How to participate in Board meetings

General guidelines for member comment

Your participation at BHMHA meetings is welcomed.

Individual members of the club are allowed to address the board for a maximum time of five minutes as determined by the chair. Since this is a relatively short period of time, individuals are encouraged to share their ideas with the board in writing.

No public speakers are allowed to make any disparaging or critical remarks about individuals. Complaints about individuals should be submitted in writing to Bay Harbor Board of Directors' President, where they will be submitted to a committee for review, in accordance with BHMHA bylaws.

Speakers should state their name and the subject to be addressed.

Opportunities for member comment

The club members have two opportunities to comment at each regular meeting of the BHMHA. A signup sheet will be provided near the entrance to the meeting place for speakers who wish to address the board prior to, or following the meeting, as outlined by BHMHA.

The first opportunity is at the beginning of the meeting, when members are invited to speak on items that are on the agenda. Thirty minutes will be divided among the number of speakers. The maximum time to speak is five minutes per speaker.

Once the discussion and/or action portion of the agenda commences, the board will need to conduct its business, therefore, the board discussion is by board members. There may be some occasions on which the board would want to hear from members of the club or from an advisory committee during its discussion of a specific item. The board may choose to open up its discussion to include member comment during this portion of the meeting.

At the end of the meeting members of the club who have signed up prior to the meeting are invited to address the board on items that are not on the agenda. The chair will determine the amount of time for each speaker, depending on the lateness of the hour and the number of speakers.