Our meetings last 30-60 minutes with the average falling at 40.
We do alot of our event planning in April and May before our school calendar goes to print. This just leaves for some fine tuning and financial stuff throughout the year.
We start on time, with a raffle for a door prize for those that are there on time. We also have an agenda with announcements and information first (because this doesn't require a lot of input), to items that may require some discussion, to brainstorming or lots of input time at the end. Putting the talk time at the end helps in two ways, by that time, everyone is comfortable and willing to speak, and it allows us to talk about items knowing that no one of us wants to drag the meeting on any further. It seems to work very well for us.
We don't usually have more than 12 at our meetings and we hold them round table. Our School Planning and Management Team has around 20 and it is done round table as well. It feels more friendly and welcoming and makes people want to be there, as well as, want to share their thoughts.
The irony of commitment is that it’s deeply liberating-in work, in play, in love. The act frees you from the tyranny of your internal critic, from the fear that likes to dress itself up and parade around as rational hesitation. To commit is to remove your head as the barrier to your life. --Anne Morris
crewchief thanks for the advice too. I was going to ask the same question but now I don't have to. I was thinking about having a "round table" type of meeting, but I guess that wouldn't be too good of an idea. thank you!!!
1hr 20min is a good, average time. I try to keep mine at no more than one hour but sometimes things require a little extra q&a time.
Same with us - if we tried to rush then we'd miss something.
When I first joined the group 5 years ago the meetings were around 2 1/2 hrs and sometimes up to 3! When I became president, I called to order on time, cut the chit-chat out, forced discussions to stay on topic and kept things moving. A basic agenda takes about 45 minutes to get through. If we have extra new business or a particularly large event to discuss we sometimes go to 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
Anyone who wants to is welcome to hang around for the "parking lot meeting" but most of us head home.
Exactly how does your vp suggest you shorten meeting times? If it takes that long to work through the agenda then, oh well, it takes that long. Complaining without suggestions or a solution is no help at all.
Tell the bullies that when they're president then they are more than welcome to run things their way.......
Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same."
"The ultimate aim of karate lies not in victory or defeat but in the true perfection of one's character."
Our meetings last around 2 hours. We try to keep them as short as possible, I guess we have a group that likes to talk.
The hardest part about participating in the PTA is that you have to deal with difficult people from time to time. Remember, you will never please all the people all the time so just do what you think is right. Hang in there, the bullies will get bored with you and move on to someone else.
I know ours usually runs no more than 1/2 hour!! However, things were already done and things were "snuck" by with quick votes on purpose. because the current board was counting on that so they could get their way!!
