Parent Meetings
you can fully participate.  As an idea, have your spounse/s watch the children in the tribe while
the meeting is taking place at another location.  This works well for the Blazing Blackfoot tribe.  
The purpose of the Parent's Meetings are to coordinate schedules: plan tribe outings and
events around personal calendars as well as the YMCA Adventure Guides Calendar.  Although
some things can be accomplished "on the fly" or while the children are having a post-meeting
snack; structured routines are very helpful, especially with new tribes.  These meetings are
also the meetings where roles are switched among tribe members.
Here are two reasons some people don't like meetings: They're too long or they aren't helpful
or productive.  Staying on task with an agenda will eliminate these problems.\

  1. Have an Agenda, written preferred.  Limit number of topics to 3-4.
  2. Plan no more than forty five minutes.
  3. Start on time.  End on time.
  4. If one or two parents go off-topic, be brave:  stop the conversation, and redirect        
    to the Agenda's topic.
  5. If the "off-topic" item appears to have some importance, be brave again: suggest it be
    saved for the end of the meeting or for a future meeting.
  6. Review items covered.  Review items saved.
  7. Thank everyone for coming.
  8. Leave.


`        If your meetings are taking too long and there is a bunch of side chatter, suggest to the
group that since these is so much to talk about, how about the group meet again next week,
same time and place?  Either your request is right-on: your tribes needs to connect in a
serious way and get organized OR your request will be met with dead silence.  This would
mean that the chatter was distracting and possible weighing down the meeting.

Examples of polite redirection comments are:
"What time is it now?  Oh great, I see we have to talk about....(mention next topic item)."
"That's great Jane.  How funny.  My kids are waiting for me at home.  Let's wrap this up and
move on".
"That'd be something to add for the next meeting.  Thanks for bringing it up.  What's next?"
"Oh boy, I've got to get home soon.  What's next?"

                              Good Luck!
Simi Valley
Federation
Friends Forever  *  We build strong kids, strong families, strong communities  *  Friends Forever
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