meeting agenda

[Guest June Donofrio]

how detailed should a meeting agenda be ? should it list specific details of items to be discussed ?

[Kim Goldsworthy]

how detailed should a meeting agenda be?

should it list specific details of items to be discussed ?

"How detailed"?

How about, "Not at all"?

You don't need an agenda to run a meeting.

Agendas are optional.

So any detail is good enough, if all you are referring to is a piece of paper which lists the items of business to be transacted.

The chair is free to prompt the members for the business which is relevant.

E.g.,

"Is there any officer ready to report?"

"Is there any committee ready to report?"

"Is there any new business?"

[Larry Cisar]

how detailed should a meeting agenda be ? should it list specific details of items to be discussed ?

Make it as detailed or undetailed as the membership desires as it is for them.

[paulmcclintock]

how detailed should a meeting agenda be ? should it list specific details of items to be discussed ?

A group that meets quarterly or more often can simply use the standard "order of business" in RONR and not even have a printed or adopted agenda. The standard order of business is (reworded slightly to facilitate the mnemonic MRS SUN):

1. Minutes are read and approved.

2. Reports of officers, board, standing committees.

3. Special committees' reports.

4. Special orders.

5. Unfinished business and general orders.

6. New business.

Note that the above lists "categories" of business rather than "items" of business. Any items of business that must come up as indicated by the minutes of the previous meeting or the bylaws could be inserted under the appropriate headings in the presiding officer's "memorandum":

"The presiding officer may find it helpful to have at hand a memorandum of the complete order of business, listing, under headings (2) and (3) as explained below, all known reports which are expected to be presented, and under headings (4) and (5), all matters which the minutes show are due to come up, arranged in proper sequence or, where applicable, listed with the times for which they have been set. The secretary can prepare, or assist the presiding officer to prepare, such a memorandum." (RONR pp. 342-343)

Such a "complete order of business" (COOB) might be useful to print and distribute to attendees of the meeting, but is not required by the rules, nor is adoption of it required, since all such items are prescribed by the rules.

Any other items of business that are known in advance but which don't automatically come up under #s 2, 3, 4 or 5 would simply come up under #6 (new business) and not be listed on the COOB, or might be proposed to be general orders and made such by a formal adoption of an "agenda" listing them under that heading.

A COOB can presumably include motions or recommendations from reports under categories 2 and 3, and some groups may find this helpful in expediting business.