Everybody hates meetings. Even the chair.
Too long. Boring. People don't know when to speak or what they're supposed to say. Nobody wants to look like a dope.
And there's always somebody who's a Jedi Master of parliamentary procedure and uses their Robert's Rules sword against everyone else.
Meetings aren't the problem. Bad meetings are.
Make the time you spend together count.
Every Meeting Needs Order
A church members' meeting needs order. Your HOA meeting really needs order. A business meeting needs someone to stop Bob from talking about missing office supplies for 45 minutes. Your Student Government needs order.
Someone leads. There's an agenda. People get a chance to speak. Decisions get made.
Rules can be super simple: raise your hand and wait to be recognized. But a contentious Student Senate may need to require everyone to be very formal, using "My esteemed colleague" like the U.S. Senate. This formality gives dignity to your meeting, even if you hate each other.
The More Contentious, the More the Rules Matter
When everybody agrees, nobody notices, or cares about, the rules. What about when they disagree. Very, very much.
Who gets to speak? Who speaks next? When does debate end? Can something be amended? Who gets to vote? What happens when someone challenges the chair?
Without agreed-upon rules, the loudest or most aggressive person stomps on everyone else. The rules protect the people and the meeting.
Learn the Rules
Meeting FAQsGet answers to common parliamentary-procedure questions.
Robert's Rules Made SimpleLearn the basics without trying to memorize the whole book. ASGA members get a 20% discount with code ASGAMEETING
Robert's Rules Is a Tool. That's All.
You don't need everybody in your SG to become a parliamentarian. Members need to understand enough to participate confidently. The chair needs to understand enough to conduct business fairly.
Robert's Rules isn't there to stop disagreement. It's there to let you disagree without destroying the meeting.
Too much procedure. Not good.
A five-person committee doesn't need to operate like Congress. If raising your hand, being recognized, discussing the issue, and taking a vote works, great. A large or contentious Associated Students may need considerably more structure.
Beware the Parli-Pro Jedi Master
This person knows parli pro intimately. Really well. They even fall asleep reading Robert's Rules. But then Mr. Meeting bashes everyone over the head with this vast knowledge, shuts people down, and intentionally makes you look stupid. Worse, they manipulate the meeting to get what they want.
OK, so you know an obscure motion. You're not more important than everyone else! If you know the rules, be a teacher. Help them learn and become competent.
Learn How to Handle It
Disagreement Is Normal. Chaos Isn't.
SG members disagree. They debate. They argue passionately for what they believe.
But screaming? Personal attacks? Threats? Members talking over each other, and refusing to follow the chair?
ASGA has actually seen campus police called to break up an SG meeting. Are you next?
Keep Control Without Taking Control
Your Meeting Isn't the Work
Too many SG meetings are filled with officer reports, committee reports, announcements, updates, and people talking because it's their turn to talk. Then everybody goes home two hours late. What actually happened? What got done?
Most of SG's work happens between meetings. Use meeting time for things that require having everyone together: discussion, debate, decisions, votes, problem-solving, questions.
Routine information? Put it in writing. Send it ahead of time.
What Deserves Meeting Time?
Use the Meeting
Discuss & DebateIssues that need many viewpoints.
Decide & VoteThings the group needs to decide now.
Solve ProblemsAll hands on deck are needed.
Use the Personal TouchSensitive or complicated issues: you need to listen, question, persuade, and compromise.
Do It Somewhere Else
Routine ReportsPut them in writing.
AnnouncementsSend them before or after the meeting.
Nothing to ReportThen don't report.
Information Everyone Can ReadDon't read it to them. They're smart.
Two-Person ProblemsNo need for 30 people to watch two solve something.
Put It Into Practice
One Hour Is Ideal. Two Hours Is Plenty.
Most regular SG meetings should be about 60 minutes. Have substantial business and need longer? Fine.
But if regular meetings routinely drag on and on for hours, don't boast about your dedication. That's mismanagement.
How Often Should You Meet?
Don't waste members' time. Meet only when you have to.
Executive Board
Usually weekly. There's normally enough ongoing work.
Senate / Assembly
Usually weekly/biweekly. It depends on how much real business SG has.
Committees
As often as necessary. Major project? Weekly. Normal? Biweekly.
Don't meet just because there's a meeting on the calendar. Definitely don't meet so everyone can report that there's nothing to report.
Compare Your SG
Survey on SG Meetings & Times NationwideWhen do other SGs meet? How do they choose the time and day? How do they work with their institution's leaders to avoid conflicts?
Search SG Meeting SchedulesSee how other Student Governments schedule their meetings.
Make Every Meeting Count
1BeforeSend the agenda, reports & materials ahead of time.
2ReportSpend time only on updates that need the group's attention.
3DiscussAsk questions. Debate. Solve problems.
4DecideMake the decision. Take the vote. Move on.
5DoEverybody knows who's responsible for what and when.
Then get back to work.
Build a Better Agenda, and Better Minutes
Good meetings start before someone calls the meeting to order.
Watch & Learn
Need More Help With Robert's Rules?
ASGA's partner, Robert's Rules Made Simple, can help you understand parliamentary procedure without making it more complicated than it needs to be.
Get a 20% discount with code ASGAMEETING.
Get These Useful Guides
Created by ASGA for You and Your SG
ASGA's team created these practical tools to make parliamentary procedure easier to understand and use.
Chairperson's Motion ChartKeep the motions and rules you need right in front of the person running the meeting.
Parliamentary Procedure Study GuideLearn the rules without trying to memorize Robert's Rules.
Parli-Pro Reference DeckQuick answers when you need them during a meeting.
Motion Forms PackMake motions and amendments easier to handle and document.
Get the guides in the ASGA Store.