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Vol. 2 Number 3 Feb. 22, 2005
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GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR LEISURE PROFESSIONALS! In This Issue:
1. 7 No Fail Strategies for Improving Your Time in Meetings 1. 7 No Fail Strategies for Improving Your Time in Meetings
Simple Guidelines for making a stronger contribution to a committee or Monday night was my last meeting as our Home Owners Association Board President. It had been six long years as a Board member and we had our fare share of controversy. After being on 37 boards in my professional career my eyes were truly opened when I started working with people who had never been on a board. As I reflect back, here is what I wish my fellow board members knew when we started. 1. Know why you are a part of the group. Ask yourself, "What does the group need and what can I offer?" "What area of expertise do I have that can help us succeed?" Then live up to your responsibilities. There is nothing worse than being on a board where just a few people do all the work. 2. Do your homework before each meeting. Review the agenda and see what information you will need at the meeting. Look over the previous meeting minutes, financials or reports before you arrive and have your questions ready. This saves time for everyone. 3. Whoever comes to the meeting most prepared wins. Be prepared to make motions and offer suggestions. Prepare the wording in advance so that it is clear and concise. If you have a report to give the group, make sure you have all the details to share. If appropriate, offer a short written report if there are lots of facts and figures so everyone can have it in front of them as you talk about it. 4. If you don’t like the way it is working...suggest some changes. When I work with departments who are struggling, I ask them to identify "Key ingredients to a healthy work environment." Then I ask them to specifically define those ingredients so everyone can strive to incorporate those ingredients in the workplace. This would work for committees too. Imagine if you took the time to identify everyone’s needs at the beginning and agreed on some ground rules for success. 5.Everywhere you go...show up. If you are going to invest your time in a meeting, be there - not doing other paperwork or rewriting your to do list. Multi-tasking is over rated. In "Making Work Work : New Strategies for Surviving and Thriving at the Office" author Julie Morgenstern shares that top executives don’t multi-task - they take chunks of time to focus on specific tasks. I think if we all did that, we would get a lot more done. Likewise, in meetings, if everyone focused on what they are there for they would get a lot more done in a shorter amount of time. Cut the side conversations and focus. 6. Review action items before you leave to make sure everyone is on the same page. At the end of each of our board meetings we would just take a minute to recap what was going to happen before our next meeting and who was responsible for each assignment. Then our secretary prepared the minutes with action items printed in bold letters so they could easily be spotted in the minutes. 7. Know that you can make a difference. After serving on our Home Owners Association Board of Directors, I can look back and be proud or our accomplishments. We handled some very sticky situations professionally and although my term was filled with financial controversy due to a "25 year fence" that needed replaced after 7 years, we made it through the public involvement process and brought the neighborhood together. Although I wasn’t expecting it, it was nice to be recognized as I handed over the gavel. A number of homeowners came up and thanked me for all my volunteer work. I know we made a difference in our community. By following these simple guidelines, you too can make a difference on whatever committee or Board of Directors you serve. They aren’t bad ideas for everyday meetings too so feel free to share them with your colleagues.
DID YOU KNOW??? Ruby can present the program "How to Have a Successful
NEED IMMEDIATE TRAINING FOR YOUR BOARD? Check out a recording of Ruby's
Live presentation at NRPA Congress on "How to Have a Successful Board".
2. Harnessing the WOW - If you missed the Teleseminar - now is your opportunity to IMMEDIATELY download the audio! You'll learn how to make your next special event a huge success, and create a buzz with sponsors so they are knocking down your door to help you!
Follow this link for more information:
3. This issue has been sponsored by SuperScreen Outdoor Movie Nights Looking for a new event idea that a sure hit with any age? Check out SuperScreen USA and their three sizes of inflatable outdoor movie screens. The SuperScreen website is filled with great event ideas and success stories and each screen purchase comes with a "How To" host a movie series event kit, complete with sample sponsorship packages and artwork. With SuperScreen you can have a billboard by day and host your own "drive-in" movie by night. A great fund and friend raiser! Available for purchase or rental. Full movie kits available. See all the details at http://www.kickstartcart.com/app/adtrack.asp?AdID=123749 4. On the Road with Ruby Here's where Ruby's going in the next month:
Feb 25, 2005 Trainer - El Dorado Hills Community Services District El
Feb 27 - Mar. 1, 2005 Presenter - Recware Annual Conference
March 2-5, 2005 Supervisory Training - Dolphin Stadium
March 9-11, 2005 Keynote Presenter - 2005 Texas Recreation and Park
March 15, 2005 Presenter - National Speakers Association Colorado Fast
Visit this link to see Ruby's entire schedule:
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