Tips on How to Conduct a Meeting
Chair’s Script
Calling the Meeting to Order
Chair: The Chair will call the meeting to order by saying:
“Good (Afternoon/Evening)! It’s (state the time) and I’d like
to call the (date) meeting of the (name of BCC) to order.
Roll call, please.
Secretary/
Support Calls each member by name, noting their presence or
Staff: absence at the meeting.
Secretary then announces to the chair:
“Madame Chair/Mr. Chair, we have a quorum or we do not
have a quorum.”
If no quorum, the meeting is adjourned at that time (no
“informational meetings” allowed.)
Items on the Agenda
Chair: Announces the next item on the agenda by saying:
“Item 2 on the Agenda is (state the item as it is listed on the
agenda.)
When you have presentations/reports/updates, please
announce the person’s name.
During discussion(s), the person wishing to speak should
raise their hand. The Chair should acknowledge them by
name.
When you get to an item that requires action by the BCC,
and a motion is made and seconded, please announce the
name of the person(s) involved:
“We have a motion by (name of person), seconded by (name
of person) to …………….”
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BCC’s
Chair Script
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If only a voice vote is required you can say,
“All those in favor? (members will respond by saying “aye”),
“Those opposed?” (response is usually “nay” or “no”)
“Motion passes unanimously”
If there was opposition and you want clarity of the vote, you
may ask for a roll call vote at this time. The secretary will
call roll call, noting each members’ vote and at the end says:
Secretary: “Madame Chair/Mr. Chair, the motion passes 7-0 or the
motion fails 2-5.”
The above is followed for each item on the agenda. NOTE: Roll call votes
are necessary when expenditures are being approved and voting on
Election of Officers.
Adjournment
There is no need to obtain a motion to adjourn the meeting. The Chair can
just announce the following.
Chair “Item XX – Adjournment. The meeting stands adjourned.
The time is (state the time) and the next meeting of the
(BCC) is on (date) at (time).”
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