HM3 (Florida)
Posts: 5
Posts: 5
Posted:
What is the proper seating arrangement for the BOD? Is it proper for the BOD to face one another and not the homeowners?
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BOD seating arrangement
Started by HM3 • 8 replies • 1613 views
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PetunkaM (Florida)
Posts: 1,009
Posts: 1,009
Posted:
I simply love this question! but don't know the answer for HOAs in Florida.
CarolR11 (Colorado)
Posts: 2,563
Posts: 2,563
Posted:
I don't know the "proper" arrangement, but our meeting room is narrow and we have a 7-member board, a PM and Manager Assist. who all sit at the table.
So we set it up U- shaped with the pres, VP & PM at the short end of the U facing the members. The other directors & Mgr. Asst. sit along each side.
My understanding is that directors should address one another, not the members, so our arrangement works well for that purpose. I, as president, just have to make sure the directors along the sides speak loudly enough so that members can hear them.
The directors on the sides of the table swivel their chairs towards the members during our open forums at the beginning & end of each monthly meeting.
So we set it up U- shaped with the pres, VP & PM at the short end of the U facing the members. The other directors & Mgr. Asst. sit along each side.
My understanding is that directors should address one another, not the members, so our arrangement works well for that purpose. I, as president, just have to make sure the directors along the sides speak loudly enough so that members can hear them.
The directors on the sides of the table swivel their chairs towards the members during our open forums at the beginning & end of each monthly meeting.
TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,061
Posts: 21,061
Posted:
Depending on the location, we just have everyone sit around a table or where ever we wanted within the living room.
At annual meetings, we have a meeting room and the Board sits at the front table facing the membership.
Tim
At annual meetings, we have a meeting room and the Board sits at the front table facing the membership.
Tim
SusanW1 (Michigan)
Posts: 5,202
Posts: 5,202
Posted:
At an Annual Meeting of the Members or at a regular Board Meeting?
Annual Meeting - you all know what i think. The president and the secretary only sit at the front of the room. The other board members are Members at that meeting and come up to the front of the room to make their reports, if needed. That meeting is the homeowner Members' and the board has no special place or power there.
Board meetings? Personally, I think the president and secretary should sit next to each other to make passing papers easier. Other than that, they are no obligation to place their chairs for an audience. At resident comment time, the resident can sit with the board, then leave.
Annual Meeting - you all know what i think. The president and the secretary only sit at the front of the room. The other board members are Members at that meeting and come up to the front of the room to make their reports, if needed. That meeting is the homeowner Members' and the board has no special place or power there.
Board meetings? Personally, I think the president and secretary should sit next to each other to make passing papers easier. Other than that, they are no obligation to place their chairs for an audience. At resident comment time, the resident can sit with the board, then leave.
MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836
Posts: 13,836
Posted:
I preferred the "Last Supper" position...We had one long table and would set the genera membership chairs out in front of the table. The paperwork was spread out on the table so people could come up and pick up a copy of the expense reports. I always faced the members and if any board members attended they also sat so they faced the general membership unless they had to set on the table left/right ends. Sometimes my board members actually just sat in the general memberhip seats.
After I left but was still a board member, the new board adapted by all them sitting around the table. Some would have their backs toward us and talk amongst eachother. I found this kind of rude and caused a sense of distrust. As a "general" member, it made me feel like a fly on the wall and not part of the decision making. Although this arrangement is due to space reasons in some HOA's. I don't think you should ever have your back against anyone.
I think it's best to make it so the BOD faces the membership. Kind of like setting up a play on a stage. It allows people to feel like they are part of something even if they don't have anything to say.
After I left but was still a board member, the new board adapted by all them sitting around the table. Some would have their backs toward us and talk amongst eachother. I found this kind of rude and caused a sense of distrust. As a "general" member, it made me feel like a fly on the wall and not part of the decision making. Although this arrangement is due to space reasons in some HOA's. I don't think you should ever have your back against anyone.
I think it's best to make it so the BOD faces the membership. Kind of like setting up a play on a stage. It allows people to feel like they are part of something even if they don't have anything to say.
Former HOA President
GloriaM1 (North Carolina)
Posts: 14
Posts: 14
Posted:
lol, Melissa I love that last supper seating arrangement. But that is how an annual should go; regular board meetings should be informal as to make the owners feel warm and accommodating.
MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836
Posts: 13,836
Posted:
I agree meetings should be kept kind of casual but with purpose...Admittedly, I may have been a bit too relaxed on some of my board meetings...Some were actually held in the swimming pool in my bathing suit...That only came after years of HARD work...
On bad meeting nights...The table also doubled as a place for sacrifices...Just had to move the cookies!
On bad meeting nights...The table also doubled as a place for sacrifices...Just had to move the cookies!
Former HOA President
BradP (Kansas)
Posts: 2,640
Posts: 2,640
Posted:
Board meetings need to be a professional setting. The board needs to be able to see and converse with each other with the "gallery" being able to look on. You are there to discuss business not have a margarita...a lax environment can lead to off topic discussion. You don't need to make it a black tie affair but there should be a some sort of professionalism to it.
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