A Parliament is nothing less than a big meeting of more or less idle people. ~ Walter Bagehot
I had a board (bored) meeting tonight. I love the people, I like the subject matter, I HATE BOARD (BORED) meetings!!!!! When my oldest was @ 7 years old she asked me, “Mom, are they called “board meetings” because they are so boring?” Out of the mouths of babes!
I am trying to figure out how to endure the meetings more effectively…. so far surfing on my iPhone or iPad while listening has helped the most…… or faking illness (just kidding!) , or???
Today, 189 days ’til 40, I appreciate the time spent with board members, but wish the meetings were shorter and closer to home.
What do you think about board (bored) meetings???
~400daystil40
Fortuitous Forty!!! 
Lani Longshore
August 16, 2012 at 00:51
Board meetings need someone in charge who insists on concise language, timely delivery, and only as much discussion as is needed to clarify the issue(s). A board meeting is not a committee meeting, but a meeting of committees that have already done their work.
400daystil40
August 16, 2012 at 15:33
Yes, definitely!!!!!
buckwheatsrisk
August 16, 2012 at 05:36
ugh!
robinhood63
August 16, 2012 at 11:18
Nice blog! Thanks for visiting and liking my blog, MrMaxPics and post about Amanda. We miss her. Her momma, Punkin’, still looks for her under chairs and other places, tribbling and talking. She has been getting a bunch of loving. She likes to be brushed until she falls asleep. As for board meeting I was never on a board but went to many ‘bored’ meetings over the years. Good luck on your voyage to 40. I’ll follow your journey. My ship docked many years ago. 🙂
400daystil40
August 16, 2012 at 15:32
Thank you for visiting my blog as well – it is hard to lose a pet… 😦
Spider42
August 16, 2012 at 11:20
Been there, still go through it once a year… to be honest? I lump it in the same space I put my day-to-day work : wtf?
I think sometimes it’s just me but the redundancy of some of the stuff that goes on, the repetitiveness, the “captain obvious-ness” of folks partaking and the seeming denseness of others… I don’t even assume I’m smarter but sometimes I think folks just need to do this stuff to keep their mind on these mundane nonsenses and distract themselves from the more obvious and real things that should concern us and how we live our lives.
Then again, maybe it’s just me who’s a little batty – it is a running theory in my circles. 🙂
400daystil40
August 16, 2012 at 15:32
Yes, I can completely relate!!!!!
No Blog Intended
August 16, 2012 at 12:09
I have to admit I don’t really know what board meetings are. Something might have to do with the fact that English isn’t my mother language. I alwyas use that as an excuse :).
That picture, by the way, is too cute! I cannot resist cats, let alone their noses.
400daystil40
August 16, 2012 at 15:31
Thanks for your comment… board meetings are the meetings organizations have (the CEOs, etc) to run the corporation. Many different organizations have these structures, particularly non-profit organizations
viveka
August 16, 2012 at 18:12
Never been to a board meeting .. but been to many boring meetings – have even fallen to sleep, without having partied the night before. Understand .. where you boredom comes from.
400daystil40
August 16, 2012 at 21:38
hehehe
Animalcouriers
August 17, 2012 at 12:06
the iPad/iPhone solution has brought a lot of consolation to those who have to endure bored meetings.
400daystil40
August 17, 2012 at 23:30
hehehe – so very true!
frootbat31
August 17, 2012 at 22:43
Maybe suggest the board meetings include a musical? 😉
400daystil40
August 17, 2012 at 23:29
I love it!!!
Cafe
August 17, 2012 at 23:45
Hahaha smart kid =P
400daystil40
August 18, 2012 at 00:01
😉 🙂
walkwiththerabbi
August 18, 2012 at 04:57
I’m with you – I despise Board meetings. The personal agendas of many/most infuriate me. The reason(s) the Board exists, so often gets shuffled “under the rug,” while hours (literally) are spent (not invested) on what blend of coffee should be served at Board meetings. I don’t do Boards anymore (other than my own no-kill animal Sanctuary’s Board, which is run by my wife Fran and she hates Boards just as much as I do. The result – GREAT Board meetings).
400daystil40
August 19, 2012 at 00:47
Yes, so very true – sounds like your board is a great group to join!!!
simon7banks
August 21, 2012 at 16:35
I couldn’t agree more with Lani. While there is no quick fix for people who come to such meetings concerned about one small part of the agenda and uninterested in the rest, unless they can attend for just that item and be warned when it’s soon to come up, board meetings need not be long and boring. It’s the duty of the person chairing the meeting to keep comments brief and on-topic, to clarify the fundamental issues, to stop discussions going round and round or matters decided in a previous meeting being dredged up again for no good reason. If it is a meeting to consider reports from smaller working groups (this won’t apply to all boards) the presentations need to be focused and as brief as possible. The chair should stop people arguing about detail that can be devolved to a group of three or one.
While many people hate hard copy or electronic material supposed to be read before meetings, this is one way of keeping discussions reasonably short: I found that with one busy meeting that was getting over-long, sending out a briefing paper a week or so before explaining the background to all the issues for decision helped a lot: otherwise everyone would have had to sit in the meeting listening to the same explanation. Of course, this does depend on people at least skimming through what they’re sent. They should also think before speaking: IS THIS RELEVANT? IS IT IMPORTANT?
If your mind still begins to numb, treat it not as a business meeting but as a play. Who has a hidden agenda? Why are those two people disagreeing so often? What misunderstanding has led to this debate at cross purposes? What are the different hopes and fears present in the meeting?
You might end up chairing it.
400daystil40
August 21, 2012 at 22:14
I LOVE your comment! I tend to take the same approach to running staff meetings!!! 🙂