How to Build an Effective Lay Organization:
Meeting Routine
Regular monthly meetings will contribute greatly to the success and longevity of your local lay organization. A specific day of a given week of the month works best. Soon everyone knows that is your meeting date and are more likely to respect it.
The agenda should always be prepared in advance of the meeting. A copy of the agenda should be available to each person in attendance. Agendas help provide order and routine to the meeting. Meetings should always start and end on time. Do not allow gossip or conversion unrelated to an agenda item to take place.
The chair should rule the person out of order, or ask what does the conversation have to do with the agenda item? If unrelated, move on. Idle talk is a sure fire way to destroy a meeting and lose members.
Focus on ACTION, what action needs to be taken, when and by whom and for how long? Delegate responsibility, the more people engaged in some part of the work, the greater your success and sense of accomplishment.