For regular meetings, nonprofit boards, committees and management teams can use Roberta's Rules of Order to successfully manage themselves. Having an expanded agenda with specific roles, such as leader, egalitarian, timekeeper and note-taker will help keep everyone focused. See Chapter Seven: Respecting Everyone's Time by Steering a Steady Course.

For particular types of meetings and events, the aid of a facilitator and group coach can save time, resolve conflict and reduce frustration. Alice Cochran has successfully worked with leaders and managers to co-plan, facilitate and coach these major events. You may want to have Alice's help to:

• begin a new participative strategic planning process
• update a long-term plan
• plan an offsite retreat and facilitate it
• start up a new team with a charter
• involve large numbers of people in corporate or community planning
• simplify your governance structure
• streamline decision-making on a team or board
• revise your bylaws to be short and easily understood
• work with multi-party groups to plan together collaboratively

To learn more about Alice's services, approach, clients and results, please email her and she will get back to you directly.