Need Help with format for Town Hall meeting

Awhile back I posted a topic regarding my initiating a Town Hall type of meeting. I received a great deal of valuable insight as to how to conduct the meeting i.e. setting ground rules....soliciting topics for discussion. Now, I'm seeking additional support and ideas.

My board is supportive and believe it is an excellent idea, but have been no help to me at all as to providing input for the format. We have solicited topics from homeowners and should be getting those in the mail soon, I hope. The ground rules have been published in a newsletter.

My thoughts are that a presentation needs to precede the topics for discussion. Input from posters on this site have emphasized the need to stay positive.

Here is where I have problems. I have so many issues to address that are myths or misunderstandings, that I cannot come up with positives......

I thought perhaps the great minds reading this board can put my thinking on track for what to emphasize before getting into the negatives.

As I said, my board has provided next to nothing in the way of input, so you guys are all I've got right now. The content rests entirely on my shoulders.

I sometimes think I need my head examined for having initated this meeting, but it is so very necessary that I'm willing to take the plunge and see where it takes us.

RogerB

You have given me some excellent insight previously, and once again you have with this inquiry.

Hmmmmm. I wondered about whether or not to do anything separate from the topics submitted by the homeowners. I'll wait to see what comes in and then decide whether anything additional is needed. Thanks.

On my earlier posting, someone recommended sticking with the topics which are required to be submitted in advance. What would you advise if the homeowners end up using this event to attack the board ... Do we end the event, or go ahead and address the topics which were not submitted in advance? I'm torn as to how to handle that situation. We have a very undisciplined group and I foresee this occurring. Not to address unsubmitted topics will cause discontent, but doing so only allows for a free for all.

We have some hostile homeowners who don't like any rules.

I'm a little nervous about hosting the event. However, homeowners are not helping the community with their misinformation resulting in discontent. I felt driven to use this event to perhaps enhance communications.

I recently heard a quote from Mark Twain that indirectly fit our situation...it went something like this: "Lies can travel around the world before truth gets its boots on."

Hearsay is given more weight than facts in our community. Typical, I'm afraid for a small community in a small town.

Thanks RogerB for giving me some direction. It helped.

One of the condo's I work with has both an annual and then a town hall type of meeting. Go to this link:

http://www.riverpinescondominiums.com/committees.htm

and click on any of the meeting links to see a PowerPoint they put together. If you have the ability to do this, it sort of focuses the attendees attention whenever you change a slide, allowing you to move the meeting along, change the subject, or use it for educating members about a specific subject.

Just a thought.

Joe

Joyce:

To give yourself a bit of an edge, ask for your community members to submit questions/concerns to you/the Board prior to the Town Hall. This will help you prepare, although do not exclude anyone or any questions who didnt submit.

Be open to concerns addressed and dont be afraid to admit that you might not know all the answers. If you dont, just say you'll work to find an answer/solution. Thank everyone for their concern/question, even if you dont agree.