Agenda

Before the meeting starts (sometimes given at the same time as the Notice of Meeting), you need to let all those invited to attend the meeting what it is that's to be discussed and the order that these items will be mentioned in. Known as an Agenda, this lets everyone prepare for the meeting in advance so that they can bring up any important points at the relevant time. A formal agenda should always contain the following information: 1. The word Agenda 2. The name of the organisation, group or person calling the meeting 3. The date and time of the meeting 4. The meeting venue 5. Apologies 6. Minutes of the Last Meeting 7. Matters Arising 8. Your meeting's topics listed one after the other 9. Any Other Business 10. Date and Time of Next Meeting The first 4 points here make up the header section for the Agenda, so the order of the information may vary - as in the example agenda shown above, where the word 'Agenda' appears after the rest of the header information. A numbered list should then be given, with 5 of the points fixed as shown in the list above, and any points specific to this particular meeting listed in the middle of them. That is, start with Apologies (who can't attend the meeting), Minutes of the Last Meeting (even for a first meeting - this just becomes 'not relevant') and Matters Arising (points still to be addressed from the previous meeting's minutes). Next come specific points for this meeting, and then round off with Any Other Business (sometimes abbreviated to AOCB - for Any Other Current Business) where any relevant items not already discussed in the meeting can be mentioned. Finally, the last point on the Agenda should be a note of when the next meeting will be (or TBA, if this is still 'to be arranged').

Sample Board Meeting Agenda

This sample agenda is one method of keeping the board meeting discussion focused on vision, mission and

goals instead of operational detail. Give it a try and let me know if it works for your organization. Put Your Organization's Name Here Board Meeting: Date, Time, Location
Put your organization's vision and mission statements right at the top of every agenda as a handy point of reference for the discussion. Vision Statement: Mission Statement:

Meeting Objectives/Focus: Some boards will state what specific outcomes are expected from the meeting. Getting clear on outcomes will help to structure the agenda and discussions. Agenda Time Limits: Some boards will designate specific timeframes for each agenda item as a way of staying on track. The board chair must be mindful of timeframes and will need to determine when discussion should be extended past a timeframe. Examples are below for the first three items. 10-10:15: Welcome/Call to Order and Introductions 10:15-10:25: Approval of Minutes from the Previous Meeting 10:25-10:45: Review of the Year-to-Date Financial Statement(s) Reoccurring items such as approval of minutes, financial statements, and reports that require no action can become part of a "consent agenda", which means that they are moved and voted on as a package without discussion. Consent agendas require that 1) the reports they contain must be distributed in advance of the meeting and 2) if anyone has a question about any item that item is pulled from the consent agenda to be fully discussed. Consent agendas can free up discussion time for all-important strategic issues. Strategic Goal Activities (Draw the goal statements from your strategic plan to create the framework for discussions and decision-making. Arrange goals in order of importance of the actions needed. Not all goals may appear on every meeting agenda.)
Organizational Development: To actively plan for organizational growth, our organization will develop its Board, staff, and volunteers in accordance with accepted professional standards and ensure that they hold a high degree of commitment to our organization.

Discussion: progress, barriers, unexpected changes to this goal and its objectives
Discussion and Approval: Slate of nominations to the board; presented by the Governance Committee Discussion and Approval: Bylaws revisions Governance Committee Presentation: Board self-assessment activity Discussion: Plan for evaluation of the Executive Director

Finances: To guarantee the durable financial security of operations, programming and services, the organization will establish short-term and long-term financial plans, develop diverse and secure resources of revenue and judiciously manage financial resources.

Discussion: progress, barriers, unexpected changes to this goal and its objectives
Financial Committee status report note specific issues requiring discussion, evaluation and/or approval Audit Committee report note specific issues requiring discussion, evaluation and/or approval

Programming and Services: To develop and implement a broad suite of interactive and collaborative programs and services that increase the public's understanding and enjoyment of the visual arts by their active participation.

Discussion: progress, barriers, unexpected changes to this goal and its objectives
Staff Presentation and Discussion: new program with local college for theater majors -mapping and monitoring success Discussion: How critical is expanding collaborations when staff are stretched due to layoffs?

Next Meeting: _________________________________ Adjournment

Write a Precis of the following passage. One of our most difficult problems is what we call discipline and it is really very complex. You see, society feels that it must control or discipline the citizen, shape his mind according to certain religious, social, moral and economic patterns. Now, is discipline necessary at all? Please listen carefully. Dont immediately say YES or NO. Most of us feel, especially while we are young, that there should be no discipline, that we should be allowed to do whatever we like and we think that is freedom. But merely to say that we should be free and so on has very little meaning without understanding the whole problem of discipline. The keen athlete is disciplining himself the whole time, isn't he? His joy in playing games and the very necessity to keep fit makes him go to bed early, refrain from smoking, eat the right food and generally observe the rules of good health. Hisdiscipline and punctuality is not an imposition but a natural outcome of his enjoyment of athletics.

Rough Draft : Discipline is one of the biggest problems in the world. Society feels that disciplineshould be controlled to shape the mind of the citizen. Some want to be free to think and do whatever they like. Even the keen athlete is disciplining himself the whole time. He observes the rules of good health.

Important Points : Discipline seems to be a problem. Society wants to control or discipline the citizen to shape his mind. Some may think that discipline is not necessary because they want to be free to think and do whatever they like. An athlete is disciplining himself. His discipline and punctuality make him enjoy playing games.

Fair Draft :

DISCIPLINE IS IMPORTANT

Though discipline seems to be a problem, it is necessary for all. Discipline shapes our mind and regulates our habits. Some want to be free and think that it is not necessary. Discipline and punctuality give enjoyment to athletes.

Write a Precis of the following passage. There are different types of forests in India. So, the products received from these forests are also several. The following are some of the forest products which are important in the growth and development of industries. Forest products and the industries based on them: (i) Timber : Timber from the forest are utilised in building activities, industries and in carpentry workshops. In Andaman Islands, Asia's largest saw mill has been in operation. (ii) Rubber : Rubber trees are grown in large numbers on the Western Ghats. As a consequence, there are a large number of industries dependent on rubber in the Peninsular India. (iii) Wood Pulp : Wood pulp is made from the wood of the forests and paper is manufactured from the pulp. Paper mills are large in number in the States of Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh. In the city of Nepa inMadhya Pradesh, there is a newsprint industry. (iv) Lac and Wax : Lac and Wax are forest products and they are used in manufacturing paints. Thus a number of industries make use of forest products. (v) And for the growth of the cottage industries the forests have been responsible in many an instance. Important Points : There are different types of forests. The products are several. Forest products develop industries. Timber is used in building activities. Rubber trees are grown in large quantities on the Western Ghats. In peninsular India there are many industries which depend on rubber. Wood pulp is made from the trees of the forests and is useful for making paper. There are paper mills in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and in many states. There is a newsprint industry in Nepa. Lac and wax are used in making paints. The forests are responsible for the growth of cottage industries.

Fair Draft :

FOREST PRODUCTS

Many forest products are useful to man. Timber, rubber, Wood pulp, Lac and Wax are some of them. Timber is used for building activities. Rubber is useful for making many things. Wood pulp is used for making paper. Lac and Wax are used in makingpaints. There are many industries in India which depend on forest products.

Write a Precis of the following passage. Prevention is better than cure. It is recognised that the only way to get rid of malaria completely is o get rid of the mosquitoes which cause it. Malaria is always associated with damp and marshy land. This is not because the land is damp, but because the static water is the breeding place of the mosquitoes which begin their life as a larva in the water. Malaria does not frequently occur in dry desert countries because mosquitoes can not breed there. The only way to destroy mosquitoes is to prevent their breeding in static water. This can be done bydraining all ponds and pools. And by keeping them covered in the breeding seasonwith a film of kerosene oil which by depriving the larva of air, kills them. Important Points : Prevention is better than cure. Mosquitoes cause malaria. We should get rid of malaria. The static water is the breeding place of mosquitoes. If the land is dry, the mosquitoes will not breed there. WE should destroy the mosquitoes by draining all ponds and pools. Another way to destroy the mosquitoes is to cover the ponds and the pools with a layer of kerosene oil. The larvas get air and ultimately die.

Fair Draft :

Mosquitoes cause Malaria

Mosquitoes, which cause Malaria, breed in stagnant water. They can not breed in dry lands. If we use kerosene, the stagnant water is covered with a layer of kerosene, the larva will die. By doing so, we could prevent the spreading of malaria.