Much of the learning, planning and doing of this world happens in group meetings. Human beings are social creatures – people come together in groups to talk things over to broaden individual perspective and to develop a common purpose. Boards can work well when there is a balance between a sense of solidarity and a focus on the task at hand. Board effectiveness is a mix of intelligence, creativity and practicality. Since different members will probably hold these qualities, it is interaction that makes the sum greater than the parts.
Meetings define the Board
Meetings are the place where the Board revises, updates, and adds to what it knows as a group
Meetings create a pool of shared knowledge.
Meetings build trust among members
Meetings allow members to share individual perspectives
Meetings help every individual understand both the collective aim of the organization and the way in which their own and everyone else’s work contribute to the group’s success
Meetings create common understanding and common purpose
Meetings are a method for coordinating people and activities
Meetings provide an opportunity to allocate resources
Board Templates
BOARD MEETING AGENDA
A “fill in the blank” template for board meeting agendas.
How to create your agenda – an agenda can energize your board and will limit the time of the meeting.
BOARD MEETING MINUTES TEMPLATE
A “fill in the blank” template for board meeting minutes.
Did you know that your minutes can be summoned by the IRS? What should be in your minutes?
Click here for Minutes Guidelines for Chapter Secretaries
MOTION FORM
A motion is used to introduce a matter for consideration by the board that requires a vote.
Board Procedures
WHO CAN VOTE?
Know who can vote and who is counted in a quorum – click here!
REPORTING TO THE BOARD
How to make a report to the Board.
ACHIEVING CONSENSUS
Conflict management and consensus building are of necessity a collaborative effort of the Board.
THE ART OF DELEGATION
There is an old saying, “If you want a thing done well, do it yourself.” Excellent advice perhaps for the “loner” who shuns group endeavor — but bad advice indeed for those who enjoy the chairperson-ship of group work.
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE
NEWH meetings are run following the NEWH, Inc. By-laws and Roberts Rules of Order. The By-laws supersede all other rules and regulations.
Transacting Business using Parliamentary Procedure
MEETING GUIDELINES FOR CHAPTER PRESIDENTS
Click here for guideline for running an NEWH board meeting.
Board Responsibilities
COMMUNICATING WITH YOUR CHAPTER MEMBERSHIP
Reaching out to your chapter membership is important! Let Washington DC Metropolitan show you how they do it.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST/CODES OF ETHICS
All NEWH Board Members must sign this form and submit it to the NEWH, Inc. Office prior to taking office. Click here for an online form
DEALING WITH CONFLICT
Because meetings depend on interaction between people with different values, perspectives and communication styles, it is almost inevitable that conflict will occur from time to time. The impact of conflict on a group depends on what the conflict is about, how it is initiated and how it is managed.
DECISION MAKING
Decision-making segments of meetings require structure to keep members focused on the problem at hand. It might help for the Board as a whole to consider the steps in the problem-solving process.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION on FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
PROJECT SCOPE DOCUMENT
Is your chapter thinking about starting a new initiative? Use the Project Scope Document to find out if the initiative is feasible, who will be responsible for the various aspects of the initiative, and the establishment of a timeline .
PAST QUARTERLY CONFERENCE CALLS/WEBINARS
Up to 2020, NEWH held quarterly webinars/calls for each discipline of the chapter boards. These calls were facilitated by the NEWH, Inc. VPs and NEWH, Inc. Directors. Board members received answers to questions, shared successes, and got ideas from other chapters on what worked for them! The minutes from these calls are a great resource for board members! Find past conference call minutes under the General Resources section – click here
2020-2021 NEWH VIRTUAL CALLS
With all the changes and challenges that came in 2020 and 2021, NEWH offered a series of virtual calls to keep NEWH members and nonmembers connected, including Chapter Chats, NEWH PerspectiVe, BrandED, and NEWH Cares. Find links to past recordings here