Since earning my Certificate of Nonprofit Board Education through Boardsource last spring, I have taken it upon myself to be the in-house guru of Board Meeting Protocol. But I’m not stopping there. As our IUAA communities change and evolve, this knowledge I will impart can also apply to a committee or task force. Therefore, the full title of this post should be:
How to Run a Board Meeting (or Committee, Subcommittee, or Task Force)
I joke about imparting knowledge because the truth is, it’s not rocket science. It’s not necessarily Robert’s Rules of Rocket Science, either. Just keep in mind these simple things when convening your volunteer groups:
- Plan Ahead: prepare an agenda with your staff liaison or co-leader well in advance. Make sure you are in agreement on the business to be discussed.
- Send agendas and reports ahead of time: whether by e-mail or snail, it’s important to have your members have a chance to review the materials at least a week before the meeting.
- Bring back-up: have paper and pens on hand for the inevitable e-tablet issue. It’s wonderful to be green, but sometimes technology can fail us.
- Send reminders: shoot a note to your board or committee members a few days before with logistical details. Take the opportunity to remind them to read the documents ahead of time.
- Follow up: send notes and action steps as soon as possible.
Hopefully these tips will take the mystery and misery out of your meetings. Do you have more ideas? Let’s continue the conversation…
Happy Governance,
Rebecca Keith, Director of Talent Management & Operations