Farm Bureau University 103
Please stand if they’ve ever attended a
meeting. Remain standing if they’ve ever
attended a meeting that went too long.
Please stand if they’ve ever led a meeting.
Remain standing if they’ve ever led a meeting
that went on too long.
Please stand if they’ve ever dreaded going to a
meeting. Remain standing if they ever skipped
a dreaded meeting and did something fun
instead.
 Orderly
debate
 Avoid
process for discussion and
sidebar conversations
 Don’t
tolerate controlling or abusive
behavior
 Don’t
dominate discussions
 Participating
is everyone’s
responsibility
 Welcome
the ideas of new leaders
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Ask yourself, “Do we really need to meet?”
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Determine the purpose
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Ask others for ideas & issues
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Be realistic about time
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Use action verbs to focus each agenda item
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Organize the agenda so accomplishment is felt

Arrange topics logically
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Consent agenda
• Helps to focus the direction of the
conversation and accomplish a specific goal
• Decide on venue for the Annual Meeting
Vote separately on items that don’t require
explanation or discussion. Information for the
consent agenda gets distributed to members for
their review before the meeting.
 There is one motion to approve all times on the
consent agenda.
 They are recorded individually in the minutes.
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Minutes
Treasurer’s Report
Committee Reports

Set start and end times. Always start the meeting on time!

State the overall purpose of the meeting. “We here to discuss the
Annual Meeting”

Set realistic time limits for each of the verb-spurred items and
hold to them. It is ok if an item does take longer.

Start and end with brief, easy items.
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Try to leave a few minutes for members to list important items to
be discussed at future meetings. Make sure those items are listed
on the next agenda.
Distribute the agenda at least 3 days ahead of time to give
participants an opportunity to suggest adjustments or additions.
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Before asking a question, say, “This is a 30 second
question, think about your answer for 30 seconds
before you answer.”
Announce that you are going to ask a question and
then go around the table and have everyone share
their answer.
Use an object to identify the person who has the
floor.
Paraphrase what people are saying so they feel they
have been heard. For example, “Frank I understand
that it’s important to you to have ice cream at the
meeting. Helen, what do you think?”
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Set discussion times for the items in the agenda. If
discussion isn’t finished, elect to continue for a set
number of minutes or move to next meeting.
At the end of the set discussion time, ask anyone with
additional points to write them on a piece of a paper.
Bring them up at a later time.
Go around the table and have everyone share their
thoughts with a set amount of time using a
timekeeper.
Index cards-write opinions, mix up cards, distribute
then person reads.

If minutes are sent to members ahead of time,
they still need to be read at the meeting.

A main motion is one that the entire group
considers.


It is OK to have more than one main motion
pending as long as the secretary is able to keep
track of the discussions.
In the case of a tie vote, a motion is not adopted
since it is not a majority.
 Unless
in smaller boards or committees of
fewer than twelve, no member can debate
more than twice on the same motion on the
same day and can only debate up to ten
minutes each time.
 The
maker of the motion is entitled to
debate first.
 In
addition to a voice vote, what are two
other types of votes that may be called for?
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Committee needs to have a real purpose for existence and
everyone knows what the purpose is.
Have the right people on the committee. Remove
committee members who don’t participate or who are not a
good fit. Committees are small and as a result need
everyone contributing.
Be specific about the tasks that need to be done and
realistic about the timeframe they require.
Keep the lines of communication open between the
committee and the board throughout the life of the
committee.
Take the time to recognize a job well done. Let committee
members know they are appreciated!

Read information before the meeting and come prepared to discuss the
topics.

Attend all meetings and arrive on time.

Pay attention to the work being discussed.

Listen to what others are saying.

Speak up and be a contributing member.

Help others to stay on task.

Promptly follow through on things you commit to do.

Proactively reach out to other committee members to see if they need help.

Call the chair for an update when you miss a meeting.

Take notes for yourself, and record your action items and deadlines.
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January:
AFBF Annual Meeting
SDFB YF&R Conference
Women in Blue Jeans Conference
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Legislative Team
Send emails to SDFB office for newsletter and alerts
Plan local legislative events, cracker barrels, etc
Sponsor trips to Pierre during session
Reports from AFBF convention, adopted policies, etc.
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Membership Team
Plan membership retention and acquisition activities
Set time line and reward system for workers
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Special projects team
Plan for Food Link
Plan for Ag Day activities
 Face-to-Face
Meeting
 Conference Calls
 Google Chat
 Go-to-meeting
 Email meeting
 Strengthfinder
 Leaders
all lead differently
 Matching interests of members with Farm
Bureau needs
www.sdfbf.org
Back in 1920, Farm Bureau members
adopted this statement:
“The purpose of Farm Bureau is to make the
business of farming more profitable, and the
community a better place to live.”