Originally posted by PTOmomoftwoboys:
I did ask my VP what she thinks would help and she had no ideas. Just that they are too long.
If this is the case, she should stop repeating herself. You already know that she thinks meetings are too long. If she has no suggestions, too bad. If lots of people are complaining and everyone stops coming, then you should start addressing it.
We try and keep our meetings under an hour. It seldom happens.
Earlier in the year, they seemed to be going over 90 minutes too often. We figured out that we could do certain reports (mine, LOL) in writing, and then the 'reporter' could just hit high points and ask if there were any questions. It helped quite a bit. Now, any time a chair has a lot to present, we do a written one that's handed out in the beginning.
If you don't expect too much from me, you might not be let down. <img src=images/smilies/smile.gif>
We hold monthly Board meeting. These meetings last 2 hours or more depending on the month. These meetings are for board members only. We get all our important talking done and when we have our regular monthly school meeting they last 1 hour. This has worked for us to keep the time down for our open meetings.
We do have an agenda we try to follow but we get about 20 parents at these meetings and we get alot of discussion. I think that the parents complaining are just trying to ruffle some feathers and make trouble. I do have to try to get disruptive peole to constently stop, which adds to the meeting.
I did ask my VP what she thinks would help and she had no ideas. Just that they are too long.
I love having these message boards available to us. It makes me realize I am not alone in this fight for cooperation for good not evil. LOL
We also try to keep them at an hour, sometimes we're under, sometimes we're over. No one complains about going over if we're discussing an important issue.
I will say that having an agenda and making your best effort to stick to it makes a huge difference.
We try our best to keep them an hour or less although they have, on occasion, gone just over an hour. I would do your best to start right on time, not allow alot of "crosstalking" and keep it moving. It's when everyone starts talking in a casual conversation style (instead of raising their hand to be recognized) that it gets out of control and lengthy, IMHO. Just keep it moving!
SHC
