Effective Meetings
John Stanskas, San Bernardino Valley College
Julie Bruno, Sierra College
Introductions
Who are we?
How many of you have run a local Senate meeting?
How many are Senate Presidents?
Anything you REALLY want to be sure to get from this session?
The Brown Act!
COMMITMENT TO:
Openness
Transparency
Public Access to information
The Brown Act!
oApplies to meetings of all
legislative bodies (GC 54952)
oAdopted in 1953
oWhat is considered a meeting?
Does the Brown Act Apply to Local
Academic Senates?
Applying the Brown Act
All meetings are open!!
Applying the Brown Act
Who’s “in charge” of the agenda?
Applying the
Brown Act
o Agendas
o Publically posted 72 hours prior
o Mail 1 week before
o Must Include:
o Time & Place
o Public comments
o Action items with brief description
Rules of Order
o Must adopt rules of order and incorporate into
meetings
o Most common is Robert’s Rules of Order
o http://www.robertsrules.com/
Rules of Order
o Can choose elements to use
o Parliamentarian???
o Check your local senate constitution and by-laws for
established processes
Agenda Items
oWhat do you include?
oWhat should you include?
Agenda Changes?
o Can change order
o Cannot add items
o Time limits?
Action Items
o Format of action items?
o Need a first reading
o Published agenda items only!
o Exceptions??
Decision Making
o How will decisions be made?
o Voting
o Consensus
o Other
Motions
o President needs to know how to
o
o
o
o
o
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Close debate, limit or extend debate
Refer to committee
Modify wording of a motion
Suspend rules
Divide motion
Table
Discussion Items
Discuss only, no action
Important to note:
o All information must be available to the public
o Documents become public documents
Discussion & Debate
Discussion &
Debate
o Limit to a topic
o Courteous comments
o “Decorum of Debate”
o Get comfortable with Conflict
President’s Role in
Meetings
Prioritize
Balance discussion and debate
with decisions
Keep agenda moving
President’s Role in
Discussions
Should the president participate in
discussion and debate?
Six Thinking Hats
Edward de Bono
A way to think about the roles faculty play on your
Senate
Learn to appreciate and direct each kind of thinking
http://www.debonogroup.com/six_thinking_hats.php
The Hats
The White Hat calls for information known or needed. "The
facts, just the facts."
The Yellow Hat symbolizes brightness and optimism. Under this
hat you explore the positives and probe for value and benefit.
The Black Hat is judgment - the devil's advocate or why
something may not work. Spot the difficulties and dangers;
where things might go wrong. Probably the most powerful and
useful of the Hats but a problem if overused.
More Hats
The Red Hat signifies feelings, hunches and intuition. When using
this hat you can express emotions and feelings and share fears,
likes, dislikes, loves, and hates.
The Green Hat focuses on creativity; the possibilities,
alternatives, and new ideas. It's an opportunity to express new
concepts and new perceptions.
The Blue Hat is used to manage the thinking process. It's the
control mechanism that ensures the Six Thinking Hats® guidelines
are observed.
Questions or Comments?
THANK YOU!