Maintaining a Great Organization Meetings are the means of
communicating, making decisions, setting goals, discussing
problems, planning action, strengthening the group, selecting
officers, and establishing committees. The literature on how to
conduct meetings provides some very useful suggestions which
will improve both the process and the product of meetings. Try
some of these suggestions as you plan your next function: - Make
certain a meeting is necessary to achieve the desired
objectives. Don’t call a meeting if the same results can be
obtained by contacting one or more individuals, making a
telephone call, or leaving a note. - Develop an agenda and send
it out in advance. The agenda generally tells participants why
they are requested to attend the meeting. Knowing the topics to
be discussed at the meeting will encourage participants to
develop their arguments, understand their expected role, and to
participate in the meeting. - Start the meeting on time.
Meetings must start on time so that participants