Category: meetings

1728 Whether and How to Act without Meeting

[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/5526966/height/90/width/450/theme/custom/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/autoplay/no/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/c30000/” height=”90″ width=”450″]In most jurisdictions, to do business in an organization requires either a meeting or a unanimous written consent. In this episode, Josh discusses some of the reasons religious groups might not allow decision-making without a meeting, the minimum requirements of a meeting, and how to act without meetings, namely through unanimous written consent.

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1727 Should Consensus Be in Our Governing Documents?

[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/5527010/height/90/width/450/theme/custom/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/autoplay/no/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/c30000/” height=”90″ width=”450″ placement=”top”]Consensus is a noble goal in leading organizations to action. But when organizations require consensus, it can lead to a different kind of tyranny when one dissenter stands in the way of doing anything. Josh shares some thoughts about how best to value consensus without requiring it in governing documents.

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1713 Reasons Not to Use Robert’s Rules

[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/5215396/height/90/width/450/theme/custom/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/autoplay/no/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/c30000/” height=”90″ width=”450″]While I advise to use the current edition of Robert’s Rules and explained several reasons in the last episode, there are also good reasons to use a different parliamentary authority. Here are three: Continue reading “1713 Reasons Not to Use Robert’s Rules” →

How (and whether) to act without a board meeting

I’m a strong advocate for making all group decisions in live meetings, whether in person or by phone. This is a basic principle of parliamentary law, and it is even more important in the context of a religious organization that invites divine guidance through individual participants in decision-making.  But some groups and some situations simply do not allow for that live meeting. What to do? Act by written consent. Continue reading “How (and whether) to act without a board meeting” →

Who should adopt minutes for an annual members’ meeting?

When a religious organization holds large annual meetings, the method of approving the minutes can vary depending on the organization’s governing documents. But where those documents don’t address the question, the answer can be a little difficult to find. The best answer is to delegate the authority to adopt minutes to a committee to avoid a long interim without an adopted record of actions taken. The next annual meeting can revise if necessary. Continue reading “Who should adopt minutes for an annual members’ meeting?” →

Make decisions in live meetings, which doesn’t mean in person

The modern age seems to have brought us two things: more meetings and more ways to meet. But what are the limits of how we can or should use technology to help us make decisions more efficiently? Deciding that means thinking about why we meet and what we give up when using technology to make decisions. The short answer is that teleconferences and Skype are acceptable means to make a decision, e-mail and chat rooms are not. And none of these is permitted unless your organization’s governing documents expressly allow for electronic meetings. Continue reading “Make decisions in live meetings, which doesn’t mean in person” →

Don’t vote on minutes—It’s a waste of time!

Every religious organization I’ve ever been a part of has meetings. And inevitably there are minutes for those meetings. And for some reason we feel like we should vote on them, which means we ask for a motion, and a second, and then the vote. It turns out that this not only feels like a waste of time, it is a waste of time. Continue reading “Don’t vote on minutes—It’s a waste of time!” →