Meetings
How To Help Officers of People
First Plan Worthwhile
1. Make sure that everyone knows when
and where the meetings are.
2. Make sure the advisor knows what their role is.
3. Have an officers meeting to plan the meetings
4. Find ways to get everyone involved
5. Make sure that everyone understands what goes on in the meetings, and
what is talked about.
6. Make sure that the discussions are real and important to the members
during the meeting.
7. Make a 3 to 6 month plan with the group, so that people will be working
toward something
8. Make sure the meetings are fun.
9. Face any problems the group is having. They won't just go away, without
work.
10. Call or write to the state steering committee for ideas and suggestions.
The purpose of the state office is to help all of the chapters grow.
All People First chapters follow parliamentary
procedure. The steps of the business portion of the meeting should be the
same, nationwide.
I. Call to order.
The President of the chapter
calls the meeting to order. Many chapters use a wooden gavel (a ceremonial
hammer) to tap on the table and get everyone's attention.
II. Roll call or Introductions.
In this portion of the meeting,
each member says his or her own name, or it is read aloud.
III. The Minutes
The secretary reads the minutes
of the last meeting. The president asks for a motion to accept the minutes
as read. The president leads the vote to accept the minutes. The members
vote.
IV. The Treasurer's Report
The treasurer reads the report.
V. Old Business
The President discussed the
old business. These are things that have been talked about before, but they
are not completed. Sometimes he will ask for committee reports at this time.
VI. New Business
The President leads a discussion
of new business. These are ideas that have not been talked about before.
When Decisions need to be made,
the members of People First vote.
1. The President calls for
a motion.
2. Someone makes a motion.
3. Someone else seconds the motion.
4. There is discussion.
5. The president asks for everyone in favor to say "yea" or to
raise his or her hand.
6. The president asks everyone opposed to say "no" or raise his
or her hand.
7. The president announces the results.
VII. Announcements
This is the portion of the
meeting when people can make announcements about their own news, or news
of interest to all of the members. The president will remind members of
up-coming events.
VIII. The Program
This is the portion of the
meeting in which it is time to learn new things or do an activity together.
There may be a guest speaker, or a video, or a project. Or just a discussion
on a topic of interest to the members of the People First chapter.
IX. Adjourn Meeting
The President taps the gavel,
and adjourns the meeting.
X. Refreshments
Many People First groups bring
snacks to share after the meeting. This is a social time during which members
just talk and relax together.
Every 3 - 6 months the members
of People First should decide upon another topic of interest. All of the
meetings in that time period should support the project or topic on which
they decided.
_(1)_(2)_(3)_(4)_(5)_(6)_ | 
