorize anything for a meeting?

31. Absolutely “I move that…”
“A motion has been made and seconded to…..Is there any discussion?”
“I speak in favor of the motion.”
“I oppose the motion.”

32. Question 5
What are some of Robert’s Rules that are often ignored that would help our meetings?

33. Consider Write down motions and hand to President
President stays neutral
State the item of new business and “What are the members’ wishes?”

34. Question 6
Does the Treasurer’s Report have to be approved by the membership?

35. No Treasurer states their report President: “Are there any questions?”
President: “The Treasurer’s Report is filed.”

36. Reminder: Success means
Every member has their say
Purposes of organization furthered
Majority rules
Rights of minority opinion and absent members protected

37. > Enjoy your conference!
Thank you
> Enjoy your conference!

38. References
Robert McConnell Productions (2001). Robert’s Rules of Order: Simplified and Amplified, 2nd Ed., Indianapolis: Wiley.
Cook, M.J. (1998). Time management: Proven techniques for making the most of your valuable time. Holbrook, MA: Adams Media Corp.