On Sunday afternoon, August 27th, we all gathered at the lovely home of Patricia Bayonne-Johnson, president of the Eastern Washington Genealogical Society. “We” were the EWGS Board and all the committee chair persons. (EWGS made the leap a year or so ago to include the committee chairs at all our Board functions; make them know they’re needed and appreciating their input).   President Pat had an agenda which she emailed ahead of time (and before that, asked for agenda items to be included). This meeting, this retreat, is the most important meeting of the EWGS  Board and Committee Chairs all year. 

All the jobs and projects were discussed; every Board member and Chair person gave an update and report on their position, problems and projects. The biggest thing we accomplish at this meeting is to thrash out a roster of programs for the coming year. We feel it’s patently unfair to dump such a huge job on one person so everybody attending is expected to bring ideas. Once roughed out, the list is turned over to the program chair for implementation. This works wonderfully well for us.

About mid-way through the afternoon, we paused for snacks, brought by everybody to share. Pat provided coffee and bottled water.

We would 100% recommend this idea to you for your society management. If you do try this idea, I’d enjoy hearing from you as to how it helped.