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How to Run a Good Meeting

How to Run a Good Meeting 1200 628 Jill Pioter

Among the group leadership skills that come into play for Conference and Council Presidents is knowing how to run a good meeting.  Here are a few tips for use whether you are a new or veteran President:

  1. Never hold a meeting without an agenda; send a tentative agenda in advance to everyone who is expected to attend.
  2. Make sure that copies of all reports to be discussed are sent out in advance of the meeting.
  3. It does not hurt to have a consent agenda for matters like prior meeting minutes and financial reports with discussion or reporting needed only if there is a question or correction.
  4. Begin every meeting with prayer, a spiritual reflection and brief discussion on the reflection. Business can wait for prayer and spiritual reflection.
  5. At the beginning of your meeting have those in attendance approve the tentative agenda so that it then becomes theirs.
  6. Stick to the agenda and politely keep those who are present on topic. Remember to treat everyone with dignity and respect, and remind them that we discuss matters, not argue about them.
  7. Provide an opportunity at the end of a meeting for new business to be brought up for discussion at that time or at a subsequent meeting.

We hope these basic suggestions help your meeting run smoothly.

Council Responsibilities to The Society

Council Responsibilities to The Society 1200 628 Jill Pioter

Two documents on the National Council website — What Is Expected of an Archdiocesan/Diocesan Council and What Is Expected of a District Council — clearly explain what a Council should be doing. A few key reminders are listed below. As part of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the Council will:

  • Accept and strive to achieve our stated missions.
  • Operate within the Rule, Manual, Nationally Approved Bylaws, and Resolutions of the Society.
  • Report annually on a timely basis on its activities and results.
  • Take part in the larger Society by attendance at meetings and participating in Regional or National Committees when asked to do so.
  • Share all best practices, processes, or procedures with other Councils whenever possible.
  • Actively promote training and formation of its members.
  • Develop a program of extending our work to those parishes within our Diocese that have no Conference.
  • Do everything possible to strengthen the spiritual life of its members.

We thought focusing attention on these expectations at the start of a new fiscal year would be helpful.

In addition to the documents linked above, another useful areas of the website that’s worth checking out is: https://members.ssvpusa.org/information-for-members/standards-of-excellence/.

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