Leave rank at the door. There is some good stuff here, but there are also some problems. If you want ground rules to be the group's behavioral and operational guide, they'll be much more effective if they are much more specific. Also, you may want the group to stretch beyond the traditional ground rules like those listed above. Scented markers are prohibited.
All meetings start on time and end two hours early.
Value diversity by having regular and decaf coffee and tea, as well as diet and nondiet soft drinks. Seriously, ground rules can be very worthwhile. By their very nature, ground rules stir emotions and strong feelings, and a skilled facilitator can channel that energy into a productive direction. What's more, the ground-rule discussion may mark the team's first attempt to reach a consensus decision. A facilitator will increase the odds that this early decision-making unfolds successfully.