It has been said that meetings are events in which the minutes are kept but the hours are lost!

This presentation will allow participants to examine the use of parliamentary procedures from such publications as Robert's Rules of Order to actually reduce the time a board spends during its meetings. 

Participants will contemplate the necessity of boards operating with formality but leveraging parliamentary procedures to quickly dispense with the board's business so that everyone can get home by midnight! 

Participants will learn about effective parliamentary procedures to avoid time wasted time on small boards that usual govern emergency services organizations—parliamentary procedures involving standing rules versus bylaws, preparation of agendas and minutes, approving minutes and treasurer reports, reports to the board, seconding motions, consent motions, consent calendars, recusals versus abstentions and public participation.