Association Meetings
An association can have different kinds of meetings, which vary depending on the participants and the authority of the meeting. Different meetings also have different policies.
Statutory meetings, which are arranged once or twice a year. Statutory meeting use the highest authority in associations.
Additional meetings, which are equal to statutory meetings in terms authority, but are summoned for deciding of a certain issue.
Member or monthly meetings, which are arranged if necessary. Association's industry and procedures determine wheter or not member meetings are arranged.
Board meetings deal with issues assigned and authorized to the board by statutory meetings.
Different committee and taskforce meetings.
The most important differences between different meetings are the differences in summoning, stating of legality and quorum, election of officials and signing of minutes.
Association's rules include specifications about the summoning of statutory or board meetings and the legality and quorum of board meetings.
In statutory and possibly monthly meetings there are an individually elected chairman, secretary, vote officials and minutes inspectors. In monthly meetings the meeting can also be lead by the association's chairman and secretary, when no additional election is needed.
Minutes are usually signed by the chairman and secretary. It is also possible, that all board members sign the minutes.
Method of Running Meetings
Method of running meetings refers to the policies and rules controlling tightly the interaction and decision making in meetings. These are ment for guaranteeing every participant of the meeting the equal rights for participation and influencing. Rules are also needed for guick and flexible advancing of meetings.
Good knowledge of meeting methods makes it easier for managing and concluding meetings flexibly and appropriately. At least the chairman of the board, secretary and treasurer must be well aware of meeting methods, but the same can be demanded also from other board members.
From a meeting participant's point-of-view it is useful to understand meeting methods, so he can efficiently influence and participate in the decision making in important issues.
This article is a modification of the Finnish version produced by Optinet Ltd and found on www.yhdistystieto.fi.