Event Profile

A How-To Series on Board Meetings

Date(s):
July 20 — August 24, 2021
Venue:
Online
Description:

Who Should Attend: 

Any utility employee or board member who is involved with board meetings, board procedures, or taking and maintaining board meeting minutes.

Webinar Overview:

This series is comprised of six webinars from July through August 2021. Descriptions for each webinar can be found below. Webinars can be taken individually or as an entire series; however, by registering for the full series you will receive all six webinars at a discounted price.

Introduction to Robert's Rules, July 20, 2021

Robert’s Rules of Order is the most common authority for running board meetings, yet the book is 800+ pages long and difficult to read. This interactive class distills the key points that board members need to know in order to work within this system and serve their community effectively. Learn how to make motions and amend them, the correct role of the chair, how to deal with inappropriate remarks, and more.

Guide Your Board to Better Decisions, July 27, 2021

Discussion and decision-making are the heart of the board’s work, yet often they are challenging. This webinar gives the chair the tools, tips, and guidelines to ensure effective discussion and better decisions. Robert’s Rules of Order has surprising answers, and we will provide psychological insights to use them effectively. Includes Sample Discussion Guidelines for Local Governments and information on how to manage inappropriate remarks. 

Get What You Want Using Motions, August 3, 2021

Do you feel frustrated by the system of motions in Robert’s Rules of Order? Motions aren’t difficult, they’re just  weird! Get the insights and tips to use motions effectively and influence the outcome of your meetings. We will expand on the information contained in the Introduction to Robert's Rules and explain the baffling concept of Precedence of Motions. When you can use motions effectively, you gain influence and power. Includes key reference material and five sample motion scripts.  

Dealing with a Difficult Chair or Member, August 10, 2021

Elected chairs sometimes assume that they are the “decider” and can direct the course of board meetings as they choose. What can members do when a chair has this misunderstanding? What if it’s a board member who lacks the spirit of cooperation and compromise? How can a board function if one member is an outlier or contrarian? Robert’s Rules has answers for you! We will explore the framework for board meetings, who is in charge of what, and how to ensure that the majority rules. This webinar combines essential procedural guidelines with psychological insight to help you manage your meetings in the face of dysfunction. 

Meeting Minutes in Robert's Rules, August 17, 2021

Learn the key guidelines from Robert's Rules of Order for processing meeting minutes. We will cover the four  different types of minutes, the minutes approval process, the role of the secretary/clerk, how to change minutes once adopted, and more. Note that this webinar will not discuss the actual act of listening and recording what is said. Includes 20 key points staff should know, as well as Guidelines for Meeting Minutes in Local Government. 

Advanced Motions Practice and Test Your Skills, August 24, 2021

You’ve learned the basics of how motions and amendments work, but how do you apply those skills in practice? This interactive and entertaining advanced workshop provides the opportunity to make, amend, postpone, table motions, etc., in a supportive setting. 

Webinar Recordings:

Webinar recordings can be made available to registrants who are unable to attend live.

Webinar Instructor:

Ann Macfarlane, Jurassic Parliament

Webinar Schedule:

Each webinar will run from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Pacific Time. Attendees will be admitted 15 minutes before the webinar begins.

How to Participate:

Instructions will be emailed to attendees within 12 hours of the webinar and we recommend that you test the link to the meeting as soon as you get the instructions. The webinar is best viewed using Chrome as your browser. We recommend that you use a landline for both your phone and your internet connections.

Webinar Fees:

Utility Member Rate: $595
Associate Member Rate: $895
Non-Member Rate: $1,785

Note: Organizations that register a group of employees will receive every fifth registration for free. For example, if you register five employees, you only pay for four; register 10 employees, you only pay for eight; and so on. There is nothing additional you need to do to receive this discount.

Cancellation Policy:

Cancellations are accepted with a full refund as follows:

For webinars and virtual classes, if the request is made at least five days prior to the course, then 100% of the registration fee will be refunded.

For in-person events, the following fee structure applies: cancellation at least 30 days prior to the event, full refund; within 15-29 days, $100 fee; and within 1-14 days or no show, 100% of the registration fee. When possible, please send a substitute instead of canceling because NWPPA does not charge a fee for substitutions.

Continuing Hours:

This full series qualifies for nine continuing hours. Certificates are issued upon full completion of the course.

For More Information:

To find out more about this event, or to learn about other events, view the Training and Event Catalog.