General Family Council Procedures (As you are just thinking about using Family Councils we suggest that you review "How to begin - Guide lines, If you have used Family Councils and want a few tip read on.)
Date & Time: Establish date and time that is mutually agreeable with family members. Our experience is that Saturday or Sunday work best. We do not recommend it be held in conjunction with Family Home Evening. It diminishes to purposes of both family meetings.
Agenda: The process for gathering agenda items can vary with families. Putting a draft agenda on the refrigerator worked for us. (Mother can help small children with their items or concern.) Discuss how the agenda works at the initial meeting. We used an Executive Secretary to gather and organize the agenda. For families without children, they might pause before the meeting begins to review and add items they want brought in the council.
Conducting meeting: If an executive secretary has been call, they will conduct the meetings for the period of the call. Otherwise it is advisable to chart the assignment. One of the executive secretary,s job is to keep the council on track and on time.
Recording Minutes - The secretary should record summary draft minutes. The minutes should include topic/subject, discussion (if desired), the results and any assignments/reports. Note: We recommend these minutes be kept in the Family Council Workbook for quick reference during the next meeting and for further future research.
After initial meeting Members post agenda items on a draft agenda at the designated location. Executive Secretary formulates agenda with guidance of parents. This will include:
Plan topics and allocation discussion time
A. Family Administration and Maintenance with minutes, routine assignments and reports B. Family Life/Mission Tasks with assignments and reports on individual and family tasks 2. Plan Follow up on assignments with guidance of parents. 3. Agenda items from Executive Council and Individual Councils with family members should also be included. Regular Family Council can follow the standard agenda Special Family Councils - can use special councils agenda forms or one of your own creation to consider, Mission Statements, Goals, Rules, Projects, and special family needs.