Ask Maggie . . . . . . . . . .

Dear Maggie,
This year I am president of my chapter. Several times in the past, you have stressed the need for a president to keep the meeting rolling to prevent it from becoming overly long. Last year our meetings were so long they got boring. What can I do to prevent this from becoming a habit with our chapter?
Desiring to Do a Good Job

Dear Desiring,
Most overly long meetings become repetitious and dull because they need a good dose of parliamentary procedure. Remember that no discussion takes place unless it concerns a motion on the floor. Be prepared to keep this rule and discourage excessive talk on a subject. It won't be easy, but it can be done -- and your meetings will improve immediately! you'll find your chapter getting more accomplished, and members will have more time to enjoy socializing if you can keep the business meeting short.

Dear Maggie,
Our meetings have become so long, I hate to go to them. At the last meeting, a motion was made, and even before it was seconded, the idea was debated to pieces! When the argument ceased to even concern the main motion, I got up and left. I feel silly for my actions, but rather than listen to endless discussion, I decided to go home and do other things.
Going. Going. Gone

Dear Going,
In The Book of Beta Sigma Phi, under parliamentary procedure, it says: "The purpose of using parliamentary procedure is to give courtesy and justice to every member, consideration of only one thing at a time, to give every member a chance to be heard, and an understanding that the majority decision prevails." A good president can keep a meeting going smoothly. I hope all parliamentarians and presidents read this so they can concentrate on making meetings a joy to members, instead of a bore.

Dear Maggie,
I'm a new member. I want to find out as much as possible about Beta Sigma Phi, but so far, haven't received much guidance. What can I do?
Lost

Dear Lost,
Your letter points up the importance of pledge training. In a way, it is the most important thing a chapter vice president does, because she prepares the new member for total enjoyment of the sorority experience. It may take a little extra time and effort to do a very good job of pledge training, but the vice president does get a reward for her efforts -- new members who will contribute a great deal to chapter success! A new member deserves the very best orientation into Beta Sigma Phi that we can give her.

Dear Maggie,
Our programs are smooth and orderly, but our business meeting gets bogged down in detail. I will be incoming president, taking the place of a president who is transferring. How can I prevent this chaos?
A Job Ahead of Me

Dear Job,
Look for the time-wasters. Disorganized committees that are not prepared ahead of time, compulsive talkers and long, boring reports slow down a business meeting. Call your committee chairmen ahead of the meeting and see if they are prepared to report. If they have no report, do not call on them. If they are supposed to have one, remind them you will be asking for it. Watch those motions! A large amount of time is wasted discussing a motion to death. When one has been sufficiently discussed, call for a vote, If you have a compulsive talker in the chapter, you will just have to move ahead, leaving her jaws flapping. I hope these hints help!