Most board meeting agendas follow a classic meeting structure: Calling meeting to order – ensure you have quorum. Approve the agenda and prior board meeting minutes. Executive and committee reports – allow 25% of time here for key topic discussion. Old/new/other business. Close the meeting and adjourn.
During meetings the chair should introduce each item and its purpose, request contributions, encourage participation, ensure others do not dominate the meeting, delegate tasks, record votes if necessary, and make sure the meeting keeps to time.
At the start of the meeting Organise someone to welcome people as they arrive. Make sure everyone has the agenda and any papers – put them on chairs, or give them to people at the door. Introduce yourself and other speakers at the start of the meeting. If it is a small meeting, ask everyone to introduce themselves.
(1) The quorum for a meeting of the Board of Directors of a company hall be one-third of its total strength or two directors, whichever is higher, and the participation of the directors by video conferencing or by other audio visual means shall also be counted for the purposes of quorum under this sub-section.
Very simply, they should say: “This meeting of the board of COMPANY is called to order at TIME AND DATE and a quorum IS/ISN'T present.” This is also the time to add in any small items like apologies, welcoming visitors, special guests or new members. For example, wishing luck to retiring directors.
The chair should invite discussion and facilitate debate, drawing out a full range of opinions. If the discussion is lengthy, the chair may limit the discussion for a certain period. At the end of the discussion, the board may agree to vote, amend, table, postpone or move it to a committee for consideration.
Effective steps for running productive board meetings Step 1 – get clear on the board chair role. Step 2 – ensure board members know their role. Step 3 – communicate before, during, and after the board meeting. Step 4 – use meeting time well: right agenda, right leadership. Step 5 – prepare for meetings effectively.
The Board usually meets two Wednesdays every month in the Supervisor's Auditorium at the Maricopa County Complex in Phoenix, Arizona. Members of the public are invited to attend these meetings. As of January 2025, Thomas Galvin is the board's chairman.
The company Is the company in the hands of trained professionals? Does it need new skills at the governance level? How will the company survive long term? What risks does the company face? Does it need a change in strategy to do that? What market shocks should the company prepare for?
Keeping board members informed and up-to-date on important industry trends, regulatory changes, and organizational processes is critical for effective governance. Dedicating time during board meetings to educational sessions can empower directors to make more strategic and impactful decisions.