Making Meetings Matter
a workshop for international educators
by Ellis Melton

 

Welcome! This web site supports a workshop about designing and implementing effective meetings in International schools.  It can be used prior to a workshop and also as a source for materials afterwards.  It is undergoing continuous revision.

 

Chinese Proverb:  "If you must play, decide on  three things at the start:  the rules,  the stakes, and the quitting time."

 

 

Can you imagine an organization that....

·  Has meetings people enjoy? 

·  Listens to each other? 

·  Makes decisions using all the data? 

·  Believes that feelings ought to be dealt with and considered? 

·  Believes conflict can be handled creatively? 

·  Encourages a diversity of opinion? 

·  Believes that groups of people can decide how they want to behave and then  behave in that way? 

·  Experiences a work environment that can be fun, nurturing, forgiving, stimulating, and productive?

A turtle was mugged by two snails.   When the police arrive they asked the turtle what happened.  The turtle replied, "I don't know.  It all happened so fast."

 

The most useful document: A meeting checklist
See handouts and resources for about 50 documents about meetings.

Ellis Melton was on the faculty of the University of Arkansas  before going overseas as a teacher and administrator in Riyadh, Tokyo, Trinidad & Tobago and Vienna.  He has  served as a consultant in 30 International Schools and has made presentations at NESA (Near East), JCIS (Japan), AAIE, CEESA (Eastern Europe). AISA (Africa) and EARCOS (East Asia) conferences.  He has taught graduate courses for overseas teachers in Athens, Jeddah, CaracasKuwait, Bangkok,Cairo and Mallorca.  His special interests include designing effective meetings, school climate and collaborative decision making.  Clients have included churches, NGOs, non-profits in the USA, and international schools.

Contact:
Ellis Melton, Fayetteville, Arkansas      ellis@melton.com

 



"But Agamemnon would not be dissuaded. Like all men of few ideas he clung bitterly to one when it occurred."   Iliad

 

updated December 15, 2008