The outbreak forced a number of nonprofit organizations to rethink how they organize board meetings. Instead of compromising the safety and health of staff members and board members certain nonprofits have turned to hybrid meeting formats that permit both in-person and remote attendees. However, without the proper preparations and the appropriate tools to facilitate them, hybrid board meetings can be a traumatic experience for everyone participants.
BoardPro is a collaborative online tool that lets you build thorough and effective agendas, is the most efficient way to ensure a smooth board meeting. Setting an agenda with specific goals and time limits for discussions can help your group remain on track and meet its goals in the time allotted. The program also has several features that make the meeting more interactive and collaborative, including private mode, anonymous voting and digital whiteboards.
A virtual voting system is an important element to consider for a blended meeting. This feature can eliminate geographical and social barriers to increase diversity in your board, while making it easier for everyone to participate in the decision-making process. BoardPro’s virtual voting feature allows you to speedily and accurately record votes online. It has an anonymous voting option so that sensitive decisions can still be taken without compromising board integrity.
It’s important to provide remote participants a video technology that is easy to use and enhances the meeting experience. Some companies offer a self-focusing camera, like the Owl Labs’ self-focusing Meeting Owl that automatically zooms in on the person speaking while showing everyone else on screen. This makes the gathering more enjoyable and exciting even for those who aren’t physically present.