From The Top
By Tim Stout, Flint Hills Alliance President

There is an age-old saying that you can only get out of something what you put into it.

If you had a savings account with a balance of $1,200 and told the bank you wanted to withdraw $3,000 from your account, more than likely they would give you some very strange looks. Why? Because you were trying to get more out of it than you put into it.

The lesbigay cause is no different. You get what you put into it. If you give nothing for input, you will receive no output. If your input is negative, then your output will be negative. However, if your input is positive, your output will also be positive.

The Flint Hills Alliance monthly meetings provide the lesbigay community with a wonderful opportunity for both input and output. The meetings provide a setting in which we can express our concerns and opinions regarding issues that affect us, as well as the opportunity to hear guest speakers discuss resources and opportunities available to members of the lesbigay community.

To glean information and benefit as much as possible from the opportunity presented to FHA, it is the memberships’ responsibility to attend prepared to offer positive input.
 
Common courtesy is one of the most basic ways to give positive input.
 
To get the most accurate rundown of meeting etiquette, I consulted a friend of mine, “Mr. Manners,” the self-proclaimed “‘Queen’ of Etiquette” for some advice. Here is the response:
 
“Dear Mr. Manners: I was recently elected president of Flint Hills Alliance, a lesbigay advocacy organization, and was curious as to whether or not there were rules of etiquette we should follow during our business meeting and during lectures from guest speakers. Do you have any input? – T.S., MANHATTAN, KANSAS.
 
Gentle reader: I always have input where questions of etiquette lie. And yes, there are rules of etiquette which your organization (or any, for that matter) would be most prudent to follow.
 
The designation “organization” implies just that, organization. If it were not to be organized with rules and etiquette, then it would be called something else. When basic rules and etiquette are not enforced, guest speakers and newcomers can leave the meeting with a poor impression of your organization. A lack of etiquette also shows a lack of dedication to the organization. Therefore, I would recommend the following etiquette for your meetings:

Punctuality
Arrive on time and ready to begin. Promptness is always preferred. Sometimes, however, in this busy world, one might be delayed. If it is necessary to enter the meeting after it has commenced, one should do so quickly and quietly as to not draw attention to oneself or break the flow of the discussion.

Order
The most common rules in use for meetings are “Robert’s Rules of Order.” They have proven very effective for many, many years. I would highly recommend them when handling organizational business.

Talking
Interrupting someone who is speaking is improper, whether inside or outside a meeting. Questions and comments should be welcomed gratefully and graciously. However, one’s questions or comments should be held until the speaker calls on the other person. If the speaker has not designated a time at the end of the presentation to field questions from the membership, the appropriate action is to raise one’s hand and await recognition. If one finds it difficult to remember questions for later recognition, having something on hand to take notes is highly recommended. It is never considered appropriate to carry on personal conversations during a meeting or guest speaker’s presentation. Conversations of that nature should either precede or follow the meeting.

Departure
The best time to leave a meeting is when it has concluded. If one knows ahead of time that they must leave before the meeting is over, it is best to do so when there is a natural break in the discussion. The departure should be handled much in the same way as a late entry -- quickly and quietly as to not draw attention to oneself or break the flow of the discussion.
 
Those points I would stress as being most important. – MR. MANNERS
 
I would like to thank Mr. Manners for his positive input and invite everyone to bring a friend to future FHA gatherings. We welcome your attendance, assistance and above all, your input.
 

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