Clear minutes should be taken and distributed in a timely manner to all board members. These should be kept in board notebooks that are organized into categories and supplemented with copies of bylaws and committee reports. Basic information on effective meeting process, such as Robert s Rules of Order, can be found at most public libraries. Local non-profits or education centers may have someone that would be willing to share their thoughts on running an effective meeting. When new people are brought in to help direct a business, they need to be brought up to speed.
Some boards like to assign a buddy to a new member, to go over history and help answer questions.
A formal training is always helpful, and can be done either in-house by more experienced members or through a training institution. Training should cover specific issues such as the co-op s history, meeting process details, and other policies. Passing on to a new board member a comprehensive board notebook with minutes, bylaws, and policies is also very important. The board a group of people who may meet each other for the first time a half-hour before the election should spend time getting to know each other so that they can understand and respect each other s opinions. Going through a formal vision and value-setting process during an annual retreat can be an invaluable unifying experience for the group.