The meetings you plan are a product of your association. Be mindful of your changing role and the opportunities change provides for you. The mistakes you make each year continue to happen. Meetings can be opportunities to 'sell' to different people, and improve the image of attorneys. He advised rethinking the product, the environment, and the cost of participation.
Time is the number one cost.
Ideally your meetings should have something of value that people want. Provide different ways of getting things done such as using downloadable forms and files on the Internet. Identifiable outcomes might be short meetings, new faces at meetings, members sticking around to socialize, or good attendance. Also, plan meetings with the end in mind, he advised. Remember, use any excuse you can to get people there - even waiving meeting costs.