National Student Nurses’ Association

Bylaws, Policies and Procedures Guidelines for    Starting an Official NSNA Chapter

^{Meetings That Work - Guidelines for Chairperson}

^{Carefully plan agenda and seek input from committee/board members. Plan the agenda so that items that can be expedited are on the beginning of the agenda and items that will generate a lot of discussions are at the end.}

^{Set meeting dates well in advance. Send agenda out along with call to meeting; also include minutes, reports, and other documents for review prior to the meeting.}

^{Utilize the committees to investigate substantive issues and bring reports and recommendations to the board.}

^{Start and end on time.}

^{Review agenda at beginning of meeting and use simplified parliamentary procedure to conduct the meeting}

^{Chair should understand the role of facilitator-to keep meeting moving and guide discussion. Vote only to break a tie. Do not express your opinion or introduce speak to motions.}

^{Set time parameters on the meeting and limit time to debate questions before the body. If an issue generates a great deal of discussion, it needs further investigation and should be referred to the appropriate committee to recommend action.}

^{Encourage input from all members and discourage domination. Track the group's meeting patterns and be prepared to head off and redirect inappropriate or ineffective behavior. Reinforce positive, productive behavior.}

^{Make motions before opening issues up to discussion. When the board seems split on an issue, take a straw vote (unofficial vote). If the board is divided on the issue, the board may wish to refer the issue to committee to report recommendations back to the board at the next meeting.}

^{Meeting fatigue is common as a long meeting is brought to a close. Socializing and jocular conversation may signal meeting overload. When a group reaches this point, matters may not be given the proper attention they deserve. The chair may wish to recommend that important unfinished business be referred to a committee or placed under unfinished business on the next agenda. Try to complete the business and adjourn the meeting. In this way, those who need to leave can do so and others can stay to socialize. Provide social opportunities apart from the meeting (i.e. at a board dinner or reception).}

^{Learn and master the art of delegation.}

^{Learn and master the art of conflict resolution.}

^{Learn and master the art of teamwork.}

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